The Awakening of the Moon Goddess: Embracing Destiny and Defying Fate

"Do you remember much of what happened?" My father asks, the tension in the air so thick that it feels like the walls are closing in on me. Cosmo and Eloise sit to the side on the small couch with tear-stained faces while my parents force me to stand. Today, we buried Alpha Artemis and Luna Everleigh, and the idea of dealing with my parents after everything that's happened in the last three days was not a good one. So, I kept my gaze towards the window, watching the drops pitter-patter on the glass.

"I don't remember much. We fell asleep watching the unicorns play. Madison woke me up because she heard something and then woke Eloise up," Cosmo answers, his voice wavering. I turn to look at the older boy to see my mother comforting him and sending her seething glare my way.

"Madison, if you woke them up, then why didn't you come get help!" It isn't a question; it's an accusation that my mother throws my way. I can feel her hatred from halfway across the room where I stand.

"I woke up and got Cosmo up right away, then Eloise. There were too many wolves, and if any one of us tried running, then we would have been caught and most likely killed too," I answer, meeting her gaze with a pleading look, hoping my own mother would listen to reason.

"That's just an excuse!" She snarls at me, standing protectively in front of the Alpha pups and staring at me with contempt, a look I know all too well.

"It's the truth. They killed the Alpha and Luna because they were looking for the Moon Goddess' lost pup and believed that they were hiding her in this pack. If we came out, we would have been in danger, and if I left Cosmo and Eloise there, they would have been in dan-" I stop mid-sentence, flinching as my father slams a fist onto his desk, causing me to jump in fear. Anger radiates off of him in waves, and my attention turns to him.

"Enough of your lies, Madison. You're the reason why our Alpha and Luna, Cosmo and Eloise's parents, are dead!" His voice bellows, the bookshelves rattling from the power. I stand frozen with shock and fear.

"Since Cosmo won't be of age to take over for another eleven years, I will be in charge as acting Alpha, and so will my wife. You, Madison, will be nothing but an Omega, a slave to this pack for your insolence and failure to protect our leaders," he continues, his words a finality on my fate in this pack. I turn to look at my friends, knowing that their words would help me keep my status as a Beta female, but Cosmo and Eloise glare at me with hatred before turning away. I know right there that in this room, I am alone. Alone, disowned, and an Omega.

Beta Caspian dismisses us, and my face now bears a bruise from the slap he gave me just minutes ago when I tried pleading my case and calling him "Father" one more time. An Omega with a car waits for me, his job is to drive me to the Beta's house, a place I can no longer call home, and leave me there to pack up whatever can fit into a single duffle bag. After that, I will have to find my own way back to the pack house and to the small room that will be assigned to me. The car ride is quiet, the Omega giving me a look of sympathy with his eyes too large for his sallow face.

"We know it's not your fault, Madison. The Omegas know what happened was a freak event. We believe you," he reassures me before we return to the quiet drive. It feels nice knowing that the Omegas have my back now that I will be one of them. I have a sinking feeling that Beta Caspian will make our lives worse.