The Vengeful Luna

Celeste’s POV It’s August 20th 2023, and I’ve just received a note from my cousin Annabelle saying she wants to have tea with me at noon. I put on my nicest dress, which was still pretty plain, and walk over to the pack castle where Annabelle is learning about becoming the new Luna. Will, the next alpha, and my ex-fiancé, got engaged to Annabelle two weeks ago. I walk into the pack castle and immediately eyes fall on me. I can hear people whispering. I know they’re talking about me. I hold my head high and concentrate hard on not letting my emotions get the better of me. I can’t cry in front of them. I don’t want to give anyone the satisfaction. “What is she doing here?” “She should just leave the pack. No one wants her here.” “I heard her father even kicked her out of the house.” I hear them say. I’ve heard these whispers before. This is my new normal. I’ve learned to live with it. Although I admit, I hate how things are. I wish they would go back to the way they were before. I can trace all my misgiving to around two years ago, when it felt like my life was going down hill. The omegas in my pack started treating me poorly. It was as if they hated me, there was nothing I could do to feel any sort of kindness or warmth from them. The only omega who was still nice to me was my personal maid, Clara. She was my best friend, but then she had her accident.. After she passed away, things went from bad to worse. A nasty rumor spread around the pack that I was being cruel to my cousin Annabelle. Although it couldn’t be farther from the truth, Annabelle and I tried our best to dispel the rumors but unfortunately the damage was already done. My reputation was ruined. And things only got worse after that. My fiancé, and childhood friend, Will, broke up with me. My life came crashing down around me. I thought for years that I was going to be the Luna of this pack. I spent all of my time studying and trying to be the best Luna I could be. I suppose I should’ve been spending my time with Will. When he told me he didn’t love me anymore I was crushed. It wasn’t soon after that, that he got engaged to Annabelle. My father was so upset that he sent me to live in a hut in the woods away from the rest of the pack. Now I basically live in isolation. How did I end up in this situation? Where did it all go wrong. The only person who doesn’t seem to hate me is my cousin Annabelle. She’s been my rock through all of this. And even though I’m still sad about her and Will, I couldn’t give up on the one friendship in my life. I walk up the stairs towards Annabelle’s room, continuing to ignore the whispers and gossip. “Oh! Celeste, you’re late.” I look up and see Connie, Annabelle’s personal maid. “Follow me.” Connie says sternly, grabbing me by the wrist and pulling me along behind her. Connie came here with Annabelle. She’s never been particularly nice to me, as a matter of fact I remember a time when Connie was the only person in my life who didn’t show me kindness. I was startled by her behavior. Now I’m numb to it. I can see now that it was just an omen for the bad things to come. I follow behind her quietly as she leads me to Annabelle’s office. She opens the door and Annabelle springs up from her desk and greets me with a warm smile and a hug. I close my eyes and savor her kindness. Annabelle’s always been like a breath of fresh air. “Oh Celeste. I’ve missed you. Thank you so much for coming.” She points to a table where the tea is already set up. Connie pulls out Annabelle’s chair for her, and we sit down. Connie only pours tea for Annabelle and not for me. I see Annabelle notice Connie’s behavior and she makes a disapproving glance, but Connie still doesn’t pour my tea. “Here, let me get that for you Celeste.” Annabelle says as she picks up the teapot and pours me a glass. “Thanks Anna.” I say quietly. “I’ve been so incredibly busy with all the Luna lessons and learning all these annoying things about the pack.” Annabelle says as she sips her tea and rolls her eyes. She’s never been very studious. “It’s all very important to learn.” I reply, remembering the hours I spent studying those same things. My voice is soft and barely audible. I can feel Connie’s cold gaze over my shoulder. I try to ignore her, and sip my tea. “I know, I know.. I just wish there were more fun things I could do. All this paperwork is just too much.” Annabelle says. It’s the responsibility of the Luna to oversee many different aspects of the pack, and to pick up the slack where the alpha lacks. She should just be grateful for the position that she has.. I hide my annoyance at her complaints. I can’t risk losing my only friend. I grab a cookie and nibble off a corner. “So tell me Celeste, how are things with you?” Annabelle says. “Me? Oh, umm.. well I-“ “I’m sorry Miss Annabelle, but it’s time for you to meet with the Luna.” Connie says cutting in and grabbing the cookie out of my hands. She places it on my tea plate then starts clearing off my side of the table. “Oh is it time already?” Annabelle says. She stands up from the table, and I follow suit, although I would’ve like to have eaten more, I don’t want to push things. “Thank you for inviting me.” I say, as Connie ushers me out of the room. “Sure! Bye Celeste.” Annabelle says. “Bye.” I reply as Connie shoves me out and slams the door behind me. She’s always so rude, I wish Annabelle would say something to her again. It obviously didn’t work the last time, Connie is as mean as ever. I walk down the hallway and back down the stairs. Then a group of guards rush past me, almost knocking me down. “Geez.” I say to myself as I steady my balance. I continue on walking when I hear some commotion coming from upstairs. I walk back up the stairs and see people running back and fourth. Annabelle and Connie have stepped out into the hallway, we’re all looking around to see what’s going on. Then we hear loud sobbing and wailing coming from the the Luna of our pack. She’s on the floor crying uncontrollably. I’ve never seen her like this before. She’s never really been a very emotional woman. What could’ve happened to make her cry like this? Then I hear it. One of the warriors shouts out loud for all to hear. “The Alpha is dead! He’s been poisoned!” He shouts. Dead?! Someone killed the Alpha? “It was Celeste! I saw her near the Alpha’s office.” Someone shouts, I look and see Annabelle pointing at me. An expression on her face that I’ve never seen her wear before. “What?” I say quietly, I’m still trying to grasp what’s going on. Why would Annabelle say that? I feel a presence behind me and see Will standing there. “Celeste?” He says, looking at me shocked. “Why would you-“ he starts, but before he can finish Annabelle runs into his arms and starts crying. “I always knew she was a bad seed! And now she’s killed the Alpha!” Connie says, looking at me like I’m the scum of the earth. I’m still so confused. What is happening right now. “How dare you! You won’t get away with it this time! We’ve got you now! You’re going to pay for your crimes against this pack!” Connie says continuing to ramble on and on. “I was just in there having tea! I was with you the whole time.” I manage to say to Connie. “Don’t you dare try to drag me into this!” Connie rebuffs. I’m never going to get anywhere with her. I turn around to Annabelle, maybe she’ll listen and help me. I see her crying into Will’s shoulder. “Annabelle please.” I say, tears now forming in my eyes. She doesn’t turn. Will looks at me with such disdain. “Alpha Will, it’s your call.” I hear one of the guards says. “Take Celeste into custody.” Will growls. What is happening? No, I didn’t do this. “No, it wasn’t me. I swear I didn’t do anything.” I cry out. Two guards come and take me by my arms. How can they arrest me with out even listening to me? I struggle underneath their grip, but in too weak to do anything. I haven’t been eating properly for weeks now. “Search her room. If she has poison it must be in there.” Connie yells out. “Annabelle, Will. Please. I didn’t do this, you have to believe me!” My heart is racing and I’m starting to panic. “Do it. Put her in a cell until the search is complete.” Will has so much hate in his eyes. He used to look at me like I was the most precious person in the world. The two guards drag me away as I continue to scream about my innocence. They take me to the cells under the castle. “Please, I’m begging you. I didn’t do this.” I cry. The guards just ignore me. I know both of them personally. I grew up in this pack, I know everyone in it. They throw me into the cell and I hit the floor with a hard thud. The guards close the cell door and lock it before walking away. Now I’m all alone. I sit up, and examine the fresh scrape on my arm from the rough stone floor. I curl myself into a corner and cry. The only comfort I find is in the knowledge of my innocence. I know they won’t find anything in my room. After their search comes up clean, they’ll look elsewhere and find the real killer and then let me out. Hopefully I’m out of here by tonight, then this will all be in the past. Although with the way things have been going around here, half the pack will still probably believe that it was me. I continue to cry into my arms. Why would Annabelle say that? Maybe Connie lied to her. I peek up when I hear someone approaching the cells. Their footsteps grow louder and louder as they come down the stairs. Then the door opens, and Will walks into the dungeons. I scramble over to the bars. “Will, please. You have to believe me. I didn’t to this.” I plead. His face remains stoic, as he holds up a small vial. “This was found in your room Celeste. Do you still claim your innocence?” Anger, hate, and distain pour out of him. I’ve never felt this feeling from him before. My eyes are fixated on the small vial. I’ve been framed. My legs tremble and I have to take a step back. My throat goes bone dry. “It’s.. it’s not mine.” I manage to say, but I know it’s falling on deaf ears. No one will believe me now. They’ve already made up their minds. The people I used to care for, the people I used to love have turned their backs on me. “You will be executed for the crime of murdering the Alpha.” Will says sharply. His words cut through me like a knife. This can’t be happening. Is this how it all ends? I gave my life to be the Luna of this pack and now I’m being executed as a traitor. “Will, can I have a moment alone with Celeste one last time?” I didn’t even notice Annabelle had come too. Annabelle, my cousin, my sweet cousin. She has been by my side through all the heart break and trouble I’ve gone through these past three years. “Be careful, don’t get too close.” Will says as he hugs her. “I’ll be fine, she can’t do anything now.” She says, looking up at him pitifully. “Very well, but only for a few minutes.” Will kisses her forehead and takes the guards with him. It’s just me and Annabelle, but I can’t stop trembling. I look up and shock fills my mind as I see the smirk spreading across Annabelle’s face. Then she’s starts laughing. She laughs so hard her eyes start to water. I’m in complete and total shock. “Look at you now. This is exactly what I’ve been waiting to see. It took me three years, but oh, it was all worth it.” “Annabelle? What-what are you talking about?” My voice is shaking. “I broke you. It was all me from the very beginning. Even before I got here. Connie and I have been chipping away at you for years. I’ll let you in on a few secrets. Connie pushed your maid down the stairs and killed her.” What?! Connie killed Clara? I think back to that horrible day, but Annabelle keeps talking. “All the omegas turned on you after the appreciation breakfast, the rumors, the bullying, the stolen jewelry. It was all me. Remember how you lost your friends to scandals and misunderstandings? All me. In fact, it wasn’t even that hard to isolate you from everyone. Including stealing your fiancé and your family. I did it all. Well, with the help of Connie of course.” Her eyes look twisted as she talks about the horrible things she’s done to me. “Why? Why would do this?” I say. Annabelle just laughs. “So I can take everything you have. It all belongs to me, just like it should have from the beginning.” I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. I feel like I’m going to throw up. I fall to the ground. My legs have given up on me. I’ve forgotten how to breathe. “Honestly, it was so easy it was almost no fun..” “You.. you won’t get away with this.” I manage to say, through my teeth. Annabelle laughs again. “Oh, No one will believe you now. So just shut up and die already.” Her voice is cold and her words chills me to my bones. Suddenly my gut twists in a knot, and I empty the contents of my stomach onto the floor. It isn’t much, but even when my stomach is empty, I continue to heave. “Ew.” I hear Annabelle say. My eyes water, as I try to control my retching. Finally, I get control of my body and look up at Annabelle one last time. I study her twisted smirk. “Bye Celeste..” She says as she walks out of the dungeons. I’m still on the ground, my mind racing a million miles a minute. Is there anyone who will believe me? There’s got to be a way I can get out of this. This can’t be the end. I spend the next few hours alone. My mind runs through every single person in this pack. I play out every single scenario searching for one where anyone will believe my word over hers. There’s no one. Over the past three years my reputation has tanked. I don’t have any support. There’s no one here to help me. Panic starts to settle in my core as I realize that she’s going to win. Annabelle’s going to get away with doing all of this. All I can do now is cry silently. I’m going to be executed for a crime I’m not guilty of. That night I wince when I hear the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. It’s two guards. They open the cell door, and shackle my wrists. I don’t fight them. My mind is blank. I feel numb. They bring me out of my cell, and walk me out of the pack castle. Everyone has gathered in the field for my execution. Some people yell and scream “TRAITOR!” at me. Some people spit. Some just shake their heads in disgust. I see the faces of my former pack. How could it all have come to this? How could I have let this happen to me? I see my father and the disappointed look on his face, then I see my brother, he looks more sad than I thought he’d be. Maybe he’ll believe me! I call out his name, but the guard elbows me hard in the ribs, knocking the breath out of my lungs. I struggle to catch my breath as the guards drag me to the middle of the field. They let me go and I drop to my knees, Will and Annabelle stand looking down at me. Will has a sword in his hands. So my ex fiancé, my first love, my childhood best friend, is going to end my life. Moon goddess, please, don’t let this be the end. I was so blind to what was going on around me. I just wanted to keep my head down and live a normal life. Will raises the blade. GODDESS PLEASE! …………… I remember feeling pain, then I saw the sky, and then blackness. Is this the end now? Goddess what did I do to deserve this? “My child.. WAKE UP.” I hear a voice ring through my ears. It’s deafeningly loud. I open my eyes and then silence. I see white. It’s a ceiling. This is my old room. I sit up and touch my neck where the blade cut and there is no wound.. Am I.. alive?? Or this is the after life? There’s a knock on the door and Clara, my maid pokes her head in. “CLARA?! You’re alive!” I say tumbling out of bed. “Oh! Miss Celeste, be careful.” Clara says helping me to my feet. If she’s here, then this must be heaven. But everything feels so real. “Are you alright? You look pale.”Clara says. I glance over and look in the mirror. I look younger. The stress of the past three years made my hair thin and my skin turn dull. I look young and healthy. “Clara, what day is it?” I ask her quickly, still examining my face. “Oh it’s August 20th.” Clara says. “What year??” I say eagerly. “2020.” Clara says looking confused. I gasp. Can this really be happening? I’ve woken up three years in the past.