My Luna is a Witch

10

Chapter 10

Scarlet’s bags were packed ---- she made sure she got everything packed she and Sal had shopped for yesterday. Sal was standing at the door, waiting for her, a beaming smile expressed on his face. Xavier was sitting on the couch in the living room, minding his own business. He and Scarlet haven't exchanged any words since yesterday. Sal spotted Scarlet on the stairs and ran to help with the suitcases. Xavier munched on chips, his eyes never leaving the TV screen.

“Thanks,” Scarlet said,

“No problem. You packed everything right?” Sal asked.

“All the necessities,” She answered. Her attention went towards Xavier, who was paying no attention to them, “I’ve bought all the necessities you might need. There is a phone in your first drawer. I have saved mine and Sal’s numbers in it. Call us if you need anything,” She told him in a boring tone.

“Thanks, mom.” Xavier’s eyes were still glued to the TV screen. Scarlet sighed loudly at his attitude.

She clapped her hands once, “That will be all. We shall take our leave now, Sal,” Scarlet announced. Her voice gets distorted by Xavier’s aggressive munching on the chips. Sal grabbed her bags and they walked over to the door.

“Bye Xavier. We’ll see you at school and Dad told me to inform you that he will be visiting you at night to discuss the current situation of the pack,” Sal shouted. He shrugged them off, his eyes still staring at the screen in front of him.

Sal whispered to Scarlet: "Is something wrong with him?" To which she answered: “He heard you. Let’s leave. He’ll be fine,”

“Cheerio,” Scarlet said aloud. The bang on the door signified the sign of their leaving. Xavier’s head turned to the space where Scarlet was standing.

“Cheerio,” he scoffed, rolled his eyes, and walked to his room. He opened the front drawer and found a phone. He picked it up and switched it on. To Scarlet’s words, he found two contacts in it saved under the names of Scarlet and Sal. Xavier scoffed again and changed the names to ‘Grocery Mom’ and ‘d**k’.

He couldn’t help but imagine how Scarlet would call him a five-year-old kid if she saw him doing that. A smile curved in his mouth when he realized that she was not around him. Back in the pack, there wasn’t a day when they hadn't encountered each other.

“Moon Goddess has finally listened to my prayers,” he said, grabbed his jacket, and walked out of the apartment.

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Scarlet arranged her stuff in the new room she was given. The room was painted burgundy, and it had a queen-sized bed in the corner of the room which had white sheets and white colored pillows tucked neatly. The drapes were white, which brought more light to the room. It had a study table and a bookshelf attached to the bed. It had an attached bathroom and a small closet. The room was small but perfect for her and she loved it.

“All settled?” Sal asked.

“Yep,” She answered in a cheerful tone, “Thanks for helping us with everything,”

“Don’t be silly. You know I can die for you,” Sal folded his arms on his chest, a silly smile playing on his lips.

Scarlet rolled her eyes playfully at his statement, “I know,”

“I ordered pizza. Dad had left to check up on Xavier. He told me not to wait for him,” Sal said.

Scarlet walked over to the door where Sal was standing, his posture leaning on the wall, “I hope you ordered peri-peri,” She said.

Sal chuckled as they walked to the kitchen where two boxes of pizzas were waiting to be devoured by them. Scarlet put two slices on her plate, her eyes found Sal’s, who was looking at her with a peculiar gaze, “What? I’ve got an appetite, don’t you dare to judge me,” She said in a defensive tone and Sal chuckled lightly.

He took the seat beside her, put three slices on his plate, and placed another one on Scarlet’s. “Do you mind if I ask a question?” he asked.

Scarlet took a big bite and moaned at the taste. She finished chewing and answered, “Why are you even asking? Shoot it straight at me.”

Sal cleared his throat, his eyes focused on Scarlet who was devouring the pizza with delight, “I couldn’t help but notice— I mean what’s going on between you and—” He sighed out in frustration. Scarlet eyes were looking at him with amusement as she took another big bite finishing her first slice. He hasn’t changed a bit. She thought.

She picked her second, and opened her mouth to take a big bite when Sal’s words stopped her in mid-away, “What’s the deal between you and Xavier?”

Scarlet put her plate down, her lips pressed in a thin line. “What are you trying to imply?” she asked. “You know our parents made the deal. Have you forgotten?”

He got up from his seat --- his hand ran through his hair before speaking, “No, I haven’t. I thought with time you and he would be on good terms. As you guys are meant to be together— I thought you guys might have made peace with this idea,” Sal answered.

Scarlet scoffed at his statement, “You thought wrong my friend, he and I can never be anything. I just loathe that guy so much,” Scarlet curled her fingers, imagining them to be around Xavier’s throat. “He’s weird, you know. Sometimes, he gives signals that he and I can develop a friendship and the moment I get a bit nicer with him, he shows his true colors. He’s an obnoxious, self-centered, and selfish guy who knows nothing besides the idea of bullying me.” She picked up the pizza slice, her mouth salivating, looking at it. “So, I made peace with the idea that he and I can never get along, It will be in the best of my interest if I keep minding my own business but you know the deal with our parents! I love them but why did they have to do this with me!” She whined and dug her teeth into the cheesy softness of the pizza slice.

Sal ran his tongue over his teeth before speaking, “So are both of you still against this arrangement?” he asked.

Scarlet put her index finger in the air, chewed fast, and gulped the bolus down before speaking, “Isn’t it obvious in our behavior even after all these years? We don’t fancy each other and we never will,” She said and took the last bite of her second slice.

Sal nodded— his brain conceptualizing the situation. His chain of thoughts was broken by the high-pitched ring of the doorbell, “Must be dad. He came earlier than I anticipated,” Sal said before walking towards the door.

He opened the door swiftly and welcomed his dad, who was not alone. A familiar figure was standing beside him, his hands in his pockets, a bored look plastered on his face. Scarlet saw him and dropped her half-eaten price on the plate.

“Xavier is joining us for dinner,” Mr. Patel announced and welcomed him in.

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“I think Xavier should also move in with us.” Mr. Patel suggested and the room became quiet.

“What’s the need, uncle? I mean . . . he’s the future Alpha of the Crimson Stone. I’m sure he will be fine on his own,” Scarlet mocked.

Xavier glared at her with his sharp gaze, “She’s right for the first time in forever. It’s her that needs your care, Mr. Patel. I can manage on my own,” Scarlet's comment backfired on her. Her jaw clenched, looking at the satisfied smirk on his face.

“It’s not about care. The Alphas ordered me to make sure that you both are stuck together. They want you to be beside each other under any circumstances,” Mr. Patel said.

Xavier dropped the pizza in the box and sighed loudly, “Wow. . . even in such crucial times, this is their main concern— I have underestimated them,”

“We’re beside each other in a supportive way. Living together is not in the deal,” Scarlet said.

Mr.Patel surrendered his arm in the air, “Alphas orders not mine. Now, whether you want to follow them or not is your choice. Just don’t forget that you both will be answerable for your deeds,”

“Dad, that’s blackmailing,” Sal added to the conversation.

Scarlet put her hand on his bicep and patted it twice, “Don’t get all heated up, Sal. This is not the first time I have heard such an obnoxious order,” Scarlet said in a calm tone.

Xavier was watching their every move. How Sal was getting all riled up and Scarlet’s hand on his arm, patting it thrice to calm him. He was watching them quietly with a sharp gaze. “If that’s what the Alphas commanded, then she should pack her bags immediately to move in with me,” Xavier uttered.

Sal raised his brow at him, his gaze getting sharp, “Why should she? Why can’t you move in here?” He asked.

“We’re not here to play family. It’s her call if she doesn’t want to hear the Alphas' command. She will be the one to answer them,” he said and got up from the table to clean his hands.

“I’m not defying their orders, but please inform me the next time you can contact the pack. I would like to have a few words with my parents,” Scarlet gritted her teeth.

“Xavier had a chat with the Alphas today. They call me twice a week, they don’t want to draw attention to you both, considering that the rogues are after the future heirs. I’ll make sure you get to talk to them the next time they contact me.” Mr. Patel answered.

“So, you’re telling Scarlet to leave? She just moved in.” Sal got up, his eyes digging holes into Xavier’s forehead.

“We can’t meddle in Alpha's decision. I would also suggest you drop this topic. Xavier is not willing to move in with us and let’s be practical, this house doesn’t have enough space for all of us,” Mr.Patel said,

Scarlet got up quietly, “I’ll go and pack my bags.” She left not before passing a heated glare in Xavier’s direction.

“Scarlet, wait!” Sal followed her but she knew that Xavier had played his cards to defeat her. He thinks he always has the upper hand and things will go just the way he wants. He likes to see her suffer, he enjoys controlling her. Selfish bastard! I’ll make sure you regret this trick of yours!

Xavier didn’t try to hide his smirk. He sat down and watched Scarlet dragging her suitcase outside the room she had just settled in. A pissed-off Sal was standing behind her. “I forgot to inform you that the Lunas ordered us to not hide our relationship. So, if anyone asks about our relationship, looking at our living arrangements, we should tell them that we’re. . . what does it call in the human world?” He made a thinking face before speaking, “engaged,” His smirk widened at Sal and Scarlet’s reaction.

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