Page 15 of Forever My Siren Luna (The Hidden Cove #2)

“That was the least of my problems, though. Besides the constant betrayal pains, I was also forced to be alone all the time. Mimi was even taken from me by illness after a year. She was my only advocate for human decency in my first life. After she died, I was completely heartbroken. I had to mourn her loss by myself, then was completely shunned by the staff and omegas on your Alpha’s orders.

I rarely ate. I could get scraps from the kitchen if any were left after the staff ate.

I was left in that horrid tower room with no firewood or even a decent blanket.

My life was hell up until my 20th birthday.

He simply told me on that morning he was annulling our marriage, left the papers with me to sign, then told me to get out by sundown.

“That’s just what I did. I waited until the moment my magic came to me so he could feel it, then rejected him, leaving just as he asked.

I didn’t know he wouldn’t accept the rejection.

Who would think he wouldn’t after the hell he put me through.

Now, to find out that that was the same man who treated me so tenderly, like he might actually love me, but was the one who completely hated me in my first life?

” I shake my head. “It just feels like a lie. He just wanted his fated mate. He never wanted me.”

Cherum is quiet for a moment, letting me get my breathing under control after my outburst and angry tirade. Beretta is even silent, looking at me with understanding. Not pity, but true empathy.

“That’s not true, Ela,” Cherum grabs my face, wiping my tears from my face.

I hated that I was crying again, but Cherum’s comfort just brought it out of me.

“People can change. He is not that same man anymore. He did unspeakable things, I know, but if he was still that person, he would be doing the same things now. He hasn’t done anything remotely not in favor of you since the day of your wedding.

Even your feud that first breakfast here was because he was scared of losing you.

Every thought he has seems to be about you.

I know he loves you. And….” he hesitates, then added, “You wouldn’t be crying like this if you didn’t still love him too. ”

I can’t even deny it. I do love him. “But I don’t want to,” I admitted.

“I know, sweetheart,” Cherum tries to bring me to his lap to hug me against him, but Val pushes forward and growls at his attempt, not liking me being babied.

He chuckles deeply. “Down, girl. Easy, Val. I know you can kick my arse ten ways to Tuesday. I saw it with my own eyes. I am still your Delta. I still want to comfort your human when I can.”

Val settled back into my mind with a huff, but let him hug me. He sat on the sharp rocks, wincing a bit, but didn't complain. He just put me on his lap and hugged me against him. He held me with my head tucked under his chin, his soothing aura washing over me.

“I hate that you went through all that,” he murmured. “I hate that you were alone. Was I not there at all in your first life?”

I shook my head. He was there, but he didn’t acknowledge me. None of them did. I was shunned by everyone.

“What was I doing?”

I shrugged, not wanting to hurt him by telling him. I know it will eat at him and he will feel guilty, even though he shouldn’t.

He sighed. “Well, no one would treat you that way now. Your mate may be an idiot, but he really has done nothing but try to fix things with you. Even with Niomi. He must have known she might get an illness soon, because he had been treating her like a queen. You would think the woman was his own mother the way he fawns over her.”

Hearing that makes me smile a little bit. I was worried about her being away for so long. If it wasn’t for her and knowing she might be getting sick soon, I might not have come back.

“He should have treated her like a queen before,” I muttered, “He tried to take her away from me, remember?”

“And now she has his alpha bedchamber and he assigned her maids of her own, labeling them as assistants.”

He had assigned her Gemma before. I thought he did that for my sake and not hers, though.

“Just talk to him, Ela.”

“Did he send you out here to tell me that? To talk well about him to me?” I scoffed.

“No. He said just to keep an eye on you and be there for you like this. He said not to keep secrets from you about anything either, so I’m not. I’m going to tell you like it is. I won’t lie to you, even for your benefit.”

“Good,” I growled, earning another laugh from him. “I can kick your arse if you try.”

“I will give you a fair attempt to kick it, but my arse is a lot bigger than your girlfriend’s over there.”

“Mine’s prettier though,” Beretta teases him, snacking her own ass playfully.

“I won’t deny that,” Cherum grinned. “Now, let's get these boots laced and I’ll get both your fine arses a mug of my special coffee before we head to town for a proper drink. I’m inviting myself along.”

“Great. I wouldn’t mind staring at your fat arse through the night,” Beretta bats her eyes at him. “Feel free to do the same.”

His face turns red again, as he mutters incoherently under his breath. Shy as ever. I missed him.

Cherum settled me on a smooth rock and laced up my boots for me, easily maneuvering the laces around the hooks and tying them tightly at the top.

Val was a little disgruntled by his treatment of me, saying he was treating us like a child.

I knew he wasn’t. He just wanted to be close to me again.

A Delta needs their Luna. The Delta bond and level of devotion was similar to what a mate bond was supposed to be like.

We aren’t too sure about the mate bond with Lachlan, but I am sure that Cherum’s Delta bond is true.

“ I wonder what the arrogant jerk is doing?” Val mused, trying to sound like she didn’t really care, but I could tell she wanted me to ask.

“What is he doing now?” I asked Cherum as he helped me to my feet.

“I’m not too sure. He sent me off to chase after you after your big brother Jack showed him a trick with a coin.”

“A coin?” I looked at Beretta and was snorting, choking with restrained laughter. She must know what he’s talking about, even though I have no clue.

“Nifty little bit. I might remember it to show off for myself one day. I need to find a dull coin to start carrying around.”

“Here,” Beretta grabbed one out of her pocket and flicked it to him. “You can have this one if you would be ever so kind as to have someone get our boat back to the ship.”

“I can do that. Hmm. Do you think I could really skin someone with the edge of this?” He asked while examining the coin.

“Why would you want to?” I raised my eyebrows at him.

“Sounded like a good time,” Cherum grinned darkly. “Next time I find one of your uncle’s men I will be testing it out.”

“If there is anything left of them,” Beretta grins. “Your Luna doesn’t have restraint when she comes across her uncle’s warriors. Not even when there is a ship full.”

I smirked at her. “Val likes tasting fear in them before they die.”

“Wait,” Cherum stopped to gape at me. “You’ve killed your uncle’s men?”

“Slaughtered might be a better word to describe what she does,” Beretta chuckled. “Never left any work for the rest of us.”

“ Every breath those vermin sucked in was a waste of oxygen,” Val growled. “ Why prolong the waste?”

" Why indeed? They never know what hit them."

“That’s a scary look on your face right now, Luna,” Cherum stared at me warily.

“Sorry,” I tried to control my expression. “Val was being funny.”

“Vicious little beast,” Cherum shivered. “Though, I guess little is not applicable to describe her.”

“She’s glorious,” I praised my Lycan, making her purr.

“That she is. The Alpha couldn’t take his eyes off her.”

I rolled my eyes, acting like hearing about him annoyed me, even though I could feel Val’s pride at Cherum’s words.

Maybe I should talk to him soon. Everything just got emotional earlier. We need to sit down, just me and him, and get our differences aside so we can get to what really matters. Killing my uncle and ridding the world of him once and for all. We can figure out the rest after that.