The princess of the world was sleeping soundly in her bed. I was assigned to take care of her until she woke up. Honestly, I was waiting because I would apologize and get the hell out of here, fast.

Allan was seething in anger, not knowing the real reason behind Jane's GHASTLY injuries. I was fixing myself up in the corner of the room for my busted lip when both brothers approached me.

"I know I overreacted earlier. Don't take it seriously. We are heading out of the pack, we will bring you marshmallows on the way back." Bane said, his voice sober, contrasting his fuming elder brother. I shrugged my shoulders, which was apparently wrong to do according to Allan. He scoffed, shaking his head.

"If you promise not to make things difficult for Jane, only then will we get your treats. Treats for a dog like you." Allan taunted.

This was the perfect display of hot and cold. Slap with one hand and reward with the other.

I looked at the brothers towering over me. Forgetting is such a virtue for them. So convenient. They conveniently forgot that I was deathly allergic to gelatin - a main component in their 'dog treats'.

There was a time in the past when I accidentally ate oceanic gelatin from ice cream and fell incredibly sick. I was told to be put down...like a dog. But Bane and Allan didn't leave my side for two weeks of my recovery. My face was swollen and I was hard to look at. But they held my face and smiled as if my swollen, ugly face never mattered to them.

I sat by the window and savoured the cold wind. It was awfully cold today, but I had no freedom to draw a futon close and keep myself warm. I'd 'ruin Jane's precious belongings'. I didn't realize the impact of sitting in the cold breeze for hours.

"Wake up. Who told you to fall asleep?" I ripped my tired eyes open, feeling them burn.

I took a step to walk out, Jane was still asleep. But my body was quicker to give up on me than the Ferguson brothers and I fell to the ground.

It was no surprise to me when I stood back up in the cold and empty room. Jane had woken up and left me in the same position I collapsed in. I walked myself to the healers' hut.

The female healer, annoyed by the amount of times I came by yelled at me, "You're such a weakling! A rogue like you can't even have good health and you keep ending up in our hut to prioritize yourself over our other patients! Have you no shame!? You only come here to escape responsibility!"

"Please...heal me." That was the last thing I said before an IV drip was harshly injected into my vessels. I slept peacefully for three days.

After that, I had to resume my leaving process by today. There were a few empathetic omegas who understood my condition. They deserved a goodbye from me.

But it came as no surprise to me when they all were locked up in a dungeon for a 'misdemeanour', reasoned by Jane.

Well, it shouldn't matter to me anymore. If I go down to say goodbye to my loosely knit friends, I'd be locked up with them, too. They even see me as a plague for their fate, perhaps. I shouldn't have existed; it would be their curse on me.

All I needed to do was leave at the moment. The process became simpler if you ask me. But there was one person who was in the dark of all this and consequently viewed me as a person rather than a dog or a maid. The elder.

"Hello, Elder..." I walked into her chamber.

"Sit, sit! Oh, look how frail you've become." She pressed my arms and measured my strength. Although all she could feel was my weakness.

"So you're planning to marry the Hubert." She mentioned subtly.

"No other choice." I looked down and replied.

"I'd hate to see you go, Rebecca. You brought in happiness and put so many smiles." I pursed my lips into a thin line.

"I'll visit you whenever I'm allowed to, Grandma. I love you." I phrased out which moved the old woman to tears.

"Those boys of mine...they don't deserve you." I smiled. The Elder believed everyone in her pack was her child. I was just a special one, in her eyes.

"You have to forget about me, for the better." I insisted.

"I'm trying, but it's hard to even think of losing a special girl like you." She let tears drip down like droplets.

"What can I say, Grandma...? I'm special." I shrugged my shoulders, making her laugh out of joy! It was true. Mainly because she never saw how I was being treated. She was always busy with work. And after Jane came by, Grandma's work tactically increased.

I walked out of her chamber, only to bump into Allan, Bane and their little pet.

"Feeding lies to the elder again?" Bane smirked, but their faces went pale when Grandma appeared behind me.

"You two scoundrels don't deserve her. And you, you filthy little leech! You should be the one leaving, not Rebecca." Jane cowered in front of the elder, and so did the brothers.

Huffing, the elder went back and I walked past Allan. However, their spite got the best and I fell down the stairs! I hit my head, it was bleeding profusely. Upon gazing up, I realized Allan tripped me purposefully.

"You're forgetting something." Allan raced down, held me by my neck and pushed me to Jane's feet.

"Apologize! Now!" Bane barked, Jane folded her arms proudly over her chest.

I couldn't stand it anymore!

"I HATE YOU! YOU WILL PERISH AND I WILL LOOK AT YOUR GRAVE FROM ABOVE— OOMPH!"

Bane kicked my stomach, that was the last thing I could have gone through. I passed out then and there.

It wasn't long after i found myself running away from Lighnting Storm pack.

The very next day, the news of my marriage with Killian Hubert spread like wildfire across broadcast.

Expected were the furious Ferguson brothers' messages in my inbox.

-Bane: Wow...you really left and moved on like nothing ever happened? Get your ass back to Lightning Storm pack or you know what I'm capable of-

-Allan: I expected you to at least have a closure with us. But no. You are in another man's bed already. Killian Hubert? Really?-

I shook my head and thought it would be better if i had them off my back. Holding the marriage papers in one hand, I blocked and deleted their numbers with the other.

I was finally given a chance at a new life. Holding the marriage papers, I posed for a picture and posted on my Facebook and WhatsApp status. Just then, my mom barged in and looked at my waist wrapped in bandages.

"How...?" Her shaky voice asked. "Freak accident, haha!" I covered up quickly.

"This is why the ceremony was delayed?" I nodded.

"Oh lord, you look cursed baby. But thankfully, the elder of Thunderwood Pack agreed with the delay. We should thank her." I nodded again. The Thunderwood pack was strong. My fear of meeting the elder was justified. Moreover, I was their unrequited guest. I felt like a 'leech' again.

"Proper etiquette. Even if your stomach is hurting, we need to make an impression." I nodded again. I couldn't let mom know the striking pain that surged with every step i took. I let Lila handle the pain for me.

"Elder..." Mom and I bowed to the elderly lady. Huh. Who would've thought the elder had the face of Buddha? So kind and prosperous, I felt at peace just looking at her. Cozy and warm, that's how I'll describe her smile.

"There's no need for formalities. Elder of Lightning Storm pack told me everything about you. You're the sweetheart who lights up an entire packhouse. Glad to have a fire that kindles us up." The sweet old lady said.

"Pardon me, but I thought you'd be more stoic and assertive." The elder laughed heartily at my words.

"What's the use? But finally, we meet. Your mother hid you from the world like a chestful of treasure. I can now see why." Her eyes scanned me from top to bottom, frowning at the bleeding spot on my frock, however.

"I stayed in Lightning Storm pack recuperation." I said softly. She seems to buy it.

"When Killian comes back, he will take good care of you. He's out for a meeting with other alphas overseas. He sure wouldn't miss his own wedding and be here in a week, hopefully." The elder joked as we laughed.

Coming to think of it, I heard of Killian a lot but I haven't even seen my soon to be spouse. I was curious.

On the day of our marriage a week later, it came as no surprise.

"Where is Killian?" The elder asked, my mom sighed and I was looking at my fingers on my lap. I must be destined to survive without love.

"Ah, that child. But here you go." I looked up and was shocked at the pack artefact in the elder's hands! It was an armour made of platinum and studded with blue, green and red jewels. That was the level of prosperity of Thunderwood Pack.

"I cannot accept this!" I exclaimed. But the elder shoved it in my arms.

"You're the one who will be our future Luna. Killian is a fool to have delayed, but I can't wait any longer! You will start your Luna duties from tomorrow. Like it or not." My eyes teared up immediately.

I've been in a similar situation years ago. The Ferguson lads notoriously stole the jade bracelet artefact, prominent and valuable for the pack. We three hid behind the packhouse while the members searched frantically for the missing artefact! But it was decorating my hand and surging me with power!

"Elder! We've found them!" Caught red handed by the loyal warrior ranks, we were dragged to Grandma. When confronted, she gave us a giddy smile. She took my hand and said, "It suits you fabulously, Rebecca. Our future Luna."

The brothers giggled and I did too. But not even a month had passed when Jane came by. She grew jealous of the jade artefact decorating my hand. One night when I was knocked out cold, she ripped the bracelet off my wrist and broke it to pieces. The next morning, doom rained on me along with unbearable insults. I was labelled the 'overreacting rogue who destroyed the pack's precious artefact'.

It hurt, when I looked back into my past. There was nothing special that could outbalance the debt of slavery and insults I bore.

I realized I was married to Killian on paper, but the wedding had yet to happen. I was to become the Luna, but the catch was I could do things at my own pace.

I requested them to let my mom live with me until I was ready. They agreed in a heartbeat. Killian was stuck overseas but promised to come to marry me in another week. Hence, the wedding decorations never came off.

"This was supposed to be given after Killian came back, but since you're such a sweetheart, here." The elder gave me a set of keys and a small leather keychain attached. I gasped,

"A-A house!?" I exclaimed in joy!

"For the prettiest and kindest Luna of Thunderwood Pack. Stay there until Killian comes back. Enjoy your new home." I blinked the tears away and hugged the sweet elder. "Thank you..."

As I muttered, I realized how far I'd come. The past was unchangeable, but the future was in my hands.

I was stumped with paperwork the next day when my ringtone made me jump. I furrowed my eyebrows at the ID.

"Grandma?"

"I tried. I really tried to stop those two rascals from reaching you, but they've gone berserk at the news of you becoming Thunderwood's Luna. If they mistreat you, you tell me right away." I took a shaky breath. I tried so hard to forget about them, but they reinserted themselves in my life again.

A shiver ran down my spine when i felt two pairs of eyes glaring at me from behind. They were standing behind me, but their eyes were mixed with unfathomable emotions.

Regret, guilt, love, adoration and...fear?