Naya's POV ****Seven years later**** After working for twelve hours, all I want to do is to go back home to my daughter, Jordan. I get into the car and shut the door, only then do I completely fall back against my seat. I'm so exhausted. I glance at my wristwatch, it's 12.15 am. I smile because it's my daughter's birthday. Seven years ago today, I was a teenager who had just given birth. I survived Luna Bloodton and ran away to a far away city, something that I would have never thought I would have the courage to do. Seven years ago, I was a teenager, running away from my mother in-law, clutching a few hours old child as the train headed towards what seemed to be oblivion. Now I am twenty four, a registered nurse, and my baby just turned seven years old. Life has been very scary, but I did it. I don't know how, but I have survived for seven years and I am so proud of myself. I feel my eyes getting filled with tears, but I wipe them away. I can't cry now. I nee
Naya's POV Meadow is already grabbing her jacket and bag as she gets ready to leave. It's not a problem, because she lives a few houses away. Our neighborhood is very safe. “Thank you so much for today.” I say to her as I take my purse and give her some money. “Thanks.” She takes the money with a grateful smile. “You should rest, you look so exhausted.” “I will, darling, right after I wrap my gifts.” I sigh. “Say hi to your mum, okay?” “Okay. I will call Jordan tomorrow, she is very excited for her birthday.” She tells me. I walk her to the door and wave her. I wait to see her get to the front yard of her house, before I go back into the house and shut the door. I grab myself a glass of wine and as I take out the gifts I bought for Jordan. An iPad, new trainers, a coloring set, about ten storybooks, she is going to be overjoyed tomorrow…. I am interrupted by my phone ringing. I glance at it and a wide smile appears on my face. It's my mum calling…. After ru
Naya's POV I can't believe that after seven years, I will be going back to Moonclaw. I knew that one day I would be forced to go to Moonclaw, but I didn't know that it would be this soon. It's frightening, but I pack some things for a very long trip, and get Jordan ready to go to Moonclaw. I decide to take my car, that way, I don't have to rent one when I get there. Jordan is excited. I haven't told her that Grandma is gone now. I tried alone, when I was sure that she wasn't going to see me, but I haven't been able to tell her the truth. She is sitting at the back, holding a coloring book and I drive. I have just driven past the ‘goodbye Flearock’ sign. Goddess, give me strength. I need strength to go through this with my daughter. I need strength to mourn my mother. “Hey, mum?” Jordan looks up. “Yes?” I look at her through the mirror. “Do you like salty cake?” “What?” I screw my face. “I saw you crying and eating cake yesterday. I was wondering if it's because you like
Naya's POV Tracy is quiet at the other end of the phone. I smack my lips against each other, it's either that or the tears come out again. “Are you finally back? Is this permanent?” Tracy sighs. “I… I don't know.” I push my hair away from my face. “This place has not been good to me, Tracy.” “It has been seven years, Naya. You are free now. I'm sure that he won't recognize you, even if you encounter him on the road.” I smile. I appreciate Tracy's good words. She has been my only source of comfort. “The moon is out today. That's your mother smiling down at you.” *****Sitting on the ground in my mother's house. Her urn is next to me as I sort her mail. I thought that it would be harder, seeing her pale body on that table. I thought I would fall and go unconscious too, but it wasn't. She has been cremated and I held onto the urn in the car for an hour straight. I felt her in my arms, I feel her close to me now. “I can't move here.” I speak to the urn. To my mother. “I can't e
Naya’s POV Driving to the hospital is a smooth ride. I find myself at peace and nothing about meeting Erus crosses my mind. I get to the hospital and drive to the parking lot. I grab my baseball hat and put it on my head, just in case anyone recognizes me. I grab the basket and walk to the front. The reception is calm. I can see that nothing much is happening in the hospital today. “Hi, good afternoon.” I say to the nurse at the front. “I am here to drop off some clothes that are to be donated to the Good People foundation.” “Okay, Miss,” she smiles. She hands me a clipboard with a paper to fill. I heave as I start to fill. It's nothing much, I am almost done in two minutes. “Take your for your donation, please make sure you leave your phone number as someone will call you to appreciate–” The loud blowing of the siren makes both of us turn around. Five ambulances screech as they come to stop in front. The workers rushes out, bringing in injured people on stretchers. Almost tw
Naya's POV Twenty people, that's how many people I snatched from the hands of death and now, they are lying in their beds stable and recovering. I slide to the ground, my entire shirt and trousers are covered with blood and other bodily fluids.Even though I am exhausted and so sweaty, the feeling of fulfillment that comes with saving lives is heavy in my heart today. A nurse is next to me, she is panting and her head is against the wall. We look at each other and we laugh. “Hi, I'm Pat.” She stretches out her gloved hand. “Naya.” I shake her equally gloved hand. “Hi. You are not a new hire, are you?” “No. I am a registered nurse that coincidentally walked into the hospital when it happened.” I say. “I see.” Pat says. “I saw all that you did. You are incredible. You are a hero.” The Chief comes into the room and everyone immediately stands up. Pat and I go to clean up and dispose of our gloves. The Chief goes around, commending the staff for a well done job. With the sever
Erus' POV It's almost midnight, I hear about the major accident in the city, even though I have just gotten out of a meeting. I ask my security to take the rest of the day off, send Brandon home, and I drive myself to the hospital. That's what a good Alpha does. Make sure that his pack and city is protected all the time. After speaking with the chief doctor of the hospital, I am assured that everything is fine. “Thank you, Alpha, for coming to our aid. Everything is under control, the Doctors and nurses worked so hard. Only one casualty was experienced.” “Praise be the goddess.” I say. “I would like to say a quick word of appreciation.” The doctor chuckles nervously and says something about how the staff would have prepared better if this wasn't so out of the mood. I know that the staff are not in their best shape, there is blood all over and their clothes are not formal enough for a meeting with me, but I am just here to appreciate them for the good work that they have done.
Naya's POV My hands are still shaking, while I drive back to my hotel, to my daughter. I barely get to the parking lot before I run upstairs and shut the door behind me. “He didn't follow me, no, he didn't.” I shut my eyes and whispers to myself. I hope he didn't have the sense to follow me. I just got back to Moonclaw. I have just gotten my live into shape. The unfortunate thing I know is that it won't take long him to find me. He will want questions why I am alive! “Hey, Naya, are you okay?” I open my eyes.”Jordan is sleeping, don't worry about her.” Tracy is drying her hands with a towel as she walks towards me. “Oh, hey, Tracy, thank you for helping me.” I say. “You're welcome. I saw the news on the television. It was so bloody,” she winces. “It was, but we have been able to contain the situation. Most of the patients are stable now.” I say. Tracy head is slightly tilted to the side as she nods as I speak. “Um, Naya, are you okay? You look like you have just been chase
Naya's POV We walk into the mall like two normal girls that want to get over a drunk night. “I've never been to prison. I heard it's bad.” Sherry whispers to me. “Yeah, me too, but we are not going to jail today, don't worry. Maybe we can go another time.” I chuckle. Sherry chuckles back with me, but it's obvious to see that she is very uncomfortable with this. Usually, it's the other way around. Sherry would be the one to push me to do things. Since she is so scared, I give her the duty of distraction, and decide to steal the liquor myself. “Flirt with the lady at the front," I whisper to her. “What?! I'm not even a lesbian!” “Well, you are today. Don't mess this up, okay? I will be back and you will meet me at the back.” I walk away and soon, I find the liquor shelf. I don't think I have tasted alcohol more than a few times in my life, and I am not very proud of that. Because I don't know much about liquor, I just run my hands over the bottles, until I find one that cat
Naya's POV I don't believe her, I snatch the card from her, but the name printed on the expensive card is Erus Bloodton. “Oh, Lord,” I fall back against the bed. “You robbed Erus and now he is going to kill the both of us.” “Relax, he gave it to me.” She chuckles as she lies back next to me. “He came to my house and he apologized for causing the strain in our relationship!” I turn my neck to look at her. “Wait, you're telling me that THE Erus, apologized to you?” “He did.” Sherry nods. “He wants us to be good friends again. I don't know him that well, but I think that he approves of our relationship now.” I roll to get closer to her, and I pull her into a hug, the sting of tears in my eyes. Sherry is the closest thing that I have to a sister, and I have lived a cruel life without her all these years…“Okay, that's enough, I don't want both of us to start crying like someone died. Get into your big ass closet and get you the sexiest fit you can find…” *****We drive in Sherry's
Naya's POV At the end of the longest work day of my life, I pick up my bag and throw my coat over myself. They are talking about me, I see my colleagues in groups of twos and threes, throwing glares my way with their judgy eyes. My only offense is that Erus decided that he wanted to tell everyone that I was his wife, and no patient wants them to treat them. I walk out of the locker room and hurry to the chief's office. I enters into his office without knocking and I quickly shut the door after myself. He is on a call, which he quickly ends as soon as he sees me. “Oh, Miss Woods, I wasn't expecting to see you.” he stands up. “Is this a good time, chief? I really need to speak to you about something.” “Yes, Miss Naya, I was going to ask you to see me maybe tomorrow, because there is something that has been bothering me.” My face falls as I see the look of hesitation in his eyes. He is about to fire me! Yeah, today was a very shitty day, but I still love being a nurse. “Plea
Erus' POV She stops for a while, her hands stuck in the air. “Wait, you are not here to kill me? Instead, you want me to amend the relationship between Naya and I?” “Exactly. Since I was the reason why it was strained in the first place.” I shrug. “Huh.” Her hands go to her waist. “What changed, Alpha? This is very unlike you.” “Yes, Sherry, it is very unlike me, just… Naya gets depressed very easily over simple things, so you should be there to cheer her up.” I say. “She will need her best friend, and you have to be there for her. I have prepared a girl's date for you two. Don't worry, I will be with Jordan throughout the day. You girls should catch up.” Sherry chuckles nervously. “This has got to be a very fucked up dream.” “It's not, Sherry.” I sigh. “Come on, are you in or not?” “Are you kidding me? I'm so in!” She rejoices. “We have a lot to talk about! I have to tell her about the asshole I almost got married to four years ago–” She stops when she sees that one of my ey
Erus' POVThe drive home is quiet. Naya keeps wiping her eyes with a handkerchief that Brandon pressed into her hand, but Jordan is having a swell time.She keeps humming a song as she swings her legs back and forth.“Mummy, I'm a kind of princess!” She grins.Naya smiles, but she looks more scared than she looks jovial.We hardly say anything until we get to the house and they step out. Naya quickly steps out of the car and rushes into the house, without saying a word.I walk Jordan to the door and she heaves when I let go of her hand. “Don't tell me that you can't spend the night today, dad.”“I know, my love, I have to attend a meeting.” I squat in front of her, adjusting her dress. “How about you go to bed and we will talk tomorrow? It's going to be a big day for both of us.”Yes. She is now officially Jordan Bloodton to the world, and the whole of Moonclaw will acknowledge that from now.She hugs me, putting her small hands around my neck. “I love you, Daddy.”“I love you too, J
Naya's POV My hands are shaking. The devil just announced to the world that I am his wife. That I am still his wife. “Hey, you're going to be fine.” Sherry pulls me into a hug. We are supposed to be happy that we are together after being away for so long. We are supposed to be so happy, but Erus has decided to take it further and just ruin my life a little more. Sherry wipes my tears and lifts my chin up. She hasn't changed, her gentle eyes become even softer when they look at me. “Listen to me, he can't ruin you. He can only try.” She says to me. “But why would he do something like that? I told him that I wanted to keep Jordan out of the spotlight.” “He probably just wanted to show you up to everyone.” She smiles at me. “You will be fine, cheer up. He might be an asshole, but I know that he won't allow anything to happen to you, or Jordan. I will always be here for you, Naya. Always.” It's like we are back in junior high. Like the times I locked myself in the restroom to hide
Erus’ POV The look of betrayal on her face doesn't move me. She holds on to Jordan tighter, but when I give the signal, she is snatched from her hands. She is not going to cause a scene, I know. Her eyes glistens with tears, but she doesn't even move from her seat. Her friend, the only one person who has ever thought to challenge me, Sherry, she consoles Naya. Naya holds her hand over her mouth, but she doesn't even speak… her eyes are doing enough of the talking. Jordan is brought to me. I take her in my hand, and she smiles. “Jordan, everyone.” I say. “Hail the future Luna!” One of the top officials shouts. They all bow as low as they can get. Naya is the only defiant one. She stands straight, boring holes through me with those pain-filled eyes of hers. “Daddy, who are all these people?” Jordan whispers. “Your subjects, my love.” I tell her. “Each and every one of them lives to serve you. Smile and wave, my child.” Everyone sits down, smiling and talking to themselves. T
Naya's POV I told myself that I was never going to attend a meeting like this ever again, especially after Erus and his mother kicked my mother out, but here I am. I look out of the window, at the family's strolling into the building, and my throat clogs with anxiety. “Brandon, I can't do this.” I shake my head. “You can do this, mummy.” Jordan fits her tiny hand into mine. I smile at her, even though anxiety is tearing me up on the inside. “We can stop by the restroom, first. I assure you that we will make sure that you get a seat where no one will notice you.” “Thank you, Brandon.” I sigh. The driver stops the car at a secret door, and Brandon gets the door. Jordan and I step out, into a small passage, and into a bathroom. Jordan stays with Brandon in the passage, while I go to the bathroom to splash some water on my face. I open my bag and take out my lipstick. It's not too red, but it gives my face a little bit of some glow back. “Please, moon goddess, please help me.
I wake up the next morning feeling like a block of cement was dropped on me. My entire body is weak with pain, and I wince as I turn around in the bed. I catch a glimpse of the clock and it sends me rolling and tumbling out of bed. I overslept! Jordan will be late for school, I will be late for work, and this is going to be the worst thing ever for me! “Jordan! Jordan, honey, you are going to be late for school!” I rush to her bedroom, but when I open the door, she is not in her bed! I forgot that she slept with Erus in the living room. I rush down, hoping to find both of them sleeping, but they are not there. I rush to the kitchen, to the other rooms, but she is nowhere to be found. Did someone come in the middle of the night and take my daughter?! The head servant Grace comes in from the quarters. “Good morning, madame, you look so troubled.” “I can't find my child!” I tell her, holding my hand over my head. “I overslept, she is going to be late for school–” “The Alpha too