5. A Pathetic Dog

Elise

I stared at her in shock. What was she playing at now?

My jaw clenched. I couldn't let Lucia take my mother's painting.

"Fifty million." I said.

"One hundred million." Lucia said.

Gasps rippled through the room. That was the biggest money said throughout the auction.

She sat smiling, proud of her callous act. The number was ridiculous.

Cruel. Intentional.

I turned to Elliott, desperate. "Please. I really want that painting. Can you buy it for me?" my voice trembled.

Elliott looked at me and for one hopeful second, I thought he understood.

"Of course." He said and I felt instantly relieved.

Then Lucia pouted.

"But Liot, you promised. Anything I want." She said, her hand settling possessively on his arm. "I want the painting."

There was a nerve wracking silence. I felt like my heart was about to beat out of my chest when Elliott turned to me.

"Just let Lucia have it. It's her birthday"

The words struck me harder than any slap.

"You can have something else."

Something else.

As though my mother could be replaced.

I held back tears, speechless throughout the rest of the event.

You had a chance, Elliott. But you blew it.

I thought bitterly.

One strike! Three more and I'm leaving for good.

The drive back home felt endless. Elliott and Lucia chattering away and throughout the ride, I thought about ways to get rid of Lucia.

When we finally got to the pack house, Elliott remained outside giving Tyler orders.

Lucia carried the painting upstairs and I followed, feeling hollow.

I was genuinely tired of this sick power play with Lucia. I just wanted my mother's painting.

"Please." My voice cracked as I said to her. "You can have anything else. Just give me the painting."

Lucia stopped slowly. Then turned. She had a sneer on her lips and a devious gaze.

"You really think Elliott loves you?" She said coldly.

My stomach dropped. I didn't expect that.

"He doesn't." Her words sliced through me. "I'm the one he loves."

"You're just a low born wolfless trash" Lucia spat. "You're not worthy to be his Luna.  He deserves a powerful Luna that comes from an elite family!"

I was about to say something equally cutting but then she pulled a  small silver lighter from her purse and I paused.

"For me to give you back the painting," she said softly, "kneel and beg me like a piece of trash you are"

I scoffed in shock. This bitch!

Who did she think she was?

I wasn't  going to subject myself to such humiliation.

"No." I spat.

"Fine, then" Lucia smirked and flicked the lighter open. A flame danced. "I'll burn your dear mother's painting"

The color drained from my face. I couldn't let her do that!

Desperation clawed at me and before I knew it, I dropped to my knees.

Lucia's laughter echoed through the hallway. "There. That's what you are..." She chuckled.

I trembled. Humiliation burned through me.

"A pathetic dog." She said coldly and tossed the lighter on the painting.

The flame landed, right before my eyes, on the canvas  and  it caught instantly.

My heart stopped.

"No!" I screamed and lunged forward.

I was too late.

I felt a surge of helplessness and fury as I watched fire race across the painting.

"You evil bitch! How could you?" I shrieked as my hand connected with her cheek.

She stumbled backward.

And at that exact moment, the front door opened and Elliott rushed inside, attracted by the noise.

His eyes landed on Luna and her reddening cheek.

"What the hell is happening here?" He yelled, in alarm as he ran up the stairs and caught her by the shoulders.

"Are you okay?" He asked

She immediately buried her face against his chest and let out a broken sob. "Liot..."

I gaped at them. The painting was still burning behind me. My mother's memory was gone.

But yet, all Elliott could focus on was the red mark blooming on Lucia's cheek.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he barked at me.

I recoiled in shock. He'd never raised his voice at me like that before.

"What?" I gasped. "Are you being serious right now?"

Lucia sniffled dramatically.

"I tried to reason with her," she whispered. "I don't know why she's so angry. She just attacked me."

He wrapped an arm around Lucia protectively.

I looked from Lucia to the burning remains of the painting. Then back to Elliott.

For a moment I couldn't speak. I couldn't breathe.

She couldn't understand what she was seeing.

"Elliott..." My voice trembled. "I asked you for that painting."

"So you slapped her because I didn't buy it for you?" He growled.

I let out a disbelieving laugh.

"That painting was the last thing I had left of my mother." My voice shook in rage.  "I begged you to help me buy it but you gave it to her"

"And she burned it." I shrieked.

Lucia gasped, dramatically. "Elliott, that's not true!"

Her eyes instantly filled with fake tears.

"I was trying to hand it back to her. The lighter slipped." The lie was ridiculous, dumb. But Elliott never questioned it.

"I said I was sorry but she got angry and hit me." She whispered.

Something snapped inside me and a sharp, ugly sound tore from my throat.

"You lying bitch!"

Lucia recoiled and Elliott immediately stepped forward, protectively.

"Elise!" He growled. "Don't call her names!"

"Tell him the truth!" I yelled at her, trying to reach her. "Tell him what you did!"

"Liot..." Lucia whispered, hiding behind him.

She acted like she was the victim. Like I was a monster who attacked her without a reason and it infuriated me the more.

"This is another strike, Elliott!" I seethed. "I keep giving you the chance to do right by me but you keep blowing it!"

He stared at me in confusion. While Lucia's smirk widened as she stood behind him.

"You're always believing this bitch!" I screamed in fury and lunged at her without thinking.

Elliott reacted instantly. His hand shot out and he shoved me back, trying to stop me from hurting Lucia.

It was a push hard enough to make me loose my stamina. My foot missed the stair behind me and for one frozen second, time stopped.

"Elliott—" I screamed as I fell.

The staircase became a blur of wood and agony. My shoulder struck first. Then my hand, which prevented my from shielding her stomach.

My vision blurred as I touched my stomach.

My hands were stained with blood.

Everything turned white.

Somewhere above me, I heard Elliott shout my name.

But none of it mattered because all I could think about, before I passed out was;  My baby...