CALEUM POV
At first, I wanted to deny the idea of riding with Liora but decided not to. She was right about what she said—she isn't the same person I had loved; she is now my stepmother and, of all things, the Luna of this pack.
I thought she would want to see me, but I am glad I was wrong. Maybe this might help me forget about her and probably do what I couldn't do all these years; moving on.
Until the Moonfest festival, I would make sure to keep reminding myself that the cold and ambitious woman who I met in the same house I was thrown out of was nothing like my moonshine.
"Thank you—"
"You don't have to thank me; after all, the car belonged to your husband," I interrupted her before getting into the car.
I started the car before driving down the road. Even though I have a lot of questions to ask her, I held them in.
Throughout the ride, we both didn't say a word to each other. Though I wanted to at least hear her apologize to me or even feel guilty.
I pulled over then got out of the car without caring if I was inside that car with Liora, oh, Luna Liora.
"Caelum—"
"Luna Liora, whatever you have to say, save it," I cut her off.
When I wanted her to speak to me, she didn't. At the very least, we have to pretend not to know each other. Every eye is on me.
If I want to protect my aunt, I have to remember the reason I came here and stick to it. Our love obviously ended three years ago.
It was just me selfishly holding back to the straw of false hope just as I did in my father's case.
I snapped out of the thoughts spiraling my mind into chaos before entering the building I so much dreaded.
I thought it couldn't get any worse, but her presence just ruined everything!
****
Throughout the day, she avoided me. She barely came downstairs, as if she was invisible in the house.
It should be a reason for me to be calm, but I felt worried. Liora isn't the type to just stay indoors for what seemed like hours. She is bright, loves associating with everyone, and also hates staying indoors except when she was chatting with me.
Shit! I hate that I am worried about her. She is supposed to be the last person I am thinking of.
"Sir, dinner is ready," a feminine voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She looked older, leaving me no option but to believe she is the chief servant here.
"Ma—"
"I am Hiba, sir," she interrupted me politely.
"Hiba, why is Luna Liora not out of her room? Does she always stay indoors?"
She smiled at my question as if she knew that was exactly what I wanted to ask about. "She needs to stay out of your presence, in fact, all guests. As the Luna of our pack, she has to be pure," Hiba paused, confusing me. "Those lustful gazes, Alpha Zand hates it so much. He almost murdered one of his important guests for staring at Luna Liora."
"To avoid something similar from happening, she has always been out of the guests' sight," she added.
"But she hates being indoors," the words rolled out before I could stop myself.
"Over the years, she got used to it, and she isn't always alone in her room doing nothing. She could be going through the pack's complaints and other tasks given by our Alpha," Hiba explained, making me understand everything.
Maybe my wish came to pass. She is living in misery, even if it seems less a misery to a workaholic like her.
"Sir, I have to go now, I —"
"Sure," I quickly interrupted her.
After Hiba walked away, I couldn't help but wonder why Liora chose this life. To live this way.
I snapped out of whatever this was before leaving for the dining room.
I ate the food in a rush like I always do, unable to waste any minute here.
I need to talk to Liora.
I can't keep up with these lies.
I want to look her in the face, tell her I miss her and hug her tightly. Even if I look pathetic to her, I don't care.
I am just done lying to myself!
I let go of the cutlery, then stood up before heading to Liora's room like I was under some spell.
The closer I got to her room, the louder the soft and weird sound I kept hearing.
Finally in front of her room, her door opened, I rushed in.
I searched every corner of the room for her, but she wasn't there, not even the weird sound I heard coming from her room.
Maybe I misheard everything, or maybe this was as a result of exhaustion.
Just when I made a turn to walk out of her room, what seemed like moans echoed, this time the direction it was coming from was certain.
I traced the voice, wondering what it was, not as if Zand is back from whatever trip he embarked on.
"Fuck… yes… Caelum…"
My body went cold the moment I flung open the door of a room which seemed like the bathroom.
Liora had her fingers thrusting inside her, while moaning my name. My name for heaven's sake!
"What?"
Her loud gasp brought me back to reality.