Call me Luna

7 - Protect

“I can’t wait to wake up and feel normal,” I mumble to myself as I come by after the doctor gave me anesthesia. I do not have pain or anything, but I feel like cr*p, and it also resembles the taste in my mouth.

“Are you okay? Do you need anything?” Cora is immediately by my side, looking concerned at me.

“A toothbrush,” I moan and try to sit up. Cora helps me up and stacks pillows behind my back to support me. “I need a toothbrush and a shower, badly.”

“Just give it a minute,” Cora stands back. “If you get up now, you could get nauseous.”

“Just more reason why I would need a toothbrush,” I try to grin but fail miserably.

Alpha walks to me and rests his head on my bed. Staring at me with big, blue eyes and I put my hand on his head.

“You look like I feel,” I sigh at him. “Desperate to get out of here.”

Tension bundles inside me as I say the words. Where the hell am I going when I get out of here? Until I know who I am, there is no such place as ‘home’ for me. And to top that, I have nothing. Not even my own toothbrush or clean underwear. The last thing I want is to stay in this depressing room until we figured out who I am. That is if they even allow me to.

“I need to talk to Mason,” I make up my mind as I close my eyes. According to Cora, he is the only one that can help.

“Are you sure?” Cora sounds excited.

“No, but I don’t have an alternative,” I mumble. “At least now I’m half sedated, and chances are I won’t freak out when I see him.”

Alpha jumps up and runs out of the door and I just watch him leave through half-mast eyelids.

“Why did he leave?” I ask Cora as if she would know.

“Maybe nature’s calling,” she smirks. “I’ll go call Mason.”

Before I could respond, Mason is standing in the doorway, my eyes now fully open. Holy heavens, this man is too gorgeous for my current state of health. I can feel the blood drain from my face as he comes closer. How in the hell did he get here so fast? How does he even know I agreed to see him? Cora is still standing in the doorway and has not left my room.

“Hi,” Mason greets me with a soothing voice, and I swallow hard on my uneasiness. In a very calming manner, he walks to the chair and pulls it away from the bed, putting more distance between us and I relax. Funny that I don’t feel like freaking out right now. Yes, he makes me nervous, but I don’t feel a panic attack. It must still be the anesthesia. Cora comes and sits next to me on my bed.

“How did you get here so fast?” I eye him suspiciously. “How did you know I agreed to see you like five seconds ago?”

“Well, I’ve been here the whole time and I heard when you told Cora you’ll see me.” He explains.

“You’ve been eavesdropping?” I gape at him indignantly.

“No,” he smirks at me and adjusts himself so he can sit more comfortably. “The door was open and it’s not like you two were whispering.”

An awkward silence fills the room and I am not sure what I should say next. Do I just start, or should I do small talk first?

“Thank you for saving me,” I eventually speak up.

“Anytime,” he smiles and sits forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Do you want to tell me what happened?”

I just bite hard onto my quivering bottom lip and shake my head. There is no doubt in my mind that Cora already told him everything. It is her brother, for crying out loud. I really do not want to relive the whole drama. Especially if he already knows.

“Everything I know, I’ve told Cora and I know she told you,” I finally manage to say and look up. For the first time, I look into Mason’s eyes and a shiver runs through me. It is so much like Alpha’s that it’s uncanny.

“What’s next?” Cora asks as she looks at her brother. “Are you going to search for her people?”

“It’s not going to be easy,” Mason sighs and sits back. “The fact that she escaped means she’s in some kind of trouble. Letting the world know where she is, could be a problem.”

“But we can protect her,” Cora protests.

“It’s not just about me,” I look at Cora, appreciating that she is willing to protect me. “It’s also about you and your village. I do not remember anything. There are countless reasons why I could be held captive. Hell, for all you know I could be evil and just got what I deserved. We don’t know.”

“Bullsh*t,” Cora explodes as she crosses her arms in front of her. “There’s no way you’re evil.”

“Maybe not,” I shrug. “But I could be involved with them.”

“Ladies,” Mason interrupts us. “I don’t think Luna’s part of something devious. She is a victim or in the crossfire of something. Regardless, I still sense danger.”

“Luna,” Mason looks me in the eye, and I am grateful I am sitting down. My knees are suddenly weak. “You were legitimately scared when I found you. Also, your behavior towards men strengthens my suspicion that you were taken by men in a traumatizing manner. You may not remember it, but your subconscious is on high alert when men are around.”

“That’s just more reason for us to protect her,” Cora glares at him.

“And we will,” Mason calms her. “That’s why we will come up with a story explaining her presence. The sooner the pac … I mean villagers know who she is and why she’s here, they can’t give out information to the wrong people. Outsiders won’t be coming around looking for her. We’ll keep an eye on the press for any missing person’s report that fits her description. Maybe Luna will remember something. We can even do a DNA test and see if that could lead us somewhere. Whatever we decide on, doesn’t matter. We will help her find her family in private and in the meantime. she’ll stay here and be safe until she’s ready to move on.”

“I like that plan,” I smile at them. The thought of going to a police station or something and being confronted by strangers was scaring the hell out of me. They will ask questions that I do not know the answers to. And what if they do not believe me and send me to some kind of institution? Now that I think of it, if they see me freak out when a male appears, they will definitely send me to an institution.

“What?” I ask Mason as he looks at me in utter disbelief. “It’s a good idea.”

“I know it’s a good idea, it’s mine. It’s the first time I see you smile, that’s all,” he still stares at me like I’m the eighth wonder of the world and a hot blush creeps up my neck.

Without realizing it, I started to relax in Mason’s company. Yes, it feels awesome not to be a scared mouse. But it is also a little embarrassing that he is looking at me like I am an exotic desert.

“You’re Cora’s brother, so you can’t be bad,” I shrug my shoulders. Pretending at my hardest that it is not about him.

“I would’ve strongly disagreed ten years ago,” Cora rolls her eyes. “He was a terrifying big brother.”

“You were an annoying little sister,” Mason defends himself with a grin.

Smiling I watch the two of them bickering and it feels strangely familiar. Maybe I have brothers and sisters? Maybe we use to bicker lick that.

“So, what’s my story?” I look eagerly at Mason. “Am I a long-lost cousin visiting Cora?”

“No,” he shakes his head. “You’re my fiancé and you’re here to start with the wedding arrangements before you move here.”

“Are you bloody insane?” I yell in disbelief. In utter astonishment, I look from him to Cora and back. “Of all the possibilities, you pick that one. That’s preposterous.”

“Actually not,” Cora looks at me sympathetically. “It’s the safest way.”

“Does brother and sister share the same disillusion that this is the best way?” I jump off the bed and look at them like they are aliens. “What? Are you going to claim that I’m a mail-order bride? No one is going to believe that you have a fiancé out of the blue. You’re like the mayor or chief or whatever. Everybody knows your business, and everybody will know this is complete bullsh*t.”

“Luna,” Cora says softly, “you’re too pretty …”

“I’m pretty?” I look at Cora like she lost her marbles. I saw myself for the first time in the mirror and I do not know if that qualifies as pretty.

“You’re not pretty,” Mason says hoarsely as he gets up and walks to me. Every nerve in my body screams to start running, but his eyes mesmerize me to stay motionless. Helpless I watch him coming closer to me and my breathing gets shallower with every step he takes. “You’re gorgeous,” he whispers as his finger slides down my cheek, the soft touch creating havoc with my insides. “And every available man in this small town will want to get to know you better. But if you’re mine, not one of them will dare to come close to you.”

His eyes, his touch, it is hypnotizing me. I feel like wobbling jelly, but somehow, his words register in my mind and slowly I understand what he is saying. If I'm related to him in any way, other men might get the idea that I'm interested in a relationship. But if I'm romantically involved with him, they will keep their distance. This is just a clever tactic to keep me safe.

“Exactly,” Cora splinters the moment, and I must blink a couple of times to get myself back to the here and now. “If people think you’re with Mason, you will be left in peace.”

With a heavy sigh, I plop back unto my bed, just staring at brother and sister. What they are saying makes sense, but damn. Am I up for it?