Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Aeson’s POV

I keep looking at Mom, but she doesn’t turn around. But why?

She doesn’t look angry, or sad either. Dad’s hand falls on my shoulder, steady like always, telling me where I’m supposed to stand.

No, mom must be wrong this time. I saw it myself-

“Ah…”

Imema whimpers, like she’s in pain again. Oh no!

I turn around to check on her. Thank the Moon Goddess, dad has already moved to her side.

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Her face is totally pale like paper, her body trembling like a leaf in a storm. When she looks like this, everything else is supposed to stop.

“Imema!”

Before I can blink, dad picks her up, holding her softly.

He turns to me, his voice clipped. “Aeson, stay right here. Don’t Hove.”

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I nod automatically, although I’m not feeling good either. But Grandma told me that Thema’s body is always betraying her. It’s not her fault she gets dizzy, dad has to help her.

I watch him carry Imema towards the back of the restaurant, his steps fast, his jaw set. Her fingers clutch his sleeve like she’s scared, and my hand clenches out of fear and worry.

Mom’s scent is also gone…

I don’t want to think about her, but my mind automatically brings up the thought. No, no. She’s a liar!

I sit down at the table Dad left me at. My legs don’t quite reach the floor, but I press my hands together in my lap. My head feels full of buzzing bees…

People whisper around me, and I don’t mean to listen… but my wolf ears are better than most humans‘.

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“Ricky, look at that kid,” a woman says nearby. “He’s younger than you, but he already knows how to protect his mom and chase off a mistress. You better learn from him, okay?”

I freeze.

“Next time that woman bothers your dad,” she continues, “you should be like him. Don’t freeze up again. Got it?”

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A boy’s voice answers, soft but determined. “Got it.”

I turn my head slowly. A woman about Mom’s age is sitting at the next table, with a boy who looks a little older than me.

He has messy hair and big, round eyes that are fixed at me like I’m something shiny.

Noticing my stare, Ricky slides off his chair and walks over.

“You’re really cool!”

I blink. “Huh?”

He grins. “Can you teach me how to chase away a mistress?”

My brain stumbles. “A… mistress?”

He frowns, like I’m slow, and then starts explaining with seriousness.

A mistress is someone who breaks a mom and dad apart. They make them get divorced and make the mom really, really sad.”

Confusion burns in my chest.

“I didn’t-”

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I start, but he keeps going, fists clenched.

“They’re evil! There’s a bad woman bothering my dad too, but…”

He looks down at his shoes. “I don’t know how to make her go away to protect my mom.”

He looks back up, his eyes full of stars. “But you! You are completely different. You made the mistress run away! You fixed it, and brought your mom and dad back together.”

I stare at him. “Fixed it?”

Ricky nods vigorously.

“Yeah! You scared off the mistress….”

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He points vaguely toward where my dad went. “And then dad carried your mom away!”

your

Something feels wrong, like a puzzle piece forced into the wrong place. Brought my mom and dad back together? But… Mom left first!

Oh! Maybe, he thinks Imema is my mom.

Before I can clarify, Ricky’s mom comes over. She smiles at me and puts a gentle hand on my head.

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She’s human, but her touch feels warm.

“You’re very brave, you know that? Standing up like that.”

for your mom

She sighs, shooting a look at Ricky. “Not like this one, who started singing praises of that woman just because she gave some candies and berries…”

him

Ricky scratches his head, his ears turning pink. “But Mom, you never let me have candy…”

She crouches down.

“I don’t let you have it because I don’t want you to get sick. I want you to be strong.”

Her voice is soft but firm, like when Mommy tells me I can’t have cloud candy before dinner, even though Imema says a little bit is okay.

Mommy always says my tummy is special. But Imema says Mommy is too strict…

Ricky throws his arms around her neck. “I know I was wrong. You always take care of me. Please don’t be mad.”

She hugs him back, resting her chin on his head. “Took you

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almost falling for that woman’s tricks to finally see who really loves you, huh?”

Ricky nods into her shoulder.

“It’s okay baby. Don’t be sad now. Better late than never, right?”

His mom pulls back and looks at him, and her face looks healthy and glowing for the first time.

They go back to their table… I sit very still.

Imema gives me sweets, she says it’s okay because I deserve treats. Mom says sugar upsets my stomach, but Grandma says Mom worries too much…

About half an hour later, dad and Imema return. She’s walking now, but Dad’s hand stays around her arm.

“I’m fine, I told you Aires…”

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Imema says softly. “Really! It was just a little dizzy spell. Low blood sugar. No need for all this fuss…”

“You’ve been fainting too often. We’re going to the healer wing,

now.”

Imema’s smile looks tight. “Really, I’m okay. Look, Aeson hasn’t gaton yet. Let’s just have dinner, I can go tomorrow.”

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They walk over and dad stops in front of where I’ve been standing all alone.

“Imema isn’t well. I’m taking her to the hospital first. We’ll eat after.”

My dad is like that. He decides, and that’s it.

I start to nod again; after all, rules are rules.

But my tummy grumbles, and I suddenly start feeling sick.

Mom’s face pops into my head. Until today, she always had

food ready right on time. She says that if I eat late, I’ll get a stomachache and won’t sleep.

my

Even when we went out with Imema, Mom always packed special snacks in my bag.

Imema’s soft voice cuts in. “Aires, Aeson’s constitution is weak… maybe he should eat something first?”

“Your health is the priority.”

Imema doesn’t argue, her cheeks are looking red when she looks down at me with a gentle smile. “Aeson, sweetheart, how about we get you a slice of strawberry cake to eat in the car? We can eat properly after.”

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Although strawberry cake is my favorite, I don’t feel like eating it today.

But I can’t tolerate the hunger any longer.

“Okay.”

Imema seems a little surprised by my quietness but doesn’t say anything, simply gets a server to pack a huge slice of cake in a box.

She holds my hand as we walk out. Dad walks ahead, already calling the driver. In the car, Imema sits in the front seat like always.She gets carsick, it’s not her fault.

‘Aeson, be careful with the crumbs, sweetie. Don’t make a mess.”

“If I didn’t get carsick, I’d sit back there with you,” she sighs, her voice full of regret.

I look down at the white box in my lap. I think of Mommy, sitting in the back with me on long rides, playing word games so

I wouldn’t be bored. She never got carsick.

The words just pop out of my mouth.

“Ms. Volkov,” I ask, looking up to meet her eyes in the rearview

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mirror. “Are you a mistress?”

The car goes utterly silent as Imema’s gentle smile freezes over.

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