The Luna Cure

TWENTY-ONE

I'm very dumb. After years of missing school and only being able to read, it's understandable. But exposing that I could speak, like I did just now? That was extremely dumb.

Dante looked surprised. Not all mouth agape, eyes wide surprised, like I had just dropped the biggest bomb. But his eyes were slightly alarmed, and he was silent for once.

I vaguely remembered wanting to keep my ability to speak a secret for a while, but I guess that wasn't happening anymore.

"What?" He finally asked, blinking. He then refocused his confused expression on me.

I sighed. He had heard me. I know he did. He just wanted me to repeat myself.

I wasn't going to repeat myself. But the way his eyes stared into me compelled me. "You should reject me." I was quieter this time, at a whisper.

His eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch, and he took a step towards me. But he was still quiet. I lowered my eyes to the ground.

A minute must've passed by. Maybe two. Neither of us moved.

"Why would I do that?" His tone gave nothing away, and I couldn't bring myself to look at him.

My shoulders moved to shrug, but I stopped. I did know why he should. There was an endless list of reasons why he should, and they were clear as day.

"Why wouldn't you?"

He took another step forward, and I inched back. I knew the wall was right behind me, and I couldn't go anywhere else. But I didn't want him close.

"I have no reason to reject you, Florence."

I looked up, trying to get a glance of his face. He looked slightly confused, if anything. "I can't be your mate, Luna, or Queen. There's three."

His eyes widened, but he didn't skip a beat to reply. "The goddess chooses these things. She obviously believes you can."

My nails dug into my arms at the mention of the goddess. "She isn't real." I hissed. I knew I was some sort of living joke for that goddess, if she was even real. I didn't believe anymore.

Dante rubbed his face and let out a weak chuckle. "I've thought the same thing at times, don't get me wrong, but she communicates with my mother, and we've all seen her. I believe most niveus wolves can communicate with her."

I almost rolled my eyes. The queen seems like a wonderful woman, but I don't believe she can communicate with the goddess. Let alone show her to her entire family. I didn't reply to him, I had spoken enough for today. Or so I thought.

Dante eyed me suspiciously. "I do believe if you weren't meant to be my mate, you would've ended up like those wolves in the shed."

I shivered at the mere mention of the shed. Seeing the skinned furs of girls I had spent years with made me grateful I hadn't ended up like them, but I wouldn't have had to face all the problems caused by all those years with Batilda like I do now. It would've been a painful thing, but in the long run, it would've been a quick way out. Now, I was stuck trying to get back on my feet, or at least somewhere close to stable, and that was nowhere in sight.

I shrugged in response. I wasn't going to let him know how I truly felt about my situation, and how I only narrowly avoided ending up like the girls who ended up on the walls of that shed.

But Dante continued to pry. "Were there more girls in that basement than the three of you?"

That was not the question I was expecting.