LUNA’S REVENGE: Rise Of The Rejected

Chapter 8

POV: Lena

It shouldn’t hurt to know someone more than just an acquaintance. This person has even hosted you for the past few weeks, with food, comfort and shelter. I think he’s earned it.

“My favorite memory will be…. well, you might be disappointed cos I didn’t really have a typical home. I grew up poor but content. My dad did a lot for me. So for a favorite memory of a home that was always almost falling, I would say it’s we trying to hold it apart every damn time” I chuckled.

I didn’t even know when I did that. What was so funny? Oh, I meant to say that out of pity but some how I laughed at my trauma? He would think I am a f*****g psycho.

“Wow, Dark humor? It keeps getting better” he responded surprisingly. I think I must have piqued his interest by accident.

I saw the concern on his face while I spoke. That look was nothing but Pity. Pity for me. I hate being pitied on. It was beginning to get awkward, I decided to say something but we spoke at the same time .

“Go on.” I let him take the lead.

“Well, I wanted to know really why a man would do that to you. I still can’t come to guessing the wildest reason why. Do you mind actually sharing with ‘your new found friend’ ?” He went straight for it.

“Adrienne, I’m as clueless as you are”, I called his name the second time? Too soon but I think I’m beginning to like the name and I love the way it sounds in My mouth. I still haven’t recovered from the first time I did.

“Well, I think I should just give you a brief history about your latest friend…..

“I grew up with a single dad and mom died at my childbirth. Father said it was the people who killed her using dark magic because they suspected her of being a witch. Killing a witch with black magic? Can you imagine? Ridiculous!

“Well, dad said it was for the same reason we live out of town on the hill sides. Because his life was also a threat, he couldn’t afford leaving me orphaned so he rather remained where there was little to nothing he can do. At least I was fed, loved and taken care of…

“One of the few occasions I escorted my father on market days was when I met with my childhood friend, Trina. My only friend in fact. And since we met, we never stopped meeting every other market even when we grew up until I was announced betrothed to be married…” I slowed down with a pause.

The lump on my throat was getting too big to swallow. I was almost choking simply because I was holding back the tears from falling.

“I can see that this topic is quite uncomfortable for you especially at the thought of your marriage to Abel. I’m so sorry I put you through this. We can talk about something else. Like your impressive cooking skills for an instance” Adrienne showed genuine concern.

“Oh no. It’s fine. It feels good talking about it willingly for the first time. Emotions are running high right now, but I will get over it. Thanks for your concern once again” I replied him.

“As for my cooking skills, it’s all part of the story. Don’t rush me. We should be brewing some tea, you don’t seem like you got a lot to do today so we might as well” I suggested of which he agreed as though he was under my spell… Is he?

“As I was saying, my dad came home one evening and broke the news to me after serving him his hot pottage dinner.

‘You’re going to marry Abel. The Alpha of our pack. I’m sorry I have breaking it to you this way. But just know that whatever reason I am doing this for, I am doing it for you ultimate good’…

“Those were the cold words he said to me that fateful night. I didn’t even get a say in it. And yes, I literally asked if I had a say in it and daddy said ‘it really wouldn’t matter’

“He said it was for my future. He said he prays I never find out even though he hopes I do cos the day I eventually find out that means I’m in danger. That’s part struck me but no matter how had I pushed, he never said anything further in regards to that.

“my life even got too busy and unbearable for me to start going on an investigative journey of no returns. Well, the time came and I married Abel” I took a deep sigh.

“Are you sure you wanna do this Lena? I must say I really don’t know how to console a weeping woman so I rather not even go there” I laughed again, I wonder why that cracked me up. But no, Adrienne was not joking.

“I’m being serious right now, Lena. I totally understand but please I don’t want you going back to where you were simply because you want to hold a conversation with a man”

“I promise you it’s fine, Adrienne. I’m not trying to make you feel better and all that but I feel talking about it with you into much of a bad idea so far. So, yeah, let’s go on”

“And DON’T interrupt my story again” I teased with locked teeth.

“About Abel, we both knew it was never love but I like to think I didn’t deserve the hate I got either. According to my father, he traded places with me being in the palace. He could either be the Commander in Chief of the palace, which would risk him leaving me all by myself and in discretion and denial of being related to me.

“Or I could marry the Alpha, and become the Luna under protection, immunity and care of Royalty. Of course, we all know which option my dad chose which landed me here. Ha-ha!

“I tried to be the good wife. With the little I know. I know I grew up without a mother but I can’t be that bad at making a man happy. It still was never enough.

“ My dad did his best in raising me to a point. Apart from him, I had and aunty who worked in the palace. She always brings food uphill, brings me books, thought me about womanhood, my father’s only friend and closest thing to a relative I know he had. In fact, she was part of the leverage he used in convincing me to Marry Abel.

‘Annabelle works in the palace. She wouldn’t let anything happen to you’…

“And to be honest, she did her best. She was the mom I never had. She loved me so much I can almost guarantee I didn’t miss out on a mother’s love. She really was there for me. I’m boring you, right?” I asked cautiously cos I couldn’t help but notice that Adrienne hasn’t blinked in minutes. Just maintaining that gaze on me.

“I assure you I can repeat every word you’ve mentioned till the very last ‘she was really there for me’. Who dares take their attention off you and That’s quite an interesting story you have there”

“Oh really, well there’s a lot of it. Well back to my story.

Inasmuch as I am not so proud of what I went through, I’m proud of my resilience and strength till the very end.

“if Abel didn’t feel any affection for me, he hated me even more. I literally have bean beaten, starved, disrespected before housekeepers, made a mockery of, humiliated cheated on and even r***d by my husband while being married”

“Please stop” Adrienne could not take it any further. “I can’t believe a man can ever put a woman through that. Even if he has no sisters, wasn’t he born of a woman for him to treat a woman better?” It was lovely to see Adrienne take it quite personally. He got defensive of me.

Apart from look of shock on his face, you can see the disappointment in his tone and sadness in his eyes. In spite of those, the veins on his hands were swollen with pulsating anger. It’s a good thing Abel was nowhere close, I am certain Adrienne would have thrown a punch.