The Fake Luna’s Wish

Sophia 02

I knew I was going to be having it rough when Alpha Lucien left and the door to my room flung open with force. Mom walked in, the veins on her face popping as she hauled me off the bed by my hair.

“What did you tell Alpha Lucien?” she clutched a handful of my hair and my face contorted in pain, trying to be free from her grasp.

“I—I didn’t say anything.” I managed to say, tears brimming my eyes. “He suddenly came by looking for Kayla.”

She finally released me, breathing heavily and I shifted a few feet away from her to nurse the pain on my scalp.

She appeared to be calm, one hand on her waist as she asked me. “What did you both discuss?”

I saw Kayla come by at the door at that moment. Her eyes were sad, they looked sorry for me but now I can’t even tell if that expression was real. She had always been kind to me but what Alpha Lucien just said to me disturbed me a lot. What picture was he shown? Why did he look so mad at me and how did he come to the conclusion that I was in love with him?

As long as I knew, I never made it obvious. I always tried my best to avoid being in his presence so there was no way he could’ve known about something like that.

“He was warning me.” I finally said, biting my lips as mother’s gaze narrowed on me. “Apparently, he saw a picture that made him think I was in love with him. He warned me to not think of harming Kayla because of that.”

I noticed mother’s expression when I finished. She didn’t look surprised at all about the picture.

“Is that all?” she asked and when I nodded, she finally took in a sigh of relief. “What happened eight months ago, you better erase it off your mind. Tomorrow, your sister will be marrying him. Whatever attachments you have, get rid of it as soon as possible.” I nodded obediently and when she was sure I’d gotten her point, she headed for the door.

“Kayla darling.” She stopped in front of my sister, patting down her hair. “Let’s get you prepared for your big day tomorrow, shall we?”

“Yes mother.” Kayla forced a smile. “I’ll be with you in a moment.”

Mother paused. She glanced at me first, then at Kayla again before she nodded subtly and left.

Once we were sure she’d left, Kayla hurried in and closed the door.

“Sophia, I’m so sorry.” She threw me an apologetic look and took my hands in hers. “I wouldn’t ever let you suffer like this if I knew he was going to be here.”

“I know, Kayla.” I said, pursing my lips. “It’s not your fault. Mom still hates me so much. Is it because she didn’t carry me in her womb? It was her choice, wasn’t it? She chose to hire a surrogate mother to give birth to me.”

“Mother loves you.” She assured me. “She just… shows it in a different way.”

“I doubt.”

“By the way,” Kayla started. “Was that all Alpha Lucien said? Did he say more…”

“More?” I stared at her. “Like what?”

Kayla shook her head. “Maybe… what led to a conversation like that? Did you try to do anything?”

My eyes narrowed. Was she thinking I tried to seduce him?

I wondered if I should ask her about the picture. Perhaps she would know what he was talking about.

“Nothing like that.” I shook my head. “I was trying to go back to my room when he cornered me.”

Kayla looked at me like she didn’t believe me but after a second, she smiled and touched my shoulder. “You need to be careful. Alpha Lucien is a very dangerous man. You don’t want to know what he does. So, you need to make sure you don’t get in his black book or our family would suffer.”

It was the same thing Mom kept on telling me and I know why.

It was because I knew of a truth that could destroy this family. I also knew better than to spill the secret.

I wouldn’t want to be the reason my family no longer exist in this world.

I met Kayla’s eyes and smiled, putting my hands on her shoulder and assuring her. “I swear on my life, I would never tell anyone.”

“Sophia—” we both jerked our heads towards the door when we heard mothers voice. I stood and hurried over to her bedroom where she called me from.

Mother was pacing around but stopped when I entered.

“You called for me.”

“Yes.” She handed me a picture. “Do you remember this necklace we saw in that boutique?”

“Yes.” I nodded my head. It was a necklace Mom had thought would be perfect for Kayla if it wasn’t so cheap.

“Go get it for me.”

“But—” I tried to protest but Mother shut me up immediately.

“No questions.” She said and I couldn’t help but look out of the window. It was already getting dark. Before I get to town, the boutique might have closed already. And with the festive season of Christmas already here, it’d be very rowdy out there.

Tonight was christams eve. I’m sure Mother knows about this, but she was still sending me out.

Perhaps… perhaps she just wanted me out of the house for a moment. I have always learnt to read her body language but this time was different because when I looked at her, she avoided my gaze as if she was guilty of something.

I took the yellow card from her and the picture, heading out to get what she wanted. If I hurried, perhaps I might be at the boutique before they close for the day and avoid the storm outside.

I drove quickly, cutting an hour journey in half and making it there just in time. Thankfully, the necklace was still in sale and I got it and started to head back home.

Unfortunately, the journey back wasn’t so smooth. There seemed to be a festival starting. Colorful Christmas lights decorated the street and a big countdown board was put up at the side of the road. A few hours to the big day. People took pictures of it and some of themselves. There were also people preaching around, carrying a book. The road quickly got crowded, teeming with people hawking different kinds of things which caused traffic.

I ran my fingers through my hair, frustrated as I got out of the car to see what was happening but a woman had jumped me so suddenly, I almost had a heart attack.

“What the hell?!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” She quickly apologized and continued on her way but stopped when our gaze met and retraced her steps back. She looked at me for a while before a strange smile formed on her lips. “Girl, would you like to buy my things?”

I stared at the basket she was holding, filled with… things I could not recognize so I shook my head to refuse, hoping she’d just move on but I guess people like this were usually desperate.

“I sell things you might be interested in.” She started to dig in her basket and finally brought out a small vial. She got uncomfortably close to me and whispered. “This is a love charm.”

My eyes snapped to hers and then I shook my head, shifting away from her as I prepared to get back in my car. What was I thinking coming out here in the first place?

She blocked my way immediately. “I promise you this works. You just need to pour all of this in his food or drink and he will become obsessed with you. I’m sure there’s someone you love who doesn’t love you back.” She whispered to me.

“You must be mistaken. There’s no one like that in my life.” Again, I tried to leave and she blocked me. Goddess, I was having a headache already and the sky was getting dark, I couldn’t deal with this.

“Okay okay, I have something else.” She dug in her basket again and brought out a little statue of a white-haired woman with clasped hands and closed eyes. “This is the wish goddess.” She explained. “You have a Christmas wish, don’t you? Whatever you wish for, would be granted by her as soon as possible. As long as you truly desire it.”

Lies. I knew people like this. They con you with lies until you’ve finally given them something out of your pocket.

“Girl, at least just buy one from me and save a life. I haven’t eaten in days and I have no place to stay. This… is the only thing I’ve got.”

Now I stared at the girl. She looked to be about my age, with big eyes and dirty blonde hair. Her body looked frail, her bones were out and I knew she must’ve gone hungry a couple of times.

My life might not be all that good but I’m guessing hers was worse.

“I’ll take one.” I finally said and dug into my pocket to find some cash which I offered to her. “Keep the change.”

She happily took it from me. “Which one of my items would you like to take?”

“None. Just keep it.” I told her but she shook her head, insisting.

“You must pick one.”

I let out a sigh and stared at the two items she was displaying on her hands. The love portion and the statue. I picked the latter, the statue, and she finally got out of the way, smiling strangely at me.

“Wise choice, wise choice girl.” She said, continuing to smile and look at me even as I got into my car.

It was dark when the road cleared again and I continued to drive back home. My eyes would constantly stare at the little statue I had bought from that girl which I now had placed on my headboard.

Was she really the wish goddess? I thought and heard my wolf scoff in my head, telling me to not mind these things. Scams like this were common in this time.

“I know.” I told her with a soft chuckle.

“But it doesn’t hurt to tell her your wish. Talking to inanimate objects might make you feel better sometimes.”

“Hmm…” I hummed, adjusting my side mirror before I glanced at the clock on my dashboard. It was a few minutes to Christmas Day. I glanced back at the statue. “Then I shall make a wish, dear goddess.”

I thought about it. I had never made a Christmas wish before. Talk more of having one come true. My life was usually a series of unfortunate events so when I stared at the statue, I was a little excited to make a wish, despite knowing the talks of that girl were all lies.

“I don’t wish for much.” I started, “I just want to have a better life. I want to live without worries, I want my mother to love me like she loves Kayla. I want a man whom I can love and can love me back.” I paused, biting the insides of my lips before I added internally.

…like how Alpha Lucien loves my sister.

And it was as if the statue laughed at me, as if it said I could only have those good things in my death.

A blaring headlight of a truck covered my vision, followed by a loud honk as it crashed into my small car.

I remembered having blood running down my face, I remembered opening my eyes to the blurring sight of my shattered front glass followed by the darkness that soon became my world.