2: Accused OF Being Rogue

“Why are you telling me that now, Lilith?” Nick’s face pressed into mine.

I had told him about the mess I had made of my relationship with Jeremy over the past few months. Nick was angry when he heard my explanation. He was furious when he found out that Jeremy and Eunice were in a relationship.

I gave Nick a wry smile as I followed him into the wooden house. Nick and some of his friends were staying at the log house to hunt small animals.

I met Reino when I had just entered the Moonlight Sonata area and he told me that Nick was in the log house.

“I can’t believe it,” Nick growled.

I let out a small sigh without making a sound.

“I have to teach Jeremy a valuable lesson--”

“Don’t, Nick. You could hurt him,” I cut in.

Nick looked at me strangely. “You’re still defending him after he slapped you? Look, Dad and I haven’t slapped you at all, Lilith. Jeremy who’s only been with you a year already slapped you because of Eunice?”

“I-I can’t--”

“Why? Why are you saying you can’t? Jeremy has already done violence to you, Lilith.”

Over and over again I just sighed guiltily. Nick dropped his body on the wicker chair, then he made me have a seat opposite him. I bowed my head in shame. A few seconds after the silence, Hazel came in with a bite to eat.

I haven’t touched the food Kiara gave me before I left Shadowed Moon. I was too tired to curse my miserable living. I always disappointed everyone who was near me. They hated me so much that I was afraid.

I forced myself to be perfectly visible before them.

But the reality was, I couldn’t be anyone else. I couldn’t impress everyone or make Jeremy fall in love with me.

The year-long journey of the mate bond made my feelings for Jeremy so overwhelming. I looked like a stupid wolf who wished to fly like a Phoenix bird. I couldn’t possibly achieve that.

“I don’t want him to do as he pleases with you, Lilith. You’re my sister, even though I pranked you a lot. I don’t want them trampling on your pride like that,” Nick’s grumbling intensified.

“They have the right to treat me like that, Brother Nick. I can’t bear children and-”

“No doctor has ever told you that you are infertile. You believe you’re infertile because of those scare-mongers? They’re stressing you out, Lilith.” Nick pressed me.

I looked down. “In reality, I’ve been doing Mate Bond with Jeremy for about a year. We should have kids, right? I can’t have kids.”

“No, you can’t. Don’t put yourself down. Believe that there are no serious problems in your life,” Nick argued “I have to tell our parents. Or Jeremy will be even meaner to you.”

I was shocked and immediately denied it. I didn’t want Nick to say that to our parents. I didn’t want to disappoint them, and they wouldn’t disfavour me as a daughter.

They never cared about me because I couldn’t show them that I had a strong wolf and could provide an heir. I couldn’t tell them that Eunice was currently pregnant with Jeremy’s child.

“What are you going to do? Are you going to enjoy how miserable you are?” Nick asked.

“I don’t know, Brother Nick. Right now, I can’t think about that. I want to calm myself down for a while before going back there and facing the fact that I’m a useless Luna.”

“Oh, my poor Lilith. Why are you so-” Nick couldn’t finish his words but hugged me immediately.

He strengthened me and allowed me to spend the night there until I felt better enough to return to Shadowed Moon.

The next day when I returned to Shadowed Moon. They greeted me with a piercing stare. I was like a shameful wolf before them.

I stepped awkwardly into the packed house and immediately headed to my room to get dressed. When I walked in and was about to choose an outfit. Jeremy walked in and folded his arms in front of his chest.

“Where are you going out that you’re not coming home? What are you planning to do out there?” Jeremy asked me in a suspicious tone.

I replied to his words. “What do you expect from me being here? Don’t you already have Eunice and your future child?”

“I do. And that makes me happy, but you still have a mate bond with me. You can’t do anything without my permission.” Jeremy insisted.

I grinned. “Why? Aren’t you satisfied enough to make me feel humiliated here?”

“You don’t need to accuse me like that. It’s your fault that you can’t make me feel perfect as an Alpha. You’re completely useless, and you should know that.” Jeremy chimed in and took his eyes off me.

My heart sank. I felt like I had fallen from seventh heaven and landed on a silver pole. My eyes trembled, unable to hold back the tears I had been carrying since yesterday.

“Don’t cry. I don’t like you crying and pretending to be weak. You are a rebellious and annoying Beta.”

Those words made me feel even more hopeless. Jeremy didn’t care about my feelings at all. In fact, he mocked me as if I couldn’t feel heartache and it broke me.

Jeremy never knew, every day I tried to accept his cruel behaviour. Because he lured me with his charm, and it drove me crazy all the time.

I’m not the super strong Beta he thinks I am. I was the only weak Beta who tried to be strong because of love and then he cheated on me.

“Don’t complain to your brother, because it will be useless.” Jeremy approached me, holding my hand tightly and threatening me.

I shuddered in horror as I endured the pain in my arm. The red patches instantly became reddish. Jeremy left after he had had enough of insulting me.

My body slumped down, tears falling from my eyes. I rested my shoulders on the surface of the big bed. My heart was empty and in great pain.

 His humiliation made me reluctant to continue my life. But what should I tell the Moon Goddess later?

I didn't understand at all. If only I could choose my destiny. I would be a Beta who could choose the man I love and live to the end of my life in a pleasant way. But that was impossible because the Moon Goddess gave everyone their destiny in an equal way.

As I sobbed, I bit my lip.

I wiped away the traces of my tears and changed my clothes. I would find Kiara and have a chat with her to ease the sadness in my heart.

I looked for Kiara in the kitchen. I found her washing some dirty plates and glasses, like she had just come back from the dining room. Kiara greeted me warmly as before. Kiara smiled at me then walked to a cupboard and served me breakfast. I accepted it and smiled. Kiara knew I was crying. She spread her arms and hugged me.

“What happened? Did Alpha Jeremy hurt you again?” Kiara asked in a whisper.

“No.” I was still trying to protect Jeremy’s name.

Kiara released me and looked at my bruised right hand. Kiara examined my whole body carefully, her eyes glazed over.

“What happened to you, Lilith?”

“It’s just a small bruise, Jeremy didn’t do anything to me.”

“Are you sure about that, Lilith? The bruise looks like it’s the result of a strong grip or binding.” Kiara defined the bruise. “The blood doesn’t ooze out of your bruise like it does when you peel some fruit.”

Kiara bet on the bruise, but I shook my head and tried to change the topic.

Kiara left me then she went to get a small container from behind the cupboard. She handed it to me. It was a mash of parsley leaves with other herbs. But I rejected it because I felt like a burden to Kiara.

Someone shouted, calling Kiara harshly from outside. Jeremy kicked the door until it shattered. Jeremy came and rushed at us at a fast pace.

“Didn’t I tell you not to mix Parsley powder and cinnamon powder in the tea you were going to give to Eunice!”

Kiara looked confused. “I don’t put powders in randomly for someone who is pregnant, Alpha Jeremy.”

“So, who put them in? Will you be responsible if Eunice miscarries? You’re so careless!”

“Why are you blaming someone who is innocent, Jeremy? He could have poured the powder so that anyone close to me would be accused of being a rogue,” I said.

 Jeremy gave me a disapproving look. He grabbed my jaw until I whimpered in pain. His green eyes became red and frightening.

“Alpha Jeremy! Please let go of Luna Lilith!” Kiara screamed and tried to release me from Jeremy’s grip.

Jeremy threw Kiara’s body with ease, until she fell away from me. Kiara couldn’t do anything as she had an injury on her hand.

“You’re hurting people who are clearly innocent!” I looked into his eyes.

“Explain why you’re so keen on accusing Eunice? You’re always accusing her, when you're the one with the evil heart here,” Jeremy snapped at me.

I shook my head in pain.

“I should be the one asking why you’re always putting her ahead of everyone else? She’s just—”  

“Don’t say that it was you.” Jeremy cut me off.

“I didn’t bring it. Let me go. Your grip hurts so much,” I complained.

“You’re really good at fooling everyone, Lilith. You bastard!”

“I didn’t do anything! Why are you jumping to the conclusion that I was the one who poured the powder into Eunice’s tea?”

Jeremy slapped me until I fell down. Kiara’s screams made my heart sink even more. Jeremy squatted down in front of me and grabbed my jaw.

I raised my head and looked at his hateful expression. My heart broke without a trace of that hatred.

“You didn’t come home all night just to plan terrible things, Lilith. I can't wait to kick you back to your family.”

“I-I’m not! Don’t accuse me of that, Jeremy. I know absolutely nothing about it. Even—”

“Never mind! Don’t defend yourself like that! Guards, come here!”

The guards approached us at a fast pace. Jeremy asked them to lock us up in the underground silver prison.

“Jeremy, would you do that to me? I tried my best, but you—”

“Shut your mouth, Lilith! I don’t want to hear your ridiculous explanation!” Jeremy snapped at me once again.

I crawled over and held onto his leg. I begged not to be put away in the underground silver prison. Jeremy ignored me, he didn’t care at all about my roaring cries.

“Take them to the silver prison. We will listen to what the Elders have to say tomorrow. Be killed or kicked out after being tortured to death!”

“Alright, Alpha Jeremy.”

The guards pulled me away from Jeremy, I rebelled with all my might. Unfortunately, I couldn’t face all of them. My vision darkened, while Jeremy’s grin grew wider.

“Jeremy, no! Don’t imprison me!”