Book 2 Chapter 29

Daphne's Point of View

We had planned on taking two vehicles to the spa, and I was hoping that I would get lucky, and that

Melissa would be in the second vehicle. Unfortunately, fate had other plans and we ended up in the

same car. I received a little satisfaction that I also had Scarlett, and Lola with us as well. Alma opted

to ride with Hannah and Isabella. Caleb was insistent that we take four warriors with us as well.

While normally we do not have to worry when we are in the human town, since most of the women

with me are Lunas, he wanted to ensure our safety.

It did not take long to get everyone loaded up and on the road. For awhile the car was relatively

quiet, then Lola asked the driver to turn on the radio. Instantly there was a pop song blaring

through the speakers, and Lola was dancing in her seat singing along to the fast music. Her energy

was infectious and soon Scarlett and I found ourselves dancing along too. Melissa sat as still as

stone in the front seat, seemingly unfazed by the ruckus.

I felt torn. A part of me wanted to apologize to her for attacking her daughter. I am a Luna, people

look to me as a leader, and I feel that I should have held myself better. Another part of me blames

her for her daughter's actions. After all, Melissa is her mother. Her and Noah raised Heather to be

an entitled princess. Heather thinks that she can get away with acting however she wants, only this

time she learned that her actions have consequences.

We finally reached the spa, and everyone was reading the options available and choosing what they

wanted to have done. Hannah and Isabella decided to get manicures and pedicures first, followed

by facials. Alma opted for a mud bath, facial, and lower body massage. Scarlett decided to get a full

body massage, a pedicure, and a facial. Lola decided to get a hot stone massage, manicure, and a

chemical peel. That left Melissa and I to decide what we wanted to get done. I was surprised when I

found that we had chosen the same things. We both decided to get a full body massage, followed

by time in the sauna, and finishing with a facial.

I knew that there was a possibility that it would be awkward, but I assumed that we were there to

relax so there should not be too much interaction. We all started to separate as the employees

explained where our different stations were located. I headed to the locker room as instructed to

undress and put on a robe. Thankfully, the spa had female employees, so I had no reason to worry

about the modesty aspect of things. In the locker room it was Alma, Scarlett, Lola, Melissa, and me.

Since we were all getting different types of massages, we all needed to undress.

Unfortunately, the locker room did not have individual changing areas, so everyone was going to

have to change in front of the others. Nudity is common for our people, so Lola was half stripped

before I even got in the room. I did not think about changing in front of the other until I heard Alma

gasp and the room went quiet.

“Daphne your lower back has scars. Is that from when you were younger? I had assumed that they

had abused you, but Jerome would never let me intercede. He said that we had no proof and that it

was not our place.” I glanced back and seen that Melissa looked away quickly. I guess she did not

want to see the lifetime reminder I had of my childhood.

“Do not fret about it Alma. Everything I went through only made me stronger, and in truth I am a

better Luna because of it. Unlike some children that were fed with a silver spoon, I know what it

means to work.” I wanted Melissa to hear my words. It has been so long since anyone other than

Caleb has seen me nude that I had forgotten about the scars. Being a wolf means that we heal

quickly, so it is unusual for us to have scars. When I wound is inflicted upon a child that has never

shifted though, and that child receives no medical attention then yes, a scar may form. I had several

small scars on my body, but my lower back and top of my buttocks is where the most prominent

ones are. I train a lot in the sun, so the others are hidden but I do not tan nude, therefore their ugly

raised red marks are stark reminders on the paler skin. Alma walks over and gives me a side hug

after putting on her robe. An employee comes and lets her know that her area is ready now. Lola

and Scarlett are the next two that are called out.

I was surprised when Melissa and I were called out together. We both entered a lovely dark blue

room that had lightly scented candles lit around it. There was soft music with no lyrics playing. The

melody was soothing but also somewhat melancholy as well. The shock came when I noticed that

there were two beds in the room.

“I am sorry for the double-bedded room miss but our other areas are occupied at the moment.

Usually, this room is used for a couples massage but seeing as you all came in together, we

assumed that everyone was friendly with each other” The attendant must have seen the

disappointment in my face.

“I assure you this is completely fine. Thank you for everything that you are doing for my friends and

me. I am sure that we will all enjoy the relaxation.” I was quick to assure her. I chose the bed farthest

in the room and sat down.

“I will let your massage therapists know that you are both ready.” The attendant quickly nodded a

farewell and scampered out of the room. The silence was heavy in the room as Melissa, and I

waited.

“I want you to know that I never agreed with the way you were treated.” Her words are stiff, and

they hang heavy in the room.

“Even if that were true, you certainly never tried to stop them either. My mother was your best

friend, and yet you watched her torture me every day.” I decided not to hide my true feelings. She

brought it up, so if she wants to hash my childhood trauma out then I was willing.

“I did advocate for you when you were younger. I even tried to convince your mother to breast feed

you. You had a set of lungs on you that could wake the dead when you were hungry.” She

remembers with a slight chuckle.

"Yet another thing that was beaten out of me before I even learned to walk. I spent many days

hungry, and yet never made a sound.” I am quickly becoming bored of her trying to advocate for

herself instead of simply apologizing, it is getting irritating.

"Why do you have to be so difficult? This is one of the reasons why I quit bothering to stick up for

you.” She huffs out.

“I was a child Melissa, an innocent child. From the time I could understand words I knew that I was

never wanted. I was never difficult I was simply unloved, and now that I have a voice, I will be

damned if I do not speak the truth. As far as sticking up for me that is a complete joke. The only

person that was ever kind to me was Scarlett and she was ripped from me when I was ten. For the

next eight years I endured every beating, every broken bone, every hunger pain in silence. So please

do not preach that I am being difficult, simply because I speak the truth. The only thing that is

actually difficult is coming face to face with the fact that you as well as my parents abused and

tortured an innocent child.” My voice was steadily rising with anger. Just when I felt like I was going

to explode the door opened and our massage therapists stood in the doorway.

It was obvious that they had heard my voice being raised, but I have no idea if they heard what I

had actually said. Either way they were completely professional and did not say anything about the

incident. Instead, we were given instructions on how to lay and soon they started working magic on

our bodies. I could literally feel the stress and anger melting away under the hands of the woman

massaging me. I made a mental note to do this more often, or to perhaps build a spa of our own on

the pack lands.

Far too soon for my liking I heard a soft ting, and our massage therapists informed us that our time

with them was over, and it was time for us to go into the sauna. Sitting up my body felt like jelly, but

in a good way. I had been hoping that it would be a private sauna but unfortunately, they led both

Melissa and I to the same sauna.

We choose to sit on opposing sides of the room, stretching out our legs and basking in the steam.

"You are right you know.” I could barely make out Melissa's words as the steam continued to build

in the room

"About what?” I was curious as to what she was admitting that I was right about.

“It is hard to admit that I played a part in your childhood.” She took a deep breath before

continuing. “The night you and your brother were born I remember how tiny you both were. Your

brother never took an actual breath, he was born dead. I was the first person to hold you. No one

blamed you at first, but within a few days Amanda made claims that she felt no bond with you, and

she was sure you killed your brother in her womb.” I glance over at Melissa willing her to continue

the story. I had heard rumors surrounding my birth, but this was the first that anyone was actually

talking to me about it.

"Amanda grieved her son, and I think she grieved not giving your father an heir. I used to expect

them to try for other children, but in some ways parts of your mother died that night as well. She

started drinking more, and I think she blamed herself a little for what happened.” Melissa sighed as

she started wallowing in the memories. “I took you to a wet nurse for you to be fed. The woman

kept you for almost three years. Scarlett knew who you were, but your name was never to be

mentioned in the pack house. The more Amanda drank the more she accused you of killing your

brother. One night your father overheard her saying that you killed him and after that night the

entire pack blamed you.” I glanced at her and seen a tear flow down her cheek. “I knew better than

to go against the Alpha. Your father had a mean streak a mile long. As time flew past it got easier to

accuse you and pretend that I was still a good person despite it. I am sorry Daphne. I realize now

how wrong I was.” Melissa seems genuine in her apology. It tugs at my heartstrings and in a way, I

want to forgive her.

“I need you to understand that I truly do not hold a grudge against you. Although I know that I will

never want to be friends with you I do appreciate you telling me the story of my birth. There were

many things that were never explained to me. Although the excuses will never justify the behavior,

at least I can begin to understand why they hated me so much.” I answer her honestly. We go back

to silence after our weird talk.

For a few minutes I think back to the discuss I had with Dr. Hollis, and I wonder what she would

think about everything going on. In a way my spirit did feel lighter knowing some of the details of

my birth. Soon we were ushered from the sauna into chairs for our facials. Soon everyone was

finished and admiring everyone else's looks. We piled into the SUVs to return to the pack lands.

Driving back, I felt better about where Melissa and I were personally. I could not wait to tell Caleb

about our talk. I made a mental note to call Dr. Hollis as well and speak with her.