I didn't believe I could be degraded further than I already was but tonight showed me that was a possible feat.
Forced to watch the affectionate display of love Shawn and Rhea were putting on as well as the disgusted and contempt-filled gazes on me, I was at my wit's end and I was only a minute away from breaking under the pressure of it all. "Maya, I didn't think you would make it," Rhea said, all smiles like the despicable white lotus that she was. Why didn't I notice it earlier? All the signs were there but I was too blind to see it. Alpha Blake finally noticed me as well, his gaze on me scrutinizing, "I see you are doing well?" He mumbled casually as if he had not subjected me to a lifetime of pain and humiliation. "Yes Alpha," I forced back the lump rising in my throat and tried to force myself to remain composed but my shivering hands betrayed my emotions. "It's evident Maltida has done a great job teaching you," Lucia, Alpha Blake's mistress spoke up, her eyes flashing with pity at my obvious misery. I gave her a quick, surprised glance, was she the one who had me brought out of the dungeons? Why? I couldn't think of any reason that would make her extend a helping hand towards me. We had never even interacted. All I knew was that she was the Alpha's treasured mistress who we all expected to replace the dead Luna but for some reason, Alpha Blake had kept her as a mistress. "Maya has always been a fast learner, she will have no problems," Rhea chipped in, a mocking smile tugging on her lips. She took a sip of the wine in front of her, swirling the red-coloured liquid elegantly. Undoubtedly, she exuded poise and sophistication and had the perfect bearing of a future Luna. Shawn on the other hand didn't even glance at me but kept his gaze fixed on Rhea, he looked completely smitten and enthralled. "It won't be long before she rises through the ranks again." Her words sounded like words of encouragement but they were masked condescending and derogatory remarks highlighting my fall from grass to grace. I gripped the tray in my hands even tighter until my knuckles turned white, but kept my head raised. My dignity, standing and position may have been stripped away but I still had my will and I wasn't willing to let that go. "I heard your form is different from the rest of us, you must be happy to have set a new precedence in this Pack. Your turning is surely a moment that will be remembered for decades." Lucia said, her eyes boring deep into mine. Was she trying to help me or sabotage me? I could not fathom her actions at all. Reminding Alpha Lukas of the unprecedented phenomenon of my turning and the bad omen it could represent would not do me any good but her earlier statement showed that she had rendered help to me, albeit a little. "It doesn't matter, no matter how different she might be, she's just a wolfless she-wolf." Alpha Blake replied icily. His words caused me to jerk my head towards him in surprise, what did he mean wolfless? "She isn't wolfless, we all saw her turn," Shawn commented and I realized he had been following the conversation all along. "Well now she is, her wolf is undetectable. Even an Omega can do better than this." His voice wasn't low but loud enough so the werewolves closest to the podium could hear and they began murmuring and whispering silently to themselves. "This is the best outcome, the Moon Goddess must be punishing her for her sins." "The Heavens aren't blind to evil deeds after all." Their words drifted over and a profound hollowness opened up inside me without warning. Wasn't there a single person who felt an ounce of pity or guilt towards me? The underlying fear I had following the subsequent absence of my wolf was finally confirmed by Alpha Blake's words and the looks of righteous retribution surrounding me and I staggered backwards, my spirit sinking like a stone in water. "That's not possible, I am a wolf. I turned, you all saw it." I made one last futile attempt to redeem myself and my identity. It was all I had left, the moment that was gone, I would lose my sense of rootedness in our community. I would be alienated. "There is no place for a werewolf that isn't even connected to her wolf side." Aloha Blake waved his hands nonchalantly and the tears I was trying to hold at bay gradually came trickling down. He was sealing my fate all over again, demoting me to an even lower position than I previously stood. A triumphant smile crossed Rhea's face, she had me right where she always wanted me, beneath her. Up until the moment the celebrations ended, my mind was a blurry mess. I was not taken back to the dungeons but was led to the housekeeper's lodge by Matilda, it was where all the maids lived. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a cold, metal fist and I could not even rejoice at the upgrade. In a moment of desperation, I tried to summon my wolf but I got nothing except the sound of crickets that disturbed the eerie silence in the room I was assigned to. "I don't deserve any of this, none of this should have ever happened," I finally broke down under the weight of my despair and drops of anguish rolled down my cheeks. I missed my Father and I desperately wanted to go home. Home sounded like a foreign word that existed in the deep recesses of my memories. As I lay on the bed, feeling my tears pool beneath my cheeks and wetting the soft fabric, I became sure of one thing and that was the fact that I had to leave. This Pack had ceased to be home.I had no idea where I was headed but North seemed like the right place to go, so North I went.Far away from the Southlands of the raging Flame Pack where I would never have to lay sight of the people who had caused me pain again.Why was I fleeing? I wondered that, I should be seeking revenge, trying to find out the truth behind my Father's death but I did nothing of the sort, not because I had no desire to but because I knew exactly what lay behind it. I could not possibly walk up to Alpha Blake and demand the truth from him right?He would kill me and my Father's effort to preserve my life would have been in vain.During the length of my journey, I rode in a horse-drawn carriage, the only mode of transportation available to the lower class in the advent of time when automobiles were starting to gain prominence.It was available only to the upper echelons of society, one I once belonged to."Where's the largest Pack u
"Do you know me?" I blinked in confusion at her."You should leave before the guards get to you," She completely disregarded my question and left me with those words before going back to whatever she was doing behind the counter."What guard?" I asked, still confused. "I'm here to get a room, how much for a month's stay?" I asked, beginning to take out my pouch.A month was enough time for me to get a footing here until the money Sam gave me ran out."I told you to leave," The woman responded harshly instead, shooting me a cold look that left me baffled.What was wrong with her? This was our first interaction, right?Silently, I exhaled and then bent over to pick up my bag.It was fine if she was not willing to rent out a room to me, but why be so harsh about it?I looked over my shoulders at her again as I made my way out, biting my lips grievously.It all happened so fast, I had barely made my way out
"It's Comet night, summon your excitement." I tugged boisterously on Sam's arm, my eyes lit up with a smile just like the starry night sky few feets from my view."I really don't get why you're so excited, you could get your hopes dashed just like mine." Sam pointed out, a blank expression on her face."Sam! Don't say that." I pouted, my smile widening even further.To werewolves of other pack, it was just a regularly seen night when the moon was at its peak and werewolves at their strongest but it was a special night for me and every other werewolf of the Raging Flame pack that was as excited as I was.My dream of getting married to Shawn and being the Luna once he succeeded the Alpha was finally happening."You should not be so pessimistic, I just know things will go well." A smile crossed my lips and I patted my chest confidently.Sam glanced at my reflection through the mirror then kept on brushing my hair, "I hope it does to
"That's enough!" Alpha Blake's voice thundered loudly and a hush fell over the crowd.His face was stern and I shivered when his gaze passed over me.My Father on the other hand looked worried but he still smiled comfortingly at me, "It'll be fine." He mouthed softly and I felt myself relax.Right, I may have turned out different and disrupted the Pack's special traits but it didn't matter.Dad was here and so was Shawn, they would keep me safe."We may have just witnessed a never before seen occurrence but I believe there is no reason to fret. The rituals will proceed as planned..." Alpha Blake stopped speaking when someone interjected him and glanced disapprovingly at Shawn who had interrupted him."Will Maya still partake in the mating ritual?" Shawn asked, making me glance hopefully at him.Sure enough, he was still thinking of me in this situation.Alpha Blake went silent, seemingly deep in thought before n
My steps were brisk and soon I found myself before a cottage."Rhea, Get out here!" I yelled loudly, my hands wrapped tightly around the doorknob, it was locked.I felt a pull from the inside and let go, my lips pursed in anger."Maya!" Mrs Landon seemed pleasantly surprised to see me and she let me in quickly."How did the mating ritual go?" She asked curiously, gesturing for me to sit, I didn't."Where's Rhea?" I ignored her question and asked, I couldn't be nice to her, not after what her daughter had just done to me."Rhea? I thought the both of you would be out together, she hasn't returned. Is something wrong?" It seemed she finally noticed something unusual about my look."I will take my leave now." I stood up to continue my search for the two wolves who had betrayed me.That was a fancy way of describing the awful pain I was feeling right now.I checked everywhere, everywhere I thought Rhea and
"Have her thrown into the dungeons," Alpha Blake's tone was icy and aggressive, daring anyone to raise a voice in protest.All of the present Pack wolves cowered in submission at the sound of his voice and those standing close to me took quick, subtle steps backwards so they would not be dragged down with me."Get this out of my sight too!" He barked orders, kicking my Father's lifeless body to the side.His face held no remorse or pity and was unyielding with his determination to mete out appropriate punishment to whoever he deemed a threat to his authority."No, please, don't," I lurched forward and covered my Father's body with mine. "At least let me bury him. He spent a lifetime serving you, please consider that and allow me to perform the necessary rites." I begged, my voice choking with the grief that was shattering my heart into a thousand pieces.Alpha Blake was never affectionate, he was far from it but I viewed him as an uncle b
Light seeped in through the small window of the cell, its rays falling upon my face and providing a little bit of warmth that did nothing to thaw my frozen heart.I gathered my dress around me, trying to cover myself up even more with the tattered and torn fabric.Stretching my arms out in front of me to shield my face from the light, my thoughts began to wander."Why can't I feel you?" I exhaled loudly, It had been days since my first turning but I still had not felt a connection to my wolf.According to what I had been schooled on, we were one entity but currently, I was as lonely as a fish on land and I hated the unease that accompanied it."Hey, get up!" A voice barked suddenly and I turned my head slightly to the side.It was the guard manning the dungeons, the one who loathed my presence and never ceased to remind me of that."Are you deaf? Stop lying there like a pile of bones and get the hell up."Slowly