Chapter 19
SERENITY KELLER
Monster.
He called me a monster.
I stared blankly at Frank. The man who had proposed to me just minutes ago now wore nothing but fear and disgust on his face. That look cut deep into my heart. I wanted to say something, to deny it, to explain… But in the end, all the words got stuck in my throat. Not a single one came out.
What was there to explain anyway?
I thought to myself. He wasn't wrong. In humans' eyes, werewolves like me were monsters.
While I stood there in a daze, Frank scrambled to his feet and ran toward the café door without looking back. In his panic, he knocked over several chairs. I noticed his movement but felt too drained to stop him.
Not that he got far. The two wolf warriors Elias had left to protect me blocked the doorway and cut off his escape.
As they closed in on Frank, he let out a piercing scream.
"Stop!" I called out to halt them. "Don't hurt him. Let him go!"
"But Luna, he just insulted you! We can't pretend we didn't hear that!" The younger of the two warriors responded angrily.
Insulted? The word almost made me laugh. Four years ago, when I was still with the Vernal pack, when had any of them ever respected me, an Omega who happened to be their Luna?
"I said don't hurt him! Let him leave. Now!" I raised my voice. Even without an Alpha's authority, my intensity was enough to make them understand my resolve.
The warriors backed down. They stepped aside and bowed their heads. "Yes, Luna."
Frank stared in confusion as I spoke with the warriors. I looked at his face, so similar to the Goldens', and swallowed the bitterness rising inside me. "You can go now. Leave this place. We won't meet again."
I closed my eyes.
Then I heard the sound of running footsteps fading into the distance. Without a moment's hesitation, he really left.
I stumbled backward weakly and leaned against the only intact wall of the café.
When I opened my eyes, the scene before me was a nightmare.
My carefully maintained café looked like a war zone.
Broken tables, shattered glass everywhere.
Claw marks and bloodstains covered the floor and walls from the fight…
My sanctuary. My home. Its destruction mirrored the state of my heart.
"Luna," one warrior asked cautiously from the doorway, "are you all right? If you're not feeling well, we can help clean up."
"Don't bother." I shook my head weakly. "I won't be coming back anyway."
I didn't know if Frank would tell people what he'd seen tonight. Maybe soon the whole town of Tara would know what I was. Even if Frank kept my secret for old times' sake, Liv had already sold me out to the hunters. I had nowhere left to go.
"Where will you stay tonight?" the other warrior asked. "The hunters could show up anytime. If there's somewhere you want to go, you should leave soon."
I considered their words.
In this situation, I realized there was only one place I wanted to go, one person I wanted to see—
"Arian," I said quietly to the two warriors. "I want to see my child one last time."
"So you'll come back to Vernal with us?"
"No, I won't go back!" My reaction was fierce. "Bring Arian out to meet me! Anywhere—the border is fine—but I won't set foot in Vernal territory!"
"Well…" The two warriors exchanged uncertain looks. One of them pulled out his phone. "We need to check with the Alpha."
I nodded without stopping them.
The warrior stepped aside to make the call, his voice too low for me to hear. A few minutes later, he returned. "The Alpha agreed. He's arranged a completely safe location for you to meet with the young master."
The location Elias provided was in a small town near Tara, an unremarkable house on the outskirts.
Wolf warriors surrounded and guarded the property. I followed them there by car. About an hour later, I finally saw Arian's small figure.
"Mommy!"
Arian burst into the room and threw himself into my arms. I quickly picked him up, feeling his warm body and familiar scent. My nose stung, and I nearly burst into tears.
"I missed you so much!" Arian looked up at me, his blue eyes sparkling. "Are you finally done with work?"
"Work?"
Arian scrunched up his little nose. "Daddy said you haven't come home because you're busy with work. Was he lying to me?"
"No!" I answered quickly. "I really have been too busy with work. That's why I haven't visited." I stroked his hair. "I'm sorry, Arian. I shouldn't have left you alone that day."
"It's okay. I know your work is important. Just like when Daddy's working, I'm not supposed to bother him either."
The more well-behaved he acted, the more my heart ached.
How was I supposed to tell this child that I'd only come to see him one last time?
That after this, I would leave this city and never return?
Arian tugged at my sleeve, perhaps sensing my unease. He asked hopefully, "When are you coming home? I want to play with you, like other kids do, sleep next to you, and listen to bedtime stories!"
I couldn't take it anymore. Tears streamed down my face. Arian panicked and quickly wiped my eyes with his small hands. "What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry, Arian." I bit down hard, and every word I spoke was drawing blood. "I can't do that anymore… because I might have to go somewhere very far away…"
Arian looked at me blankly. "How far? Farther than heaven?"
"Not that far, but still very, very far," I said softly. "You can call me on the phone, but I'm afraid it'll be a long, long time before I can come back."
"No!" Arian's eyes reddened, and he started crying with me. "Please don't go! Don't leave us behind—"
"I'm sorry, my baby. I'm so sorry."
I held him tight, but I knew that dragging this out would only weaken my resolve to leave.
So I bit my lip, steeled my heart, and set him back down on the ground. "Arian, remember this. No matter where I am, I will always love you. From now on, be good and listen to your daddy. If he ever treats you badly, call me. I'll come get you no matter what—"
"Then take me with you now!" Arian sobbed. "I don't want to be apart from you!"
Hearing those words, I almost agreed. But I couldn't. He was so young. Coming with me while hunters were on my trail would only put him in danger.
So I shook my head silently, hardened my heart, and walked away from him.
Arian cried and called after me, but others held him back. I rushed out of the house and nearly ran into Elias at the door.
"I'll walk you out." Elias glanced toward the sound of crying but asked nothing.
My heart shattered in two. I was in no state to maintain distance from him. I just nodded silently and walked beside him. This short walk to the car became the most peaceful moment we'd shared since our reunion.
"Where will you go after this?" Elias asked quietly.
"I don't know. As far away as possible." I looked at the trees lining the road. As Elias and I walked forward, they kept falling behind us, just like all those days we could never get back.
Elias didn't press for a destination. We walked along the empty, quiet road a while longer. "Don't worry about Arian. I'll take good care of him from now on."
"You'd better." I bit my lip. "I can't be with him, so he needs more attention. Stop avoiding him."
Elias gazed at me. Hearing my words, he opened his mouth. For a moment, I thought he was going to say something, maybe an apology, maybe a plea for me to stay? But in the end, he just nodded.
There was nothing left for us to say.
Two warriors stood in front of a car. They would take me to the train station. Elias took a step toward the vehicle but stopped under my gaze. He couldn't bring himself to get in.
"Take care of yourself." Through the car window, he forced out an ugly smile.
I sniffled and turned away, refusing to look at him anymore.
The driver stepped on the gas, and the car pulled away.
By the time we reached the train station, the sky had grown dark. Maybe the Moon Goddess sensed my mood and hid herself tonight. Apart from the glow of streetlights, the waiting hall was almost pitch-black.
One warrior stayed with me while the other went to buy tickets.
I sat on a bench and stared blankly at the empty train tracks. Then a familiar voice shouted my name from behind. "Serenity! Wait!"
Frank?
I thought I'd misheard. But when I turned around, there he was, running toward me and gasping for breath. The moment I saw his face, I remembered him pointing at me and screaming "monster." I instinctively stepped back and put distance between us.
"What are you doing here? How did you find this station?" I demanded in disbelief.
"I... I asked around..." Frank panted heavily, sweat covering his forehead. "Someone saw you get into a car and remembered the license plate, so I followed…"
"What do you want now?" I asked wearily. "I thought we had nothing left to say to each other."
"No, I was wrong, Serenity!" Frank suddenly grew agitated.
He rushed forward, and the warrior guarding me immediately stepped between us.
But Frank dropped to his knees with a thud.
His voice drew stares from passing travelers.
"Please forgive me! I know I'm a jerk, a coward!
When I saw all that… I was terrified. I said things I shouldn't have said.
I hurt you… but, Serenity, I've thought it through. I realized I still love you!"
"What are you doing? Get up—" I was mortified. I moved to pull him up, but he stubbornly refused to budge.
"I won't get up until you forgive me!"
Frank grabbed my hand. His grip was so tight it hurt. The warrior tried to help me, but I raised my hand to stop him.
Frank pleaded, "Serenity, please give me another chance! Stay for me! You don't have to run. I can hide you. I'm human. I can cover for you! We can lie low in some remote countryside, then come back to Tara when the danger passes—"