Poor Luna: My Cruel Alpha

AVA

My heart pounded as I pleaded with my mother to stay, tears streaming down my face. I sniffled and trembled with fear as I stammered, "Mama, don't leave me, please!" Sniffing my runny nose, I insisted, "I'll go with you! I don't want to stay here! It's scary!"

"I'm sorry, darling. You can't come with me." She hugs me tightly and kisses my forehead while cupping my cheeks. "You must stay here and don't leave the tunnel until I say so, Ava," Mommy Caroline instructs me, her voice laced with calmness.

She closed the door softly and walked away, but I stayed in the tunnel and hugged myself as my eyes darted around the creepy area. My terror grew with each passing moment of being alone in the dark, cramped space, which only amplified my fear.

All of a sudden, screams echoed outside the door, causing me to panic. What if something terrible happened to mommy? Should I stay put or try to help her?

I need to help her! She's alone in the packhouse with bad wolves surrounding her!

The thought of my mother being in danger was almost too much to bear, and I wrestled with deciding what to do. Eventually, I bolted into the corridor, hoping to help her somehow. I arrived just in time to see her surrounded by a pack of black wolves, yet she remained composed. While the pack warriors around her lay dead, she had already transformed into her white wolf form and was defending herself.

"Mama..." I muttered as I stepped closer.

She transformed into her human form and pleaded, "Go back, Ava! Don't go here!"

"No! I'm staying!" My fear kept me rooted to the spot, my eyes widening in terror as I watched the scene unfold.

As she pulled me towards the tunnel, a sudden attack shook us. A wolf pounced on her from behind and clamped its teeth on her neck. The piercing scream of terror escaped my lips as I stood frozen with fear. I heard the sickening sound of bones cracking as the wolf snapped her neck and retreated, leaving her lifeless body to hit the ground with a thud.

Mama Caroline's eyes stared back at me, devoid of life, as I ran over to her and held her close. Blood soaked my clothes, but I didn't care as tears streamed down my face.

"NO!" I screamed, shaking her body with all my might, tears cascading down my face. "Please come back to me, Mommy!" I begged, clutching her body and crying even harder.

Right then, Papa came with his pack warriors. One pack soldier went toward him, whispering something. The clarity in his eyes changed into a foreboding grimness as he saw me holding Mommy Caroline's dead body.

His muscles tensed in rage as he rushed over us, snatching her body from mine. Papa got down on his knees and wrapped his arms around Mama's lifeless body. He cried out in pain as he did this. "NO! Caroline! Please come back to me!" While tears flowed down his cheeks, he brushed her pale skin and begged, "Come back, Caroline! You're not dead! You can't die!"

"Papa..." I crawled toward him, reaching for his arms. However, the moment I came closer to him, he glared at me, shoving me away.

"Get out, you spineless child!" Papa shouted. "This is your fault! You killed her!" Standing on his feet as he carried her, he said, "Get away from me! I don't want to see you here!"

"Papa! I'm sorry!" I sobbed as I moved up.

He turned to the pack warriors and commanded them, "Take the kid away from me right now!" Gritting his teeth, he growled, "You will pay for this, child! I swear in my soul that you won't get away with this!"

"It not me, Papa! I didn't do it!" I wailed as I rubbed my tears away.

"It's your damn fault!" He came to me, lifted his hand, and hit me in the face. "You're the curse in this pack!"

The pack warriors grabbed my arms and dragged me outside of the packhouse. They threw me inside the dark dungeon—much like the tunnel where Mama had brought me. Papa was behind the warrior, watching me gravel while the warriors cuffed me.

Crying relentlessly, I begged, "Papa, please! Don't do this! I didn't kill Mama! Please!"

"Tie her tightly! I want her on all fours!" He commanded as he moved forward with a whip in his hand.

As soon as I saw what he was holding, I cowered in fear. "Please! It's not my fault, Papa! I didn't do it!"

"Shut up, child! I don't need to hear your explanations!" He hit my arm with a whip.

"Papa, no! Please no! It hurts!" I screamed, my voice shrilling loudly as the first pain of the lash struck my skin.

"You ungrateful wench! You'll pay for what you did!" Another whip slashed my backside.

"I didn't do anything! No! It hurts, Papa!" I screamed, drenched in sweat.

Gasping for air, I sat in bed and felt my body shudder. As if the nightmare were still hunting me in damnation, my entire body was still trembling with fear. The room was pitch black, except for a faint light filtering through the window, casting eerie shadows on the walls.

I shivered and pulled the covers to my chin as the darkness filled my cold, tight room. The nightmare had been so vivid and terrifying. As though it had just happened yesterday, I was back to that day when Alpha Benjamin accused me of my mother's death. No matter how hard I tried to defend myself, they wouldn't listen. He was screaming at me, blaming me for everything that had happened.

After realizing it was already morning, I checked my phone and saw the glowing number three a.m. I couldn't get to sleep since my heart was beating so fast. In an attempt to control my breathing, I sat up, hugged my knees, and tried to relax.

As the hours ticked by, I lay in the darkness, lost in my thoughts. When the alarm finally rang at five, I stumbled out of bed and began my morning routine. I dressed quickly, trying not to think about the nightmare that still lingered in my mind.

Everyone else in the house would soon be up, rushing off to school or work. But I was different. I wasn't allowed to attend school and had to educate myself at home. It was a lonely existence, and the only time I felt alive was when I was lost in a book at the library.

Living in the dungeon, away from everyone else who looked at me with hate and disgust, my life was a constant struggle. The walls were old and dilapidated, and the ceiling leaked whenever it rained. My only solace was the small window that let in a sliver of light but also allowed in the chilly air that made me shiver in my thin clothes.

Learning to read was a challenge that I had to face alone. I scoured through old books and papers, squinting to decipher the words. My clothes were a patchwork of rags that I scavenged from the trash cans of the others in the pack house.

It was humiliating, but it was all I had.

As I cooked breakfast for everyone, the sizzle of bacon and eggs filled the air, making my mouth water with hunger. I ate whatever scraps were left, never daring to ask for more, as the others in the pack house always made it clear that I was not welcome.

"Hey, slave! I'm done! Clean the mess up!" Brittany shouted across the room. She was the worst of them all. Once in a while, she'd deliberately make a mess so she could mock me.

"Coming!" I answered as I scrambled back into the dining area.

I could only sigh when I observed the disorder she had created. Brittany spilled her juice on the floor so she could watch me clean it up on my knees.

"What are you doing standing there, slave?" She raised her eyebrows and smirked haughtily. "Are you deaf? I said clean that shit up!"

I didn't respond to her and went to get a mop from the cupboard. Trying to hide my anger and frustration, I lowered my head as I returned to the dining hall. I cleaned up the spilled juice as soon as possible and headed back to the kitchen.

Even after I was publicly shamed, she persisted in making a mess, which I had to clean up repeatedly.

"Oops! Sorry. I must have a clumsy hand." She laughed as she let her juice spill again on the floor.

'Oh! Yeah, that's just great!' I grumbled inwardly as I made my way back to the spilled juice and mopped the wet floor for the third time.

She believed her relationship with Alpha Benjamin's son authorized her to treat others contemptuously. But little did she know I was biding my time, waiting for the moment when I could finally stand up for myself and show her that I was no longer afraid

"Pathetic Omega! " Brittany hissed, hurling the juice in my direction.

The juice hit my face, and Brittany's snickering laugh echoed through the kitchen. I wiped the sticky juice from my face with the back of my hand, feeling the wetness soak through my clothes. I could feel my face reddened with anger, but I forced myself to remain calm. I grabbed a nearby cloth and began wiping the juice off the floor, trying to ignore the burning sensation in my eyes.

As I cleaned up the mess, I couldn't help but reflect on the unfair situation. Brittany always acted entitled, as if she was better than everyone else. She had a way of getting what she wanted, and it made me sick. But I knew that complaining would only make things worse.

Once everyone had finished eating, I quickly cleaned up the kitchen and headed upstairs to my room. I stripped off my sticky clothes and took a refreshing shower, feeling the water washing away the remnants of the juice from my hair and skin. I dressed in my usual attire, which was comfortable and practical for my daily activities.

As I read, I gathered my hair into a messy bun to keep it out of my face. With a deep breath, I left my room and headed to the library, hoping for a quiet and peaceful day.

I found a secluded spot at the back of the library, hiding from the critical gazes of others. I picked up a book, opened it, and immersed myself in its world. The hours ticked by in silence. I was interrupted only by the occasional sound of turning pages.

Suddenly, the noise of a chair dragging along the floor broke my concentration. I saw Josh, my brother's best friend, sitting before me. My heart skipped a beat. I had been crushing on him for as long as I could remember.

He had piercing silver eyes that sparkled like diamonds, sandy blonde hair that appeared to have received a sun kiss, and a straight nose that complemented his strong jawline. Girls couldn't get enough of his good looks and never stopped gushing over him.

I pretended to read, but my cheeks were ablaze with heat, trying to suppress the blush that threatened to give me away.

"What book are you reading?" he asked, breaking the silence.

I turned my head and looked around the library to find the person Josh was talking to. Was he talking to me? Or was Josh asking someone? Then, as my head jittered around, a soft chuckle escaped him as he pointed the finger at me, his smile showcasing his charming dimples.

"Yeah, I'm talking to you," he said, his eyes lingering on mine as he licked his lips.

"Um, Shakespeare," I whispered, feeling my cheeks warm under his gaze.

"Cool," he replied with a boyish grin, leaning forward and resting his hands on the table.

"So I hear that tomorrow is your birthday," he continued, his face inching closer to mine, and I felt a flutter in my chest in the proximity.

"Er, yeah," I stuttered, feeling awkward, but I couldn't take my eyes off his silver, grey eyes.

Josh's question caught me off guard as he sat beside me, his warm presence making my heart race. I tried to avoid his piercing gaze, but his charm was too much to handle.

"So... What are you doing tomorrow?" Josh's voice was smooth like honey, and his eyes sparkled with mischief.

"No-nothing," I stuttered, my cheeks turning a deep shade of red.

"How about I take you out... on a date?" Josh's suggestion surprised me, and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Was he really asking me out?

"I don't know," I murmured, fidgeting with a strand of hair that fell over my face.

"Come on. Go out with me." His smile was like a magnet, pulling me closer to him.

"Sure," I said, my voice trembling with uncertainty.

Suddenly, I heard laughter beside me, and I turned to see a group of people holding up a phone, laughing uncontrollably. My heart sank as I realized they were making fun of me. I looked back at Josh, hoping he wasn't a part of it, but he struggled to hide his laughter. It was all a joke. I was just a joke to them.

"Really, you should have seen the look on your face. Don't think for a second that I'd ever consider dating a schlub like you," Josh said with a mocking smirk.

Josh's cruel words echoed through my ears as I stood frozen, feeling the weight of humiliation crushed me.

"Sucker!" the other guy said behind me.

"Dream on, slut! He's never going to like you!" the other girl derided.

"Aww! You gonna cry, bitch?" The girl pouted, taunting me.

Everyone laughed with Josh in the center. He gave his friends a high-five, taking pride in bullying me.

My hands trembled as I tried to hold back the tears that were about to fall. With every step I took, the joshing laughter of Josh's friends seemed to get louder, making my heart race faster. I quickly gathered my belongings, my backpack feeling heavier than ever before.

The tears that had gathered in my eyes now fell freely down my cheeks as I bolted out of the library. My vision blurred, but I didn't stop wiping my tears. I just needed to get out of there, away from their cruel taunts and laughter.

***