Claiming His Luna

Maria’s POV

I woke up in my room, letting out a slight groan as I gently massaged my back to ease the unpleasant throbbing pain.

“Damn, it hurts!” I muttered silently.

My whole body felt sore like a large truck had crashed into me, leaving its mark. And to make things worse, my neck throbbed with a nearly unbearable intensity.

I tried to remember what happened. Yes, that bitch, Vienna, who had successfully knocked me unconscious. But then again, why was I here in this room?

How long did I sleep? I couldn’t recall how much time had passed. Why would Cercei allow Vienna to do that? I attempted to get up from lying, but I only felt frustrated as my body didn’t cooperate well.

Suddenly, the door opened, revealing Frank. His face showed clear displeasure. His lips were tight, his eyes empty, and his hands thrust in his pockets.

He walked towards my bed in a calculated manner, his cold behavior giving a similar feeling to the shiver caused by snowflakes down one’s spine. When our eyes met, it felt like life was being sucked out of me. The intensity of this encounter left me with no doubt that there was trouble.

“H-hi,” I managed to say, surprisingly boldly. Unfortunately, my greeting was met with silence. His gaze held me in place. I might have tried to smile and break the tension if it wasn’t for the throbbing pain I felt. But in my current situation, any such efforts would be in vain.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled. Regret wrapped my voice like a remorseful whisper carried by the breeze. Trying to sit up, I expected some help, but he ignored my pained groans. He kept staring at me, unmoved by my distress.

His gaze was so intense that I had to look away, trying to break from the fiery intensity in his eyes.

He stayed silent like a statue, minutes passing with no end. I couldn’t figure out his intentions. Was he trying to get me to confess by treating me coldly until I broke down?

“I’m sorry,” I said again, my voice like a puppy asking for forgiveness.

“I just… Cercei is my…. I…” Words stumbled from my lips, and my usual eloquence vanished unexpectedly, like a child caught off guard while trying to express thoughts.

“I have no excuse,” I uttered again, my voice trying to sound firm. Gathering some courage, I met his eyes, hoping to see even a bit of compassion or understanding. But there was nothing. His expression remained unreadable, similar to a stone guard at fortified gates. He had no emotions, just an air of strength, ready for any battle.

His silence was like a heavy blanket muffling everything around me. All I could hear was my breath and my heavy heartbeat.

I couldn’t hear any sound from him, not even his breath. Wasn’t that what he had prepared for throughout his life? A warrior honed to be as agile as a wolf.

“What? You’re just going to stay there?” I managed a faint, strained chuckle. Yet, there was no hint of amusement on his face.

“Aren’t you going to scold me? Offer your usual advice, or vent your frustration as much as you want,” the words spilled out from my mouth, carrying a hint of pleading, a yearning for any reaction.

“What should I say?” he finally spoke, yet the words were hanging. His voice cut through the silence. It was cold, like a vast empty sky.

“That I messed up!!!” I growled, carrying an apparent frustration in my voice. I had gone from being mature to sounding like a kid sent to the principal’s office.

“You know what you’ve done. Why should I say anything, then?” Frank responded, his sarcasm just as cold as his expression.

“She’s my best friend!!” I quickly argued, and the fierceness in my voice was firm, as if asserting a truth to shield myself from his anger.

“Your best friend escaped under your watch,” he retorted, words carrying the same intensity.

I gritted my teeth, attempting to appear strong. The truth was, my mouth felt dry, and tears threatened to spill over.

“I didn’t anticipate she would take such action. She just wanted to speak with Vienna,” I reasoned, my voice quivering as I tried to justify my actions. Once more, silence settled like an insurmountable barrier, blocking any further chance for explanation.

I noticed a subtle shift in his gaze, though he quickly concealed it.

“You knew she was restricted from leaving her room,” he expressed slowly, his words carrying significant weight as if he wanted me to understand their gravity.

“She’s not a prisoner. She’s Lucian’s mate,” I sternly voiced out, trying to justify Cercei’s actions. I saw his jaw tighten, and his expression sharpened.

“Which is why she needs protection!” He glared at me. Now, his voice held irritation, which also sparked a sense of anger inside my heart.

“I’m sorry!” I shot back, my voice louder now, tears streaming down my face.

“I’m really sorry,” I gave in to tears. My vulnerability is similar to a baby’s wail. His stern expression faltered, his resolute posture disrupted by my abrupt submission and the flood of tears that followed.

“She’s gone because of my actions, and I’m deeply sorry,” I repeated desperately.

Even though I wasn’t directly involved in plotting her escape, it materialised because of my actions. She exploited the opportunity I had unintentionally provided.

Yes, I feel betrayed. It’s like a damn knife was stabbed into my back. I do recognize the help Cercei has offered me before, but this time, she’s taken it to an entirely different level. She teamed up with the person we utterly despised, the same person who turned our lives into a living nightmare.

I assisted her in talking with Vienna not just because of a debt I owed her, though that played a role. The real reason was that she was my best friend, more like a sister. Her entire life has been built on lies, and how she uncovered the truth was far from fair. She needed that conversation with Vienna to clear things up. However, I never anticipated that they would formulate such an escape plan.

Knocking me out forcefully and leaving me unconscious was a serious offence, especially considering the risks I had taken. I had exposed my hacking skills, revealing my full capabilities to create a distraction for the guards. This move strained my relationship with Frank, put Lucian’s trust in trouble, and even risked my own identity. I am not trying to count good deeds, but she stabbed me brutally.

Her betrayal is not just affecting me; it puts her safety at risk, which is something I can’t overlook. The burden of responsibility bears down on me heavily, and if any harm happens to her, I won’t be able to forgive myself.

That little bitch ran straight into the arms of the monster she had been avoiding her whole life.

“I’ll bring her back,” I declared with a firm tone as if making a grave promise.

“I think you’ve done enough,” He retorted in an icy scorn. His gaze locked onto mine before he turned away, cutting off our connection.

As he walks away, it’s as if a parallel wound opens inside me, each step he takes driving an invisible blade into my heart.

“I’ll bring her back, you idiot!” I whispered, my voice trailing after him as he disappeared from my sight.