Chasing His Betrayed Luna by KiKi Jones

36. Out Of Trouble

AURELIA

My daughter wailed out loud, failing to hide her feelings like she would have done on any other day. Seeing Katie like that broke me even more. My heart tightened as I forgot how to breathe and soon enough, Kyle broke into tears as well.

"Shush, babies. Shush." I said amidst tears. I crouched to the level, pulling Kyle and a muddy Katie into my arms. "Enough of the tears, babies."

Kyle spoke up, his voice shaky and muffled, "Yo-you and Katie s-st-tarted it."

Katie countered, pulling away from my hug and wiping her muddy face, "Mom s-started it. I came in and s-saw her c-crying in Auntie Hazel's a-arms."

My heart tightened even more as I watched them both argue about me instead of telling me what the hell happened to Katie. Her lower lip was busted for crying out loud. I cried bitterly, realizing how bad of a mother I've been these past few days. What has gotten into me!

Hazel came to my rescue when she asked, sniffing back her own share of tears, "What happened to you, Katie? You don't look good, baby."

"Nothing happened, Auntie Hazel-" Katie began, clearly lying.

"Do not lie to me, Katie Anne," I yelled, cutting my daughter off, wiping my face clean with the he of my shirt. "You'll tell me what happened without holding a single detail back. Do I make myself clear?"

Katie looked into my eyes, her lips quavering while her nose flared in anger. She was angry? Sweet heavens!

"It's all because of the stupid mask, mom!" She revealed, her voice tight with anger.

do with Katie's state

having this discussion but that didn't occur to me

I was this close to pleading

my mask, Mama. Please don't be mad at her. She just didn't

cried, falling on my butt as my legs

crouching before this happened but that fact didn't lessen the painful pressure on my

make sure he doesn't take it off, my little girl had to fight someone who had to be not just bigger but stronger than her. It was clear from her busted lip and

an issue if I didn't make

kids have been picking on Kyle because of the mask, Mom. They call him a freak as well as many other names and earlier, one of them tried to snatch the mask off his face. I couldn't let them do that. I couldn't let anyone harm my brother." Katie's face was stoic

was pissed, I

too but

son was

nose while I let myself rot

been going

glanced at Hazel who had gone quiet behind me and she

was my

bring me

yourself won't help any of us, Relia. What you should be doing is picking yourself up." Inara's words were

touched my shoulder at that moment, saying, "Can I stop using the mask, Mama? I don't want to be called a freak and I don't want Katie fighting the bigger kids for me. She could get

walk around without a mask. If he does that, everyone in the pack will know that Raiden has heirs with me and