Chapter 6: A Haunt From My Past

Adeline’s POV

I stare agape at Zale as he tells me his plan. Is he manipulating the moon goddess stone? I've never heard of something like that before. Can that even be done? The look on Zale’s face shatters any doubt I have that he was capable of doing something like that. But even then… who would want to do something so archaic?

I don’t have any time to ask him anything or delve deeper into the topic because the sound of the door opening and closing catches our attention. Zale opens his arms and steps away from me as a blonde-haired woman comes into our view.

She is a tall woman, though not taller than Zale or myself, with most of her height in her torso. Short blonde hair rests on her shoulders and is swept apart in the middle of her face to give an easier way to horn-rimmed glasses. She is a beautiful woman, in the innocent sense, and I somehow feel slightly insecure.

It's Leona, the woman Zale’s family wants him to choose as his future luna. She is also his childhood best friend. From what I heard from him, the two of them went way back, but he doesn’t have the same feelings for her as she does for him. That’s what he told me, anyway.

For some reason, a nasty part of my brain tells me that he doesn't want to use her the way he's using me. It's understandable. I wouldn’t want to hurt someone I cared about that way either. So, where does that leave me? I shake my head.

Get it together, Adeline. This is purely worker-boss. Don’t be fooled by his actions or words. You’re supposed to be presenting an image!

I smile at the woman in front of me as she takes a tentative step closer, “Leona, right?” I reached out to shake her hand, “I’ve heard so many wonderful things abo—”

“Sorry,” Leona says as she interrupts me, “But could I have a moment alone with Zale?” I'm shocked at the woman’s abrupt tone. She seems a lot kinder than how she acts. Despite apologizing for cutting me off, she doesn’t take her eyes off Zale, standing slightly behind me.

I take a step back as I blink up at her, my outstretched hand falling in front of me at her blatant rejection. I try not to feel embarrassed, but it got the better of me as I feel my cheeks and ears heating up.

I don’t have much time to ponder over it, however, as Zale’s hands trail down my back in a pseudo show of affection. He squeezes my side and plants a kiss on my cheek. I watch as Leona turns her head from his display and busies herself with looking out into the fields in front of us.

“I’ll see you inside. Try to get warm.” He whispers into my ear, intending for only the two of us to hear, but we both know Leona would be able to listen to him too.

I nod my head and squeeze his hand before walking past Leona and back inside the warm house.

***

Zale’s POV

“That wasn’t kind of you,” I tell Leona as soon as Adeline is inside, “She was only trying to be kind.”

My childhood friend scoffs in front of me as she walks closer and crosses her arms. “Is that what you were doing when you brought her back home? Being kind?”

“I intended to tell you first,” I tell her, “Before any of them found out, I thought you deserved to know first. But mother arrived earlier than expected and—”

“And then she told every single other soul that you had gone back on your promise to me.”

I shake my head, “I never made a promise to you, Leona. I made a promise to my parents that I would find a mate, and I have. Adeline is—”

“She doesn’t even know you!” Leona yells out in frustration. She walks closer to me and grabs my hand in both of hers. I feel my jaw tick at the sudden touch. “Zale, we’ve been friends since we were kids, please, don’t—” Her voice cracks, and it was then that I notice the glossy look in her eyes.

“Please don’t do this. Choose me, I… I love you,” Leona admits. My eyes widen at her confession, and I almost make to step back, but her grip on my hand only tightens. “Don’t you remember what we were like as kids?”

She looks up at me.

“We promised to always be there for each other.”

Suddenly my mind flashes at her words; memories that I had submerged try to surface, and I can feel a pounding headache as my throat begins to dry up. No, no, no! I can’t remember! I don’t want to remember!

Please, please…

I shut my eyes tightly, rip my hand from hers, and seeth, “No, I don’t. And I would suggest you never mention anything like that to me again. Leona, I’ve chosen Adeline as my mate. I am truly sorry, but I can’t give you what you want.”

I step around her and walk back to the door that leads inside the house, but just as I turn the doorknob, her voice calls out to me again. It's sterner now, broken, yes, but harsh.

“She’d be so ashamed of who you’ve become.” I still. “Ae’na always thought you were the best person alive. What would she say now if all those happy memories made way for the horrible person you’ve become?”

My spine straightens, and my jaw clenches at the name. She has no right. She has no right to repeat that name to me! I feel my breath catch in my throat and force itself from me all at once. I turn back to look at Leona, who turns to face me.

“Our lovely Ae’na… she didn’t d—”

I wrench the door open and slam it shut behind me before Leona can say any more. I'm sick and tired of hearing what she has to say without regard for what I want, and I don’t want to be near her any more than necessary.

More than that, I don’t want her to see me as a panic attack takes over me. I can't breathe. Suddenly the tie around my neck feels like it's submerged into my skin and is choking me from the inside.

I stumble through the house and into a room I don’t recognize all too well. And then someone’s voice calls out to me. When I look up, I see the concerned face of Adeline as she rushes toward me, the book she had in her hand forgotten.

“Zale?”