Chapter 8 A Bastard!

LUNA ELIZABETH

Laughter bubbles in my throat, listening to my husband talk.

I was on the phone with him, seated comfortably in the back of one of the six convoys my husband had go with me to this Luna meeting I was on my way to.

After that bastard's appearance, much to my shock and disdain, few days back, the house had been tensed and almost silent, until two days ago.

I had to beg my Alpha for understanding and when he heard the whole story, he finally saw my point and forgave me.

I was happy we were on good terms again. I wouldn't want anything to ruin the beautiful life with the man the Moon Goddess had shown mercy by giving him to me.

"I love you, baby." His tone was filled with love and affection. "Got to go. I have a pack meeting. Need to address some pack issue."

"I love you too. But pack issue? You never told me about any pack issue." I had to ask.

"Nothing major, honey. Just have fun doing whatever you women love to do." He blew me a kiss and the call disconnected.

I paid attention to my surroundings. Watched canopies of trees sweep by in fast motion. Houses floating past. I enjoyed the scenery, took in the small pleasures of life and thanking the Moon Goddess for them.

The car I was in stopped.

My brows furrowed. "Why are we stopping?" I questioned my driver.

"Someone is causing the hold up in front, Luna. I just got alerted by the others in front. Let me go see who it is." He unstrapped himself and got down.

It was no later than five minutes when I heard the ruckus myself. Curious and finding myself annoyed over whatever this was, I climbed down to go see for myself.

There were about three guards trying to stop someone from coming towards my vehicle. I strained my neck to see the face.

"Leave me alone, you dimwits! I'm here for my wife."

"If you do not restrain yourself, mister. We're going to have to deal with you harshly."

My blood ran cold as soon as I recognized the voice. Not with fear, but with anger.

I marched up to the front of the vehicle where he was still struggling with them. I saw his face then. "What the hell do you want from me, Ben? What are you doing here?" My voice was flat and cold. A little mean, if you may.

The guards released their hold on him once noticing my presence. They bowed and parted for me to have a clearer view of him.

"I'm here to see you."

My eyes roamed his entire frame in something resembling disgust. When my gaze reached his eyes, there was desperation..and some kind of plea for understanding.

I wasn't fazed. "To see me? Why? Why do you want to see me?"

"Because you're my wife."

The words were barley out of his mouth when I raised my hand to strike his face hard and without remorse. "You must be out of your mind, you fool! You abandoned me and my daughter. You left us to go through hell alone. You were out there starting a new life with another woman while I went hungry and almost homeless with my daughter."

Righteous fury trembled my frame.

"You never for once in over twenty years care to know how I was faring. How my daughter was faring. Probably you heard somewhere that the Moon Goddess has been kind to me and Katherine. Now you come here, making a fool of yourself and making proclamations like you have the right."

Emotions ran wild and barely controlled.

My Luna wolf was ready to tear this bastard in shreds for the pains of the past.

I could even hear my voice had gotten deeper - almost like a growl.

"You have no right, Ben! Absolutely no right! You made the choice when you ran out on us years ago. You do not get the right to return and want the family you rejected. I'm with a better man now. The best man, in fact. And I am so glad you left us, because even when you were there, you were not what I'd naturally pray to have as a husband. So thank you for leaving. But," I wagged a warning finger in his stunned face. "Let this be the second and last time you'll show your face to me, Ben. The next time, I'll deal with you as a Luna does to anyone who dares disrespect her. You're a subject in Stone Shadow, remain so."

I swerved on my heel to leave, but to my astonishment, he grabbed a hand, ready to pull me back. "Wait, I have..."

His words were cut off by a grunt.

The guards forced him to his knees.

Provoked to the rim, I commanded. "Roughen him up."

My security showed no mercy - they kicked and slapped and beat.

One even slid off his belt and used as a whip.

When I was satisfied seeing the blood on his face, I raised a hand. "That's enough. Push him out of the way and continue this journey."

They shoved him to the edge of the road that he almost rolled into a nearby bush.

There were bystanders watching this scenario. I walked back to my vehicle already opened by a guard and slid in.

I put a call across to my husband. I wanted someone to talk to. My hands were shaking, I didn't even realize tears were on the surface until they rolled down my face.

I swiped at them, hating that I was crying.

I was in a better place now. So was my daughter. But it didn't erase the hell that man had put me through, and I thought I had forgotten all about it until he showed up again.

"Hello, Lizzy, I'm in a..."

"I know. I'm sorry for," I paused to control tears.

"Are you crying?" The genuine concern that erupted from him and reached my ears made me utter a silent gratitude to the Moon Goddess for giving him to me.

He wasn't just my husband. He was my savior. My second chance at hope, life and love.

"I...I just wanted to talk to you. You make me feel calm, safe and protected." I told him without shame.

"Someone hurt you?" He went on full Alpha mode. His tone now deepened to that of his powerful wolf, dark too.

"Ben tried to..."

"That bastard! Don't worry, my love, he'll be dealt with. Where are you now? Do you think you're still up for this journey?"

A sniffle. "Yes. I won't let his presence ruin anything for me. I'm just...just worried about Katherine."

There, I finally said it. Ben was a psycho. A lunatic. I might be able to fight him off, but what about my daughter who was even more vulnerable now that she was pregnant?

"Hey, do you think the boys will let any harm come to her?" He sounded reasonable.

I couldn't help but nod. "Yeah, you're right. That's right."

"I have to go, love. When you get home, we'll talk all about it, okay?"

I nodded, mustering courage from his words. "Okay."

The call disconnected.

I drew a deep breath, brought out my compact mirror to retouch my makeup.

My husband was right. If Ben tried to play dumb games, he would soon realize I wasn't alone anymore...and so it was with my daughter.