Page 51 of Violet Moon
“Why are you here?”Parisa snarled, heaving her worn body onto an uncomfortable wooden chair by the door.It creaked as she slid down into it, wounds already healed.
“I needed to wait for you.I needed to tell you I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?That’s what you have to say?A child’s apology?You made me look weak.”Parisa’s words dripped with anger.
“I’m sorry,” Sera repeated, voice cracking.“That wasn’t what I meant to do.”
“Who cares what you intended?Your impulsiveness means this whole nasty business has to start again.”Parisa stood in front of Sera, her form imposing and intimidating as if her wolf was still in control.“Maybe next time Wilma should stand beside me at the challenge.Not you.”
The last of Sera’s heart split in two.She cast her eyes down on the floor.“I think that’s for the best.”
Parisa laughed, the sound dark and joyless.“So where’s all your bite now, huh?Just like that you’ll bow your head and be done with it?Give up?”
“Yes.I will make amends for my choices as much as I can.I can’t go back and undo it, but going forward I can —”
“Why did you do it?Why did you jump in to save me?Did you think I would fall to him?”
“No!Never!”Sera shouted, her head snapping up so her eyes could meet Parisa’s.That hadn’t been it.Not really.
“Then why did you do it?”The fury in Parisa’s body was coming off her in waves that made the air thick and hard to breathe.
“I don’t know.”
“You cast doubt on my authority and capability in front of a challenger and you don’t know why?”
Sera kept her head bowed as hot tears prickled the backs of her eyes.“I don’t know,” she said again, repeating it like some foolish mantra to keep the truth from spilling out.
“Get out,” Parisa ordered.
Sera left with her head down.
sixteen
Therewasnoneedto rush out of bed.There was no meeting with Parisa, just like there hadn’t been yesterday or the day before.The meetings were still happening, of course, but only Wilma joined Parisa in her study.Parisa hadn’t explicitly told her to not come, but her voice saying “get out” still played in Sera’s mind on repeat.
With a heavy sigh, she managed to sit up, but it was another long while before she put both feet on the floor and stood.Going about her day felt pointless, but she didn’t want to disappoint everyone or Parisa even more than she already had.
Her plants were wilting.She’ll deal with them later.She didn’t have the spare energy.
She kept her head down as she rushed through the hallways to the kitchen.Her appetite was minimal, but she still needed to eat if she was going to remain upright at the bakery.Once she set foot in the kitchen, all conversation ceased.
Diah gave her a little wave.“Good morning, Beta,” she said in that soft, sweet voice of hers.
“Good morning,” Sera replied with the best fake smile she could muster.
She turned to Olive, desperate to make this feel more normal.“How did your exams go?Have you gotten your scores back yet?”
Olive nodded.“Did well enough.It’s my third masters.I should be pretty good at taking tests by now.”
Diah’s gaze flittered between them both, her mouth tilted downwards with obvious concern.
“Have either of you seen my — oh hey, Beta.”Lock stopped short, eyes wide with surprise.“I was just looking — not here, I’ll check elsewhere.”He rocked back and forth on his feet.“I’ll see you later.I’m taking over with Wil when you’re done.”
Sera nodded in his direction and gave a quick goodbye to each of them, leaving without any food after all.Her stomach was twisted in knots.Wilma was taking over in far more than shifts.She was what the pack needed.She was what the pack deserved.
Sera was a ghost at the bakery.She did her best but she was haunting the place with her strange mood and the way she felt like she was floating outside of herself.She dealt with customers the best she could.
“I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”she asked the woman on the other side of the counter.
