Blake Wilson was never meant to be the Alpha of our pack. One of our rules is that the Alpha must be mated. However, Blake was my best friend. And I loved him. So, I agreed to pretend.

For five years, I’ve been the picture-perfect Luna; obeying every order, keeping to myself and hiding myself from the spotlight. Blake wanted me hidden, so I did just that.

Everything I did was for him and his happiness.

For five years, he never touched me the way Lunas craved to be touched after doing her job well.

During the second year, he brought home a young wolf with no pack. He told me that she needed a place to stay.

“Please, Laura. I pity her.” He told me, “She reminds me a lot of you when I found you alone.”

“Are you sure?” I asked back then, “That’s all?”

“What are you asking me?” He said, “Don’t you trust me?”

“I do!” I defended, “It’s just - “ But he cut me off.

“Just…” he said, “join me in saying the words.”

Together, we said, “We, the Alpha and Luna of the Seattle Pack, accept you, Kendall Davis, into our pack. May you do us, and the pack proud. “

After that, he started to bring her into our house as a guest, and she was kind at first. But over the years, she grew a hatred towards me.

Now I know why.

I watched as Blake brought Laura to his room, a room I was never allowed to enter unless given permission.

Before they closed the door, Blake called out for me to prepare breakfast early for the both of them.

Blake’s name is being moaned repeatedly from the room beside mine. I couldn’t cancel it out as much as I wanted to.

I pulled the comforter over my head, praying for the Moon Goddess to just shut out this hell.

-- --

I woke up early to do as I was told, which was to make breakfast for Blake and Kendall.

The Omegas tried to help out but I dismissed them, telling them to go away and rest. It is a Sunday after all.

“You’re still cooking?” Blake said, his voice edging towards anger.

“I’m trying to make it special, Alpha.” I said in a small voice.

“Then, make it special faster.” He growled from behind me.

I tried to work faster but his eyes and Kendall’s eyes watching me made me knock over the waffle batter bowl off the table, causing a mess.

“I’m sorry!” I squealed, trying my best to clean it up right away.

Blake’s house slippers came into view. He crouched down in front of me and lifted my chin up to meet his eyes, “You made such a mess, my Luna.”

His words were like a bucket of ice water pouring down my back. I’m not his Luna after all. I’m a mere rogue wolf he plucked from the streets because no one in the pack was mating with him.

“Am I though?” My words left my mouth because I could stop its venom, “Am I really your Luna?” My eyes dart to Kendall, looking at me with disdain.

“You should be more respectful of your Alpha!” she said, not able to keep the anger out of her voice.

But she wasn’t even in the room with the two of us right now. Blake, the man who used to be my best friend, has betrayed me.

“Thread carefully, Laura.” He said, his voice dripping with as much venom as mine was, “You remember that you were nothing before you became my Luna.”

I was seeing everything in a new light. I wasn’t his Luna; I would never be his chosen Luna. I was merely his chosen prop to become Alpha.

“Was I nothing,” I said, “Or did you make me feel like nothing?”

“I gave you everything.” He sneered, “I can ruin you in an instant.”

“And I can say the WORDS in an instant as well.” I said, knowing full well if I did it with an audience, his jig is up.

His eyes widened; I could see the slight fear in them.

“You want to test me?” I asked, “Then test me.”

“And what will you do?” Kendall came up, hearing only half the conversation, “Will you go off to another pack? What pack would accept a Luna who does only what Omegas do?”

The growl that came out of me was instinctual and animalistic, “How dare you talk to your Luna that way!” I growled.

Kendall, afraid, cowered behind Blake who has recovered from his shock from my fighting back. “How dare you threaten your Alpha with meaningless threats?” he said, grabbing my wrist and lifting me up. I tried to fight his grip but it was too strong.

He pinned my wrist to the countertop, causing me to cry out in pain, “I dare you to say the words,” he growled, his eyes changing color to their wolf form for a second, “Let’s see how badly that would turn out for you.

He pushed me away and I hit the floor with a sickening thud. When I got up, I could see Blake and Kendall kissing as if their lives depended on it.

“I have worth,” I whispered to myself, “I have so much worth.”

They both heard this and laughed, “You don’t have worth!” Kendall said, “You are here to serve the Alpha and his wants. Nothing more, nothing less. If he could, he could find a new mate. But sadly, the Moon Goddess thought you would be the only one weak enough to do this job.”

Her words stung, because that was what I was doing for the past five years right? Nothing but serving every whim Blake had.

“Clean this kitchen,” Blake said dismissively, “We’ll just get our breakfast elsewhere.”

I watched as they both walked away, leaving me to deal with the mess.

I couldn’t help the tears that fall while I clean. No Omega was there to help me. I wasted my whole morning crying and cleaning until I was too tired that I fell asleep on the couch.

“I can’t believe she slept on the couch!” Kendall said mockingly, “I thought she had her own room at least.”

I didn’t open my eyes. I listened in to their conversation.

“She does,” Blake said, somewhat absently, “Kendall, I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Okay.” She heard then she shuffled out of the house.

Next thing I know, I felt a fingers comb through my hair. My body instantly stiffened.

“You think I wouldn’t know when you’re pretending to sleep?” He said.

I opened my eyes, shocked to see that it was already night time, “You never slept with me so, yes.”

“And I’m sure you blame me for this?” He mused.

“You never wanted to touch me so, yes.”

“Don’t be so cocky,” He said, “Remember our agreement.”

“Our agreement where you would give me a home while I help you become Alpha? What if I don’t want this life anymore?” I said, “What if I want more out of life now?”

“And where will you go? You have no one. Your brother is dead, your parents were in the last pack you were in.” He smiled menacingly, “I’m all that you have in the world.”

I looked around the only house I’ve known. He has a point. He’s all I have in the world. My brother died while we were both rogue wolves. My parents were the ones who sold us out in our last pack.

“But I don’t want you,” I said, “I’d rather have nothing than have you.”

“You don’t mean that.” He said, looking, for some reason, hurt.

“I do,” I said, “I mean it so much. And there’s nothing you can do to change my mind.”

I ran up to my room and locked the door. I quickly pushed some furniture in front of my door to reinforce it.

I heard Blake run up; he started banging on the door.

“OPEN THIS DOOR.” He screamed.

“NO. I’M DONE. I WANT OUT OF THIS DEAL.” I screamed back.

“I SAID OPEN THIS DOOR, LAURA. I WILL BREAK THIS DOWN.” He growled.

“THEN BREAK IT DOWN.” I growled back, anger rising in me so quickly.

I knew the door wouldn’t hold, not with his Alpha strength. I looked around the room and saw that my window was open. I knew what I had to do, “It’s time to disappear.” I said to myself as I felt myself transform and leap out of the window.

“I’m glad you finally left him,” I heard my wolf say in my head, “I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.”

I raced through the shadows, avoiding the lights as I ran away from the house, from my old life.

“I’m glad I left too,” I thought to her, “I just hope it’s a clean break.”

“You honestly don’t think that, do you?” My wolf scoffed.

“I’m hoping.”

Then I heard it, the wolf call. Blake has sounded the alarm for the pack to look for me. I don’t know what he told them, but I doubt it was the truth.

“Your hopes were too high.” She sneered. I ignored her and just let her help me run away. I used the shadows to hide, and the alleys to make sure I’m staying away from the usual paths.

Eventually, I reached a part of the city that is off limits to our pack. It’s off-limits because it is the only part of our city claimed by a neighboring pack. I knew it was a risk, but it was a risk I was willing to take.

It was already midnight when I arrived at the place. When I thought it was safe, I shifted back to my human form and wandered around, looking for spare clothes.

Thankfully I found some clothes in one of the clothes lines that seemed abandoned. It’s not the most comfortable shirt and shorts, but it will do.

I walked around the neighborhood on high alert. As much as I was safe from Blake, I wasn’t safe being part of the Seattle Pack in the Tacoma Pack’s territory. The pack is known to be ruthless and their Alpha unforgiving,

After a few hours of going around, I got hungry. I found a bakery where they didn’t lock their door. In hindsight, that should have tripped the alarms in my head, but I was really hungry.

As I was eating delicious bread, I heard a loud bang and then suddenly I was surrounded by werewolves.

They all growled at me, making me freeze where I stood.

The bell of the door rang and a man with striking grey eyes came in.

“Looks like this Luna is very far away from home.”

“You know who I am?” I asked, shocked, “How do you know who I am?”

“I’m the Alpha of the Tacoma pack. Of course, I know my enemies’ Luna.” He said, sounding slightly offended.

“What are you waiting for?” I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking, “Aren’t you going to kill me?”

He approached me, lifting my chin with his finger. He looked deep into my eyes, as if he was studying me and my past just by looking.

“Hmm,” He said, musing and thinking of his words, “You’re…different. You seem…untouched. But that’s impossible, right?”

“No,” I said defensively, “Is there something wrong with being a 26-year-old untouched wolf?”

“Absolutely not,” He said, “But it is weird to have an untouched 26-year-old MATED wolf.”

I tried to look away but he held my head in position, “Eyes on me.” He said in a voice so commanding I nearly buckled my knees.

“You’re…interesting.” He said dreamily, “Your name is Laura, right?”

“How do you know?” I asked, getting really scared now.

“Again, I’m the Alpha.” He said mockingly, “Of course I know.”

“And what’s your name then, Alpha?” I asked.

He chuckled, “A Luna of a pack who doesn’t know their enemy pack’s Alpha’s name. So, the rumors are true.”

“What rumors?” I hissed, getting annoyed.

“That you don’t do much for the pack.”

I looked down, ashamed that my role has reached other packs.

“Well, that’s all the confirmation I need.” He said, pushing me towards the arms of the two men behind me.

They gripped me tight, holding me to make sure I didn't escape.

“What are you doing?!” I demanded, still trying to get out of their grip.

“What do you think?” The Alpha said, patting himself down to make him look presentable again.

“I don’t know! That’s why I’m asking.” I said, angry now.

“Oh,” He said, amused, “Feisty, I see. Well, your alpha has set a high bounty for you. Time for us to collect and for your Alpha to owe us.”