Chapter 6

***

I was already feeling sleepy. I have been yawning a million times now. I looked at Russell, he smiled at me. By this time, we were both lying face up. “I want to sleep,” I told him and yawned again. He propped up an elbow, looking at me.

“I know,” he said. “Go on, close your eyes and I will watch you sleep.”

I raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Don’t you sleep?” I queried.

“Not when you’re awake,” he declared and I smiled. He kissed my forehead and I smiled, turning on my side. He lay down too, I crossed my arm over his chest and closed my eyes to sleep.

~Russell~

I watched Muriel sleep beautifully. She must really be a strong lady to have gone through all that. Her mother was right. Her eyes indeed attracted a demon, and luckily she turned out to be my mate. Henceforth, I won’t let her undergo such torture again. As for Lucian, having Muriel as his Luna is only a dream that will never come through. Muriel is mine and mine alone. With that, I closed my eyes. Since she came into my life, sleep has become part of me, unlike those days when sleeping seems to be my enemy.

~Muriel~

Russell was gone before I woke up. I knew he would be back, so, that didn’t bother me much. I freshened up and sat in front of the vanity table to apply light makeup. The door soon creaked open and Jennifer came along, holding a large gift box.

“Hello, my lady,” she greeted, moving to me. I looked around me like I was searching for something. “What are you looking for, my lady?” Jennifer asked.

“I was looking for the person you are referring to as my lady. What’s that for?” I questioned and faced back to the mirror, releasing my tied wavy hair to fall to my back. She smiled.

“You are the Luna of Bluemoon pack and I am your handmaid, you deserve the entitlement. I won’t be left out to address you by a name so befitting.”

“Tsk! Quit it, Jenny. I am nobody’s Luna. I am Muriel, your sister and I would love it when you see me as that,” I declared.

“The Alpha will kill me if I dare call you by your name in his presence,” Jennifer stated in a whispering tone and I chuckled. “That’s by the way, the Beta said I should give this to you,” Jennifer announced, presenting the gift box to me.

“What is this?” I asked, collecting the box from her.

“I wouldn’t know, my lady,” Jennifer declared. I shot a squinted eye at her and she rolled her eyes with a smile. I opened the gift box and brought out a dress. It was a sky blue off-shoulder gown with a lacy-covered upper part, flared from the waist, stitched in between the breast line. It looked more like Cinderella’s gown when she went to the prince’s ball party. I looked at Jenifer, she shrugged her shoulders.

“What is this for?” I asked.

“It’s for the meeting, Muriel,” Beta Neil declared, walking into my room. He had his hands crossed to his back as he walked with the aura of authority. He is a man of virtue, despises evil dealing and promotes peace among the pack members. Alpha Desmond always says that “as long as Beta Neil is still alive, Bluemoon pack shall be a home of peace to all its members.” But Lucian’s hostility toward me couldn’t be stopped by Beta Neil. Possibly because Lucian was a hothead, unlike his father, Alpha Desmond. I stood up as he moved closer to us. Jennifer excused herself.

“Greetings, Beta Neil,” I saluted, bowing a bit. He was among the great men in the pack that I will always show my respect.

 “How are you doing, Muriel?” Beta Neil asked as a flick of a smile appeared on his face. He has always been a straight-faced person, concerned with the affairs of the pack, busy every minute. I wonder how he manages to have time for his daughters, having lost his mate many years ago.

“I am okay, Beta. If I may ask, what meeting are you talking about?” I queried, taking a step back from him.

“Ahem!” he cleared his throat. “It’s the meeting of the Alphas. All the Alphas from different packs are coming to Bluemoon pack today to decide on a crucial matter,” he stated.

“Okay, so, where…do I come in?” I asked, leaning my back against the vanity table.

“You see, Muriel, the meeting of the Alphas is not or never held without the Lunas. Every Alpha is meant to show up with their mate,” he explained.

“Oh!” I sounded, moving away to the bed. I turned around and faced the Beta again. “So, what’s my business in that?”

“Come on, Muriel,” Beta Neil commented, moving to me. “You know where I’m heading. You are expected to be with Lucian when the Alphas and Lunas arrive.”

“Now I get it,” I rolled my eyes. “Sorry to disappoint you, Beta Neil, I am neither Lucian’s mate nor his Luna. The dress should be handed to someone else, I’m not interested,” I declared and headed to the closet to get my dress. I was still in my bathrobe.

“Don’t say that, Muriel. If you are not his mate, who is? I know he has hurt you a lot, but he has realized his mistakes now. Forgive him and rule with him, you are a better choice for him. You are intelligent, beautiful, and worthy of being called a Luna. Don’t throw all those away for minor childhood pranks you call hatred,” Beta Neil stated. I turned a dark squinted eyes at him. I slammed the closet door angrily.

“What did you just say, Beta Neil? Do you refer to Lucian’s hostility toward me as a minor prank? Do you know what I have been through in his hands? The whipping, the starvation, sleeping in the dungeon, being defiled and mocked, you call all this a minor prank. What if something bad happened to me on the night of my birthday when I ran out of the pack because of Lucian, would you have said it was a minor prank or forget about me and provide another Luna for the pack?” I poured out. I saw concern and remorse in his forest-green eyes. He couldn’t look into my eyes anymore. Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Okay, fine, let’s say his hostility was a prank, his mother murdered my mother out of jealousy. Do you think I would want to spend the rest of my life with the son of that woman? Tsk tsk! I respect you a lot, Beta Neil. Don’t let Lucian’s issue come in the way of that respect. If you don’t mind, I would love to change,” I declared and headed to the bathroom to change into my dress. He didn’t say anything else, he only sighed. Before I entered the bathroom, I turned back to him. “Don’t forget to take the dress away,” I reminded and entered the bathroom.

~Lucian~

I moved back and forth in my room. It is almost time for the arrival of our noble guests and Beta Neil is yet to turn up with Muriel’s response. I stopped moving and began tapping my feet on the floor instead, checking the clock every second. Then the door finally opened, reeling me in my spot and facing Beta Neil.

“Thank God you are here, what did she say? I nervously asked. Beta Neil looked down sadly, which shot reality into my heart. She isn’t attending. I sighed.

“It will be hard for her to see you as her mate, Lucian. I can’t believe you hurt her so much,” Beta Neil stated. I looked away, scratched the back of my hair, and faced Beta Neil again.

“Do you suggest I go talk to her myself?” I queried.

“Try your luck, but she’s pissed,” Beta Neil said. I headed out.