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

Being the last to leave the laundry room and to climb the stairs closest to the pack kitchen, I take a deep breath at the top of the stairs and confirm that no one else is around. Many are most likely in the dining hall, the smell of freshly baked bread, stew, and cupcakes lingering in the air. I see the goods sitting on the stove and counters, my stomach grumbling with hunger pains at the thought of being able to fill my stomach.

Since Beta Caspian and his wife took over, Omegas are nothing more than tools deserving only enough food to live and nothing else. No extra food, no treats, and no drinks other than water. I've spent countless nights trying to fill my stomach with water in hopes of calming down the hunger pains since my first week as an Omega. Tears fell from my eyes as I cried from the cramps caused by an empty stomach when Beta Caspian took away my food privileges for some reason or another. I've spent days trying to make it until Finn would sneak me into something small enough to eat, just to make it through another day. I learned quickly how to steal in order to keep on living and held onto the hope of finding my own mate one day.

With a deep breath, I scan the area for any lingering scent of pack members. Most seem to be in the dining hall, so my scent will be gone by the time dinner is over. With a grin, I quickly grab the tote bag stashed earlier in the day from the small broom closet beside the basement stairs and fill it with the bread and other easy-to-store goods from the pantry, along with a thermos of still-hot soup. I leave the cupcakes with a reluctant gaze, knowing that there is only enough made for those dining in the hall, and quickly run up the stairs towards my room in the attic with my stolen goods.

Seven years have passed since I was demoted to an Omega, and in those seven years, this small room with bare wooden walls, a day bed, and a dresser slowly became home. A lock on the handle was newly added two years ago, as well as a deadbolt that I lock each and every night since that incident three years ago – a safety measure Finn put in place for me in case a visiting wolf needed a "bribe" from Beta Caspian. Placing my stolen goods on the desk beside my laptop, I sigh and take a seat at the worn wooden furniture.

The damp cold only associated with an attic seeps into my body, causing goosebumps to form and shivers down my spine. Flicking my laptop open and waiting for it to power on, I reach into the bag of goodies and pull out the stew. With school still ever-present in my daily life at thirteen, I have no choice but to comply and do the homework needed for the following Monday. Between bites of food and multiple assignments later, my tired eyes glance at the time and sigh.

It's already midnight, and I am finally done. I find myself caught in a whirlwind of activity. Between savoring quick bites of sustenance and tackling a series of demanding assignments, my focus remains unwavering, determined to conquer each task that stands before me. The minutes seem to merge into one another, a steady rhythm of nourishment and labor punctuated by the ticking of the clock on the wall.

With a sigh that carries the weight of both exhaustion and satisfaction, I allow my shoulders to relax. The silence that envelops the room is a soothing balm, a respite from the constant hum of activity that had filled the hours. The clock's hands continue their journey forward, but now they seem to mark a different cadence—a rhythm of rest rather than labor.

With a groan and a final sip of the stew, I stash the remaining food I stole into an airtight container hidden in the walls and climb into the small bed for some much-needed sleep.