CHAPTER 2: A Glimmer of Hope

LUNA

While I lay there on the bed, I thought back to all the occasions when I caused my grandmother to argue with my parents. She always made them think of me as the "pup." If I were my parents, I am sure that at some point I would have given up on myself due to the odd looks and taunts they would have had to put up with every day because of me. particularly from their close relatives.

For the most part, my family is wealthy. Nearly all of our desires were within our budget. My mother worked in management, and my dad was the pack's beta. While I recently joined the medical team despite being shunned, Luigi was a member of the army. Fermi was in preschool, and Sofia was still in high school. I had what I considered to be an extremely rare opportunity to help with patient care. Nothing stopped the abuse, even though I was allowed in because my dad was the beta. For me, working in the hospital provided a sense of relief and diversion.

My phone's ringtone snapped me out of my reverie. Sofia called and asked to return home. Before leaving for the town, I gave my small neighborhood one last look. Nobody could ever find this place; not even my family was aware of its existence. Yes, I had a secret ability to make myself invisible, and I used it to hide from the odd looks, conversations, whispers, and outright insults from others.

I strolled home while my headphones were blaring. The smell of my mom's cooking filled the room as I pushed open the door, and I saw Fermi laughing and running after Sofia while holding his toy. My dad was not in sight, but the powerful footsteps coming from the staircase had to be Luigi's.

"Luna!” Fermi laughed and started to run away from Sofia, saying, "Save me from Sofia."

"You brat, come back here”. Sofia yelled at him, "You have seen your savior and backed out."

He laughed, "You still could not get me," as he leaped into my arms carelessly, knowing that I would eventually catch up to him. "You are back, Luna," he said, giving me a big smile and a hug. He whispered, "Luna, I still love you."

With a roll of her eyes, Sofia remarked, "You finally know your way home. It is about time you took a stand for yourself. Do not allow your parents to always get the blame. You are not two; you are twenty. Moreover, I do not think she is an elder, so do not even begin to argue that silence is golden or that she is”.

"Sofia," I muttered as she sauntered off, whispering under her breath, "Food's almost ready."

Without saying anything, Luigi just kept walking toward the dining room while glancing at Fermi and me. He was picky about what was served in the base and would much rather eat Mum's cooking. How picky about food was he, for a wolf?

With Fermi holding my hands, I made my way to my room. He was telling me about Sofia and everything that had happened as I was leaving the family home. As I changed in the bathroom from my work clothes to my home clothes, I sat on my bed and listened to him babble on. He would never stop talking because I was the only one who could listen to his endless babble. As he emerged, his hands held a thick hoodie that was waiting for me.

“What?”

“Don't think I didn't see the way you shivered as you came home. Moreover, you have a breakout behind your neck and that could lead to another breakdown. Putting this on can protect you from the cold and lessen the adversity of your breakouts”

“Smart boy” I whispered running my hands through his full head of hair. I had to put it on because he won't allow me out without it.

We went downstairs and met Dad setting the table and Luigi followed behind carrying the food. I entered to meet Mum wiping her hands with the towel still putting on her apron.

“Mum”

“Luna,” she said and hugged me. “You're okay baby. I never regret…”

“It's fine Mum. I know” I replied with a bittersweet smile and drew out of her embrace. We shared a conventional smile. Dad came in hurriedly and her face dropped. The couple fight once more. He didn't even recognize my presence because his all was on his mate.

“I'm sorry Darling. See I helped…”

“Of course, you have to. I work, you clean and vice versa. Marriage is a joint responsibility”

“Babe I…”

“Let's go eat Luna” and she intertwined our arms together. Dad forcefully ripped our arms apart and put himself between us while pushing me out.

“You!!” Mum's eyes blazed with anger.

“Shhhh… darling. We're hungry” while calmly directing her towards the dining room to join us.

We all ate the sumptuous meal that was prepared with my parents throwing little jabs here and there at each other. Fermi gobbled the second plate of food and ate with all concentration. Sofia rolled her eyes at my parent's tantrums while Luigi ate without a care in the world.

“Eat up” I heard a voice whisper while putting food onto my food platter and it turned out to be Luigi.

“Okay” and I concentrated on eating wholly.

I cleared the plates and washed the dishes at once while every other person retired to their various rooms. I felt a presence around me and I turned immediately to know who it was.

Luigi.

“Aren't you done?”

“Almost”

“Be fast”

I hurried to rinse the latter off the plates. He held the towel for me to clean my hands. He turned to go and it was a cue to follow him. We entered his room and he motioned for me to sit on his bed. The bed was sturdy just like the owner of the bed.

“Luna”

“Luigi”

“You're different from the rest of us. You don't have the characteristics of the average wolf. And you're born into this family that is well known to an extent. Prodigy's belong here and are acknowledged for their contribution to the pack. Yet, you find your different self here. You possess absolutely none of these attributes”

“Luigi..” my voice weakened.

With his monotone voice, he continued how much I was different which pierced me greatly.

“At the end of it all, you're my sister. We'll start a way of training you to stand up for yourself. Especially towards our extended family. Not like I care about what they think but it's a necessity that needs to be established”

I was a bit shocked because Luigi never said anything about my well-being. I joined him by the window pane while a tear rolled down my eye.

“Don't cry, Luna. I sense a different wolf from you. My gut instinct tells me this, and it is usually accurate".

"You say different? Is it not already on display? I differ enough from others because I am unable to do what they do”.

"Good different Luna, that is what I meant. When it comes to intuition, I am never wrong. Do not think I have not heard you cry at night or sensed your lack of confidence in yourself among us. Your eyes are perpetually sad and tired. You present a front, but I can see right through it”. His gaze seemed to be looking directly into my eyes, as though he was saying, "Always."

“I am aware that you venture out to a location where you can find a place free of whispers. Although I am not sure where it is, I am positive you understand exactly what I mean. I am able to see right through you. Always," he reiterated.

“Luigi...”

“If you are not ready, there is no need to tell me. It is always best to wait until you are ready to take action before acting on impulse. That level of power over you, Luna, that goes against your will, should not belong to anybody. So hold onto it until you are ready to inform me”.

He took my hands and led me to his bed. He pulled out some ointments and some drugs for me to take as well. Without hesitation, I showed him my allergy and the areas where I was injured. The person who was closest to me ever was Luigi. More often than not, he had a deeper understanding of me. This was the first extended conversation he had with me. He was a man who took initiative.

“Do not forget what I mentioned regarding training. I will make sure it gets done”.

"However, Luigi..."

"No but is allowed, Luna. Nobody, not even you, can wait on time. Now take control of this. There is going to be a change. I am not sure when, but you should get ready because I can feel it”.

He then shut the kit and proceeded to his bathroom. That told me it was time to head out. Lying on my bed, I went over all Luigi had told me. My mind was filled with nothing but the truth, even though he thoroughly confused me.

Maybe, just maybe, I could try it.