The Chosen Luna

Chapter three

CHAPTER 3

“I am a man of strength,” Alpha Lewis said with all confidence.

“What I need is shelter and some money, and I am willing to do some work around here.” The man looked at him, the simple smile that had been plastered on his face since Alpha Lewis began to pitch for a position in his factory becoming even broader.

“I admire your confidence, but we’re not taking any more people,” the man said, impressed.

Alpha Lewis heaved a sigh. He was the third person who denied him.

“Are humans usually this polite with their rejections?” He wondered, considering how careful they were all being with words.

“However, I can get them to fix you somewhere,” the man added, flashing a wicked smile. He reserved the best part for the last, and Alpha Lewis could not hold himself from leaping for joy. He threw his fist up in the air, letting out a howl in the process.

“Sorry about that,” he apologized, covering his mouth.

“That’s okay, we can use your strength around here,” the man said with a nod, trudging away and disappearing into the other side of the building. The beverage factory could use his help, but he spent his first few days observing and quickly mastering the use of the machines.

“How has it been?” the boss asked, eager to know what experience Alpha Lewis had gotten so far.

“My supervisor thinks I am fast because I’ve mastered the use of the machines,” he said dryly, trying to suppress the hint of pride in his voice.

“All?” the man asked, taken aback by his declaration.

“How is that even possible?”

“I happen to be a very fast learner who learns quite well through observation,” he explained. The man studied his expression and sent him away. He had seen many people lie about things like that to get in his favor, hence his skepticism.

Work went on well for Alpha Lewis, for he possessed strength and was getting the recognition he deserved. He saved up money from the salary he received and rented a small apartment from where he was coming to work. Returning to his assigned position, he heard a commotion and hastened his footsteps. A coworker of his was lying helplessly on the floor with blood smeared all over her shirt. Her nose was bleeding, and she let out a light groan every time she breathed in. He helped her sit up and look around to see if there was anybody around trying to soothe her.

“What happened here? Are you okay?” he asked softly, brushing the hair off her face.

“It was an accident,” she said.

“Sorry about that, Let me get you water,” he said, running off to get her drinking water. After she drank to her full, she washed off the blood on her nose and face with what was left of it, and thanked Lewis. Their gaze locked for a moment as they recognized each other from the time when an attempt to kidnap her happened a couple of weeks back.

“Do you work here?” they both said at the same time, maintaining their distance while their eyes continued the conversation, accusing each other. She grew tired and walked away, rigidity written all over her face. Lewis laughed mockingly as she walked away, vowing to make work miserable for her since she didn’t appreciate his fun-filled self.

Slowly, the day drifted by, everything and nothing happening at the same time. The same old routine, but for Lewis, he felt as though the day had refused to come to an end.

When the setting sun cast its warm, golden glow over the horizon, he almost leaped for joy as it was the induction he needed to know that the day had come to an end.

He closed for the day and, in his usual manner, went about the little community looking for the girl who the moon guardian had sent him to.

He had gone every day ever since he stepped foot in the human world, unable to ask questions because he was not given a name or any personal information concerning her except that she was the great-granddaughter of the woman who had been r***d to death. Somehow, his instincts convinced him that he would recognize her if he saw her, so he kept trying.

The streets were quiet, the chaos of the day subsiding for a more peaceful evening. Kids ran around happily, laughing and leaving him nostalgic. Alpha Lewis wandered for the next hour, battling with intrusive thoughts, fighting to get control of his mind. He had brushed off the incident with the lady coworker, but still considered it a mystery that she saw him as an enemy. He abhorred her guts, but could only look forward to finding this mystery maiden and leaving this human world in peace.

“And what’s it with her?” he asked himself, retracing his steps back to his house.

“Why do I always find her in trouble?” The questions tugged at his mind, and he had difficulty ignoring them; however, he excused her troubles as her fault because she was overbearing and dramatic and must have had a disagreement with somebody who wanted to punish her. None of that made any sense, but it was convincing enough to keep her thoughts away for the night. The next day, the factory was less busy and most people had to leave work early, hoping to have a moment of quiet before they left. They stayed back for an hour, trying to regroup.

“What do you want from me?” a voice asked as he made his way out.

Alpha Lewis looked around to know where the questions were coming from. He approached quietly, careful not to alert whoever it was of his presence. To his surprise, the same coworker was in trouble with another set of guys who looked ruthless, but familiar. He squeezed up his face, trying to recall where he had seen them before. Like a cord, it struck him. They were the same people who attacked his boat. His eyes darted to their wrists and there it was; the same scar on the first guy, that was identical to the one he saw on the wrist of the person who snatched his bag. He didn’t need a soothsayer to tell him that this visit was about him as much as it was about the coworker. He changed positions, moving with the wall as his cover until he could apply the element of surprise in his attack.

There were two, and the second still had a little limp in his movement as they took turns slapping her and stepping aside for the other person to do the same. Alpha Lewis held his breath in an attempt to listen hard enough to know what they were saying, but only her screams filled the atmosphere. He took another peek through the corner of the gate, mindful of the broken chain hanging off it, to avoid a clatter. He counted to three and dashed in, aiming for the already injured one and holding him down, allowing the other one to escape.

“Why are you here?” he thundered, throwing punch after punch. “Why are you here?” he asked again, this time, jerking him up by his shirt as he gagged up blood. His coworker casually got up, walked back into the main building, all the way to the canteen. He grabbed the broken chain and tied up the person he had captured and followed her. In the canteen, she unbuckled her belt, unbuttoned the first three buttons of her shirt and walked to the sink. He stared at her intently, trying to figure out what she was about. Her cheeks looked hot and reddened, and she had a bloodstain on her nose. He knew she could see him, but chose to ignore him, and he played along.

At the sink, she unbuttoned her sleeves and rolled it up. Carefully, she began washing, all the way to her elbow. A paint-like substance the same as her color came off, revealing a star-shaped birthmark.

Alpha Lewis’ jaw dropped, and he walked to her. “Did that just appear?” he asked, curious.

“What are you? 12?” she asked, looking at him confused. She knew she did an impressive job covering the birthmark with makeup, but he didn’t expect anybody to ask such a question after seeing her wash it off.

“I just saw it appear,” he said solemnly.

“Well, no,” she said, shaking her head at him. “It didn’t just appear. I covered it with makeup.”

She started covering it after the first attack. She knew it was the only way she could stay safe because they demanded to see her wrist and when she refused, they dragged her away to see forcefully.

“Thank you for today,” she added.

“I’m Madeline, by the way,” she said, taking her hand off her pants and stretching it for a shake.

Alpha Lewis’ eyes stayed glued to the birthmark as he took his hand, tongue-tied and unable to talk. The Moon Guardian had instructed him to look out for a maiden with a star-like birthmark on her wrist, and he didn’t realize he was with her all this while. Then, they heard a clattering sound and ran outside, only to find that the man he tied up had escaped.