My Mate Sold Me At Her Birthday Banquet

When I opened my eyes again, I was staring at the stark white ceiling of a hospital room.

I turned my head slightly and saw Luna standing by the window, her slender figure gilded by morning light.

"Awake?"

she turned, her voice cold.

"Andrew Parker, do you think your beast's life is worth throwing away?"

I tried to speak, but my dry lips stung.

"I told you," Luna approached the bed, towering over me,

"no matter what you do, I'll never like you."

I lowered my eyes, my lashes shadowing my face.

I wanted to say I didn't do this for her, or her affection.

But the words stuck in my throat.

How could I explain?

That I did it because I'd promised Claire?

In the end, I just whispered, "I know."

I knew she didn't like me.

Better than anyone.

Luna stared at my pale profile, her chest suddenly feeling tight.

She looked away, her tone softening unconsciously:

"Rest."

After a pause, she added, almost against her will,

"I'll stay these days."

I looked up, my eyes brightening.

"Does my staying make you that happy?" Luna narrowed hers.

I stared at her face-the one so like Claire's-and nodded.

"Yes. Very."

Luna's heart skipped a beat, but before she could speak, her phone rang.

"Luna." Eleanor's voice came through, tearful.

"My finger bleed . I need someone to take care of me."

Luna glanced at me automatically.

I saw her hesitation in an instant, a faint smile tugging at my lips.

"Go take care of him. I'm fine."

Luna hesitated, then grabbed her coat.

"Call me if you need anything."

She left without looking back.

The moment the door closed, my smile faded.

I stared at the ceiling, my eyes burning, but no tears came.

Not long after, there was a commotion outside.

I heard nurses chatting in the hallway:

"Did you hear? In the VIP ward, Ms. Carter booked the entire floor, even moved all the medical equipment and healers there!"

"Wow, that's devotion."

I lay there, listening, expressionless.

My wound needed changing, but the nurse never came.

After waiting a long time, I forced myself up, grabbed the wolfsbane from the table, and applied it to my wound.

The antiseptic stung, and my hands shook so badly I dropped the bottle, shattering it on the floor.

I bent to pick up the pieces, but the movement tore my stitches.

I collapsed, my knee scraping against glass, blood seeping out.

I bit back a groan, slowly getting up to finish bandaging myself.

In the days that followed, I passed Eleanor's ward occasionally.

Through the half-open door, I saw Luna sitting by his bed, feeding him gently-with a tenderness she'd never shown me.

I stood outside, watching quietly.

I thought, Luna must really love Eleanor.

If I could help them be together, Claire would be happy, right?

On the day I was discharged, I packed my things and ran into Eleanor as I left the room.

I stepped aside reflexively, but Eleanor stumbled and fell hard to the floor.

"Ah." he winced.

"That hurts."

Footsteps echoed behind me.

Luna grabbed my wrist, her grip surprising.

"Andrew Parker, after all these years as a maid, you can't even watch where you're going?"

"Luna, don't blame Andrew,"

Eleanor looked up, his voice soft.

"He's probably. upset you've been taking care of me, so he."

I froze.

I hadn't even touched Eleanor, hadn't said a word. How had it become intentional?

"I didn't," I said. "Why would I be jealous? I."

"Enough!"

Luna cut me off, yanking her hand away.

I stumbled backward, my waist slamming into the doorknob.

My fresh stitches tore, and darkness clouded my vision.

Luna glared down at me, her eyes sharp.

"One last warning: stay away from Eleanor."

She bent to help Eleanor up, treating him like a precious treasure.

As they left, Eleanor draped an arm over Luna's shoulder and smiled triumphantly at me.

I slid down the wall, blood soaking my shirt.

Watching Luna walk away, I felt a weariness deeper than ever.