Scarred Luna

Kieran’s POV

A small sigh slid past my lips as I smoothed the invisible creases on my dress. I stood in front of the cracked mirror as I took in my reflection, and I could swear I saw a teeny tiny stain just at the hem of my dress.

As carefully as I could, I put the mirror back from where I’d pulled it out from, before wrapping my apron around my waist. Once I was done with that, I snuck one last glance at my room before heading out and locking the door behind me.

My room. I had my own space now.

A small smile made its way to my face as I walked down the stairs. The closer I got, the louder the noises from the diner reached my ears. It was almost opening time, and everyone was on the verge of going mad trying to make sure everything was ready before the stipulated time.

Everyone except me, that is.

When Mrs Eliza had introduced me to her friend, I never asked the type of job I was going to be given, until I found out myself. I was put on kitchen duty.

I made my way to the kitchen and got to work immediately. As expected, a mountain of plates had begun to pile up. According to the rules, each and every eating utensil had to be washed thoroughly before use. At night, I would also repeat the same action. It didn’t seem like a lot of work, until I actually started.

I’d spent a total of one week here, and yet I hadn’t gotten used to it . The burn that came with a load of soap and chemicals digging deep into your pores almost every day. The pain that had a hold on my leg after standing for way too long. The endless supply of plates and the silent muttering underneath my breath that my shift was going to end sooner than later. All of that and more were things I’d been going through since I resumed here, and whether or not It was worth it, I couldn’t say yet.

Honestly, I wouldn’t say I was surprised. The diner wasn’t some sort of fancy hotel or a fancy restaurant where rich customers trooped in. That and the fact that I was currently paying my rent, was one of the reasons I was going to be looking forward to a peanut sized pay when it was salary week.

All in all, I couldn’t complain. Eliza and my new boss had helped me out. Helped me get away from Xander and Sabrina and I was more than grateful for that. Bothering her about my pay wasn’t something that was negotiable. Luckily, I still had the salon by the side too.

Pushing those thoughts out of my mind, I focused on the task at hand. As quickly as I could, and carefully too, I was able to wash all of the dishes assigned to me, and before the end of my shift too.

Without wasting so much as a second, I wiped my hands clean against the kitchen rag, before dashing out of the diner, my destination being Eliza’s salon.

***********

I got to the saloon in record time, with Eliza just finishing up on someone’s hair. It was a lady, who looked no older than twenty two, and she grinned and admired her new hairdo, she chipped it in that she was on her way to her boyfriend’s house. It was their anniversary today, and they were going to celebrate it. I wasn’t sure why, but it reminded me of a certain person. Someone who….

“Stop it.” I scolded myself, muttering underneath my breath. If there was one thing I’d been struggling with, it was trying to keep my mind off Xander and his mansion. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop myself from wondering what was going on in my absence. Wasn’t all of that too much for a prank? When were they going to come find me and tell me that they were just joking all along? Sabrina knew where I worked so there was no way…

The small ding of the doorbell was all it took to pull me out of my thoughts. Whenever the small bell that was hung over the entrance made that small sound, it was a sign that we had a new customer.

“Hello, welcome to Eliza’s beauty empire.” I wore my professionalism like a second skin immediately. “How can I help you….”

The rest of my words died in my throat as my gaze landed on my assumed customer.

I almost didn’t believe it. No matter how many times I blinked, it wasn’t until she finally smirked before I realized she was really here in person.

“What are you doing here?” The words tumbled out of my mouth immediately. “What do you want?” I asked.

“Awwwn.” She cooed, mockery evident in her tone. “And here I thought you were going to keep it together. I would have given you a tip for that, you know.”

“Alice.” I still hadn’t gotten used to the feel of her name on my tongue and honestly, I wasn’t sure I was ever going to. “What do you want ? Why are you here?” I asked again, my thoughts all jumbled up.

“Well, what do we have here?” Alice’s hands crossed across her bosom immediately. “Did you somehow manage to unlock a new bitch mode, all because you were sent out of the house? That’s a little sad and pathetic if you ask me, or don’t you think so?” she said and I clenched my fists by my side.

Something swirled in the pit of my stomach and I struggled to keep my emotions in check. They ranged from anger, to hurt, irritation and all I wanted to do was run away.

“Nothing to say?” Alice spoke up again. “I wasn’t expecting anything else from a lowlife-” she started to hurl insults at me but got cut off.

“Alice!” Mrs Eliza peeked from the little room in the corner. She didn’t say much, but that was all it took to put her in her place. It was still unbelievable how two people who were related could be so different from each other.

Right. They were related. She could be here anytime she wanted.

I shook my head gently, deciding not to pay any mind to mother and daughter. Since Alice was here, I could only guess the amount of trouble she was trying to stir up and I would rather drink shampoo than indulge her any longer.

As quickly as I could, I slipped out of their midst and towards one of the shelves. There wasn’t anything particular to do, but If I had to stare at the shelves to sustain my sanity, then I was going to take it.

“What’s wrong?” I had barely gotten to the shelves when someone’s voice reached my ears.

Perhaps it was the proximity between us, or the fact that she had followed me here, even after the fact that I had made a conscious effort to avoid her that pissed me off, but one thing was certain, I didn’t want her anywhere near my space at all.

“Couldn’t handle the heat? Where did your sharp tongue go?” she tainted me but I said nothing.

If there was anything I had learned from Alice, it was that she got mad the more you ignored her, and I was going to do just that.

Hopefully, I don’t break.

“I think it’s rather funny, you know…” She started again and was immediately in front of me.

“That I know exactly where you are but I wouldn’t dare tell a soul. Especially Alpha Xander who’s been searching the heavens and the earth for you.”

My ears perked up and I raised my face to hers immediately the name slid past her lips.

“What?” I muttered. “What did you just say?” I asked again.

“Is that hope on your face?” She smirked and I felt sick to my guts.

“Awww. How adorable.” She said and I gritted my teeth in annoyance. I hated that I was falling for her trap but I couldn’t help it.

“He wants me back.” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I knew it. “That’s why he’s looking for me-”

“For now.” She cut me off with a wave of her hand.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Once he is free of whatever spell you cast on him, I can guarantee you he wouldn’t even look in your direction twice.” she said and I swallowed. I mean, I knew it wasn’t a spell or anything but the thought of Xander forgetting about me scared me.

Her words were sharp enough to cut through my chest like a knife. Was this why she was here? To give me hope just so she could smash it into my face? I didn’t put it past her though, I just didn’t think she would stoop this low.

Wait. I mean, it’s Alice. She absolutely would.

A question bubbled in my heart, but I would die if I didn’t know the answer, so I took a giant leap of faith.

“What about Sabrina?” I asked slowly. “Is she-” I started but of course, the rude bitch cut me off again.

“Is she what?” She grinned, her eyes glowing with mischief. “Is she totally happy without you? The answer is yes, Kieran.” she said.

Her words were like a blow to my chest and I could swear I heard my heart crack into a million pieces.

“In fact,” Alice continued. “I don’t think she has ever been happier. She smiles more, laughs like there’s no tomorrow too, and do you know what this means? That you were the problem all along? Your mere presence was akin to some kind of a moody spell cast onto that mansion, but now that we’re rid of you, everything can go back to normal.” she said and I swallowed, blinking to push back the tears that threatened to make their way out.

I allowed her words to sink in. Maybe she was right. Perhaps everything she had just said was true and I was the problem.

Alice and I weren’t friends, but I couldn’t deny this. She was right and I was wrong. There was no hope for me in the mansion at all. Not now, or ever.

And to think a part of me clung on to some false hope.

Shit.