Part Three- Chapter 41
"I want to say somewhere: I've tried to be forgiving. And yet. There were times in my life, whole years, when anger got the better of me. Ugliness turned me inside out. There was a certain satisfaction in bitterness. I courted it. It was standing outside, and I invited it in."
_Nicole Krauss, The History of Love
ONE WEEK LATER....
DARYA P.O.V
The music was soft and slow, just the way I wanted it at the moment. Raising my right hand above my head, I grabbed the pole and walked in a circle around it before hooking my left leg round the pole. When I got a good grip, I arched my body backwards and swung around the pole.
As I kept swinging, I stretched my leg straight and danced in accord with the music holding the pole. Closing my eyes, I recalled the event that had happened since Nick's death.
His funeral was held early next morning. The whole pack mourned his death. Nick's parents were inconsolable. I could still remember the way his mom had rested her head on his chest when the pallbearers had come close. I remembered everything about that day.
Duncan had told me that Konrad's body was buried in the same spot that he was killed. It was in the outskirts of the territory and no one bothered to go there often.
I had stayed in Emperor the next two days. All the neighboring packs celebrated Konrad's death but there was only gloom in Emperor. I couldn't bring myself to celebrate Konrad's death. I could only remember that he killed Nick, who was more of a friend than bodyguard. I loved him... maybe not the same way as he did.
The third day, Sel and Raven asked me to return to Serene. I agreed because staying in Emperor made it harder for me to forget what happened to Nick. Quillon came that evening to take me there. When I reached here, everyone hailed me for killing the monster.
The fourth day, I attended college. It felt normal until I saw Mikhail, Shane and Fox standing near the entrance after my classes were over. It was too much to bear and I begged Duncan that afternoon to discharge them from their duties. I did not want a guard anymore.
For years, it had been the same cycle. I become friendly with them and when they die protecting me, it would hurt me terribly.
It was only after I broke down that Duncan agreed to remove them.
At home, I even told Quillon to not keep any guards for me. He said he had already removed them because he thought I would become a lazy lump if I have them protecting me.
Asshole!
After hearing that, I cracked a smile for the first time after days. As Quillon hugged me close that night, I was pathetically grateful he was there with me when I needed him the most.
The following three days, everything felt normal. Like always, I learned to move on with my life. It wasn't as easy as I say but I had a lot of good memories with Nick and I would always cherish them.
At that time, I had also signed the documents completely transferring the land rights of my farm to the government and thus making it a government holding. That evening all my coworkers celebrated because we were all now government employees. I still find it hard to believe.
Finally, today morning, Grace had come home and told us that since we had already completed the mating, it was time I get accepted as the Luna of Serene Pack.
My wolf had agreed almost immediately to the suggestion, but I had a lot to think about. Quillon had just shrugged and walked away, leaving me baffled.
Luna of Serene Pack!
I had never given a thought about it. That's why, I told Grace I need some time to think and she reluctantly agreed to it.
That is what I was supposed to do now... think about it.
I had asked the Alphas'. Duncan told me to accept it because he knew I was in love with Quillon. Sel told me that whatever my decision, she would support me. Cortez told me to accept the decision only if I felt I was ready to take that kind of responsibility. Granel told me to accept because he thought I would be a good Luna. Tyson told me to find out if everyone in Serene had accepted me and if they did, then he told me to accept it.
In the end, I decided to accept the title only after talking to Quillon.
I was leaning upside down on the pole, when the music stopped. Slowly, I straightened myself and when my feet touched the floor, I found Quillon watching me.
He had been punching the boxing bag when I had entered the gym. That's why without disturbing him, I put on my music and exercised on the pole. Now, wearing a black wife-beater and track pants, he was straddling a backside front chair, with his chin resting on his crossed arms. Watching his intent gaze on me made my skin feel hot all of a sudden. It brought memories of our mating.
"Are you done?" I asked referring to his exercise. He shook his head as a reply. "Then?" I was confused, wondering why he was sitting.
"I couldn't focus" Quillon said standing up, to reveal his well-toned arms.
"Why?"
"You were very... distracting" he chose his word very carefully and I felt my cheeks flaming.
"I was?" I asked unthinkingly and then shook my head. "Sorry... I will just-" Quillon silenced me with his mouth.
It felt really good to kiss him after a long week gap. My wolf rested her head on her paws with a sigh. I closed my eyes as his tongue slid between my parted lips. As he started trailing kisses down my salty skin, I recalled how good I felt that day, in his arms. I pressed my body closer to Quillon's as his hands slid under my tank top.
This felt right. With him, everything feels right. That is why I think I can be the Luna of this pack.
My eyes flew open and slowly, hesitantly, I started to pull away from our embrace.
"What?" Quillon growled.
"Uh... I need to talk to you" I said placing a hand on his chest to push him away. Even though he was a step away from me, I wasn't able to remove my hands from his chest.
"Later" Quillon argued closing the distance between us.
"No. Now" I reasoned pushing him back. This time not only did I drop my hands, but I too stepped back. "And I need distance to focus" I added shaking my head. "So, go... sit there" I said pointing at the chair. Quillon cocked a questioning brow and I just indicated the chair. Sighing, he went back to his earlier seat.
"Your mom said something early morning today" I reminded standing in front of him, with a respectable distance between us.
"She said a lot of things" Quillon said with a shrug, which caused my teeth to grind against each other.
"Well, one amongst those things was for me to accept the title of Luna" I said sweetly and Quillon nodded. "So..?"
"So what?"
"What do you think I should do?"
"It is your choice. Choose whatever you want" Quillon retorted and I gaped at him.
"Choose whatever I want?" I parroted in disbelief. "Your opinion matters, that's why I am asking you" I snapped and Quillon narrowed his eyes.
"It isn't the priority though. Your choice is and what is it?" I really hated it when he flipped a question back at me with a blank look in his face. It always had me puzzled. Now, I couldn't understand if he wanted me to stay or leave.
Leave... Thinking about it hurt. My wolf whined softly, refusing to leave. She has grown attached to Serene because of Quillon and now, she didn't want to leave.
However, I wouldn't tell Quillon that. I wanted to know what is going on in his mind; hence I flipped the question back. "I asked first"
"And I answered already. Now, I am waiting for your answer" he said with a slight smirk. Come to think about it... yes, he was right. He had answered.
Damn him! For always making me crush my own pride!
Since our sixty days agreement was already in the dustbin, I decided to give him an honest answer. Gulping, I looked at his dark brown eyes and said, "I accept."
Quillon let out a breath, which caused my wolf to straighten her ears in interest. I wasn't even aware he was holding his breath.
"To be the Luna that is" I said shifting from one foot to another. "Only if you want" I added quickly.
"Why do you think I wouldn't want it?" Quillon asked.
"One question at a time Quillon" I reminded cheekily and the corner of his mouth tilted upwards, which made my heart thump against my ribcage.
"Stay" he said and after hearing that one word, my wolf jumped in joy. I had to bit my bottom lip to hide my smile. However, I could already feel the blush spreading as far down my chest.
Nodding once, I lowered my head. "Why did you think I wouldn't want it?" His question made me raise my head, to look at him.