© Claimed By Him ~ Elektra Orfanos

Mother grimaced when I hugged her from behind and rested my head on her shoulder. My size sort of towers over her so I had to hunch over a bit.

"I'm sorry mother. I really thought I could do it... Kill the wolf." I whispered. We both stared into the flames in the fireplace letting each other dwell in our own thoughts almost embracing the silence. The fire cracked and I just imagined Alpha's eyes holding the flames in his pupils while his fangs dripped with drool. I winced and looked away from the fire to the crimson walls that only reminded me of blood not comforting me at all.

"You know I still don't believe a word of it." She said more gently. Her hand reached up and squeezed my arm and I held back a groan.

"Believe what you want it's the truth." He wants to see me again. I don't know what that means and I'm keen to find out but it's just I wanted someone to understand what I did and why I'm willing to do it again. It's complete stupidity yes, I realise that but that's the only option we have. He took my brother and I refuse the idea of my grandparents being next.

She sighed. "Go with Ella to the market I'm giving the servants the day off so as punishment you will be doing the chores. She has the list but..." She backed away from me scrunching up her nose. "Take a bath first." She ordered. "You reek."

I held back another groan and managed a chuckle. Well you would smell to after sleeping with a wolf and dead remains. God I slept with rotting bones to... "Yes mama." I rushed upstairs taking a few spare moments to stare at the study door where the tyrant lurks doing God knows what. I fear that if I stare at this door any longer he will jump out and roar so I began walking again to the bathroom. Where there is a fireplace already lit to warm the room, the walls are pale blue making it seem like the room is bigger than it actually is, the windows are fogged from the heat and I avoided the mirror not tempted to see what kind of horrid creature I'd catch staring back at me.

Talk about self loathing...

Ella stunned me when I caught her running the bath in the middle of the room then she tied her hair back in a messy bun.

Is she going to be doing the chores as well? "Why are you getting punished?" I asked confused.

"For being a snitch." She said annoyed. She rolled up her sleeves and turned to me with a stern expression that aged her. No wonder she behaves older than she is.

I laughed not just at her attempt to be superior but the fact that mother told her off for being nosy. "I knew mother loved me."

She scowled and rolled her eyes going red with fury. "You stink." Ella stated.

"Sleeping with a wolf will do that to you." I said seductively just to scare her.

She made a disgusted face. "Please don't be saying stuff like that in public or I'll order father to disown you."

"I'm crazy not stupid." I replied unbuttoning my midnight blue cotton dress which I have completely stained and ruined on the bottom. Typical for father to not even notice I look like a reck but then again this was all hidden by the table. I'll give him points though for not mentioning anything about my cleavage this time.

Apparently I'm inviting all the men to jump me. It's not my fault they can't control their little pickles.

"Mix of both actually." She walked over and helped unbutton it. Once out of everything I sunk down into the warm water as Ella moved the floral screen to give me privacy and then I heard her pull up a chair to sit on the opposite side.

She wants to have another talk I see...

"You know I don't care if you're talking to me while I'm naked." I said amused.

She scowled. "I do. It's too awkward."

I shrugged still smirking. "The amount of men that would kill to be in your place but alright suit yourself." I started lathering myself with the soap quickly as I waited for her to speak. I know she is looking for something to say that has something to do with me.

"Don't be gross please."

"Sarcasm Ella, sarcasm."

She groaned frustrated. "Listen when we go out today can we please avoid meeting your friends?"

"Why?" I asked curiously. Seeing my friends at an average market is like seeing three unicorns in a field filled with donkeys. It's surreal.

"I hate the way we get looked at when we're with them." This may sound snobby or one might think my sister is insecure.

Both of these ideas are correct.

I snickered. "Alright I'll tell you what if we see them I'll tell them to meet me later somewhere else. We'll bring home the shopping and then I'll be out of your hair."

"Mum won't allow that."

"I'll be gone before she realizes."

"She will realize because thanks to you we have to do everything in this house."

"I'll make it up to you. Besides you should have stood up for me not accuse me of being with some stupid boy." I added snidely.

We both grew silent.

She broke it. "Luna?"

I sighed. "Yes?"

"Is what you said true? Honestly."

"Yes."

"Then you're crazy." She got up throwing a white sheet over the screen then I listened to her leave the room slamming the door.

I sunk down into the water until reached the top of my lip wondering if I should just drown myself now and save the family the shame.

I understand it's difficult to believe but I have never lied to them ever why would they assume I will start now?

OK I lie to father but he's my father all daughters are supposed to do that. He's meant to be the unfair parent that only tells what not to do. Unless that's just me and I'm the only unlucky child out there. Maybe I'm the unlucky daughter in the Earth that's forbidden to breathe in a certain way otherwise it's considered as bad attitude.

I sat up again and leaned my head back to stare at the ceiling. "Why didn't the wolf just kill me?" I whispered. He should have if he was a real monster. What am I saying? He is a real monster I lost Michael because of him.

He would have eaten me if I wasn't so witty or maybe he didn't eat me because I'm pretty. I chuckled at the thought because my humour makes up for the lack of beauty so clearly this wolf tricked me into seeing the good in him.

I can use that to my advantage.

"I must play this carefully," I will not be fooled twice.

~*~*~

Out in broad daylight, on the busy streets in the normal mundane world Ella and I walked, and walked... and walked. We lost our riding privileges to which I think is really unfair! I'm the one that got slobbered on by a creature infested with fleas! A creepily handsome creature infested with fleas but that's beside the point. Why am I getting punished when I technically have already been punished?

"Must you wear that? Couldn't you have worn that sunny yellow tea dress?" Ella complained as I admired some woman's stall selling colourful beads and charms.

"I'm not feeling too cheery for yellow." I admitted rolling my eyes.

"But blood red is appropriate for this time of day?" The thought of blood made me queasy and suddenly the yellow beads in my hands weren't so pretty anymore. I placed them back making the lady frown and get on with her business with a another customer.

I faced Ella again and made us continue walking far away from the golden beads staring after me. I must remind myself that he is far far away from me now. I have thirty days of freedom before I go back... Still I can't shake off the feeling that he could lurking under any shadow, just watching me ready to pounce and drag me back to his cave. "It's better than black."

"Well at least then I could pretend you were still in mourning." I glowered at her.

"Oh shut up." I snapped. With the basket I am carrying I used it to lightly hit her arm and she huffed in annoyance.

"You're so frustrating." She growled.

"As are you but do I whine?"

"Yes." She replied incredulously. Oh right I do... "Sometimes Luna I wish you were a different person or that you even..." She suddenly froze mid step her mouth falling open.

"Careful you might attract flies with your breath." I whispered but she didn't here me. Or she just ignored me.

"No." She whispered then grabbed my wrist to haul me behind a flower stall.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked annoyed as she peeked through the pink roses. I glared over them to find out what she's looking at and when I saw him I snorted. Ella continued staring warily at the dirty blonde walking with some other guy I do not care for and I glared at him as he strutted as if he owned the pavement he was walking on. This boy, this waste of air is my hated nemesis yet unfortunately he is also Ella's crush.

Evan Crowly ugh I despise him so it kills me that Ella won't let me crush her crush. "I do desire that you may be better off as strangers." I breathed right in her ear and she swatted me away as if I were a fly. The lady running the stall glanced at us suspiciously and I put up my best smile. "Beautiful flowers." The woman kept staring. Could this day get any worse?

"We might as well be strangers he never takes notice of me." Ella said sadly. It took all my might not gag.

"Maybe because you're hiding." I mused paying for a bouquet of white roses so we didn't look like completely psychos.

She scowled. "I don't want to be seen with you thank you. Last time you to had a brawl out in public we were locked in our rooms for over a century." The woman looked at me distastefully.

"You sell weeds for a living, you can drop the attitude." I stated. Bloody shopkeepers judging me like they're any better...

"Great now you're going to start a fight with the flower woman." Ella stepped out from hiding moving on from that thing to me. I wish emotionally she'd move on from it. Yes that thing doesn't even deserve to be called upon as a Human!

"You drama Queen." I laughed seeing how ridiculous she looks right now. "Alright Bella let's go eat I'm sure we have a few coin left to get us a peanut." I remarked sarcastically dragging her away from the judgemental shopkeeper. She keeps staring at us, stop staring!

"Mother says we're not allowed to go eat out on our own." Always playing the goodie two shoes! Seriously how is she related to me? I do everything I want and tell mother about it after I've done it.

"We have each other don't we?"

"I suppose." Her stomach started growling and her cheeks reddened as she put her hand over it. "Let's not tell her."

"Now you're thinking like the little sneak I am." I smiled sinisterly but she didn't look like she took it as a compliment.

~*~*~

We snuck our away around into a smoke and sweat filled pub. I made sure Ella is walking in front of me in case I lose her from behind after all we're trying to squeeze past all these men just coming back from whatever they were doing so early in the morning.

From the smell of the sea some are probably fishmongers.

A man with an eye patch knocked into me and I accidentally shuddered from his bad breath. I don't particularly like fish... And by the way this man is staring at me with his one good eye I probably won't end up liking fishermen.

"Pardon me ma'am." He said politely tipping his hat.

OK he is not so bad.

I smiled then walked around him finding Ella speaking with the woman behind the counter. She turned her head and gazed at me annoyingly. "Hurry up there's a spare table over there!" I nodded and followed her to a nice lonely table in the corner. I placed the basked on top of it then collapsed in the seat opposite of Ella's. She glared at me sternly. "Sit up straighter." I slouched even more making her scowl and kick me under the table therefore begrudgingly I straightened.

"Sometimes I wonder how we're related."

"I honestly hope I was adopted into your family." She replied sarcastically.

"I don't know... It more seems like I was adopted."

"True." She shrugged with a small smile. I poked my tongue out at her earning myself another kick so I laughed while mentally crying. The unearthly presence of the devil himself strolled up to our table making me want to cry out loud and Ella shuffled uncomfortably in her seat under his intense cold-silver stare. She's blushing making it unconsciously obvious how she feels for him.

"Well look who we have here." He started setting up the narcissistic smirk and perking his brow to make himself seductively sinister.

I gagged and muttered. "I'd rather not."

He tilted his head directing his silver eyes onto me so I looked away holding my head up. "Oh really?"

"I fear that my eyes might shrivel up and burn at the horrid sight." I replied sourly.

"Can't you two be pleasant for once?" Ella interjected but we both ignored her.

"Oh fair Luna you are as fat as the moon." He said. I chuckled at what he's started. After the last time I had already planned a full list of insults awaiting for us to meet again. I even have some insults from Shakespeare himself.

"Thou art as loathsome as a toad."

"Thou are a fool, a slag and a coward." The word slag made glower at him.

I poured my hate out. "Thou art the son and heir of a mongrel bitch."

Ella whimpered painfully. "Oh God why me?"

"You naff nutter." He continued. I snickered at that. What is a naff nutter? Is he seriously using British insults on me? Fine then I will to.

I stood up in my seat as he took a step forward threatening me. "You manky muppet."

"Pikey plonker." He took another step forward.

"Knob head."

"Skiver."

"Lazy slod."

"Bell end."

Ella pleaded. "Can you two please stop it!?"

"Ass licker." I growled then gasped mockingly. "Oh I like that one, I'm definitely keeping it." I smiled at Ella proudly. She wasn't as cheerful.

"Evan what on earth... Oh..." Another gentleman walked up behind him, same age or maybe older with a dark brown stubble and chocolaty hair that circles around his ears. He's got a butt chin that's so deeply shaped I curled my lips in while my eyes smiled at it. "Beg your pardon milady." His accent, he's English I guess that's where Evan got his insults from.

"Don't bother with this one Curtis she's nothing like little lovely Ella." Evan said. The way he said her name sounded like he was mocking her but she still blushed only loving him more.

"Don't be so rude Evan. My apologies for my friend." Butt chin said. Ewe he's friends with him and now he wants to shake my hand... I admit he seems rather nice but you can't just rely on first impressions. Especially when you catch the person averting their eyes down to your chest.

Twice.

"Yours and his apologies mean nothing to me. Especially if he's going to continue being..."

"Luna please." Ella begged.

"Luna a pleasure. I'm Mr Bloomwood, or Curtis." The friend dropped his hand to his side knowing I am not going to touch it but he still held an ignorant smile. I didn't share the same enthusiasm.

I scoffed. "Let's go Ella it's rather crowded in here."

"I agree." She replied standing up and Evan stepped out of the- well actually Curtis pulled Evan out of the way. I carried the basket and we pushed past them avoiding eye contact but I felt both of their stares, Mr Bloomwood's more intense than Mr Crowly's.

"I didn't attend your brother's funeral," that caught my attention and I turned around to face Evan wondering where he's going with this. In mind I could only think: he would not go so slow as to pick on my deceased brother. Not even he could be so vile and cruel. I was wrong. "I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." He said menacingly. Ella gasped behind me while I took the blade to my chest and I dropped the basket causing all the food to fall out.

My mind went blank for a minute like someone just suddenly turned out the light leaving me in darkness. Then the lights flickered back on and I was in front of him my hand slightly stinging as he stared up at me shocked with a flushed face. It took me a moment to realise that I had slapped him across the face shocking him and everyone else in the room.

The words forced themselves out of my mouth sounding like a hiss from a venomous snake. Something dark brewed in me as I thought of how many ways I could kill him. "Don't ever talk about my brother. He was more of a man than you ever will be." My heart began to grow heavy in my chest.

"Luna let's just go." Ella begged pulling onto my arm her eyes slightly shining from fresh tears I fear I might have made. No it was him. I made a bad move but he was the catalyst. I softened at her miserable eyes and she passed me the basket with all the food I dropped. I realised heaps of men had leaped up from the commotion and stared at me with suspicion and curiosity.

All were as silent as corpses as we reached the doors then finally they all went back to their business. Ella laced her fingers with mine and I gave her a gentle squeeze. My way of saying: I'm okay but it would be better if I was allowed to kick his face in.

Before we left an apple fell out of my basket rolling across the floor. I was tempted to just leave it behind but Ella went to go get it and I don't want her bending down in a place like this. I softly pulled her aside shaking my head at her and she shrugged continuing out of the pub without me.

This has been a very chaotic morning. Probably one of the worst mornings of my life, second worst. Finding out Michael had been ripped apart by a wolf was the worst.

'I like your fire Princeps.'And my day just got worse... I'm hearing things now! 'It warms my heart to see you so feisty.' I blinked and realised I'm not insane. No that's Alpha, he's here? I searched the place my heart thumping so loudly in my ears. How? How can it be?

The wolf... No he can't be here! A giant black wolf isn't exactly unnoticeable!

'I like your red dress to. I hope you wear that next full moon.' His voice sounds all sensual. Is he flirting? I kept whipping my head around to the bar and all the tables but all I see are average men.

"I'll wear something better." I whispered earning a rough chuckle right behind me. I gasped turning around but there was no one there just the exit.

'I like the sound of that. Wear some red lipstick to.' I continued to search over the crowd probably looking crazy until he purred in my mind. 'Don't bother little one you'll never find me. Go care for your blood and I'll see you next month.'

When he says blood he does mean my sister not my actual... I gulped.