Page 24 of Losing My Siren Luna (Hidden Cove #1)

“Excuse me, Alpha,” I said, hoping to the goddess that he freely moves and doesn’t make this scene worse than it is.

Elelira is clinging to my shirt, her eyes closed tightly, and her small body is shaking like a leaf in my arms.

Lachlan’s eyes focused on my hands gripping her, and I could see the conflict of wanting to tell me to get my hands off his wife again on his face, but to my relief, he stepped to the side, giving me room to pass without saying a word.

Elelira’s hold on me remained tight as I walked with her out of the hall. My men followed me out, sensing as much as me that their Luna needed them.

Once outside the large, heavy wooden doors, as we began to go back to her room, I heard a fierce growl I am all too familiar with echo out behind us, and the crashing of what I assume was a table he just flipped.

“EVERYBODY OUT!” he roars, and I’m sure Killian is pushing his way out.

Elelira startles and jerks, whimpering softly as she clings to me more.

“I got you, lass. No one will be hurting you on my watch, Ela,” I whispered to her.

The pack members start to flow from the dining hall. I nodded to Maurice, telling him and the others in the link, “ Don’t let them come this way, stay behind and have everyone give her space. She can’t handle more surprises right now.”

“YES, COMMANDER,” they say in unison, then fall back to direct our fellow pack members away from their Luna.

I look down at the lass in my arms, and see her gripping a necklace tightly in the hand that is not holding onto me. Tears are streaming from the corners of her eyes and she’s bitten through her bottom lip.

I could punch the living daylights out of the alpha for the damage he just did; for scaring her like that.

She was so strong, facing off with him, until his hand shot out to grab her, then my aura and connection with her kicked to life, pulling her behind me right as her dominant aura collapsed into the broken woman she is now.

Lachlan insinuated that she was a whore, probably because of the rumors of her mother being one in Alpha Wayne’s pack, but I don’t think that is the case. She would be more numb to abuse, like Yasmin and the other brothel women are.

No, this lass was hurt by someone in her past, and from the way her uncle and his men acted in the brothels and bars last night, I can imagine the things she had to endure.

Damn it, I wish we could have chased them out of our territory the moment the wedding was over, but our pack needs their help and protection. We need the alliance or the threat of the North will come to try and destroy our home once again.

We need time to rebuild and strengthen our pack, which was the reason we tolerated the disgusting alpha and his lack of humanity and morals. The alliance also brought us Elelira.

If he hurt her..... Goddess help him, because he will need saving from my wrath. Not to mention the wrath of Lachlan. And Killian.... Killian will drown him in his own blood.

“Ela, lass, you’re safe now. We’re almost to your room. Do you want to go in, or do you want to go someplace else and collect yourself before facing others?”

Her body starts to relax, and I can tell she is focusing on her breathing to try and get control over her panicked state.

After a few minutes, and right before we reach her door, she takes another deep, steadying breath and finally looks up at me, a small smile playing on her face, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.

“I’m okay, Cherum. I’m sorry. I should have held myself together better. I just….” she bites her lip again, looking at her hand holding the necklace before looking back at me, “I’m fine now. I can walk.”

“You sure, lass?” I asked her, doubting her words in her current state.

“Yes, I’m sure. I need to speak to Yasmin and make sure she is alright. I can walk now. I don’t want to startle her.”

Oh, my sweet Luna. You are so worthy of that title, more than anyone else.

“I’ll put you down, Ela, if you would answer just one question for me.”

She tilts her head to the side, “What’s that?”

I hesitate, not sure if it is appropriate to ask this, but I need to know.

“Were you hurt in your previous pack? Did men do to you something like what was done to Yasmin last night?” I let the words escape me, probably sounding like an insensitive dolt, then held my breath, hoping she didn’t find offense at my asking.

She didn’t want me to ask Yasmin what happened to her, so she probably won’t like me asking her the same, but I need to know. I need to know how to protect her and keep her safe.

“I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable, Luna. I want to protect you from everything, though, including situations that can make you react like you did back there. If someone hurt you in that way-”

“I’m still a virgin, Delta,” she cuts off my words, “My….misfortunes were many in my uncle’s pack, but if you are worried about defending my virtue, it is still intact.”

I’m stunned by her straightforward way of speaking.

Well, I guess Lachlan does have some restraint, considering his young, lovely wife he is so obsessed with, despite his rash actions just now, is still a virgin. The poor fool.

My cheeks become hot, and I’m sure my face is as red as my bum when my mother would spank my arse for acting out when I was a lad.

“Luna,” I tried to hide my embarrassment with a cough, “Not all abuse of that nature would cause you to, uh, lose your virtue.”

She smiles sadly, “I know, Delta. I know that all too well. That is why I can never attach myself to an alpha that would condemn those who are in the most need of help. I don’t want to be the kind of person who lets victims suffer and endure by themselves.

I know how lonely that can be. That is why I need you to put me down, and let me get my bearings, because that woman in there needs someone.

Someone who can stand up for her when she feels too weak to stand up for herself.

No one should be cast out to suffer alone.

Especially for things they couldn't protect themselves from or that were done against their will.”

Wow....

My Luna.

I silently say a quick prayer up to the heavens, overcome by adoration and respect for the woman in my arms. She was weak and seemed helpless only a few minutes ago, but is pulling herself together to be the strength of someone else.

Oh, my goddess, I pledge in this moment to put this resilient and gloriously strong woman before all else in this life, because you know how badly we need her. We need a Luna as steadfast and empathetic as her, and I will be eternally grateful to you for giving me a Luna so worthy of serving.

I set Elelira on her feet, gently holding her arms as she got her balance.

She pats my cheek when she’s steady, smiling a true smile. “Thank you, Cherum. I know I was probably unpleasant when we first met, and I apologize for that, but I am grateful that you stood by me today. You have no clue how much that means to me.”

There goes my bum red cheeks again, though this time I feel the blush heating down the back of my neck.

“I will forever be happy to serve you, my Luna.”

~

Elelira POV

It takes me a moment to regain my composure.

Being kissed by Lachlan when Val was the one who initiated it was very different to the fear I felt when I thought Lachlan was going to strike me.

When his hands went out towards me faster than my brain could register, it was like the whole world faded around me.

Vivid and horrific memories of before my death overcame me, and the feelings that accompanied them. Val screamed in my head, louder than I'd ever heard her scream before. She had succumbed to the illusion that Lachlan cared for us, but that shattered with his actions just now.

Now we are both back on the same page; wanting to bide our time until we can leave.

" Can we find a way to leave now?" She asks, worried about what Lachlan might do to me next time we see him.

I'm more worried about what he will do if we leave before giving him an annulment or divorce. He can not take a chosen Luna until he does, at least not without aging through great lengths through the eldersof this pack, and then dealing with the broken alliance treaty with my uncle.

" We would have no place to go."

" Maybe someone here can take us in? Just until you get your magic back?" She suggests.

" Who? No one here will go against Lachlan, and we shouldn't put them in that position.

I shouldn't have even faced off with him like that in front of so many in his pack.

" I don't regret sticking up for Yasmin, and never will regret standing up for a woman in such a helpless position, but slapping and degrading him in front of his warriors and staff was not wise.

I probably made many enemies just then. I'm surprised that Cherum stood up for me the way he did.

I can't imagine where I would be now if he hadn't.

I’m mortified that I let that many people see me that weak.

I vowed to live like the dead, but the rage I felt at that moment, watching Lachlan’s unjust anger towards Yasmin, who had obviously come to the packhouse for safety after what I’m sure was a hellish night, I couldn’t take it.

I could not be an observer to such cruelty.

I know how it feels to suffer alone. I never wish that on anyone else.

" You did the right thing," Val tells me. " Don't doubt that, Ela. If you didn't stick up for her, no one else would have."

" I know." That's another thing that scares me about leaving this pack.

With Cherum, I feel like I have the strength and backing I need to protect women like Yasmin.

Women that others would just cast aside and label a whore.

In my short two years here, if I can help just one other woman with the new power I have as Luna in this life, it will make all the suffering I endure under Lachlan worth it.

" I like Killian, still," Val whimpers.

" There is no way to have one without the other ," I told her solemnly.

" I know," she sighed heavily.

Cherum opens my door for me once I have myself together. Inside, Percy is sitting at my table with a book I was gifted among the wedding presents, while maids are moving about organizing clothes and belongings that are clearly not mine in the closets and in the adjoining rooms.

“What is all this?” I asked, momentarily surprised at the disorganization.

It was slightly messy after I opened and unpacked everything earlier, but not to this extent. This is far, far more than what I was given by my brute of a husband. Because of the dark colors and the more masculine designs, I have a sick feeling that I know what is happening.

“The Alpha ordered us to move his belongings into this room, Luna,” Ingrid, one of the maids, tells me. “He is giving his room to Niomi so she can be closer to you, and ordered his things to be brought over here for now.”

“Oh, good goddess,” Cherum huffs, exasperated. He said what I'm feeling.

Great. I can’t even argue or decline the intrusion if it is for Mimi’s sake.

Maybe I can sneak off to my old bedroom in the cold tower at night.

I truly do not want to share a room fully with Lachlan after what just happened.

I don’t know why he would want to share a room with an unwanted wife he thinks is a whore anyway.

I sighed, “Where is my guest I sent ahead of me?” I asked Ingrid, but it was Percy who answered.

“Changing in the bathroom, Luna. Niomi and Gemma are in there, just like you requested.”

I smiled fondly at the warrior. “Thank you, Percy. And thank you for helping her back here to clean up.”

“You are welcome, my Luna. Are you alright, though?”

My smile falters, but I try to quickly compose myself as I nod. “Of course. Thank you.”

Mimi and Gemma emerged from the bathroom a few moments later, Yasmin following behind in one of my cousin’s old dresses my uncle had sent with me when he brought me here.

“You could have given her one of my new dresses. That one is quite old, though, it does look far better on you than it does on me.” She is the right size and height to fit in the dress, unlike me. I should give her the rest of the dresses from my cousin too.

Yasmin’s face turns red, making her freckles stand out as she brushes her hands down the skirt. “I am grateful, Luna. I will wash it and bring it back later tonight.”

“No. You keep it, Yasmin. You will need it, as you will be staying here to serve me.”

Her eyes look stunned as they moved back up to mine. “But…the alpha….”

“I will deal with him, lass,” Cherum says behind me, “If my Luna wants you here, here is where you belong.”

Her eyes start to glisten and a sob escapes her. “I don’t have to go back?” she asks in a weak voice.

I smiled sadly, then walked towards her, resting my hands on her shoulders.

“We will go together to get your belongings later today,” I looked to Cherum for reassurance that it was okay, and when he nodded, I continued, “but after that, you will never have to go back. No one can ever make you do anything you don’t want to do again. ”

Her tears spill over, and she throws herself in my arms, crying on my shoulder while I rub her back and comb my fingers through her hair.

“Thank you. Thank you, Luna. I thought I would die there after last night, but had nowhere else to go. Thank you, so, so much.”

My heart aches for her, and I can feel her relief, because it is my own. That moment of relief when I finally decided to die, when I decided to free myself from all the pain and agony; if her relief is anything like that, then it fills me with pride knowing I helped her to not face the same fate.

“Yasmin. Would you mind taking a walk with me along the beach? I have a story I wish to share with you, and once I’m done, I hope you can tell me your story too.