Claiming His Luna

Cercei’s POV

Just like déjà vu, following that fateful night, we were once again expelled from the grand mansion, this time, it’s permanent.

Vienna refused to let us retrieve any of our belongings; the guards callously dragged us out, throwing us onto the cold street with nothing but bloodied wounds.

As if matters couldn’t deteriorate further, the heavens opened up, drenching us in relentless rain. We stood there, soaked and disheartened, in the middle of the bustling streets. My mother wept, repeating her apologies for the umpteenth time, while I stared blankly at the expanse of the sky above.

At this moment, I found myself incapable of shedding tears; my emotional reservoir had run dry. Exhaustion consumed me, preventing the expression of any sentiment. I had finally come to accept my unfortunate fate-a curse from the heavens, denying me the privilege of happiness.

I spent my whole life longing to break free from that mansion. However, now that I’ve finally achieved my freedom, I can’t seem to find any happiness, not even a small amount. Maybe things would be different if the circumstances were changed or if my father were still here with us.

My father used to tell me fascinating stories about the vastness of the world, emphasising that life stretched far beyond the suffocating walls and imposing gates beyond that mansion. Finally, after being imprisoned for eighteen long years, I took my first step into the outside world.

In our desperate search for shelter, we carefully examined our surroundings, hoping to find even a hint of comfort-a sheltering tree, a modest place, yet nothing came into view. The harsh cold mercilessly penetrated our shivering bodies, amplifying the pain of our injuries. As wolves, we possess the natural ability to heal, but the healing process for these deep cuts and bites would require considerable time to recover.

Pity overwhelmed me as I observed my mother in such a state, but I struggled to summon the words to comfort her. Both of us sat in lonely silence on the roadside, awaiting the end of the storm. She did not attempt to coerce me into conversation or draw near; instead, she remained huddled, weeping, and seeking relief within her own embrace.

The night felt never-ending, dragging on at a slow and tiresome pace. However, even in the deepest darkness, the sun eventually emerges. When I woke up, I found myself nestled in my mother’s lap, completely unaware that sleep had overcome me.

When she noticed that I had awakened, a faint smile appeared on her face, though it carried a tinge of sadness. Her eyes remained swollen from all the tears she had shed. I didn’t say anything in response; instead, I rose to my feet and composed myself.

“Come on,” she urged, standing up and leading the way.

“Where are we going?” I asked, curious about our destination.

“I think I know a place,” she replied with a glimmer of hope.

I followed her as she veered off the busy street and entered the peaceful woods. I scanned our surroundings, concerned that someone might be following us.

After everything that had happened, I knew Vienna wouldn’t be satisfied with simply kicking us out. She had a vindictive nature and would go to great lengths to make our lives even more miserable than they were in the mansion.

Monsieur, too, had always kept a close eye on my mother and me. At first, I thought it was just his cruelty, but after Vienna’s revelations last night, I began to see his possessiveness in a new light.

However, I’m not entirely sure. Despite my anger towards my mother, I have too much respect for her to believe she’s Monsieur’s mistress. I know she loved my father deeply, and his death shattered her. So, I’m confused.

I’ve already spent a lot of time asking questions, but it always leads to being ignored or causing trouble. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with it either, so I chose to remain silent. If my mother wanted to talk, she would have, but she didn’t.

We’ve been given a chance to start over, and I don’t want to ruin it. I’m unsure if this is one of Vienna’s tricks or something else entirely, but I’ll make the most of it. I’ve endured a lot of hardship in my life, and now I can’t tell if this is heaven or another form of suffering.

My feet are already hurting from an hour of walking, and I’m thirsty and hungry. I’m too weak to take another step.

“Cercei, just a little farther,” my mother encouraged, noticing my fatigue and urging me to keep going.

My legs finally gave out, and I collapsed onto my knees. Without hesitation, my mother hurried to my side, offering her support and helping me regain my footing.

“I can’t,” I murmured weakly, overwhelmed by exhaustion.

“Shh, it’s okay,” she reassured me, her voice filled with determination. “We can do this.” She helped me rise with care, guiding my arms around her shoulders to share the burden.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Together, we arrived at an unexpected sight-a train track cutting through a quiet field.

“Where are we?” I asked, puzzled by our surroundings, as she positioned me to the side.

“When I give the signal, we must jump together,” she explained, a mix of concern and eagerness in her voice.

“What?” I exclaimed, perplexed by her words. What did she mean by jumping?

“The place I know is three towns away, and we need to catch a train,” she clarified, a sense of urgency underlying her words.

“We don’t have money, so we’ll have to do it this way, alright?” Despite my lingering confusion, I nodded, surrendering to the reality of our situation. I had no idea if I had the strength to jump-I could barely manage to walk.

Although I longed to transform and hunt, the fear of missing the train kept me in check. Instead, we sat on the side, waiting. Exhaustion eventually overcame me, and I drifted off to sleep, only to be jolted awake by the thunderous noise of the approaching train.

Quickly, Mamà instructed me to hide in the surrounding bushes, ensuring we remained unseen. The train roared past, its doors mostly closed, limiting our options for boarding.

“There!” she pointed, indicating the last open compartment. We rushed towards it without hesitation, fear gripping my heart, yet I implicitly trusted my mother’s guidance.

“Come on!” she shouted, her words nearly drowned by the train’s loud engine noise.

“One, two, jump!” My eyes widened as I miscalculated my leap, convinced I would fall short. Bracing myself for impact, I closed my eyes, only to feel my mother’s firm grip on my hand.

Half of my body dangled outside the train, while my lower half remained inside. With a swift pull, my mother yanked me into the compartment and closed the door behind us. A sigh of relief escaped my lips as my entire body was safely aboard. It had been a harrowing experience.

My mother laughed. Her relief was evident as she embraced me tightly.

“We made it!” she exclaimed while I struggled to catch my breath, still recovering from the intense adrenaline rush.

Taking in our surroundings, I noticed numerous boxes inside the compartment. My mother scanned them and began opening each one, revealing an assortment of fresh fruits, eggs, and live chickens. She selected a chicken and handed it to me.

“You need strength; it’s been a while since you hunted,” she explained. I accepted the chicken from her outstretched hand, and with a nod of encouragement, she urged me to eat it. I took a deep breath, preparing myself, before sinking my fangs deep into the chicken’s body. Like the wild creature I am, I devoured it hungrily, replenishing my strength.

Though the chickens didn’t fully satiate our hunger, their abundance allowed us to satisfy our immediate needs. We ate until our hunger was quelled.

Feeling content and grateful, I drifted off to sleep, knowing that a fresh chapter of our journey would unfold before us when I woke up.