Chapter 4.

Destinee POV.

Looking at the woman I once called Mom, I felt nothing but hatred for what she allowed to happen to me. She looked dishevelled, her usual perfectly styled brown hair was in a tangled mess on top of her head. Her blue eyes were red and puffy from crying. The clothes are wrinkled no doubt she shifted and grabbed whatever was at hand.

“Angelica, what do you want?” she winced at the use of her name from her own daughter, a daughter she didn’t protect.

“Please Destinee, I am sorry for what happened. I tried to stop him on many occasions, but he didn’t listen to me. Please, my darling, come home.” Tears brimmed her eyes as she tried to reach for my hand. I took a step back and a warning growl rumbled in my throat.

“Destinee, there are humans here. Let’s talk outside.” Sadia spoke in my ear. I knew she was right. No point in getting into a fight and being discovered. Humans don’t know of our existents. I glanced at her and gave a stiff nod. 

Pushing past the woman who was my mother, we head outside when I came face to face with her Gamma Marshall. He smiled at me, and I growled in return. He whimpered at the sound. The alpha in me won’t allow anyone to approach.

We walked towards the park that sat in the middle of the town, Angelica, Sadia, and Marshall following behind me. 

I snorted at the thought of the woman who gave me life, but like everyone else, turned her back on me when I turned 18. 

“I’ve got you babe, she may be our mom, but she is just as bad as dad.” Aura spoke in my head. She paced back and forth, waiting to hear what our mom had to say. She was on alert.

“Talk.” I gritted out, quelling my anger for her. She sighed and took a seat in front of me as I loomed over her. I could feel Aura radiate her authority out slightly making Angelica, Sadia, and Marshall shiver.

“Destinee, I tried. But your father wouldn’t listen. He is still Alpha and you can’t disobey your Alpha. Sweetie, you know this.” I scoffed. Yeah, I knew that all too well.

I tilted my head to the side. “I was your daughter. You should have fucking protected me. But you continued to turn a blind eye to my suffering. Yes, you didn’t take part in the abuse, but you stood back and let it happen. You’re a mother. A mother should always protect her child. You may be Luna and mother to the pack, but you were my mother, and you did nothing.” I growled out. I can feel the power radiating off of me as Angelica choked and whimpered.

I barred my teeth at her as she whimpered under the force of my authority. “Please, Destinee. Come home, we can fix this. Your mate is beside himself; he was heartbroken when you left.” Shit, my mate. I snickered at the thought of going back.

“My mate,” I laughed and shook my head in full amusement, “my mate was going to reject me. So why would I go back to your pack and to someone who clearly thought I was disgusting?” I clenched and unclenched my fists, remembering the look on his face when he saw me fighting with my father. I shook the memory away.

“I don’t need a mate.” I declared in all finality. “Besides, why would I go back? What, so they can subject me to more abuse? I think not.” I snarled out at her as she bowed her head with tears streaming down her face. 

She shook her head as she sniffled. “No Destinee, he wasn’t going to reject you. When I went to see your father, Alpha Titus and him were fighting. Alpha Titus saw what was happening and became outraged and disgusted. Please, darling, you need to believe me.” she wiped her tears away. My lip quivered at the sight of her and I had to look away to compose myself. 

“Let me forward Destinee, let me speak with her.” Aura spoke softly to me. I felt her push forward as I closed my eyes. She was at the forefront of my mind.

I opened my eyes “mother, look at me.” she spoke her voice is light and airy. My mother snapped her gaze up to us and she gasped at seeing Aura’s eyes. 

“Au-Aura, how? I don’t understand?” I’m confused. How did she know my wolf’s name? What is going on?

“Yes, you and your pack have caused my human pain and suffering. We are a gift from Selene. You know who I am, yes?” my mother bows her head, ok, what is going on?

“Yes, I know who you are. Please have mercy Aura. I should have tried harder. I’m a failure as a mother. What do you want me to do? Whatever it is, I shall do it. You are the wolf of the Goddess.” Well, now I’m shocked. Aura is the wolf of Selene, our Moon Goddess. Well, damn. Not only is she beautiful, but she is also powerful. The legend of Aura is similar to the legend of Fenrir. Aura is the Alpha female, not a Luna. She commands all. She is a literal goddess!

“Look at me, little Luna and Gamma.” They both looked into her eyes and awaited her command. “It’s time for you both to return to your pack. You will tell them you never found us. You will leave here and never return. This is my command, and you will obey.” She pushed the full force of her authority over them both. They both whimpered at the force.

Aura chuffed in satisfaction and gave me back control. My mother and her Gamma both stood. They gave me one last look before taking off without so much as a backward glance. 

I breathed a sigh of relief as I watched them leave out of view. “Well, I’ll be damned. I knew you were a special kid but didn’t realise how special.” I chuckled at Sadia, who just folded her arms across her chest.

“Well, I didn’t either. Can we finish shopping and then get back to what we were doing, please?” I asked, full of excitement. They were going to leave me alone, and I knew it. I could start my new life.

After we shopped for new clothes and a few essentials for the apartment, we arrived at the bar. It was called ‘The Eclipse Bar’ I chuckled at the name, typical wolf’s name for a bar. 

The bar was just on the outskirts surrounded by forest; it was off the main strip. It attracted a lot of travellers and locals alike. There was a parking lot at the front of the building. The name in lights above the doors. 

Walking into the bar, it amazed me at how big it was on the inside. The bar ran across along one wall, with bar stools. On the opposite side of the bar, there were booths and tables and chairs scattered around. In the far back was a stage and dance floor, no doubt for bands or karaoke. And a separate area for bar games with a pool table and a darts board.

There were a few men sitting at the bar, chatting with the barmaid. She was a wolf. She looked up at us and she lowered her head, showing submission. Strange. “Her wolf can sense me. Get used to it, babe, we are powerful. Even rogues will bow.” Aura told me with her chest puffed out with pride. I shook my head at her antics. 

“Janelle, this is Destinee, the new bar manager.” Sadia tells her, and the girl’s eyes widen in shock. She smiles and offers me her hand to shake. 

“Hey boss lady, if you need anything, let me know and I’ll do my best to help you out.” She smiled politely. This little woman is sweet, and I could see we would get along just fine. 

“Anyone I should be worried about?” I enquired. I didn’t want to walk in blind. She looked at Sadia and I did, too. “What aren’t you telling me?” I said, I folded my arms across my chest. 

Sadia raised an eyebrow at me before she chuckled. “There is one who you need to watch out for. Her name is Marnie. She is a tough cookie and won’t think twice about diving into a fight. She will show you respect because you are her boss. But she will try to boss and intimidate you. However, knowing who you are, I would say she is in for a shock.” She said, chuckling. Just fantastic.

After being shown the ropes of running the bar, and the paperwork. Sadia showed me to the apartment outside the bar. It was behind the bar, close enough to get to in case of an emergency, but far enough not to hear the music and chatter of drunk patrons. 

Stepping inside it was lovely. The inside had an open-plan kitchen and living room, just perfect. I could make my food and still watch the TV, which is a bonus. 

Down a small corridor at the back of the living room, where two bedrooms, both had en-suites and a separate bathroom at the end of the hall. 

I didn’t have to worry about furniture because the apartment was already furnished. When I entered the bedroom closest to the living room, I saw a king-size bed by the window. Opposite the bed was a dresser with a TV mounted on the wall. To the right was a door leading to the bathroom with a bath, shower, vanity, and toilet. I was happy; I didn’t need an enormous bathroom. To the left of the bed was a bedside unit, and on the wall by the door was a wardrobe. 

Sadia and I unpacked the truck, and we unpacked and set everything up in my new home. The following day, I started my first shift in the bar and I couldn’t wait.