Saving the Rejected Luna

Artemis As usual, my day began with me getting up at the crack of dawn when the sun hadn't even risen, and the sky was still painted with a deep violet hue. The air was still cold. The pack was still asleep in their luxurious beds, while I was forced to sleep in a crappy, unserviced, cramped as hell attic; unfair. My name's Artemis Terry- daughter of Lucias and Adeline Terry, the Alpha and Luna of Emerald Guardians Pack. My father and the rest of our pack were exiled when I was still in my mother's womb. We were banished from the ancient land of Romania, where werewolves could live and grow their packs in peace, harmony, and love—a land where all werewolves could build their home. My father rejected his true mate Eurille, and my mother left her true mate, my uncle, Xavier, for my father. They mated. My uncle and Eurille both died. Lucille died of depression, and my uncle committed suicide as punishment for this heinous crime, my father and the rest of our pack were forced to live on Romania's edge, never to set foot on its borders again. Although they loved me for the first five years, my parents never really considered me their daughter. More likely, the reason they were exiled. When I was old enough, they made me the pack's enslaved person—cooking, cleaning, maintaining the packhouse, and stuff like that. I lived in the attic. That way, no visitors could see me and my parents won't be further humiliated. I always wore simple clothes, whereas the girls always had the nicest clothes; designer clothes were imported from expensive stores. My clothes were imported from the she-wolves who outgrew their old clothes. I inherited the hand-me-downs. Despite being exiled and living in shame, my pack was vibrant. We afford to live a very lavish lifestyle due to my father allying with another powerful pack, The Shining Cosmos Pack. Their leader was Marcus Spencer. A heartless monster who was cruelly handsome—a literal demon in an angel's body. He formed alliances with packs to take advantage of the she-wolves living there, and since he was one of the most powerful alphas in Romania, rivals and objections from other packs weren't an issue. He allied with my father's pack, and they were business partners and good friends from what I heard. Suddenly I heard the first bird chirp, welcoming the morning. I yawned and stretched out my sore muscles, still aching from the previous day spent washing, cooking, cleaning, and bending over. My back ached, and with great difficulty, I lay again on my scratchy but stable bed in the cold attic where I've resided since I was twelve years old. Now eighteen, I was officially an adult. So why couldn't I leave the pack and strike out in my direction? Simple. Father loved having me around. Why, do you ask? So he could vent out his rage, anger, and frustration on me and remind me that I was the cause they were all suffering. And I quote suffering. They weren't close to suffering. They had everything they could want; a pack, a lavish home, protection from rival packs, and their little heir, my adopted brother Alec. Father said he didn't want me to be his heir. He wanted a male. One could become Alpha, breed the females, and carry on the Emerald Guardians legacy. I'm willing to bet my life that no one would remember us when we're gone. They all hate us. Hate us for getting Eurille and Xavier killed, hate us for our betrayal, hate us for shaming the Romanian Empire. After my uncle and Eurille died, no one wanted anything to do with us. They looked at us with contempt and disdain. Climbing out of my bed, I walked across the wooden floor in my thin nightgown and went to the bathroom with a cramped shower stall, a sink, toilet, and a broken mirror. Striping out of the nightgown, I tied up my auburn curls and stepped in the shower. I turned the water on and immediately cringed. It was freezing. I waited patiently for the water to get hot. When it did, I hissed in pain as it traveled down my back, onto my cuts from last night, put there by my father when I tripped on someone's feet and spilled the red wine that I was carrying to the dinner table where my father, my mother, Alec and Alec's mate, Natalie and her parents were seated. In a fit of rage, my father shot up from the table and slapped me across my face. He grabbed my hair, bent me over the table, and lashed me twelve times with his belt in front of everyone, making me scream and plead for mercy. When he was through with me, my clothes were torn, and my skin was bruised. Father took me by my arm, dragged me to the attic, threw me on the floor, and left me with my wounds, crying my eyes out. Falling asleep with all those cuts and bruises on my body was sheer hell! I didn't have the luxury of fast werewolf healing, so I had to wait if it weren't for the fact that my title had been stripped. When my shower was done, I gingerly wrapped myself in a towel, brushed my teeth, and eyed myself in the mirror. My skin was pale as milk, my eyes were emerald green, and I had freckles on the bridge of my nose. The bruises from where Father's fist was clenched around my neck made me visibly cringe. Sighing at my ugly reflection, I left the bathroom and went to my chest of drawers, where I pulled out a pair of skinny black jeans, a grey turtleneck sweater to cover my bruises, a couple of panties, and a matching bra to cover my sorry excuse for breasts. They weren't flat, but they weren't as defined as they were supposed to be. I changed quickly and slipped a pair of sandals on my un-manicured but slender feet. I never really used nail polish. My toes were cut and plain. Simple, I tell you. I brushed my hair till it shone and tied it into a ponytail. After tidying the room, I left after surveying my old but comfortable clothes. "Just another day in the life of me. Don't get into trouble and keep the low show, and they won't bother you. You've got this, Artemis," I said to myself like I did every morning to boost my deflated self-esteem. "Artemis, you've got to stop talking to yourself like this. People will start to think you're nuts," my wolf Caroline said in my head. It was the first time she's spoken to me since yesterday evening because I didn't leave the packhouse, and that deprived her of her daily run through the woods. She was a beautiful wolf in reddish fur, cream underbelly, and emerald green eyes. She was my best friend. When I started to get abused by everyone, Caro always helped me get through it and was my shoulder to cry whenever I was miserable. I truly loved her. "Well, look who finally decided to stop being a sourpuss," I teased. She scoffed, and I grinned. Caroline was so cute when she was like that. Her eyes would roll up in her head, and she would make the sweetest sound like a temperamental child who was told he could go outside because it was raining. "Look, Caro, I promise we'll go for a run this evening. Just let me get through the day alive, and we'll go for a nice long run while Father is meeting with Marcus." I said in an attempt to appease my pouty wolf. To this, she howled and started to prance around in my head, a frequent reaction out of her. "Stop it, you crazy wolf, you're giving me a headache!" I said in annoyance. I opened the door with a groan, jogged down the two floors of stairs, and made my way down the long hallway, through the dining room, and into the kitchen. I started preparing breakfast for the pack, which would take me approximately an hour considering the size of the pack—about two hundred wolves. I wasn't the only omega working the early shift. Two others, Tali Jerald and Barbara Sanders, were there too. Tali was nineteen and Barbara seventeen. Tali, a brunette with fair skin, grey eyes, and a petite frame, was my best friend after Caroline. We've known each other since we were pups. Tali was the daughter of Gamma Kyle. Her mate Josh left her for her cousin Asha, and she was depressed for five months and counting. Because Josh severed the bond instead of rejecting her, she was still alive. Wolves who get their mate bond severed stay depressed for a few months, then they forget about it and get on with their lives. The pain of losing your mate is something you can never get over. It eats you alive and makes you do things that can either kill you or drive you insane. But thanks to me and Barbara's support, Tali got over the broken feelings, and now she's doing much better—at least. Barbara hadn't found her mate yet. She had long blonde hair, orange eyes, and like mine, Barbara's skin was pale. She was rebellious and a little rowdy despite her age. Barbara was Delta Mario's daughter. She became an omega since she had no skills suited for any other job. She couldn't fight, so a soldier wasn't appropriate. She wasn't responsible enough, so pup sitting was a no-no. Barbara couldn't cook to save her life, so she was terrible at being a chef. I ate spaghetti and meatballs from her once, and I almost died. The spaghetti was half cooked, the sauce was too salty, and the meatballs tasted like they were weeks old. I had food poisoning and had to stay in bed for a good three days. I never ate anything at the hands of Barbara again, not even a sandwich. Tali was an omega mainly because her parents didn't want to see her face—ever! She let Josh slip through her fingers, and for that, she was sent to be an omega even during her depression stage. I glanced at the clock and saw that it was five fifteen. The pack would arise at seven, just enough time to make a huge breakfast, clean up, and get started on our chores. We would eat after the pack did—one of the curses of being an omega. We always got the short end of the stick. Always.

Artemis Tali made the coffee and Barbara set the tables while I made pancakes, bacon, eggs, and french muffins for breakfast. The pack had awakened by the time we had the breakfast ready. The Alpha and Luna, my parents, were the first to arrive. They never allowed me to call them Mother or Father in front of others. Alpha Lucias and Luna Adeline, that's the proper term that I need to use to address them. Alec, of course, only had the privilege of calling them Mom and Dad. And he wasn't even their biological son. They couldn't erase the fact that I was their daughter, but they could pretend I wasn't. They always ignore me, treated me as an enslaved person, and forced me to obey them, compensating for the 'misfortune that occurred' which referred to my conception and birth. It hurt so much to know that my parents despised me and gave me silent treatment all the time, but what could I do? I was helpless in the face of my fate. Garrett, the Beta, was the one who pursued my parents. Garrett was my father's best friend, so he is more than just a Beta in our pack. Garrett, unlike my parents and everyone else, was friendly to me. He gave me books to read in order to help me gain knowledge because my parents did not allow me to receive a proper education. My parents believed that an omega like me doesn't need that thing because, after all, omegas like me were insignificant in their eyes. Garrett, on the other hand, believes the opposite. Every day, he had a tutor who gave me papers with questions, quizzes, and tests. I'd finish them in my spare time, pile them somewhere safe for Garrett, and he'd give them to the tutor to check and correct the papers, then she'd send more the next day. Reading and writing were some of the things that I am fond of. I enjoy doing them every now and then. So sometimes, I would leave the packhouse with a spare set of clothes, go for a run in my wolf form, and go to a place where I knew I could be at peace. It was a nearby meadow which is about two miles away from the pack. I would lie there in the lush green grass and read some of the books Garrett had given me. It was peaceful as I was completely alone and undisturbed in that place while doing the things I love. And, of course, I'm away from the packhouse, away from my so-called parents, and from my stressful life. Nobody could bother me, something that makes me happy. I'd read Shakespeare, poetry, science, and fiction. I'd immerse myself in the worlds of fantasy and mystery, and for a brief moment, I'd forget that I was an Omega and just be myself. "Do we have to wait for another hour for you to serve our breakfast, or was it ready?" The sound of my mother's voice startled me. She stood with her hands on her hips, staring at me, with my father shaking his head next to her. Alec and Natalie had just come down the stairs, giggling and kissing, which I thought was as fake as a Barbie doll could be. Garrett stood behind my parents, and his blue eyes were mischievous as he looked at me. To show my respect, I cleared my throat and bowed to them. "Yes, Luna, breakfast is ready," I said, raising my head. "Please have a seat and allow me to serve you." My mother simply scoffed. They then proceeded to the Alpha's table in the dining hall, where they took their seats. My father took the first seat, followed by my mother, Alec and Natalie, and finally Garrett. Tali and Barbara spooned out heaps of pancakes, bacon, and eggs and carefully placed them on the trays alongside the coffee. I took five trays and five cups of black as midnight coffee, loaded them onto a cart, and rolled it out of the kitchen and into the dining hall, where my parents, Alec, Natalie, and Garrett awaited. I rolled the cart up to the table and served them their breakfast and simply trying not to spill anything. Goddess knew the value of spilling coffee on Natalie's designer dress. "Breakfast has been served. Enjoy your food," I meekly said. My parents gave me a curt nod and started eating. We had to serve the rest of the pack after serving the Alpha, Luna, and Beta. They descended in five groups, and soon all two hundred pack members were present. And because the soldiers couldn't leave their posts guarding the packhouse and the houses of the pack members, where everyone stayed, they ate their breakfast outside. We repeated the process of dishing out and serving the food for fifteen minutes. And soon, all of the pack members, including the soldiers, were finally completed. When everyone had finished eating, they left the dining hall and returned to their places, and went back to what they were doing. Tali, Barbara, and I cleaned up the area. Tali swept the floor, Barbara wiped down the tables, and I washed the dishes. We sang songs while working and appreciated having the space to work without interruptions. Finally, the kitchen and dining room were cleaned and sanitized. The floors had been swept, the dishes had been washed, the tables had been cleaned, and there was a pleasant aroma of pine sol in the air. "Okay, ladies, we did another great job. The place is clean. Let's eat breakfast and get to work on our chores," I rubbed my reddened hands against my apron. There wasn't much left for us to eat: four pancakes, some eggs, three strips of bacon, and two muffins. I exhaled a sigh. This thing happened daily. We always cooked enough food for the group but never enough for ourselves. There was always a scarcity of food available for the omegas. Tali, Barbara, and I were the only omegas around; that’s the reality. But we were also part of the pack after all. Even though no matter how much this fact, was denied. "Oh, I think there isn't enough food for the three of us," Tali said as she observed with a glum expression on her face. "Should we go to the nearby human village to grab something to eat? What do you say?" There was a human village approximately five miles away from the packhouse with cafes, banks, schools, clinics, and houses. And whenever we needed something, the three of us could leave and go to the human village. We buy things, such as food or medicine or any available items. Only two members were allowed to leave the packhouse to go to the village. Tali and I decided to go while Barbara opted to stay. It's not like there's much to be purchased in the first place. "Get some garlic bread, omelettes, cappuccinos, and a strawberry croissant for us to share," Barbara said, sitting on a kitchen chair, her long slender legs stretched out in front of her. "If you can't find a strawberry croissant, perhaps a raspberry jam tart will be enough." "Do you plan to help us in carrying all of these items into the packhouse?" Tali asked sarcastically. Barbara seemed to be offended. "Yes, of course, I'll assist you. What are your thoughts on me? Giving orders but won't help in carrying them here?" she said, irritably looking at Tali. Tali nodded frantically, and Barbara exclaimed huffily. I rolled my eyes and headed Tali out of the kitchen, and we went outside. After a long morning of standing in front of the heat, the cool morning air that fanned our faces gave us relief. It is refreshing, and it felt so relaxing. Tali and I went behind a large oak tree and started to undress, and then both of us shifted. Amanda, Tali's wolf, was covered in grey and white fur. She had a creamy underbelly and grey eyes. We stretched and turned to gather our belongings, our clothes specifically. And after which, we turned and bounded in the direction of the human village, with our clothes in our mouths. As we ran through the forest, the breeze blew through our fur. We were running so fast that the trees appeared to be blur in our vision. When we were almost in the village, we stopped and looked for a large tree to shift back to our human form.. Tali and I both changed as quickly as we could. We combed our fingers through our hair after getting dressed and tried to look presentable. "Okay, let's get all the things and goods we need and leave. I have to clean the Alpha's Chambers today. You know how much Alpha Lucius hates to have his room dirty," I said as I picked up some of our stuff from the ground. "Amelia, you know it's just you and me here. So there's no need to call him Alpha or such when it's just the two of us. Shouldn't you just call him Dad?" Tali told me in a sympathetic tone. "You know I can't do that, Tali. He slapped me the last time I called him Dad. He forced me to kneel in front of him and submit. It's preferable that way. I must always refer to him as Alpha Lucius. Nothing else," I replied sternly. Tali shook her head slowly and hugged me. She comforted me as the friend that she's always been. With the kind of life we have, Tali, Barbara and I always need to look out for each other. We had to watch each other's backs not only because we were friends, but because there's no one else would. It will only be us, the omegas.

Artemis Tali and I walked carefully down the grassy slope that led into the human village, and after ensuring that no humans were around, we ran into the small but homey café to purchase our breakfast. The walls of the café were painted a tasteful seashell pink, and the floors were tiled in eggshell white, the long L- shaped counters were a gorgeous red, and the lady at the counter, who was the owner, looked cherry and happy as she waved cordially at us when we walked through the glass doors. "Good morning Artemis and Tali. What can I get for two of my favorite wolves today?" she asked, smiling. The woman named Pam Lorrel worked at the café and was also a wolf-like us. She didn't live in the packhouse since she enjoyed the peace of the human village as well as its warmth. Something one can never find in our pack. She was a small petite woman of forty-one, with dazzling violet eyes, a fair complexion, and short, brown curly hair. Pam and her mate Austin stayed in the human boarding house and often came to the packhouse to deliver herbs and spices to the pack's healer Velma. Pam was like a second mother to me and was the only elder who treated me well besides Garrett. "Good morning Pam, Tali, and I would like to have three large strawberry croissants and three coffees, please," I said politely as I took out twenty bucks from my pocket. Pam nodded and filled my order while Tali and I browsed through the home magazines stacked in a basket in the corner. "Order up," Pam said with a smile as she placed the order on the counter. I paid her quickly, and Tali and I waved goodbye as we hurried out of the café, passing a teenage girl on our way. "We have just ten minutes to get home and eat," I told Tali as we went behind the same tree and shifted. Luckily Pam placed everything in a large basket, so it was convenient to carry. Tali held our clothes in her mouth while I had the basket in mine. We ran in the direction of the packhouse with five minutes to spare. Fortunately, Barbara was still waiting in front of us. The Alpha and Luna were nowhere to be seen, which was a relief. Barbra took the basket from me and placed it on the table in the kitchen while Tali and I shifted once more and changed. We walked into the kitchen, where Barbara laid the breakfast out on three plates. "No garlic bread, huh?" she asked disappointedly. I shook my head, and she groaned. "At least we got the croissants, right?" I asked cheerfully in an attempt to cheer her up. It worked. Barbara's face lit up once more, and she took first my plate, then Tali's, and placed them in front of us. Then she took hers, and we all sat down at the kitchen table and began to eat. We had barely managed to swallow the first bite of the croissant when Alec came staggering into the kitchen with Natalie. He was shirtless. She was bra-less, wearing only an oversized t-shirt to cover up the breasts that we all knew were fake. Her pants were off, and she was straddling him, her legs wound tightly around his waist while they devoured each other's mouths. Barbara silently gagged, and Tali rolled her eyes, and both of them went back to eating, ignoring them. I tried to ignore them too, but their moans made it hard to concentrate. Suddenly Alec turned around and saw us sitting there and smirked. He placed Natalie down and sauntered over to us, his chest and abs on full display. Oh no, please don't. Let us eat in peace, and please don't hurt us. "Hello, dear sister," Alec said sweetly, making me visibly shudder. I glanced up at him and smiled shakily. "Yes, Alec, can I help you?" I asked, trying my best not to stutter or show any sign of disrespect. "Oh sister, are you okay? You look rather pale. Do you need to see the pack doctor?" he asked with fake sympathy. I bent my head and looked downwards. He fully well knew that Father forbade me from seeing the pack doctor. He said I could heal on my own, and any injuries I got weren't significant enough to bother our esteemed pack doctor. If you couldn't count three broken ribs on two separate occasions, a fractured clavicle, a dislocated shoulder, and a head injury necessary, I didn't know what was. So with all the courage, I thought I had, I looked up into his devious eyes, orange they were, inherited from his mother - not my mother, his birth mother. When Alec was born, my parents forcefully took him away from his mother. Why? Because she wasn't worthy enough to keep Alec as her son. And by worthy, I mean, not rich like us, not high in a position like most of our pack members, and too irresponsible. His mother, Alina was her name, lost her mate when rouges invaded our land when I was only a few months old. They killed several warriors, and Alec's father was one of them. Alec was all she had, and my parents took him. She died of a broken heart a month later. Alec was only five when it happened, and he didn't cry for his mother to everyone's surprise. He didn't even spare her a second glance when my mother picked him up and carried him off. I was jolted back to reality when I felt a sting on my cheek. I gasped and covered my cheek with my hand, and looked up. Alec had slapped me. He yanked my hair backward with a growl, and I cried out in pain. "When I ask you a question, you answer me you a disrespectful thing!" he shouted in my face. Question? What question? What did I do? "What are you talking about?" I gasped when his hand latched onto my throat and squeezed it, making my vision cloud over. "WHY HAVEN'T YOU CLEANED THE ALPHA'S CHAMBERS YET?!" I gasped, and then it hit me. I zoned out for a while and completely forgot I was supposed to clean the Alpha's chambers. Hell, I was in for it now. I gasped and tried to make Alec release me, but he only tightened his grip. "F..forgive me... I was caught up in other matters. I shall get to cleaning the Alpha's Chambers now. Please, Alec, release me," I struggled to speak as Alec's choking me got unbearable, and soon I began to feel lightheaded. Then he released me, and the force sent me flying to the floor. I gasped and held my throat, trying to get oxygen back into my lungs. Tali and Barbara sat there looking at me, sadness and despair painted on their faces. They wanted to help me, they wanted to so badly, but Alec was their future Alpha, and they had to obey and not step out of line. I gasped and coughed violently, and Natalie, instead of attempting to help me, she laughed and patted Alec on his shoulder. "That's right, sweetie, show this disgusting omega who's Alpha. She can't disrespect you and not suffer consequences," she sneered. Alec scoffed at my weakness and eyed my croissant and coffee on the table. He smirked and took my croissant, took three bites out of it, and threw the rest in the trash. Then he picked up my coffee and took a sip. Deciding it wasn't brewed to his liking, he turned it over and dumped the steaming liquid over my body, making me scream. Tali's hand flew to her mouth, and Barbara attempted to pick me up, but Natalie grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back. "Don't interfere, omega!" she hissed in her ear. Alec laughed and held my chin in his hand, my face was soaked with coffee, and my hair, as well as my clothes, were drenched. Natalie released Barbara and motioned for her and Tali to follow. "Make yourselves useful and go down to Ashton Lake and fetch some of the water for me. It's pure and will help soothe my face. I want a full makeover today, there is a function at my parents' place that I must attend, and you two will assist in getting me ready," she said demandingly. Tali and Barbara exchanged looks of disbelief and looked back at me, lying in a puddle of coffee on the floor, in pain and crying. "Come on, chop. I don't have all day to sit around and wait. Get your tails down there and do as I say," she snapped rudely. Barbara and Tali whimpered and bowed to Natalie, leaving their half-eaten croissants and coffee on the table. They had no choice but to obey. If they didn't, Alec would tell my parents, and Tali and Barbara would be publicly whipped at the stage on the center of the courtyard for having disrespected the future Luna of the Emerald Guardians. They left with Natalie, and Alec remained. I glanced up at him, and he smirked. With a sick, twisted sense of satisfaction, he seized Tali and Barbara's cups and threw their coffee on me as well. It was hot. So hot that I screamed, causing my parents to come barreling in. "Alec, are you okay, dear?" Mother asked worriedly as she scanned him for injuries. "I'm fine, Mom, and it's this omega who's the problem. She disrespected me," Alec said with mock hurt. Oh no. Please no. Dear Moon Goddess, please don't let it happen. My father growled and kicked me in my ribs with his shoes making me groan. He kicked me again. And again. And again. And with each kick, he shouted at me, saying, "Never disrespect your brother, you slut!" Tears fell out of my eyes as I begged him to stop. I begged and begged but to no avail. He continued to kick me like I was a punching bag mercilessly.Wait a minute. I was a punching bag. Ever since I was a child, I was his little punching bag. When he was through with me, he held my chin in his hands and looked at my tear-stained face. "Look at you. Just look at you. You're an insult to werewolves, a disgrace, a waste of space. Who could ever want a mate like you? You're weak, pathetic, and shallow. Always was, always will be, " With those hurtful words said, my family turned and left. They left me with my pain, my sorrow, and my hurt. He was right. I was weak, pathetic, and shallow. I gazed into my ugly reflection in the puddle of coffee and shunned away. Look at me! I was HIDEOUS! Who could ever want a mate like me? Weak. Pathetic. Shallow and ugly. No. I wouldn't give myself false hopes. He was right. I was nothing worth waiting for, and no one deserves a mate like me. Not even the most heartless, most cruel Alpha in the world.

Artemis After I was left alone in the kitchen lying in the puddle of coffee that had grown cold and sticky, I raised myself off the floor and put my hands on the marble island, and shakily rose to my feet, being extra careful so I wouldn't slip and injure myself further. "Artemis, are you okay?"Caroline asked in obvious concern. I coughed and placed a hand on my rib, where my father kicked me with his boots. It hurt to breathe, and it hurt to talk. "I'm fine, Caroline, "I said to her."Nothing major, just a few kicks here and there." Caroline whined and scratched at the barrier that separated us, begging to be released to speed up my healing. I took a step forward and immediately cringed. As a result of me being in an immobile position for too long, the circulation in my legs had come to a standstill, and the needlelike sensation made it hard to walk. I kicked at the air several times before the numbness vanished and I could walk properly. I limped out of the kitchen and to the janitor's closet down the hall, where I retrieved a mop, a broom, and detergents. First, I would clean the kitchen- again. Then the Alpha's chambers were on the third floor of the packhouse. I mopped the coffee away, sprayed detergent, and repeated the process. When the floors were cleaned, I wiped the countertops, cleared the dishes, and opened the windows allowing the crisp fall air to waft through and into the kitchen. I rubbed my hands on my sweater, which was now damp with coffee, not to mention my jeans and my hair. I groaned and threaded upstairs to my room to shower and change into something clean. At least I wouldn't smell like coffee and sweat anymore. After my shower, I changed into an old floral summer dress used for family gatherings. It was torn and stained, making it look ugly and unwanted - just like the girl wearing it. I brushed my hair and tied it in a messy bun atop my head. Not bothering with perfume or makeup, I slipped on my thankfully dry sandals and left the attic. Now back in the kitchen, I gathered the cleaning items and headed upstairs to clean the Alpha's chambers. The walk up the steps was excruciatingly painful as my bruises weren't quite healed yet, and walking proved to be more complicated than I had anticipated. Finally, I made it to the third floor, walked to the door markedAlpha's Chambers, and lightly rapped on the polished mahogany wood. "Come in," a gruff voice called for me to enter. I turned the handle and stepped into the luxurious room, painted a dark grey with a thick snow-white carpet, a mini dining room with a round table. Atop it was several pieces of priceless china. Around the corner were the bedroom and adjoining bathroom. A balcony complete with a jacuzzi and deck chairs made up the Alpha's Chambers. The best interior designers designed them in Romania. Seated on the plush sofa in the bedroom were my parents. Their faces were grim as they sat there, glaring at me as if I were an infectious disease or a deficiency of some sort. Sometimes, it saddened me to know that these were the people who gave birth to me. Although I usually never let my emotions show around them, it made me sad all the same. "Alpha, Luna, I have come to clean the Alpha's chambers," I said, bowing slightly. My father sighed disgustedly and got up off the sofa, offering my mother a help-up. "Such a gentleman," she said, giggling. "Hah, gentleman? More like-piglet man," Caroline said scornfully. I bit my tongue to keep from laughing out loud at her remark, knowing full and well the consequences of such an act. Instead, I maintained a neutral expression and concentrated my attention on the detergent in the bucket. With a final glare directed in my direction, they left the room so I could clean in peace. I closed the door and began, my movements fluid and cleaning thoroughly. After what seemed like two hours, I finished the Alpha's Chambers. My hands were red, and my back ached from the constant bending over. Satisfied with my work, I gathered my cleaning items and left the room. I returned to the janitor's closet, stored away from the items, and collapsed on a vacant chair. My stomach growled a reminder that I had no breakfast and was starving. I checked the floral clock on the wall and saw it was half-past eleven, just an hour and thirty minutes to get lunch on the table. With a disgruntled sigh, I rose off the comfortable chair and started preparing something that would satisfy the entire pack. I headed to the freezers and pulled out three large chunks of deer, one of the favorite meats of the pack. I dumped them into a large silver bowl, thankful I preseasoned it two days ago when the pack went hunting. I lit the oven, turned it to three hundred and forty degrees Fahrenheit, and left to gather ingredients for a deer roast. I was so preoccupied with chopping the ingredients I failed to notice Barbara and Tali enter the kitchen. "ARTEMIS!" they shouted out loud, causing me to tight slit my wrists with the sharp as hell knife. I turned to scowl at them. "You scared me!" I said indignantly. They giggled and peered over my shoulder to see what I was cooking. "Are you done with helping her highness get ready for her function?" I asked, still chopping the vegetables. "Yeah, we're done. She was so fussy and demanding," Tali said, rolling her eyes. "It was hell working for her, she complained, she argued, and she yelled. I did her nails and makeup while Tali dressed and combed her hair. She left an hour ago with Alec. Apparently, it's her cousin's pup shower, and she had to attend," Barbara added. I laughed and scraped the vegetables into a skillet with olive oil to sauté. Then I took a large knife and cut the meat into smaller pieces to fit in the dish. I learned from experience that the wolves in Emerald Guardians were very picky eaters. "Want some help?" Barbara asked. I shook my head vigorously. As I said before, Barbara was a terrible cook. So I asked Tali instead. Barbara looked insulted as she sat at the table and sulked like the immature pup she was. After a while, I felt sorry for her and asked her to pick some berries from the garden to make dessert. "Pick strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. I'll make a pie," I said to her. She smiled instantly and went to get a basket to pick the berries. While Barbara picked the berries, Tali and I cooked the roast. We popped it in the oven when it was done, and Barbara was back with the berries. "Thanks, Barbs," I thanked her. She seemed elated that she helped me and returned to her seat at the table. While the roast was cooking, Tali and I made the pie. I mixed the filling, and Tali made the crust. All the while, we soaked up the ambiance of the afternoon, content with the fact that the pack was busy, not bothering us. If only every day could be like this. "Are you ladies busy right now?" a male voice asked. We turned and caught Garrett standing there with a woman on his arm, and she was a few inches shorter than Garrett, who was about six foot three. She has short wavy blonde hair, large grey eyes, and tanned skin. She was petite and had generous curves and beautiful features. "No, Garrett, do you need something?" I asked, smiling at his companion. Garrett grinned and squeezed the woman's shoulders affectionately. "Ladies, I'd like to introduce you to someone. This is Lydia Marshall, daughter of Beta Adrick and Lucy Marshall and my mate," he said proudly. My mouth dropped open as I took in this new information. I gasped delightedly, and so did Tali and Barbara. "Oh, Goddess! Garrett, you've found your mate? That's wonderful news. My heartiest congratulations to you," I said, hugging him. He hugged me back, and when we separated, I hugged Lydia. "Congratulations, Lydia, you'll make a perfect mate for Garrett, I'm sure. Welcome to Emerald Guardians," I said to the now blushing girl. She looked to be around my age, eighteen or maybe twenty. Tali and Barbara came over and congratulated Garrett and Lydia while I tended to the roast, which was almost cooked. "What are you making, Artemis? It smells like deer," Garrett said, coming closer to the counter. I laughed and nodded. "I hope you like deer roast, Lydia. That's what I'm making for lunch," I said to her. "I love deer, thank you, Artemis," she said in a friendly tone. My heart stopped. That was the first time an outsider thanked me for something. They usually took one glance at me, and right off the bat, they decided I wasn't worth their time. They judge a book by its cover without even looking at the contents. They think of me by my looks, not my personality. They judge me because they don't know me, they judge me because I'm a low-rank werewolf, they judge me because I'm an omega. No one was worthy of praise, worthy of attention, worthy of love. That was me.

Artemis After Garrett and Lydia left the kitchen to introduce Lydia to my parents, Tali and I resumed making lunch. By the time the roast was done, Tali had a potato salad and vegetables put to the side. When the pie was assembled, I stuck it in the oven to bake, which would take approximately twenty minutes. Barbara set the table, and soon after she finished the last one, the pack started to pour into the dining hall. First came the Alpha and Luna, Alec and Natalie, and Garrett and Lydia. Natalie didn't bother changing her outfit from her cousin's pup shower. Why would she? It was so revealing, outrageously expensive, and alarmingly short. How did Alec let her leave the house like that? Either he wanted other males to drool over her body and be jealous or wanted everyone to see that Natalie was his and no one could touch her. The dress reached her mid-thighs; it was black and red with diamond studs. Her stilettos were knee-high and the heel, four and a half inches. Her long blonde hair reached her waist and her makeup, as usual, caked her face making her look more like a prostitute than the future Luna of the pack. "The fact that she would be our sister-in-law when she becomes Luna is depressing, and it makes me gag when I think about it," Caroline said scornfully. "You think you have it rough? I have it worse! Who has to pup sit that little mongrel when it's born? Who has to change its diapers when its mother is busy and doesn't want to get her pretty little nail dirty?"I retorted. I was so busy talking to Caroline I failed to hear my mother yelling at me. "You lazy creature, we're starving over here; whenever you decide to serve lunch would be wonderful, it's not like we have a business to attend to!" I jumped and shouted a quick apology before grabbing the now excellent pan of deer roast and resting it on the counter. Tali sliced the deer up, and I arranged the thick slices on china plates next to the vegetables. Barbara placed the plates on the trays and the trays on the cart. Six trays were placed on the cart, and I wheeled it over to the Alpha's table where my parents, Alec, Natalie, Garrett, and Lydia, were waiting. "Roasted deer and vegetables, please do enjoy your lunch," I said as I distributed the trays of food to them, trying my best to serve with grace and not spill a single drop. Barbara came with a martini bottle and poured the drink into their crystal goblets. Her eyes stayed down as she ran. "Enjoy your drinks," she said with a respectful bow. Lydia smiled, and Garrett smiled and thanked us profusely. Barbara and I bowed once more and went back to the kitchen, where Tali had five more plates ready to be served. We repeated the dish, fill, pour and bow process until every pack member had their plates in front of them, scarfing the food down like wolves. Oh, wait, they are wolves. Finally, when everyone had cleaned their plates, dessert included Barbara, Tali, and I set about cleaning the kitchen and the dining hall. We had barely begun when Natalie came out of nowhere and perched herself up on the kitchen counter like it was her bedroom. "You what's your name again?" she asked, pointing her long, turquoise fingernails at Tali. Tali dropped the spoon she was rinsing, turned around, and bowed to Natalie. "M..my name is Tali Jerald, I am the daughter of G..Gamma Kyle, Luna Natalie," Tali stuttered nervously. Natalie nodded and pointed a finger to Barbara next. "And yours?" "My name is Barbara Sanders. I am the daughter of Delta Mario, Luna Natalie," Barbara said, bowing. Unlike Tali, Barbara had no fear of Natalie, only the power her words held. She was polite, respective, and submissive but not fearful. I admired her for her courage. Something I never had growing up. Natalie seemed satisfied with their answers and rose off the counter and walked towards us, her steps hard and her hips flaring. She approached Tali first and tucked her finger under her chin, and raised her head to meet her eyes. "You assisted me well today. My nails were done to perfection, and my cousin loved them. I appreciate your help, Tali," she said this in such a pleasant tone of voice I almost choked. I swear I had to be hungry for me to hearNatalieof all wolves be friendly to Tali, an omega. Then she released Tali's chin, moved to Barbara, and repeated the action. "You have an excellent taste for fashion, Barbara. My mother appreciated my hair, she said it suits me, and for that I thank you," Barbara's face lit up, and she smiled appreciatively. "Thank you, Luna Natalie," she said sincerely. "Why would she be nice to us just off the bat? She'sNatalie.I can't see how she could be nice to anyone," I said as I rinsed the dishes and placed them on the dish rack. "Anyway, I'm sure if she's nice, it's only because she wants something." "I agree, Artemis. Her wolf Mimi isn't any better. She thinks just because she's Austin's mate, and she could push everyone around and force them to do her bidding," Caroline growled in my head. "She doesn't even have Alpha blood in her." I sighed and continued to do the dishes while Tali swept the floors, and Barbara cleared the tables. When the kitchen and dining hall were cleaned, we sat and divided the leftovers between us. Shockingly, there was enough for the three of us. Barbara dished out the food, and I poured the drinks, and Tali took three kitchen chairs outside and placed them on the packhouse veranda so we could sit in the outdoors and eat. The weather was nice, not too cold, not too hot. It was nice to sit out and enjoy the serenity of the afternoon before we had to resume our chores. Barbara had laundry duty, Tali had lawn duty, and I cleaned Alec, Natalie, the Beta, Gamma, and Delta quarters, which would take the entire evening to do. While we ate the delicious food, we chatted about the Cosmos Gala that was to be held in a week. Marcus held it every five years in his pack to celebrate the alliance forged with the Shining Cosmos Pack and the Emerald Guardians Pack. Marcus hadn't found his mate yet, and he was always on the lookout for her, hoping to find her so his pack could have a Luna and they would become more assertive. We cleaned up and prepared to start our assigned chores when we finished eating. We were just about to leave to get them done when Natalie came down, dressed in snug hip hugger jeans, a cashmere sweater, and three-inch stiletto heels. She stepped up to us, and we bowed to show our respect. "Tali, Barbara, come with me. I am going shopping this afternoon, and I'd like to have you there as my assistants," she said in a tone that lacked her usual snobby and arrogant attitude. I was surprised. "Luna, we have no attire suited to follow you anywhere. We are omegas," Tali said softly. It was true. We omegas didn't have proper clothes. Mostly hand-me-downs from the she-wolves who had outgrown them. "No worries, I shall provide you with clothes, come to my room, I will organize you," Natalie replied. I almost choked. What was this toxic she-wolf getting at? First, she complimented them, calling them something other than filthy omega. Now, this? To my surprise, Tali and Barbara smiled widely, bowed to Natalie once more, and followed her to her room. But before she did, she turned and shot a scornful glare my way. "What the hell are you staring at? Tali and Barbara will be at the mall with me. Therefore you are responsible for their work. The lawn outside, the laundry, and the rooms upstairs, not to mention dinner, which you will also take care of on your own. Get to it, you a worthless thing!" she snapped at me. I flinched at her tone and nodded. "Yes, Luna," I said timidly. Natalie scoffed and turned to leave. I stifled my sobs and got to work, wishing I could run away from this hell. They were destroying me, and pretty soon, there would be nothing left for my mate. Who am I kidding? I had no mate. No one could ever love me. "Don't say that, Artemis! We do have a mate. We just haven't found him yet. Don't be disheartened, and the Moon Goddess said that everyone has a mate," Caroline said sadly. I shook my head, blocked her out, and continued to do what I did best. I cleaned.

Barbara After Luna Natalie brought us up to her quarters, we stood in the middle of the room and waited for her to give us an order. She clapped her hands, and three maids came bustling in, to my surprise. They bowed to Natalie, and she turned to face us. "Since you said you have no suitable attire, I shall provide you with a few of my own. My maids," she said, gesturing to the she-wolves who came in. "Will assist you in getting ready." With that, Natalie walked to her massive walk-in closet. She started rummaging through an assortment of clothes- no doubt designer clothes bought from Romania's most expensive clothing stores. Sure we weren't allowed in Romania, much less their stores, but Alpha Lucius had wolves who were loyal to him and did favors for him when he asked. Natalie, Luna Adeline, Alpha Lucius, Alec, and all the other elite wolves in the pack could shop online for their purchases. The wolves working for Alpha Lucius would then send the assets to our packhouse, where we would collect them, underhanded, of course. While Natalie searched for clothes for us, I took the opportunity to look around Natalie's room, designed for a future Luna. The walls were a gorgeous eggshell white, the floors were marble, and the bed stood in the middle, with a vanity table a chest of drawers on either side. There was a huge flat-screen TV in the wall, a massive window, a sofa, and a loveseat, not to mention the walk-in closet. She and Alec stayed in this room, having mated already, but the Luna ceremony was yet to happen. Natalie would become the new Luna of the Emerald Guardians, and Alec would become the Alpha. Then the day after the Luna ceremony, Alec's best friend, Evan Michaels, would become the new Beta, and his other two friends, Josh and Kevin Anderson, would become the new Gamma and Delta. "Here, try these on, see if they fit," I was snapped to awareness when Natalie tapped my arm and pressed a pair of skinny black jeans, a pink cotton t-shirt, black knee-high stilettos, and undergarments in my arms. "Mollie will assist Tali, and Gina will assist you, Barbara," Natalie said to me. "I shall wait for you to finish, and then we shall depart in my Mercedes." "Yes, Luna, as you wish," I said with a bow. She motioned me to go to her adjoining bathroom so I could shower. I was surprised by her kind gesture, and so was my wolf Ariel. "Why is she being so nice to us? She's never nice to us. She always treats us like trash or dirt under her feet," Ariel said. "Maybe she has a change of heart, I mean, she was probably happy that we helped her, and this is her way of saying thank you, "I replied as I walked into the bathroom to shower.2 When I had washed my hair and taken a thorough shower, I changed into new clothes and was thrilled to see that they fit me perfectly. I emerged from the bathroom, drying my hair with the towel. Natalie sat on her bed, checking her messages and waiting for us. Tali came out three minutes later. Natalie glanced up and saw us, and her eyes showed pleasure in our new clothes. Tali wore a blue denim skirt and white sweater with three-inch heels. "You both look lovely, Mollie, and Gina will now assist you with your hair and makeup," Natalie said. "Ladies, if you may." Gina and Mollie bowed to Natalie and ushered us to the mirror. Gina sat me down and picked up a brush and comb, and began to pass them through my long blonde curls, put in some Shea Butter, and I was surprised at how gentle she was. When she finished my hair, she moved on to my makeup. She added orange eye shadow, mascara, pale pink lipstick, and eyeliner, making my orange eyes pop. I gazed at my reflection and sighed. I looked beautiful. Tali's hair reached her shoulders and was straighter than a pin. Mollie brushed it and put in the same Shea Butter and blow-dried it, and Tali's hair was sleek and smooth. Tali didn't like makeup much, so mascara, eyeliner, and lipgloss were all she would have. When Gina and Mollie were finished, they stepped away for Natalie to see us. She clasped her hands together and looked delighted with our appearance. "Very good. You both look marvelous. Come, let us go. We shall go first to the mall, then the spa to get manicures and pedicures for you and Tali, and finally the hair salon. I want to dye my hair, the Luna ceremony is in a month, and I would love to try something new with my hair." Tali and I gasped. The Luna ceremony was in a month? That information was to be kept confidential! Why would Natalie tell us that? "Luna Natalie, why would you tell us the date of your ceremony?" Tali asked cautiously. "That information is to be kept confidential, not meant for anyone outside the inner circle to hear." Natalie laughed at this. It wasn't a laugh of scorn or sarcasm but one of amusement. She patted our shoulders, picked up her purse from the bed, and made her way to the door, where she glanced back at us. "Exactly. Confidential. No one else is supposed to know the date of my Luna ceremony. However, I trust you both. And trust is not something I bestow unto just anyone; I feel you both can be trusted with this information, can't you?" she asked, her smile still intact. Tali and I glanced at each other, contemplating the best, most suitable answer. Natalie waited patiently for us to talk. Then finally, we made a snap decision. "Yes, Luna Natalie, you can trust us," we said firmly and in unison. Our answer pleased her because she smiled again and turned to leave. "Wow, that was... surreal," I said breathlessly. "She's so nice. You might think I'm crazy, but Natalie seems to be the perfect Luna for our pack." Tali looked at me and searched her face for anything that would betray what she felt. But instead, I saw she agreed with me. "She might have been nasty before, but she seems to have... changed. I mean, why else would she do this stuff for us?" Tali stated. I nodded, and we left her room and walked down the stairs where she was waiting at the front door. We walked outside, and I glanced to our left and saw Artemis mowing the lawn. Was she doing Tali's job? Why? "Maybe Natalie told her to?"My wolf volunteered in my head. I nodded and continued the walk to the garage, where Natalie had her Mercedes Benz. It was a gorgeous silver and had black flames streaked across the fender. Natalie opened the front door and climbed in with me in the passenger seat and Tali in the backseat. "Our first destination, the mall," Natalie said as she revved the Mercedes' powerful engine, making us both jump slightly, much to her amusement. I felt terrible about leaving Artemis to do all the pack chores but decided she would probably work better alone. With my thoughts on Artemis at the back of my head, I leaned back in the car's plush leather seat and relaxed as Natalie reversed out of the garage and onto the main road. I peered in the rearview mirror and caught a glimpse of Artemis, and she looked sad as she watched us. I felt sad to see her like that, watching us so wistfully, but there was nothing I could do about it. My instincts told me to forget about Artemis and enjoy the outing, and Barbara Sandersalwayslistens to her instincts.

Artemis After Natalie left to go to the mall with Tali and Barbara, I was left alone to do all the packhouse chores, including mowing the lawn, cleaning the chambers upstairs, laundry, and dinner preparations. It would take the whole day to get them done. And if I didn't get the chores done, my parents would have my head. "Ooh, look, it's the pack slave," I looked up and saw two girls standing in front of me, Trina Michaels and Fiona Parker. The she-wolves who had made it their business always to hamper my work, disrupt me, and make my life miserable. A brunette with tanned skin, grey eyes, and a petite frame, Trina was Evan's cousin. She was an arrogant girl with a hoity-toity attitude and was forever known to be a perpetual nuisance ever since she was a pup. She was the leader of the two and kindness seemed a foreign concept to her. Fiona was her best friend, and she had blonde hair with violet eyes, fair skin, and skinny as a twig. Fiona was the epitome of spoiled and untamed, and like Trina, she had a nasty attitude. "Where are your two best friends? Have they left you to enslaved person all afternoon?" Trina asked with a smirk. I sighed and tried to ignore her, but since I had the worst luck in the pack, instead of leaving me alone to do my work, she grabbed me by my arm and slapped me across my face, her hand leaving a stinging sensation behind. I held my face and looked at her. "What was that for? I didn't do anything," I said as I tried to keep my tears from falling. "I'm talking to you, and you ignored me. When I speak to you, I expect you to reply, whore," she hissed. I bit my lip and tried to get away from her, but her grip tightened, and I could feel her long fingernails digging into my flesh. "What is going on here?!" I turned and saw Garrett coming towards me with Lydia on his arm. His eyes were flashing as he saw Trina holding my arm so aggressively. "Release Artemis Trina!" he shouted the command, and Trina had no choice but to obey. Not before punching me in my abdomen, making me cry out and fall to my knees. Garrett growled, and Trina and Fiona laughed and strolled to the packhouse. Lydia rushed over and helped me to rise. Tears fell from my eyes and soaked my dress. Lydia was sympathetic as she draped her arm across my shoulder and led me to the packhouse despite my protests. "Lydia, I have work to do. If my parents find out I was slacking, I'll get in trouble," I said. "You aren't slacking, just taking a break," Lydia assured me. "I also have to clean the upstairs chambers, make dinner and do laundry," I argued. Lydia glanced at Garrett, and her eyes showed disbelief upon hearing this. She was unaware of how much work an omega had to do in a pack. I wondered what kind of background Lydia came from. "Artemis, where are Tali and Barbara? Don't they work with you," Lydia's voice threw me off my train of thought, and I glanced her way, my eyes distant? "They're shopping with Natalie," I replied. Garrett scoffed, and Lydia gave a slight exclamation of disgust. "Shopping? While you're out here working? That girl disgusts me," Lydia said, shaking her head. "Ooh, Lydia doesn't seem too fond of our future, Luna. I'm going to like spending time with her and her wolf," Caroline said in my head in a smug tone. I giggled a little louder than I intended to, and Garrett and Lydia glanced at me with raised eyebrows. "Are you okay, Artemis?" Garret asked. "Caroline likes Lydia, and she says she would enjoy spending time with her and her wolf. Since she dislikes Natalie," I said. Lydia and Garrett laughed. I was glad they took it so lightly. Anyone who heard me says that would've told Alec and my parents straight away. That would've sent me straight to the dungeon. We arrived at the packhouse and entered the kitchen through the backdoor. "Sit, I'll get some cookies for you, and you can relax for a bit. I can ask my father to send two of our maids to help you with the laundry. The lawn is nearly finished, so you can complete that after your break, then you can clean the chambers upstairs," Lydia said kindly. I smiled and thanked her. She was officially my second favorite wolf in the pack after Garrett. Unlike the she-wolves who lived here, she was so lovely, nasty, unmannerly, slutty, and shameless. Half of them never met their mates and already cheated on them with other wolves, which was heavily frowned upon in our pack. Lydia brought the cookies, and we sat down to eat. We chatted for a while, and I casually mentioned the upcoming Shining Cosmos Gala that was to be held in a fortnight. "Alpha Marcus holds it every five years to celebrate the alliance forged between the two packs; it's customary that every pack member goes," I said as I nibbled on the raisin oatmeal cookies that were so delicious they melted in your mouth. "Did you make these, Lydia?" I asked, finishing my second cookie. "I did. Do you like them?" she asked smilingly. I nodded vigorously, and she and Garrett chuckled as I reached for yet another one of the delicious treats. I took a sip of milk, and we chatted for a while longer before Garrett rose, stating he had some things to take care of. "Lydia will keep you company if you wish, Artemis," he added as he pressed a kiss to his mate's forehead. "Thank you, Garrett, but I must see to my chores. I'm sure Lydia has better things to do," I politely declined the offer, not wanting to hurt Lydia's feelings after she had been so lovely to me. I rose and took the empty dishes to the sink to wash them. "Nonsense Artemis, I'll be happy to keep you company until you finish your chores. You have no one to talk to besides Caroline, I mean," she said, smiling widely. I smiled back and placed the dishes on the rack to drain. "That would be lovely, thank you, Lydia," I wiped down the table and dusted my hands on my dress. Garrett kissed Lydia one more time before he left to tend to his duties. "So my maids will be here shortly. In the meantime, you can finish mowing the lawn," Lydia said as she and I left the packhouse. I nodded, and we walked to where the lawnmower sat, making small talk as we walked. And while we did, I sighed inwardly, wishing I wasn't an omega. That way, Lydia and I could talk all day, shop, go out and have fun. But it was impossible. I was an omega, and she was the mate of our Beta. If only things were different. It was pretty unfortunate that it wasn't. That's just the way things worked in our pack, it made me sad, but there was nothing I could do about it.

Artemis True to her word, Lydia had two maids come to Emerald Guardians to assist me in my chores. Bria and Lana were very kind to me, and they worked quickly, and for that, I was grateful. They took care of the laundry duty while I cleaned the upstairs chambers, and pretty soon, the chores were over with thanks to their efficiency and punctuality. "Grazie Bria e Lana," I said to them as I carried the cleaning supplies back to the janitor's closet. (Thank you, Bria and Lana) Bria brushed off the thanks with a wave of her perfectly done acrylic nails. "Non servono formalitá Artemis," (No need for formalities Artemis) As it turned out, Bria and Lana were both Italian. They were born and raised in Italy and migrated to Lydia's pack, Moon Beam, with their family at eighteen. Bria had long blonde hair gray eyes, and her skin was pale. She was petite and gentle-spoken and enjoyed her life in Lydia's pack, where she and her cousin Lana were treated with respect and honor, unlike most omegas. Lana was slightly different. She had short, brown, curly hair, her eyes were hazel brown, and her skin was also pale like her cousin. "La nostra padrona Lydia é sposata con Beta Garrett," Lana said with a smile. "Che emozione," (Our mistress Lydia is mated to Beta Garrett. How exciting) "Sarai Qui con Lydia?" I asked as the three of us made our way to the kitchen to start dinner preparations. (Will you be staying here with Lydia?) You must be wondering how I know Italian. When I first began receiving educational papers from Garrett, he asked if there were a language I'd like to learn. I chose Italian mainly because I admired Italy and its culture, history, and people on the whole. "Non possiamo esserne certi. Questo dipende da cosa dice Beta Adrick sui pacchetti di cambio di Lydia," Bria replied. (We cannot be sure. That depends on what Beta Adrick says about Lydia switching packs) I hummed a tune from one of my favorite movies as the three of us started preparing dinner for the pack. I decided on chicken meatballs with pasta and Italian sauce, Caesar salad, garlic bread, and chocolate mousse. While the pasta boiled, I made the Caesar salad, Bria fixed the meatballs and sauce, and Lana made the dough for the garlic bread. We laughed and sang songs, enjoying having the place to ourselves with no obnoxious pack members to disrupt us. It was fourteen minutes past four, and dinner was served at seven. With the pace we were going at, dinner would be ready in time, giving us just enough time to go for a run. I could show Bria and Lana our territory and have fun and let our wolves out. The thought made Caroline yip and howl in ecstasy. Soon, the pasta, meatballs, and sauce were done, the garlic bread was in the oven, and the chocolate mousse was resting on the counter. I stretched my sore muscles and leaned against the counter, waiting patiently for the garlic bread to finish baking. Bria and Lana were seated at the kitchen table, and they told me stories about their life in Italy before they migrated to Moon Beam Pack. I enjoyed hearing stories about their lives, but I didn't bother telling them about my life in Emerald Guardians. It was too depressing. While Bria told me a funny story about the funny things she and Lana did as pups, Natalie, Tali, and Barbara walked into the kitchen laughing as if they were their best friends. Two men came in behind them. In their arms were over a dozen shopping bags. I recognized the men like Timothy and Jacob, two of Natalie's cousins. "And then I said she is such a little whore. She sleeps around with every wolf within half a mile and pretends she's innocent in front of her parents. Hahaha, I died that day," Natalie cackled as she, Tali, and Barbara flopped down on three available kitchen chairs. Timothy and Jacob carried the bags up to Natalie's room, and only then did she notice us standing there. It took several seconds for her to see me, and when she did, she growled and stalked up to me, a nasty smirk on her face. "I hope you've completed your chores, enslaved person. I expect my chamber to be in pristine condition because if it isn't, you will experience something very unpleasant," she spat out. I nodded and bowed my head at her. "I understand, Natalie," I said softly. I'm not sure what I did, but whatever it was, she didn't like it because she slapped me hard across my face, causing Lana and Bria to flinch and step away. "It's Luna Natalie to yous lave! Don't forget. You and I aren't friends. I am mated to your brother, the future Alpha of this pack. You will give me the respect I deserve, mutt!" she hissed. "Yes, Luna Natalie," I whimpered. She scoffed in disgust and turned on her heels without bothering to acknowledge Bria and Lana. Instead of coming over to comfort me like they usually did, Tali and Barbara smirked at me and followed Natalie with their heels clicking and their hips sashaying behind them. I choked in my tears and dropped to the floor, and hugged my knees to my chest, crying my eyes out. My two best friends, Tali and Barbara, basically ignored me and left with that witch! They turned their backs on me. Why? The tears rushed down faster than ever at the thought that my two best friends had just betrayed me.