Chapter 43

**LUCIANA'S POV**

“What spell have you used on me?”

He breathed into my neck. “Luciana..”

I tried to struggle out of his embrace but he didn't budge. What was wrong with everybody and hugging me? I never used to receive hugs but now receiving them freaked the fuck out of me.

“Please…just a little longer.” He added,his voice raspy.

I stood still,uncomfortable, hoping for him to release me but after two minutes, he didn't do anything. I arched my back because I was starting to feel pain and he groaned.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“How I wish you were mine,then no one would take you from me?”

What the fuck did he say.

“Damon,let me go. I need to go home.”

He released me slowly and with hesitation. “I'll talk to you later..” he added, turning to leave.

I watched him go,his steps were slow and seemed heavy,like something was on his mind. I had no intention of finding out before he decided to turn back again.

I changed my direction and continued walking,my mind blank and me wishing I took the cab I saw earlier. My legs felt sore.

My body was just beginning to accept the fatigue from the day before. I still couldn't wrap my head around the situation. Why had Damon suddenly made me his mate only for it to be a false alarm. Why was I kidnapped and about to be killed. Why did I have a godfather. Why did I,why could I speak to my wolf when I didn't even have a wolf.

My head that was blank became filled with thoughts as I trekked. I was so lost in thought that I didn't see the stone in front of me and hit my foot against it. I whimpered in pain as I bent down to inspect it. Subconsciously, I touched it and the pain began to reduce.

I looked up and found a figure towering above me. I shrieked until the person removed the mask on his face and I could see him.

“Lorenzo!” I screamed.

I immediately got up and jumped on him, hugging him tight.

“Can't breathe,baby. Loosen up.” He informed me,patting my back gently.

I released him with an awkward smile on my face and stared at him. It had been months since I'd seen my brother.

He wasn't around when my family banished me from the pack. Had he been around,I would still be in a pack,living a miserable life.

I was happy that he wasn't around and I was also grateful to my parents for banishing me. They thought that I had been banished away into pain and hurt but they had no idea I was happier outside their pack.

“I'm sorry,Luci. I am sorry for not being there when you needed me the most. If I had been there, you wouldn't need to suffer. I'm such a useless person.” He completed,looking down at his feet. “Will you ever forgive me,Luci?

I nodded, slowly becoming emotional. “It's not your fault, and besides, I'm happier out here than in there. I have people here who took me in,and took care of me. Someone treats me like I'm her daughter and it makes my chest swell,unlike when I was with Larissa.”

“Larissa?” He questioned. “She is your mother,you should address her appropriately.” He scolded.

“Mother? Is she though?” I asked,producing a sardonic laugh. “She's not my mother. She just birthed me.”

“That is not true..she is your mother,I know everything that she has done will make you doubt that. Now listen, I am not trying to make excuses for her but werewolves are strict. It's in their blood.”

“It's in their blood..” I muttered and then chuckled. “So,it's in their blood to hate their children?”

He bit his lips and shook his head gently.

“Tell me, brother. What kind of mother would do what she has done? She would lock me up in the dungeon and beat the hell out of me just because I looked at her face. She would drag me and pull my hair until my head went numb. Does a mother behave like that?”

His eyes became watery as he stared but I wasn't done yet.

“I was eight…” my breath hitched and I tried to hold back my tears. “I was only eight,I got scarred because I took the burger that Lenato threw away. It was in the bin,filled with dirt and all but he threw it away because it had too much cheese in it. I had never eaten a burger in my life. I took a burger from the rubbish, me, Luciana the supposed daughter of an alpha. I was eating from the dustbin. Because of how much I enjoyed it, he became jealous and reported me to his mother. She flung me across the room,rained curses I was too young to understand and beat me. A knife was lying nearby and she slashed me,the scar is under my breast,the left one along with many other scars that I received over the years.”

He was crying and I could feel that my face was wet. I wasn't even aware I was crying. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand.

“I couldn't even eat two bites. I was afterwards starved for three days in the dungeon. Up till this day,I wonder how I survived. At first,I always thought that parents treated their female children like that until I saw the alpha of Brownwood pack with his children, his daughter to be precise. Does she still qualify as a mother to me?”

“I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I am the cause of it all.”

I knew he was feeling guilty even though he wasn't at fault. “It's not your fault,you weren't even with me until I turned eleven. If there's anything that you did, it's making my life better.”

He shook his head. “It is really my fault.. I caused all this pain for you.”

“What?”