Saving the Rejected Luna

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.