The Contracted Unloved Luna

CLAIRE

Hope was lost! We have nothing left. The realization left a bitter taste in my mouth as I stared at the ruined aftermath of the recent attack. It almost feels like the Fair-Moon pack was under a curse or something due to the multiple attacks we've faced from rogues in the span of a few weeks.

Goods were stolen, animals were slaughtered and farmland was being burned to the ground right before our eyes. It was depressing, watching people cry as their only means of livelihood was stripped away from them and what's even more depressing about the whole thing was the fact that I couldn't do anything to help them.

Just then, some commotion from outside the pack house got my attention and, fearing the worst, I hurried out of the house to find out what was going on. I stopped once I arrived at the scene, my chest squeezing as people of all ages, both children, women and men fell to their feet, begging my Dad to do something about the current situation.

"Our children are starving, we are too afraid to leave our house due to the fear of not making it back alive. You need to do something Alpha." A woman cried out from the crowd, her face reflecting the weeks of agony and suffering.

I turned away from the scene, blinking back at the unshed tears in my eyes. "Madam Hilda?" I called out to the head of staff and the woman who raised me after my mother passed away. "I trust we still have some extra food in the storage? Please distribute it among the pack, we can't let them starve."

"Claire, I understand you feel compassion for them, but we will starve ourselves if we hand out food like that. I'm sure your father is coming up with a solution as we speak." She replied, making my eyes go wide.

"What? There are children out there starving! I'm sure we can still manage to hand out some until Dad is able to provide a solution. Until then, we will share everything we have," I argued, not believing this was even a topic of discussion to argue about.

"Okay, let's not do anything irrational. Hilda is right, we can't distribute food like that. What are we supposed to survive on?" Dad said, cutting into the conversation.

"I get your point, but what about the children? Imagine as a parent watching your children starve and there's nothing you can do about it. Please Dad, rethink your decision. I'm not saying we should give them everything, but at least..." he cut me off with a wave of his hand as he walked away, a silent but commanding indication that the discussion was over.

I went back to my bedroom to pace around. I couldn't live with myself, knowing there were people out there starving while I did nothing. Apparently, everyone else seems to be fine with it. That night, I waited until everyone went to bed before I quietly sneaked back downstairs to the food storage.

Grabbing as much as my basket could fit, I hurried out of the house, dropping them on people's doorsteps as I went by, even though it wouldn't be enough, it was at least better than nothing until Dad could come up with a solution because we can't continue living like this.

By the time I made my way back to the packhouse, I was feeling sleepy, tired and sore. Ignoring the pain in my joints, I made my way back to my bedroom, coming to an abrupt stop on the verge of walking past Dad's study. There were unfamiliar voices coming out of the room, voices I couldn't recognize at first until the first one registered as my father's own.

"You don't have anything I want, so asking for my help is useless," the voice said.

"Please Alpha Xavier, my people are dying! I know you have no reason to help me now, but trust me, I shall repay your kindness one day," Dad pleaded, a note of vulnerability in his voice. Hearing him begging like that, brought me closer to tears. That isn't fair!

The voice chuckled, a clear representation that he holds the power in this case. I wanted to barge into the office and demanded he help us, but then I had grown enough to know that things don't work like that. I was about to turn away when his next statement stopped me.

"I believe we are no longer alone-" I immediately made a run for it, disappearing into my bedroom, which happened to be only a few doors away. Pressing my back against the door, I waited, fearing that the stranger must have seen me and traced me back to my room. As seconds turned into minutes, I finally became convinced that no one was coming after me, hence, I stepped further into my bedroom.

Standing in front of my dressing mirror, I took out my hand brush and started to brush my hair. While brushing, I stared at my reflection in the mirror, hoping and praying for an agreement between him and the other Alpha. The worry slowly faded into the back of my mind as my secret desire resurfaced without warnings. For the longest time, I've dreamt of finding my mate and living happily ever after.

I didn't care about what anyone said, especially since I was being told that fairy tales do not exist for princesses, that we were usually married off out of inconvenience or something, and even though I know that to be true, I was positive that wouldn't be my case.

I dropped the brush and climbed into bed, pulling the covers to my chest and closing my eyes. That night, I dreamed of a dark haired man, reaching out to me, urging me to take his hand and not to be afraid. For the first time in a few weeks, I fell asleep with a smile on my face.

I woke up the following morning to the sound of someone knocking urgently on my door, fearing the worst since we've been living in fear for the past few weeks, I sprang upright, running across the room to open the door.

"What happened? Are we under an attack?" I inquired, frowning when Hilda walked into my room, instead of just replying to me.

"No, but we are about to be and you know why? Because you went against your father's order! You know that's stealing right? I thought I raised you better than that?" She scolded me.

"I don't know what you're talking about, and you know accusing the princess of stealing is treason right?" I hissed, folding my arms across my chest. "You and Dad are wrong, starving your people is not the right way to rule! Don't you feel any compassion towards the children?"

"There you go being emotional again..." Dad announced his presence by saying that, causing my body to brace itself. "Hilda, excuse us, I would like to have a word with Claire." Now, that actually made me nervous.

"I didn't steal anything." I lied, twisting my fingers nervously.

"Alpha Xavier saw you last night, do you care to explain why you were awake in the middle of the night? And before you lie to my face again, you should know there's testimony about people mysteriously receiving food this morning, care to explain?" He asked, pining me with a look full of disappointment.

Tears blurred my vision. "I'm sorry Dad, I just couldn't sleep knowing there are people starving out there, we need to do something, the warriors have lost their zeal to fight but who could blame them? Some of them haven't eaten in days." The tears rolled down my face and I quickly wiped them away knowing he hated it when I cried.

"It's okay, Alpha Xavier and I finally came to an agreement, thanks to you." I frowned at his words, wondering what I did to make him change his mind, I mean I haven't even met him but then I recalled Dad said he had seen me last night.

"Reality?" I gushed, a wave of relief settling down my chest. Whatever agreement they made didn't matter, I just want everything to go back to normal. "I'm so relieved to hear that!"

"But," my smile vanishes at the but. "You will have to marry him."

The declaration made me freeze, I couldn't believe it! I didn't want to think the cost of me saving my people is by agreeing to a loveless marriage, just like Hilda told me! I hated that she was right, and what I hated more was the fact that I had no choice. Dad didn't even consult me before finalizing the agreement, making it clear that what I wanted in this case doesn't matter-like always.

"Look at it this way sweetheart, think about all the people you'll be helping. You're doing this for your people, it's an honor." His hand came to pat my hair, in a manner that was supposed to be comforting but instead it just made me feel worse.

"But do I have to?" My voice quivered. "Let me talk to him, he will realize he doesn't have to marry me, we can come up with an even better solution. Please Dad, don't let this happen, I'm begging you, let's think of something else." I pleaded, grasping his hands and hoping to appeal to his love for me.

"Don't you think I tried?" He snarled, yanking his hands from my grasp. "Do you have any idea of what I'm going through right now? Me, Alpha Dane! groveling in the presence of another! Do you have any idea what that does to my honor? My reputation? Look at me Claire." He gripped my shoulders, shaking me slightly.

"If you care about Fair-Moon pack like you've always claimed, then this is the least you can do for them! Prove it, prove that your compassion for them isn't just fancy words, because the only way Alpha Xavier has agreed to help is if you agree to marry him!" He declares before angrily walking out of my bedroom.

"That's not fair!" I cried out even though I knew he couldn't hear me. I broke down into a full blown sobs, realizing my dreams, hope and desires of fin.

ding my mate was gone...just like that. Hilda was right after all, fairy tales are myths to princesses...

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