Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 35 – Honeybee

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Bonu

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“Every loss, every mistake, was seared into her soul, creating a different kind of tattoo, one made from rage and abandonment, heart break and tears.“– Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Ashley

“If you want her back, you need to talk to her.”

“I know.”

“How long are you going to procrastinate? You can sit on your ass and reminisce through baby pictures all day, but the fact remains that you’re too damn scared to face your daughter!”

Ugh! Sometimes, I wish I can shut Delilah up, but I know I can’t. My wolf never hesitates to speak the truth. Plastic sings with every page turn with transparent pockets displaying three neat columns and three rows of photographic memories. Each picture summons long–lost emotions of the past; happy memories where each day didn’t end without a smile. Memories of my two daughters when they were young and blithe bubbled happiness within me but couldn’t place a smile on my face.

It’s easier to hide in what used to be than to confront what is now.

Halima. A name I wouldn’t dare utter again. A name meaning of patience and generosity carried with it my failures. The name my youngest daughter abandoned for another to separate herself from her father, her

sister, and me.

Yes, I’m a failure. I’m a failure as a mother.

Another picture, another smile. My youngest had the biggest and purest of smiles, even when she was born. Toothless, but held uncontained joy to enter a world in the arms of her mother. She was a special one. Jonathan, present at her birth, knew as well because Halima was born with the most striking and vibrant blue eyes–bluer than authentic sapphires. After a week, they faded to her beautiful brown.

Halima was a very energetic girl. Where did she get her energy from? Half of the time, it was from sugar. Other times, I wouldn’t know. She was always buzzing around like a honeybee.

My little Honeybee.

The world got colder when she lost that smile. When Celeste and Nuria died, the speed at which Halima went from beloved to hated was awful. Grief thickened around Zircon Moon faster than flour to butter, and the blame was quickly put on her–the last person to see both of them alive.

Yes, I lost my best friend and my baby girl that day.

But I’m a coward. I always have been, and I proved it when I abandoned my child to deflect from the fear of being reprimanded by Alpha Jonathan. A powerful man lost two people important to him and in his rage declared my baby girl a criminal.

My love as a mother should’ve shown that day, I should’ve looked in Halima’s eyes and tell her I wouldn’t leave her. That I’ll love her forever as I promised every night before she slept. I promised her so many things a nine–year–old believed in a heartbeat.

Instead, I turn my back on her. Was it from fear of Jonathan’s wrath, or was I too weak to protect my

daughter?

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warrants a mother abandoning their child–but I took the loser way out

here I am, twenty–two years later, begging futilely for Halima’s forgiveness for my incompetency and cowardice. But, I know, she’ll never forgive me. Her heart has hardened over the years and after Tristan’s execution, I saw

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she enters the common room with Raina following behind her. Her eyes are cold, her scowl Is deep, and the power she radiates made Delilals whimper in fear. Apathy. Even as

for abandoning her. We turned a blind eye and allowed her to be treated as a slave. We left her to be raped by a monster and mistreated

That’s unforgivable.

why you brought me here, Raina,” Hallma tells her, Raina blinks back her tears. “There isn’t

to talk about.”

“Kiya, please…”

picked for herself. She rolls her eyes before glaring at both Steven and me with unbridled hatred. “What the f*ck do you both want to say? Your silence told me

“We..

know you’ll never forgive us, Kiya. And there is no excuse for our actions against you

more than abandon me,” Kiya spoke bitterly. “You both pretended that I didn’t exist while you primed and pampered Raina

Out of the question.”

for

1. me. I

didn’t sleep for two days. Why should 17 Her hatred towards

Delflah spoke gravely. “I want Kiya back too. I want Artemis back; my precious pup. However, I failed her too. Just as you call yourself a failure,

I ignored you. I stopped you

still partially

“No, you’re not.”

lap. I watched Kiya plck. the one up off the table as Raina retreated to the corner near the windows. Flipping through the pages harshly, I watched anger morph into a plethora of emotions. Above them all, deep sadness lingered on

Chapter 35 Honeybee

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eighth–grade graduation; full of smiles and accomplishment. Then, her first homecoming dance–the freedom to go out and dance all night01:29 Slowly, it crept into prom, high–school graduation, engagement, wedding–all the f*cking events just handed to her on a silver

wiping tears from her cheeks. “But, it’s fine. It’s supposed to continue. The world doesn’t

a slave,” Steven whispers painfully. I can tell he’s struggling as much as I

She chuckles darkly. “Who stepped

the guilt ate him alive. Tears etched at the corner of his eyes, threatening to spill over as he

air tensed as Kiya

esot

me into an indentured servant was

they fell. “I wanted you alive and…there was no other option. I know it’s stupid and unethical reasoning, but

Beta so important to you? Did your duty to that bastard trump the safety of

hearts, reminding us we’re a terrible family. We got our daughter, but she wasn’t our daughter. She was nothing, and

to see her. Strangely, as she was being thrown around like trash, Jonathan rewarded us for our loyalty. As Betas, we had the prestige from our rank, and it bettered our lives. We were so full of ourselves that as the rewards came; they clouded our minds to Halima, who

cur. Her

she

of the album. “Did I do something so horrible that it made you stop loving me? Was Jonathan’s pain more important than mine? I expected

girl suffered so much, and I can’t do anything to take it away. Even now, as a beautiful woman, she continues to suffer. How can

forgiveness in her heart. She hasn’t forgiven Raina, or

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I’m so sorry.” I tearfully responded, shutting my eyes. I’m pathetic. So pathetic! “It’s our

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