His Blue Moon Princess
Chapter 49

Damian's... what?

My mind goes blank, yet my eyes can't stop watching them. This couple, standing across the room. Next to each other, a black and gold movie-like scene. I can't think; I just stare like some mindless i***t. I feel so stupid... "Nora, are you okay?" Someone asks.

In the crowd of werewolves gathers around them, no one is surprised to see those two together. They all know. Except for me. I didn't know. I never did, because nobody told me. No, they made sure not to. Foolish, ignorant, blind Nora.

I don't know. How am I supposed to feel? Because I feel nothing right now. My heart just fell, somewhere really, really low. I'm numb; it's like my body is covered in ice. I can't even cry. I have both eyes fixated on them and I have no idea what to do or how to react. Damian is talking to someone next to him, and that girl is still attached to him, her arm around his like he belongs to her.

He is mine!

My wolf is screaming inside, growling and crying her guts out. Her pain hits me like a hurricane. My chest is so painful, I can't breathe.

I take a step back.

I want to run away from here. Why can't I stop watching, when it's so painful? I can't stay here. Her. With him. The two of them, side by side. My mate and that girl, together. I don't want to see that! The more I watch, the more my mind is going crazy. Thoughts like a raging fire, burning me from the inside. How long? Since when? Why her? Does she love him? Does he love her? Does he love her more than me? Does he love me at all?!

Hell is in front of me and I can't stay here. I take another step back, and realize there's broken glass at my feet. Is this mine? When I raise my head again, a lot of eyes are now on me. Among them, a pair of silver-shining eyes, wide open with surprise. "Nora, watch out, you-"

But I push him back. I can't take anyone touching me now. Not Bobo, not Liam, not anyone. I want to run from this wretched place, from this world. I turn around and start running.

I hear Damian's voice calling my name behind me, and his brother's.

I run to the elevator and a surprised waiter gets out to let me in. I push the ground level button, again and again and again, but I hear Damian's steps without looking up. Just as the door closes, he rushes in the tiny elevator space, and I instinctively retreat until my back hits the wall. "Nora, listen to me. Look at me."

I avoid his eyes. I don't want to talk to him right now. I don't want to look at him. It's too painful! If I see him, I'll see that vision of him with her again! I see his hands coming close, and I scream. "Don't f*****g touch me!" That's when I realize I'm crying. From my scorched voice. I'm crying hard and shaking. His hands freeze just before he touches me.

"Okay, okay. I won't touch you. But Nora, you have to listen to me. It's not what you think."

Who cares about what I think? It's what I just saw and heard that matters! And I'm not ready to hear it again! I feel like my heart will stop beating if I do! I cross my arms around me, shielding myself from him, staying the furthest away I can from Damian.

Why does it have to be me? I can take a hundred hits from Alec, but I can't take this! I trusted him. I knew something was wrong, somewhere in my mind I had that thought, but I still decided to trust him. Why now? Why this? After all this time?

I love him, I love this man so badly, and that's why it hurts.

I raise my head, looking at him in the eyes, and between my tears, I hear my own voice. "Tell me it's not true. Tell me you're not engaged, Damian."

Maybe Liam lied. Maybe I saw it wrong, and maybe that girl is just a close friend. Maybe it's was all just a joke. Maybe I'm dreaming. A nightmare I need to wake up from.

I see him open his mouth, hesitating, but he stays silent, and this time, he is the one to avoid my gaze. I can't believe it. I cover my eyes with my hand, trying to calm down my crying, but gosh, it's hard.

"Nora, listen to me, please. It's true, I am engaged to Alexandra, but..."

"Shut up."

I don't want to hear her name in his mouth. I don't want to hear anymore.

He's been with me for two months now. Yet he's still having this engagement party. I don't think of any good reason for this. He had weeks to call it off with her, or break up with me. I... Who am I to him? "...I thought you loved me."

He looks at me with scandalized eyes. "...What? Nora, I do! Do you seriously think I don't love you? I..."

"Then why the f**k is she the one you're going to marry?! Why?"

"Nora, Alexandra is not the one I love, you are! She will just be my official Luna!"

I look at him, stunned beyond words. Is he mad? Does he have any idea of what he is saying right now? His Luna? What would I be, then? I think of the apartment he gave me. So he wants me kept in that tower, like a bird in a golden cage? I shake my head, at a loss for words. The elevator reaches the ground level and opens. He is still in front of me, barring the exit.

"Move out of my way, Damian."

"Nora, no. You're hurt, and..."

"You're the one who hurt me!" I yell, ignoring all the people in the lobby. "I've had broken bones and a hundred wounds, but never have I ever been in pain like now! You took me for an i***t, Damian! Now, out of my way!"

As I yell those last words, he brutally retreats in a really odd way, like he's pushed back or something. I don't even care. I run out in the lobby, with a lot of people staring at me. I must be looking crazy... I try to wipe out my flowing tears, but I can't barely see in front of me, I'm so angry, sad, and confused. I bump into someone, a man. I try to step aside and go on my way, but before I can make two steps, he suddenly grabs my arm. "...Queen Diane?"

What the...?

He looks at me, his eyes confused. Who is this guy? I shake my head and elude him, running away. I run until the entrance of the hotel, to the outside where it's pouring. I hate the rain... I keep walking anyway. I don't care about the rain or the cold, I just wanna put as much distance as possible between Damian and me. I don't want him following me or something.

After a while of walking and crying, I finally stop. Gosh, I have no idea where I am... And Liam kept my phone, too. Who would I call anyway? I don't want to see any of them, they all lied to me all this time! The Black Brothers, even the siblings! Who can I trust now? Suddenly, I remember Elena. I'm so agitated, that it takes me a while to mind-link her, though.

...Nora? Nora, why are you crying? Are you okay? What's wrong?

Elena, can I come to your place? I have nowhere to go.

What? But what about your...?

I'm not going back there.

I know she can feel my distress. I'm tired, cold, and angrier than I have ever been. And even sadder than that.

Okay, okay. Do you know where you are? We will come and get you, okay?

After a couple more streets, I finally replace the name of a nearby restaurant to give her, though she had a rough idea of my position thanks to the mind-link.

They arrived ten minutes later, in a car. Elena takes me to sit with her in the back seat, covering me with a thick blanket they had brought. A blonde guy is driving, probably her friend, Daniel. His human form is not really what I expected. He is thin and has a rather pretty face, with blue eyes and small, round glasses. With his little goatee and fold-over sweater, he looks like a bit of a bookworm. He starts the engine, and Elena turns to me, handing a tissue.

"Nora... What happened?"

"Wait, it smells like blood, babe."

Elena looks down and we both see my injured feet. Gosh, I didn't even realize I had cuts.

"Oh my Goddess, Nora!"

The broken glass from earlier pierced my shoes and cut me all over. My previously white shoes are now covered in red. I didn't even feel any pain, I was too angry. Now that I'm staring at it, it does feel quite painful. I sigh, too tired to even react to this. Elena, however, looks deeply concerned.

"Danny, you think you can handle that? Or do we take her to a hospital?"

He looks over his shoulder a couple of times, inspecting my wound, and frowns. Oh right, Daniel is a medicine student, isn't he?

"It should be okay. But we need to disinfect it quickly."

"My Goddess, Nora... What happened to you?"

I start explaining everything. I start crying again in the middle of it, with my chest and heart being painful again. Elena and Daniel stay silent. She pats my back all the while, looking deeply concerned. When I'm done talking, we have entered a part of the city that I don't know at all.

"...Men are jerks."

"...Men are jerks."

"Not helpful, Danny," says Elena. "Nora, I'm so sorry about what you went through tonight, really. But don't worry, okay? Tonight, you will stay at our place, have a good sleep, and calm down. And we can talk about it tomorrow when you feel better, okay?" "What is there to talk about? She needs to ditch the guy and basta."

"Danny, park the damn car and shut up!" Growls Elena.

Once we arrive, Daniel decides to carry me so I wouldn't hurt my feet anymore, and Elena keeps the blanket around me as we go to their flat.

We enter a very cozy apartment, and I love it instantly. It's small, but full of warm colors, with a small kitchen counter, a large bottle-green couch, and a fluffy carpet. There are three large bouquets of flowers dispersed in the room and a strong smell of coffee, freesia, and citrus.

Daniel helps me sit on the couch and goes to one of the rooms. He comes back with a large first aid kit and rubber gloves. Elena sits next to me while he helps me take off my shoes. "How is it, Danny?"

"Bleeding a lot? I'm gonna have to make sure she doesn't have any glass left in her foot, but it should be okay. Not a good idea to run around with your feet in that state, sweetheart." "Sorry... I didn't realize."

Daniel sighs, but puts the gloves on and starts taking care of my feet really carefully.

"Do you want a cup of coffee, Nora?" Asks Elena.

"If you have some tea..."

"I would love a cappuccino, too," says Daniel.

"I wasn't asking you!"

"Thank you, babe."

Apparently, they are both used to those kinds of arguments, because Elena gets up and takes out three cups. Daniel turns his head into her direction and clicks his tongue. "No coffee for you, mama!" She growls. "Crap, I forgot..."

Right, I forgot she's pregnant, too. Has she told Nathaniel yet? It's been a week or two now. Now that I'm thinking about it, Elena is wearing a large sweater. She had boyish clothes, too, last time, but this one is clearly oversized. Even if she had any baby bump, it wouldn't be showing with this kind of top on.

While she is pouring some milk in the cup, her phone rings. She frowns when she sees the number and shows her screen to us.

"It's Nate..."

"...They are probably looking for her. You should answer before the whole Blood Moon Clan rushes to our territory."

Elena hesitates for a while, but after a few seconds and looking at me, she answers the call. "Yes, Nate? I'm okay, thanks... I know, sorry, I've been busy....Yes, yes, she's here with me, at my place. ...Yeah, she's okay. Well, a bit shook up, but she is safe, and Daniel is taking care of her feet... Not tonight, Nate. It's not a good idea. Nora is still too upset, she needs some time....Yes, of course. As long as she needs."

She stays silent for a while, apparently waiting for Nathaniel's answer. After a while, I hear him talking, though I can't really get what he is saying. Elena frowns. "...That's none of your business, Nate. Okay, I can ask....Nora?" "Yes?"

"Bobo wants to come and see you tomorrow morning... Is that okay?"

I hesitate for a while. Bobo kept the truth from me, too... But he is still my best friend so far. I don't want to see Damian or even Liam, but I guess I can see Bobo. I nod.

"...She said yes....Okay. Yes, I'm fine, I told you. Good night, Nathaniel."

She hangs up, a bit too fast to act normal. She sighs and comes back to us with the cups. Daniel is observing her with a genuinely worried look.

"... Are you okay, baby?"

"I am. And don't ask, Nora is the one to be worried about."

"Well, she should be happy, Bobo is coming for her."

Is that... jealousy I hear? Elena rolls her eyes. "Oh, stop being a baby, Danny! Bobo is worried about Nora as a friend! Now drop the jealousy act, or, baby or not, I'm really kicking your scrawny a*s!"

Oh my gosh!

"So you're Bobo's mysterious boyfriend!" I exclaim.