Chasing His Betrayed Luna by KiKi Jones

28. July 25

AURELIA

I thought I knew sorrow and understood the feeling of loss. I thought life had knocked me down a couple of times and that had made me better at predicting what would hit me next. I thought I'd find peace here in Dakota's house but all that was given to me was sorrow which was too bitter a pill to swallow. "S-stop pl-playing g-games, kid." I stuttered, grasping for something. Anything to keep me stead... but there was nothing.

Pheobe grabbed a hold of my outstretched hand, stepping out of the house with a facial expression that had my heart sinking further. "Trust me, I wish I was playing games with you. I wish Dakota was still alive to see the young woman I had become."

She sniffled, blinking rapidly to hold back the glinting liquid in her eyes. I knew Dakota to be a kind woman who loved leaving a mark on everyone she related with but I didn't know any Pheobe before my escape.

"I'll get you a glass of water. Please don't pass out before-" Phoebe said to me, scanning my face which must have been red and plastered with every emotion coursing through me,

I shook my head, tears slipping out of my eyes, "Tell me how... when. Please t-tell me what ha-happened." There was a silent plea in my voice. I was dying to know more yet scared to hear more.

Accepting that Dakota was no more would kill me drastically. Goddess! Why take away the only person who knew me down to my roots? She was my mom, for crying out loud.

There was pity in Pheobe's eyes when she nodded. The looks she was giving me broke me more than Raiden and Larisa's torture combined. She sighed, wiped her teary eyes, and sat on the edge of the front porch, patting the space beside her while holding my gaze. I staggered to her, sat beside her, and did my best to not break into tears. Inara was quiet within me but I knew she would feel the emptiness spreading through me... she'd feel the dreadful loss in the center of my heart.

"I can tell from the look on your face that she didn't tell you much about me but she never stopped bragging about you even after you escaped the pack." Pheobe began but that wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear. Yes, Dakota was old and weak when I left the pack but elderly wolves live for many years before they eventually pass on. "I was a trainee to her. She taught me everything I know as a healer but I never got to know enough to save her five years ago. I couldn't heal her frozen heart. I c-couldn't sa-save-" Pheobe broke into tears, creating room for me to cry openly with her without feeling an ounce of shame. Dakota must have meant something to her just like she meant the world to me.

I murmured amidst our wailing moment, "W-what day did she d-d-"

I just couldn't say the word 'Die'. It was difficult to voice it especially when we were speaking about Dakota.

my question even though I was unable to communicate properly. She whimpered, "July 25. I left her in the living room the night before but when I returned the next morning,

date...July 25. That was the day I gave birth to my

kidding me." I cried to the moon goddess for the sick games

could she sit

was in three months was supposed to be a good day because my babies would

celebrating their sixth bis

but

has changed now because that

sixth

death anniversary.

defense, reacting to my outburst, assuming that my words

How I wished I could see the moon

rose

walked back into the

to be Dakota's,

it would be my last time with her

it was

She was gone.

couldn't stop the tears as my heart bled sorrowfully. Even when Pheobe returned with an old medium-sized box that I recognized to be Dakota's immediately, I still couldn't stop the