The Luna No One Wanted

Weeks passed, and I heard nothing from DeLuca or my family. I knew they would be furious with me for running away like that, but what could I do? I tried to rebuild my life away from the chains that had bound me to that life. I volunteered in a remote village, offering my hands and heart to little orphans and older people. I cherished their smiles and gratitude for my time; they were like a light to my darkness. But, of course, came the whispers of the other villagers; they followed me like shadows. 

"The Luna who was never claimed." Some would shout at me as I passed by on my way to the orphanage. Others would refer to me as the cursed one and the deaf one. No matter how much light I tried to bring into their lives, the darkness of my past clung to me like leeches. I could not shake it off, no matter what. 

"Serafina, why do they call you the cursed one?" A little boy, Finlay, wanted to know as I passed around plates of food and cups of water for the orphaned children. I forced a smile to my face and knelt to his level. The innocence on his face and the curiosity in his big brown eyes made my heart swell. He was no older than five years old and still had endured a lot of pain of his own. "Sometimes people are unkind, but what you feel inside your heart is all that truly matters," I told him softly.

"Oh, that's okay. Thank you, Serafina." He hugged me, and I smiled down at him. 

"That's quite right, little one. Now, how about you go and eat?" I said, to which he nodded his head, took his food, and quickly hurried off to join his friends. 

"Serafina." 

I froze to the spot.

My mother.

She had found me.

I turned to face her. 

"Mother," I greeted her respectfully, even though she had the same disappointed look in her eyes that I was so used to now. "How are you?"

She ignored my question and looked around us in disbelief. I saw how she shuddered and cringed because she felt a place like this was below her. I could feel how she felt shameful of me even being here doing what I was to help those in need. 

"You must return, Serfina," she declared. Her tone was as sharp as a blade, causing my heart to sink into my chest. I blinked a few times, wondering if I had heard her correctly. 

"What are you talking about, Mother?" I stammered, not liking where this conversation was headed. 

"I have arranged for you to marry Don Silvano Ricci. The union will bring power. You must come with me now." A sly grin formed on her face that reached her eyes. I gasped, gobsmacked at her statement. My mother had undoubtedly done some crazy things in her life, but this. This was not something that I wanted to agree to. 

The suggestion felt like a joke, a sick, twisted joke. What was I to my mother? Just a pawn for her to gain power and greed. Did she not care about how it would make me feel? As if I had not already been through enough.

"Well, let us not waste any more time, Serafina. We must leave immediately." My mother firmly stated, shattering the tiny fragments of hope for a better life. 

"I won't do it, mother. I refuse," I replied, my voice barely even a whisper but loud enough to fill her ears. 

"You will do as I say, Serafina." She growled, her rage boiling over as she reached out to strike my cheek. I almost fell at her forcefulness. Tears stung my eyes as I realised that I was losing more than just my hearing and my wolf. I felt my will to even breathe slipping through my grasp. 

What was the point in living if this was the life the moon goddess had set out for me?

"Please, mother, don't make me marry another. I can't take it anymore. I have suffered enough already." I begged, falling to my knees and looking at her pleadingly. 

"You think that you can hide away in this filthy rat-infested village, wrapped in your little fantasy world? You will marry, and you will fulfil your duty." She snarled furiously. 

Trembling at her words, I felt like I was sinking into more darkness. The weight of her high expectations of me felt far from my reach. The mere thought of going from one prison to another sickened me to the pits of my stomach. I would not do it. I would not allow my mother to make me live another day in a life where I was not wanted. 

"You are more than what they say. Serafina." I heard my wolf weakly utter those words in the back of my mind. She was right. I was worth more than those around me saw me. I had to stay strong for me and my wolf. I remembered Nonna's words the night I had arrived at her doorstep. It filled me with an undeniable urge to stand my ground. To fight for my freedom. The chance to carve my own choices. 

"No, mother. I refuse. I will not be bound by anyone's choice but my own." 

My mother remained momentarily silent as if processing my words, but another blow came. "If that is the choice you are sticking with, then I shall sell what is left of our land." And with that, she turned away and got back into the carriage; the horses began to gallop, pulling her further away from me. But then, it stopped, and my mother leapt out of the carriage. She yanked me by the arm, completely taking me by surprise, and I was thrown into the carriage. “You will do as I say; that is final.”