His Bitter Luna

Finally a Positive

Samantha

My body aches as I sit on the cold exam table. I am waiting for yet another negative pregnancy test so I can be raped and beaten once again. It’s been three long years since I became the Luna of Shadow Woods. Three years of abuse and isolation. I have forgotten the person I was before I came here. I have only spoken to my family twice in the three years, and each time, Dmitry had to listen in. So, I couldn’t tell them the truth.

Dr. Dale Shue saunters in, looking at a paper, and I sigh. He is silent for a moment.

“Just tell me it’s negative so I can get back to work,” I mutter and hold my hand out. Despite everything, Dmitry does allow me to work with the pack members. I am allowed to do food drives and ensure everyone is fed and cared for. The pack responds to me, and I have grown fond of them.

The doctor chews on his cheek, “We ran the test three times,” He hands me the paperwork.

I narrow my eyes at him as I look at the papers. I see the word positive on it. “Positive?” I look at him, and he nods. “Come on, Dale,” I snort. “Test me again.”

“We can do that, Luna, but I believe it’s accurate,” Dr. Shue grins. “Congratulations.”

I sigh as I stare at the paper. I am finally pregnant. After three long years of torture, I am pregnant. I can only hope I will have peace now. “Let me tell, Dmitry, alright?”

Dr. Shue nods, “Yes, Luna.”

“And tell anyone else who knows to keep quiet, please,” I smile.

“Yes, ma’am,” He keeps smiling. “I hope you give us a strong heir.”

“Me too,” I sigh as I slide off the table. I fold the papers and pocket them before leaving the room. I walk outside to my car. I am going to the omega village to check on everyone. I need to make sure the work orders on their houses are being fulfilled. Soft rock plays as I drive. My mind is in a million places as I think about the pup growing in my belly.

I hate that he is going to grow up with such a horrible father. I know he will grow to be just like Dmitry. I have accepted that the Goddess hates me, and that’s why I got Dmitry. I am mostly alone, save for a few friends like Kara. My wolf doesn’t even talk anymore. She, too, believes she is being punished.

I park on the street in front of the local grocery store, and several people walk up to me.

“Good morning, Luna,” An elderly woman named Ursula greets me. She is sort of the unofficial mayor of the omega village.

“Ursula,” I nod. “How is it going?”

“Oh, the roofers have started on the Smith house,” She replies.

“That’s good to hear,” I say as I walk into an empty storefront we use for meetings. “Hello, everyone,” I greet the others. “I hope you are all having a good morning,” I say as I sit on a chair facing the small crowd. Ursula hands me a cup of coffee, and I hesitate to drink it.

“What’s wrong?” Ursula asks. “It’s your favorite.”

“Nothing is wrong,” I smile, take a small sip, and set the mug down. I look out at the omegas. “So, who is first,” I ask and pull out my trusty notebook.

A man steps toward me wearing battered coveralls. I have seen him in the village, but he has yet to speak to me. “Luna,” He bows. “I am Carl Best. I do landscaping around the territory for the ranked members,” He explains. “My mate and I have five pups.”

“Wow,” I laugh.

“We only have a two-bedroom house and another pup on the way,” He continues. “I would like to know if there are any larger houses available?”

“I will have to look into it, Carl,” I say as I write down his name.

“Fill out this form,” Ursula slides a paper towards him. “We will get back to you as soon as we can.”

Carl takes the paper, and another man steps forward.

“Luna,” He grins.

I spent about two hours caring for pack members and hearing their concerns. I feel good about making sure they are all taken care of with the limited budget that Dmitry allows. As I gather my paperwork, I feel the familiar pain of Dmitry f*****g Cassandra or another woman. It’s a daily occurrence.

I take a few deep breaths as I stumble out of the building.

“Are you okay, Luna?” Ursula asks me.

“I’ll be fine,” I say as I load my car. “Thank you.” I smile at her and start the car. I have a hard time driving and have to stop until the pain is over. I hope it doesn’t affect the pup. “Come on, Dmitry,” I groan. The pain finally stops, and I continue back to the packhouse. I walk into my small office, which used to be a broom closet. It has a desk with a ratty old chair, a computer, and a filing cabinet. There are some little trinkets I have used to decorate it. I sit on the chair and pull out the paper Dr. Shue gave me. I wonder how to tell Dmitry that I am finally pregnant.

A rough knock on the door makes me jump, and Dmitry pokes his head in. “I see you are back from kissing the poor,” He snorts.

I feign a smile as I look up at his face. He is no longer handsome to me. It’s like staring at the devil.

“You don’t have to pretend to smile,” He grumbles. “I know you hate me.”

I look at the desk. “Did you need something?”

A low growl shakes the wall, “You are beneath me.” He steps toward me and touches my cheek. “Stand.”

I take a breath and do as he says. I look into his cold, dark eyes.

He touches my cheek, “I need you to come outside.”

“Why?” I blurt out, and he growls again. “Sorry,” I hang my head.

Dmitry steps out of the office, and I follow him. I get a strange feeling as Aria makes a rare sound.

‘What’s going on?’ I ask my sullen wolf. She says nothing. We get outside, and everyone is there. Dmitry parents and sister are standing beside a podium while Cassandra looks at me with her ugly grin. She is wearing a fancy gown.

“Stand here,” Dmitry points.

I do as he says and look around. Tatiana and Arina are giving me grins that send shivers down my spine. Elder Ronald Hoover steps out of a town car, I just now notice. He looks sullen as he approaches Dmitry and his father.

“Let’s get started,” Kostya looks at me.

Kara is standing beside Jarrod with tears in her eyes. I want to talk to her, but I know Dmitry will listen to our conversation.

Dmitry steps towards the podium. “Samantha Volkov,” He looks at me. “You are my Luna, fated mate. You have become a decent Luna. The pack seems to love you. But you have failed me in the most important aspect.” He nods at Cassandra, who steps towards him. He clasps her hand. “You have failed to produce an heir. The future of a pack depends on the Luna to provide a strong heir for her Alpha.”

My heart drops as he speaks. I must fight tears.

“From this day forth, you will be stripped of your title and banished from Shadow Woods,” he says with near elation in his tone. “I should have named Cassandra Beck, Luna a long time ago.”

Cassandra coos, “Oh, Dmitry,” she slides her hand down his cheek.

“Elder Hoover, please perform the ceremony,” Dmitry nods.

Elder Hoover looks at me, “I am sorry, Samantha,” He whispers as he grabs my hand. With a quick movement, he slices into my palm and squeezes out blood that drops to the ground. “I, Ronald Hoover, Elder of the Werewolf Kingdom, declare that you, Samantha Volkov, are no longer the Luna of Shadow Woods Pack,” he says, and I feel a great pain spread through my body. I drop to my knees and look up at Dmitry.

He stands over me with a dark smile with his hand in Cassandra’s. “I, Dmitry Aleksander Volkov, reject you, Samantha Arleen Volkov, as my mate and Luna. You are hereby banished from Shadow Woods Pack.” He says so easily.

The pack bond severs, and I cry out in pain as Cassandra laughs along with Arina and Tatiana. I remain on the ground for a minute.

“I, Dmitry Aleksander Volkov, choose Cassandra Elaine Beck to be my Luna,” Dmitry says. He looks at me, “Get off the ground. You have fifteen minutes to pack and leave this land.”

Kara walks over and helps me to my feet. I want to cry, but I refuse to give them the satisfaction.

“I’ll help you pack,” she says.

I say nothing as we head into the packhouse.

“Oh, Samantha,” Tatiana stops in front of me. “I think you should know that I had hope for you.” She pats my shoulder. “But in the end, Cassandra is the right choice.”

I say nothing and walk away from her.

“Oh, and by the way, Cassandra is pregnant,” Tatiana says with a cold laugh.

I keep walking and not looking back. Not even when I listen to Elder Hoover swear Cassandra in as Luna. I hurry to my little office and grab the paper off the desk. I rip it to shreds and drop it into the trash can.

“What was that?” Kara asks.

I say nothing as I pick up a few trinkets I want. “I need a ride home.” I pray that my family will let me return to Crimson Crest.

“You are pregnant, aren’t you?” she guesses.

I shrug, “Does it matter?”

“You are carrying the heir,” Kara says.

“No, Cassandra is,” I touch my belly. “This is my child and only mine.” I leave the office, “You can tell Dmitry or not. I don’t care.”

“Luna,” a female omega runs up to me. “Please don’t leave,” She pleads.

“I am not your Luna,” I mutter and walk away from her.

Other omegas and pack members are gathered in the hall. They all look at me through their tears. Some plead with me not to leave. I say nothing as I make my way up to the alpha floor. I go into the bedroom and pack a few things. I don’t have much here.

A car is waiting in the front as I get outside. A few omegas are waiting for me, including Ursula.

“You can’t leave,” she sniffles.

“I have been banished,” I state.

“I will miss you,” Kara says.

“I will miss you too,” I say and toss my bag into the car's trunk. “But at least I’ll get to see my family again.” I hug Kara before getting into the car. “Crimson Crest,” I say to the driver.

Omegas are gathered in the street as we drive out of Shadow Woods. I feel bad for leaving them, but I am glad to be free. There is still pain from the rejection, but I do not feel sad. Aria even sounds happy as we cross the border.

‘We got this, Aria,’ I tell her. ‘We will raise this pup ourselves.’

‘We can do it, Sam,’ she says in a tone I haven’t heard her use in years.

‘Are you back?’ I ask her.

‘I am back,’ she says happily.

I settle in for the long ride and cry when the terrain becomes familiar. We pull up to the familiar gates, and a guard steps out.

“James,” I say as he pokes his head into the driver’s window.

“Samantha?” He says. “What are you doing here?”

“I have come home,” I say with tears.

“Go on in,” He points and steps back.

It takes another ten minutes to reach the house. Tears are streaming down my face as the car stops. I pay the driver and get out. My parents are waiting for me, along with Marcus, Charlene, and two young pups.

“Samantha,” My mother holds her arms out to me. “What happened?”

“I’m home, Mom. I’m home,” I fall into her arms and sob.