The Luna Who Faked Her Death

‎ ‎Three years ago ‎ ‎I was 21 ‎ ‎And I thought love was supposed to hurt a little ‎ ‎I was wrong ‎ ‎Damien: “Where were you?” ‎His voice was quiet, that was worse than yelling ‎ ‎Me: “At the library, babe I told you, My shift ran late.” ‎I was shaking, Holding a bag of groceries, Trying to smile ‎ ‎He stepped closer, He smelled like whiskey and anger ‎ ‎Damien: “Liar, Selena said she saw you talking to Ethan.” ‎ ‎Me: “Ethan’s just a friend from class! Damien please” ‎ ‎The bag fell from my hands, Apples rolled everywhere ‎ ‎Damien: “Don’t you ‘please’ me, Aria You’re MINE.” ‎ ‎His hand shot out and grabbed my arm so hard ‎I gasped ‎ ‎Me: “You’re hurting me!” ‎ ‎Damien: “Good,Maybe then you’ll learn to obey.” ‎ ‎He shoved me, I hit the wall, My head cracked ‎The world went white for a second ‎ ‎And then I felt it, the worst pain, ‎Low in my stomach. ‎ ‎I looked down ‎Blood ‎So much blood ‎ ‎Me: whispering “The baby Damien, our baby...” ‎ ‎His face changed, for one second he looked scared ‎Then the mask came back ‎ ‎Damien: “You did this, You and your disobedience.” ‎ ‎He walked out, Left me on the floor ‎ ‎I laid there for hours, Bleeding alone. ‎The mating bond in my chest felt like it was being ripped out. ‎ ‎At 4am, my best friend Lila found me ‎ ‎Lila: “Aria? Oh my god! Oh my god we have to go NOW.” ‎ ‎Me: crying “I can’t, He’ll find me, He always finds me.” ‎ ‎Lila: “Not if you’re dead.” ‎ ‎That’s when we made the plan ‎ ‎Two weeks later, the news said: ‎"Luna Aria Blackwood found dead in car accident, Body unidentifiable." ‎ ‎I watched my own funeral on a burner phone from a bus out of state. ‎ ‎Damien was in the front row, In black Looking empty ‎ ‎I hated him ‎I pitied him ‎And I was free ‎ ‎ ‎ 3 YEARS LATER ‎ ‎By 2:17 AM At St. Moonlight Hospital ‎ ‎Pager: BEEP BEEP BEEP ‎ ‎Nurse Kemi: “Dr. Vale! Trauma! Gunshot!” ‎ ‎I’m Dr. Aria Vale now,Trauma surgeon, Head of ER ‎ ‎New face, New name, New life ‎ ‎I don’t cry anymore, I save people. ‎ ‎The doors burst open and I went to work. ‎Until it was over and I looked up ‎ ‎And saw him ‎ ‎Same suit, Same grey eyes ‎ ‎Standing in MY ER ‎ ‎Damien Cross: CEO of St. Moonlight Hospital.* ‎ ‎He didn’t recognize my face ‎ ‎But he was staring at me like he knew me ‎ ‎And I realized... ‎ ‎I didn’t run far enough ‎ ‎Damien: “You look familiar, Doctor.” ‎ ‎Me:heart pounding “I get that a lot.” ‎ ‎He took one step closer and inhaled. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎The next morning I showed up to work 2 hours early ‎ ‎Double suppressants, Hair in a tighter bun, Glasses on even though I don’t need them ‎ ‎If I looked different enough, maybe he wouldn’t see me ‎ ‎Nurse Kemi: “Dr. Vale! You’re early.” ‎ ‎Me: “Just catching up on charts.” ‎ ‎And avoiding a certain Alpha CEO ‎ ‎I made it till 11am ‎ ‎That’s when I heard it ‎ ‎Receptionist:“CEO Cross is doing rounds today, Starting with ER.” ‎ ‎My stomach dropped ‎ ‎Of course he is ‎ ‎The elevator doors opened and there he was ‎ ‎Same suit, Same tired eyes, Clipboard in hand like he actually cared about hospital protocol ‎ ‎Damien: “Morning.” ‎ ‎He said it to the whole room, But his eyes found mine ‎ ‎Me: forcing a smile “Morning, Mr. Cross.” ‎ ‎Damien:frown “CEO Cross.” ‎ ‎Me: “Right, CEO Cross.” ‎ ‎He walked past 3 other doctors to get to me ‎ ‎Damien: “Dr Vale, Walk with me.” ‎ ‎Not a question ‎ ‎We walked down the hall, He kept a whole foot of distance between us, ‎Professional and Cold ‎ ‎Damien: “Your patient stats are good, Best in the ER.” ‎ ‎Me: “Thank you.” ‎ ‎Damien: “You came from where? Boston General?” ‎ ‎Shit, My fake resume ‎ ‎Me: “Yes for 2 years.” ‎ ‎Damien: “Hmm.” ‎ ‎He stopped, Turned to face me, Too close ‎ ‎I could smell him, Cedar And something darker now like Frustration ‎ ‎He frowned and tilted his head Like a wolf catching a scent ‎ ‎Damien: “You wear a lot of sanitizer.” ‎ ‎Me: laughing too loud “Hospital policy.” ‎ ‎He didn’t answer, He just stared ‎ ‎At my eyes, At my mouth, At the scar on my collarbone that my collar was hiding ‎ ‎For a second I thought he knew, ‎My wolf whined Run run run ‎ ‎Then his phone buzzed, He cursed under his breath ‎ ‎Damien: “Meeting, I have to go.” ‎He started walking away, then stopped ‎Without turning around he said: ‎ ‎Damien: “You’re working the night shift tomorrow too, right Dr. Vale?” ‎ ‎Me: Freezing “Yes.” ‎ ‎Damien: “Good, I’ll be here.” ‎ ‎And he left ‎ ‎I leaned against the wall and exhaled ‎ ‎He didn’t know, ‎Not yet ‎ ‎That night I went home and scrubbed my skin raw ‎ ‎Poured more suppressants on, Slept 3 hours ‎ ‎The next night shift, 1:42 AM ‎ ‎I was stitching up a cut when the ER doors opened ‎ ‎No emergency, No nurse announcement ‎ ‎Just him ‎ ‎Coffee in one hand, Looking like he hadn’t slept ‎ ‎Damien: “Mind if I sit?” ‎ ‎Me: “This is a trauma bay.” ‎ ‎Damien: “It’s empty.” ‎ ‎He sat, On the stool right next to me, ‎Close enough that our arms almost touched ‎ ‎We worked in silence for 20 minutes, ‎Me pretending I wasn’t dying inside, ‎Him pretending he wasn’t watching me. ‎ ‎Then the last patient left, ‎Dead quiet, Just the hum of the machines. ‎ ‎He turned to me, He Really looked at me ‎ ‎Damien: “Can I ask you something?” ‎ ‎Me: my voice barely there“What?” ‎ ‎Damien:“Do I know you from somewhere?” ‎ ‎My heart stopped ‎ ‎Before I could answer, the lights flickered ‎Once, Twice. ‎ ‎Then the whole hospital went DARK ‎ ‎Emergency alarm: WEE WOO WEE WOO ‎ ‎Voice over speaker: “Code Black, Hospital lockdown, All staff to stations.” ‎ ‎And in the dark, I felt his hand grab my wrist tight, Like he was afraid I’d disappear. ‎Damien: whisper “Don’t move.” ‎ ‎