The Forgotten Luna by Cassandra M

Chapter 30

LADESSA.

It had been a week since I got here, more than two weeks since I left Kael, but the sickening feeling of someone watching me all the time had never faded.

Being grabbed in a place I considered home and safe was traumatizing, and ending up killing two people was a never-ending nightmare I was still trying to get away from. Most nights, I would wake up sweaty and shaking as they invaded my sleep. The men I killed would crawl up from the ground and reach for me with their bloody hands.

I had no idea what I feared most lately: being found by Alpha Draco's men or dying from my nightmares.

Why did it all come to this? All because I let Kael into my life. I didn't see anything wrong with loving him. And whatever I did as his Luna was all done with a good heart. I never took advantage of my position nor talked down to anyone like how Miranda had always made it

seem.

Miranda. I wished I could tell people how badly she treated me. But of course, no one would believe me. She was the sweetest person around, except for me. Everybody loved her.

I wiped the tears threatening to fall using the back of my hand as I walked with hurried footsteps along the narrow alley that would lead closer to the hostel where I was staying in.

It was already eight in the evening, and the bars leading to this alley were bustling with partygoers and booming with rave music. It was too loud, but the noise was slowly fading the farther I went.

I gripped the paper bag of groceries I was hugging against my chest as I doubled my footsteps. I bought a little food that I could take with me once I leave this city tomorrow. This was farther than the shop near the hostel but way cheaper. With little money left from the pawning of the ring, I had to be very careful if I wanted to survive.

I actually had no idea where I was heading. I would just jump on the first train I would find tomorrow and then give it a few days before making a detour and heading back to the rural area near Kael's territory, in the same place where he found me. I was hoping the small cabin where I was living before was still there. My former boss owned it, and he told me it had been abandoned, so he let me use it.

If I were able to get there, I could restart my life and forget about what happened to me in the last year-the good and the bad. My only hope was that I would not be haunted forever by the crime I committed. I was just protecting myself.

I passed by a big glass window and saw my reflection. I dyed my hair black from its natural light brunette color and cut my bangs. I also bought a hair iron and religiously iron it straight whenever I go out.

would have been simpler to cut it short, but I worked so hard to keep my hair long and healthy all my life that I didn't have the heart to do it. Besides, Kael loved running his

sigh and shook my head. I meant nothing to him, so my hair surely wouldn't make a difference. Who knew if he was the one who ordered Miranda to

should forget about

when I had nothing to do but stare out from my hostel window and look at the passersby. All my thoughts

to my face, but on most nights, the memories were painful and would grip my

empty alley, and my heart began thudding loudly. I had walked this area before, but tonight, it felt like a

but then I realized I could hear others' footsteps, too. Before I turned the corner, I was certain that I was the only one heading in this direction. Where did the

and tilted my head to look back without stopping. The alley behind me was dark, but I could see two figures from the lights on the main street,

Oh, Goddess!" I mumbled softly as cold sweat formed on

humans who were just taking the same

head back to look at them because it made them realize

was still way ahead of them, and I had time to get away-only if my little feet

abruptly turned to the right. It was a different route going to the hostel, but I had to steer them away from it kept

lost them. One more turn was where the hostel was. I hoped the gate was open so I could dash in without them seeing. My eyes were blurring with tears, and I didn't have

I kept running.

I kept praying.

out all other noises from the factories and cars honking at the other side, focusing on the sound of

saw a glimmer of hope-a bright light on the space where my hostel was-an indication the gate

as I was passing

hand grabbed my waist, and another hand clamped over my mouth so that I wasn't able to scream. His back slammed against the

corner was too small, and we ended up standing behind trash bins. No one from the street could see us unless they stepped in the dark

get away from his hold, fighting for my freedom as my tears finally fell. They caught

A low voice hissed behind my ear, and a few seconds later, the two men running after me passed the area. They

then that I stopped struggling and tried to steady

Adessa. Focus. I kept chanting