Chapter 21 Celestial Moon
2343 Words
Chapter 21
Celestial Moon
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Jada
“Are you stupid or something?” Cousin Desmond snarled from across the room. He sat forward in the white leather lounge chair, his blonde hair hanging over his left eye in an attempt at a punk-boy impression. His steel-blue eyes narrowed in on me, stealing my breath. I had never felt so tiny. “Why do you always do things like this?”
“I-I don’t know…” Trembling, I knelt and attempted to pick up the shards of glass from the cup I had dropped. But I dropped the pieces each time I tried. A sickening heat radiated down my spine and into the pit of my stomach. This kind of behaviour was weak for the daughter of an Alpha, but it was who I was. I hate being so emotional!
“Seriously,” he huffed.
“Sorry, Desmond,” I whispered meekly as I brushed my blonde hair away from my damp cheeks. “I’ll get you a new one…”
“That’s not what I mean!” He stood up from the seat, stormed over and knelt before me. He pressed the tip of a finger under my chin and then tilted it towards him. A light flashed across the blue in his eyes as his sharp jaw tightened. “Get an Omega to do it. You’re the daughter of the Alpha!”
I nodded as I sniffled back the tears. “I just thought–”
“Then don’t think!” He snorted as he stood. He headed over to the intercom on the wall beside the living room door and pressed his finger to it. The room was filled with static. “Send an Omega maid to the living room immediately! And bring a dustpan… And an iced tea… with a hint of lemon!”
“Yes, Sir Desmond!” someone replied from the other end.
Sucking in a skipped breath, I sat back on my knees and wiped my sticky hands down the sides of my dress. Desmond surveyed me, tensed, and rolled his eyes as he did.
I knew why. I was the odd one out. I was pretty like the rest of the Hugh family – with blonde hair, brown eyes, and a slender figure. But I was a meek girl unlike my mother, Krystal, my father, Edwin… and my cousins, Desmond and Dahlia. I didn’t suit the Alpha’s daughter’s title.
The Hughs loved expensive things and power—yes, oh, did they love power. Their territory was enormous, and my father had used our pack’s best-trained and most deadly warriors to get it. He had conquered many packs, enslaved many werewolves, and sold females to other packs to create alliances… and, sometimes, profit. The Celestial Moon was among the most feared… and deadliest clans around.
I preferred kindness over battles and wars. I would find more joy in secretly helping the Omegas in the kitchen. Most of all, I craved love. That was the one thing I lacked from my parents—and most of my family. I was hoping that would change when I found my mate.
I was sixteen… almost seventeen. That meant the time to meet my wolf was getting closer, and with that, I would hopefully find my mate. Then maybe he would whisk me away from the Celestial Moon. I welcome that day!
Desmond was before me, crossing his arms, drawing me back from my thoughts. His steely eyes burned into me. I shivered. “Get up, Jada… And go change. The Alpha and Luna can’t be seen with you like that!”
“Yes, Desmond!” I stood, then hurried to turn away. The less time confronting him, the better.
“Wait!” Desmond caught my arm, spinning me back. A heat radiated from where his hand touched my skin, sucking my breath from within me. He looked me up and down with a strange expression I couldn’t pinpoint. He swallowed, making his Adam’s apple wobble. The expression darkened, and his face tightened into a grimace, reflecting his newly awakened wolf – Akron, and he was a terrifying beast. “I sometimes wonder if Uncle Edwin did the right thing when he brought you home from the hospital… You don’t have the strength to be the leader of the Celestial Moon.”
“Maybe I should convince him I would be a better Alpha.” Laughing through his nose, he released me. My stomach tightened as more tears filled my eyes. “After all, he officially adopted me and Dahlia after our parents died… It puts me closer than anyone to becoming Alpha.”
“But you’re cruel,” I sniffled. When I realised what I had said, I backed away. My heart thudded against my chest. It wasn’t a lie, and he knew it. But saying it aloud was not wise, and now I regretted it. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that…”
His face screwed into a seething nastiness that ran through the entire family as he closed the gap between us. “When I become Alpha, you will see how cruel I can be!” He raised a threatening hand towards me, and something in him stiffened. He lowered it. “When I become Alpha, I will not be kind!”
Unable to handle the intensity of his stare a moment longer, I spun on my heels and hurried from the room. So much for being the daughter of an Alpha! Desmond is right… I’m not strong enough to lead!
Tears didn’t stop until I had scaled the three floors of the packhouse, hurried to my room, and thrown myself on my bed, burying my head in a stack of pillows. Why was I so different? Why was I so timid? Was it the lack of love? Or is it just something in my genetics?
I need to get stronger! I rolled onto my back and stared up at the ceiling. If the pack fell into Desmond’s hands, it would continue down the path of murder and deceit. If I could be the leader–The Luna of the pack, I could change it. That thought brought me to my feet. I massaged between my eyes and realised there was blood on my finger. I had cut myself on the glass and didn’t even feel it.
“Of course,” I groaned, wiping my hand on my dress. It was dirty anyway. “Why am I so emotional?”
Patting away the tears, I stood before the full-length mirror attached to the front of my walk-in wardrobe. The puffy-faced girl staring back had no signs of Alpha blood. I hurried to pull the dress off over my head, then returned to studying my reflection. I had a lovely figure and breasts that suited my size, but there was nothing special about it. I flexed my arms and then sighed. Too scrawny for a fighter!
There was a knock at the door. I sucked in a deep breath and threw the dress back on. The knocks grew louder and more urgent. I hesitated. What if it’s Desmond or worse… Father?
“Jada, it’s Anna! Let me in!”
I breathed a sigh of relief and hurried to open the door. Standing in the doorway was Anna Little, the daughter of my father’s Beta, Jackson. Of all the high-ranking pack members, Jackson, his wife and mate Lillian, and their daughter Anna were the beacons of light in the otherwise dark place—my life! It was a running joke that Jackson was the conscience on my father’s shoulder—his personal Jiminy Cricket. But that didn’t stop the cruelty.
Anna brushed her fiery red hair over her shoulders, revealing her freckled, heart-shaped face. She was a true beauty wrapped in courage, kindness, and laughter. Her brilliant blue eyes darkened when she realised I had been crying. It wasn’t hard to miss.
“Are those cousins of yours at it again?” She threw her arms around me and held me. “It’ll be okay…”
“It was Desmond… you know what he’s like.” When she released me from her grasp, I stood aside and invited her into the room.
“Yeah, he’s a piece of work,” Anna stepped inside the door and took my hands. “But I came to get you…”
“Why?” I asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
She peered out of the room and glanced around the hallway before leaning in closer and lowering her voice. “I overheard Dad talking to Gamma Julius… they’re looking at attacking the Mist Clan...”
“Again?” I whisper-screamed. I peered down the hallway; thankfully, no one else was there, and then I turned back to Anna. “I don’t want any part of that. I was a baby when they last attacked. I’ve heard the stories....”
“I know,” she agreed. “That’s why they want to attack them. Your father … the Alpha, wants their territory. He’s been after it for years. My family is not happy about it. But it’s already in motion… And we should get going…”
“Why, where are we going?”
“We need to go to their meeting…”
“Why?”
“Jada,” she held my arms, “they were talking about you!”
“What?” I blinked back at her. “What do you mean? Me? What did they say?”
“I can’t say…” Anna shoved me into the room and quietly closed my door behind us. “But it was something about you being a part of their plan. Now, get changed into something comfortable and dark… and follow me. You won’t want to miss this.”
“I don’t know,” I said, chewing on my nails. I paced the room and thought about the consequences if I got caught outside the packhouse.
“Well?” Anna hooked her hands on her hips. “Are you coming?”
“I can’t,’ I dropped onto the bed and shook my head. “I want to, but I can’t. If Father sees me – no worse – if my cousins see me!”
“Pft…” She snorted. “No excuses. You’re coming with me.”
“But–”
“No buts either,” she was already at my wardrobe, sliding the glass doors open. “Now, where are your dark clothes…?”
As much as my parents didn’t show physical love, I never went without anything. My room was decorated with the finest acacia wood furniture. My double bed alone had been hand sculpted by a local artist. The large walk-in wardrobe was big enough to turn into another room. My clothes were high-brand expenses that I would never waste my money on. But that was my parents – rich and power-hungry.
“Here,” Anna stepped out and handed me a pair of black pants and a long-sleeved black top. “This is perfect.” She held up another pair. “And I’m so grateful you are the same size as me.”
She winked at me, and I smiled back. I did adore Anna. And maybe she was right. Why had they been talking about me? What did I have to do with the Mist Clan?
“Well, come on…”
“Fine!” I hurried to throw on the clothes. I wanted to learn to be braver anyway!
It was boarding at dusk when Anna and I slipped out of the packhouse. The cook and her helpers were busy finishing dinner and setting up the table. With all the fuss, no one even noticed us. In the shade of the looming building, we ducked behind the surrounding hedge and dropped to our knees. The packhouse was a gigantic monster in the night, its large front windows - watching eyes, and the curves on the pointed ceilings - angry eyebrows. I half expected it to climb out of the ground.
I shivered. Creepy!
Anna rubbed my back. “It will be okay. No one will know we’re out.”
“It’s just…” I turned to her. “Why can’t I be brave like you… like, my father?”
She snorted a laugh. “Your father’s not brave… if anything, he’s a coward… He’s scared of the Mist Clan... of anyone that can overpower him.” She hugged me to her side. “You’re better than he will ever be.”
“Where exactly are we going?”
“The meeting is at the old cabin behind the packhouse. I’ve been watching it for months.”
“Months?” Wide-eyed, they turned to her. “Are you a part of some rebellion against my father?”
She shrugged. “Not really… I just don’t like how he governs our clan.”
“I don’t like it either,” I lowered my head. “But I would never be strong enough to go behind his back.”
Anna crawled before me. “Stop putting yourself down, Jada. You are a hell of a lot stronger than you think. With training, you could protect the Celestial Moon… the future Luna!”
I was about to reply when two shadows emerged from the front door of the packhouse. We ducked into the hedge as they passed. Desmond and Dahlia! What are they doing?
My cousins were not twins, but they could have fooled anyone. Dahlia had the same short blonde hair as her brother – a bright-blonde pixie cut. She was a year younger than Desmond and a few months older than me, and she was a fighter through and through, even without her wolf. I have the bruises to prove it!
Once they were out of sight, Anna took my hand. “Did you see their clothes? They’re wearing the warrior’s battle outfits. They’re a part of it too.”
I swallowed a sharp breath. “Why doesn’t that surprise me.”
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