YEARS LATER
"IF you’re going to stand there insulting my mother’s herbs, at least buy sothing first."
The man grew red in rage.
Around him the market erupted in laughter.
I sat comfortably at the top of Mrs Rowena’s fruit stall with one leg dangling over the edge while a small brown bird picked up seeds from palm.
The early morning sun felt warm against my skin whilst the marketplace slled of fresh bread, roasted fish and at, herbs, fruits and sea salt drifting from the sea.
After coming here for years since I was a child, it was still the sa.
The small angry man pointed his fat finger at .
"Your mother’s mixtures nearly burned my.... Errr.... "
He went red in sha and I had an inkling what he was about to say.
"Cats got your tongue sir?" I rose a mocking brow. And then I cleared my throat. "Well I do rember my mother telling you to abstain from any sort of em.... Dalliances,"
My eyes dropped down to the front of his trousers.
"Down there." I finished.
And they all burst into laughter.
"You insolent girl." He said his face now gone a fresh pink.
"Words don’t have an effect on ." I shrugged. "You should know that by now. Now run along. I’m sure you don’t want exposing what your real problem is."
He shut his mouth imdiately.
"You won’t get away with this!" He cursed at .
"Ruby!"
My mother’s horrified voice cut through the crowd.
I looked over innocently as she pushed through the market stalls carrying bundles of herbs against her chest.
Her dark braid had already loosened from the heat and exhaustion of the morning while disappointnt was written all over her face.
"Why are you on soone’s stall again." She demanded.
"Perspective." I answered quickly.
She gave dirty stare that told if I didn’t co down, I probably wouldn’t have any legs to climb again.
I hastily ca off the stall.
"She has been terrorizing poor Damon for the past ten minutes." Mrs Rowena snitched.
"He insulted your healing tonics," I inford my mother as I jumped down from the stall gracefully. "I was defending your honor."
"You called him fungus-faced." Mrs Rowena aka Mrs Nobody asked chipped in.
"Well..." I dusted off my skirt. "His face does resemble fungus slightly.
The bird flew from my palm onto my mother’s basket instead.
Mother pinched the bridge of her nose.
"One day," she muttered, "the goddess will finally punish for raising you."
I grinned and hooked my arm through hers.
"You love ."
"I truly wonder why." She replied.
I giggled as I dragged her to our stall.
Once I had the opportunity I turned back and stuck a tongue at Mrs Rowena.
I turned back and laughed loudly, leaning my head against my mother’s shoulder while she tried very hard not to smile.
People stared at us as we walked.
They always did.
So smiled warmly.
Others whispered.
I had long grown used to it.
The won often said I was too wild and unladylike.
The n usually stared too long.
Much longer than at any other girl in the village.
And the older wolves constantly warned my mother that I climbed too many trees, spoke too loudly, laughed too freely, and behaved nothing like a proper young woman.
Personally, I thought proper young won sounded exhausting.
"Ruby," Mother said suddenly.
"Hm?"
"Please try behaving yourself today."
"That depends mother."
She sighed heavily already knowing she would regret asking.
"On what?"
"Whether people annoy ." I replied mischievously as we went on our way.
❧
I followed mother out of the market stalls, her basket now in my arms as we walked arm in arms.
We had co to the market to buy ingredients for herbs.
My mother was the best healer in the entire pack.
And yet because we were poor, so people used that as a ans to mock us.
I hated it so much and I would never stand and watch anyone saying things about her.
Especially when I knew she did it for the good of it.
"You should ignore such people." Mother said gently nudging at my arm.
"I’m not going to let anyone get away with saying awful things about you. Never." I replied adamantly.
Mother sighed weakly.
Before I could say a word, a tall towering figure appeared before us.
I knew instantly who it was.
"Aston?" My mother announced.
I squeezed my face instantly.
"Penelope." He said to mother.
"It’s Lady Penelope." I snapped at him.
Aston was the son of the Pack’s Lycan.
He ca from a wealthy family and for years he had done nothing but chase consistently.
He was the worst of the worst; A bully, selfish, controlling, proud and believed the world evolved around him.
I didn’t hesitate to remind him it didn’t.
"Ahhhh fair beautiful Aria." He winked at .
I pulled mother to the side as we walked away, avoiding him.
But Aston wasn’t one to easily let go of things.
"Why do you keep on being disrespectful to ?" He asked .
"Why do you keep on showing you have zero self respect." I snapped back and the people around went hush.
"Ruby-
My mother began to pacify .
"No mum." I said gently setting her hand away from my shoulder and stepping up to Gaston. "I have had it with you."
"No ans no. I don’t care what you have. Who you are. I don’t want anything to do with you. You will never be my mate. I’ll rather crawl in dirt than be involved with the likes of you." I hissed.
He looked as though he wanted to rip into pieces.
But I saw the way he looked at my mother.
As though she terrified him.
"I’m letting you go just because of your mother." He promised and walked away.
I fidgeted with my erald necklace as the crowd dispersed.
User Comments
0 comments from readers