Beneath a Flaming Sky - Book Three (Moon Child Series)

Chapter Nine

Mia's POV

When I’d finally managed to pull myself off of my bed and to my shower, I stood beneath the falling water for what felt like hours, allowing the warmth to release all of my muscles that had been still for four years. I’d forgotten how much I loved showers. I never needed to in the curse world, as I was coming to call it, there was no need. But I’d missed it more than I thought which a strange feeling to have, considering you wouldn’t think showering as something you would miss doing.

When my fingers were wrinkly beyond recognition and my skin a nice shade of red, I turned off the shower and wrapped myself into a fluffy towel. It felt good to slip into my comfortable track pants and tank top once again. I made my way to my balcony that overlooked the training grounds near the pack house as I dried my hair with my towel.

My gaze fell to the stars that winked above me, yet another thing that I missed when I was stuck in the curse world. The sky never had stars where I was, just inky blackness that reminded me how alone I was. With the stars in the sky it felt like I had a million of friends keeping watch over me. I’d missed so much while in the curse world, things that weren’t apparent to me until I was finally able to do them and see them again. The simplest of things excited me now, and I didn’t care how weird others thought it was. If they had been in my shoes, then they too would be feeling this way.

My door slammed open pulling my attention from the stars and before I could react, I was being pulled into a tight hug, my face smooshed against a hard chest. His familiar smell had me returning the hug. Yet another thing on my long list of things that I missed. Luca. Our hug lasted almost half an hour before it was interrupted by Amelia informing us dinner was ready. Luca and I pulled apart slightly as we made our way out of my room and down the stairs, but he kept a constant arm around my waist, as if scared that if he let go, I would disappear.

As we reached the bottom of the stairs I turned as if to head towards the pack dining room, but Luca’s arm around my waist pulled me through the front doors to the front of the pack house where a lot of tables and chairs had been set up in a big dining setting, and practically the entire pack was there. Everybody cheered as I exited the house, their smiling faces a welcome sight. A few of the pack members that were my close friends pulled me into hugs before Seth asked everyone to be seated. He hugged me himself before sitting beside Elizabeth.

I sat beside my mum and across from Nimue as everyone began filling their plates. The smell of the food in front of me had my stomach growling so loud several people laughed at it. With an embarrassed smile I piled my plate with food and dug in, nearly groaning at the delicious food as I ate. Chatter and laughing ensued for the entire meal and in the moment, I’d forgotten all about my gnawing pain of rejection from my mate. It was just me and my family, and that was all I needed.

As dessert was being served Elizabeth excused herself for a moment and when she returned, I practically leapt from my chair as she approached with four-month-old Alexa. I’d heard them talking of her when Elizabeth was pregnant and had felt as Elizabeth or Seth had placed her on my chest while I was under the sleeping curse. Alexa was their second child, and I was so excited for them when they’d announced it.

Elizabeth gladly deposited Alexa into my arms and all I could do was stare at her as her little eyes fluttered open revealing the most striking blue eyes. My finger stroked softly at her chubby little cheeks as she gurgled happily at me, reaching to grasp my finger in her fat little fist. I found my self subconsciously bouncing as she sucked on my finger, her cute little noises melting my heart. Seth approached me with a big smile and stroked his daughter’s hair.

“You are incredibly good with her. She normally hates when anyone but Elizabeth holds her.” He didn’t seem upset by it at all, instead it seemed to make him appear more in love with his little daughter more than anything.

“Just a talent I guess.” I said cheerfully as I smiled at him.

“Well talent or not, you’ll make an amazing mother yourself one day.” His words were like needles to my heart and I fought to hold the tears back as I thought to myself that that would probably never happen. With a quick nod, I softly withdrew my finger from Alexa’s gummy mouth and handed her to her father before excusing myself apologetically.

I’d made it to my floor before the tears caught up with me and it was like a dam broke within my heart, spilling all the feelings I’d pushed aside for later. Well it appeared that later was now. My bedroom door opened the second it was closed, and Luca came barreling in, concern on his features as his hand clutched subconsciously at his chest where his heart sat. When his eyes fell on me, he didn’t ask, he just pulled me into his arms and held me as I sobbed. And I did. I sobbed harder than I ever had in my entire life, as if the tears themselves would wash away the pain that stung at my very being.

I was thankful that Luca didn’t attempt to say anything to comfort me, instead allowing me to just cry. After what felt like hours, and like my eyes couldn’t cry anymore tears, I pulled myself away from Luca, embarrassed to see the large wet spot on his shirt from my tears. I turned from him and to the bathroom where I splashed cool water onto my hot face, the water soothing my sore eyes. My eyes met with Luca’s through the mirror and he smiled softly at me.

“Did you want to explain why you practically threw Alexa back at Seth and then ran up here to cry out the entire Niagara Falls?” my gaze dropped into the sink as my hands gripped the edge of the basin. I was dreading telling my brother of what happened when I awoke today, as I knew he hadn’t spoken to Amelia yet about me waking from my curse because he’d come straight to me when he’d returned from Blue Water. I knew what his reaction would be, and I wasn’t ready to deal with it yet. But I knew he wouldn’t drop the subject.

“He made a comment about how I would make a good mother someday.” I told him as I turned to him from the sink. His face contorted in confusion and he shrugged his shoulders.

“Ok. But you will, Mia. Why is that so upsetting?” I did love my brother, but sometimes he could be a bit dense.

“Luca, how do you think I woke up from the curse?” His brow furrowed as he followed me from the bathroom and out to my balcony where I leant my back against the railing as my brother did the same, he gave a shrug of his shoulders again as he looked at me.

“If I’m being honest, I didn’t really care how it happened, just that it did.” I rolled my eyes with a smile, nudging his shoulder with mine.

“I received a kiss from my mate.” I explained as my eyes pulled to the ground, tears painfully gathering in my burning eyes. I waited for his reaction, and when it never came, I glanced up at him to see why he wasn’t reacting to what I just said. His shoulders annoyingly shrugged yet again as he gazed at me questioningly.

“Ok? So shouldn’t what Seth said make you happy, not sad?” Like I said before, dense. My eyes lifted to the stars as I fought back the tears that were about to spill.

“It would, if my mate wanted anything to do with being with me.” Silence followed my statement and if the swell of slight anger that rushed through me was any indication, my twin finally understood why my heart ached as much as it did at Seth’s statement. His eyes burned with anger as they flickered from deep blue to black. Scarlet and I could sense his and Nero’s seething anger through our twin bond and I felt like smiling at his protectiveness of me.

“What do you mean he doesn’t want anything to do with you? He rejected you?!” his words started off in a seething whisper and with each word rose to a growling boom. I didn’t even flinch, knowing that this was going to be his reaction. I shook my head at his last statement as I ran a hand through my hair.

“He hasn’t rejected me, but in his words exactly, he said ‘I am no mate of yours, mutt.’” His eyes were consumed with black as a growl rumbled in his chest and Nero burst to the surface.

“I’ll kill him.” His voice was deep to the point of painful as he growled out the words. My sigh was a tired one as I slumped tiredly onto one of my deck chairs, and he began to pace angrily like a caged animal. After a few minutes I grew tired of watching him pace and stood to stand in front of him, halting his pacing, his eyes returning to his deep blue.

“Promise me you will not do anything.” His anger faded to confusion as I spoke my words. “Please, Luca. I just…I just want to make up for lost time with my family and not wallow over a man who doesn’t want me. Please.” The last word was a plea, one which I could see really affected my twin as my pain radiated through our twin bond. All steam deflated from him in that moment and his eyes held one thing I hated to see in the eyes of my twin. Pity. He nodded softly, his eyes dropping to the ground, before raising to mine again. He pulled me into a tight hug, his chin resting atop my head.

“I love you sis.” My arms tightened around his waist at his words and I found myself not wanting to let go. But I needed some alone time to process my emotions, and I couldn’t do that with my brother always watching me. With one last squeeze I pulled from the hug and Luca kissed my forehead.

“I love you too, bro. Goodnight.” He turned from me with a returned goodnight and when the door closed behind him, I walked to my bed and collapsed upon it. I crawled beneath the covers, pulling them tightly to my chin as I cuddled into the pillows. My thoughts had a mind of their own as I tried to process what I was feeling. I felt anger, first and foremost.

After everything I had been through, number one being stuck in a sleeping curse for four years, I would have thought the fates would give me a break. But apparently not. Instead they slapped me with a mate that didn’t want anything to do with me, even seemed disgusted at the thought of being my mate. This led to me feeling sorrow. Sorrow for the life I would never have, the one I’d always dreamed of having. Growing up I’d watched my parents and their relationship and had yearned for what they had. I wanted someone who would look at me like I was the moon and the stars, someone who would love me for who I am. Someone to raise a family with. and now it seemed that I was destined to only watch those around me fall in love and have what I had always wanted.

My heart ached as Xander’s words ran in a loop through my mind and my eyes burned as tears spilled down my cheeks. The words would not leave me alone as they bombarded my heart with their sharp edges. I curled into a ball as sobs took over my body, pain radiating from every muscle in my body. Agony consumed me as I cried myself to sleep, and I hoped that this pain would be gone in the morning with the rising of a new dawn.