Luna of the Golden Moon

Dining hall

We didn’t speak on the ride back to the wooden palace; my stomach was hurting again, holding Caleb's hand, shaking the slightest over what would happen. There were strict rules about shifting in public, and I had known them since my mother had taught me from a young age!

“Deep breaths, Luna. Don’t let them see you are panicking….” Caleb was linking me, holding my hand. I saw the Betas around us, dressed in black suits, and Caleb and me standing in clothes that didn’t fit in; I wanted to shower and change at least before seeing the head.

“We can’t; he has already called us; I’m sorry…” Caleb was still holding my hand, dragging me with him to the smirks of the men seeing my body, and I growled to one of them, clearly showing that he thought I looked like a slut and not a Luna.

“Eyes on the ground, Beta!” Caleb said it threateningly when the man, along with everyone else, lowered their gaze, neck bent, and made me feel worse, more for me to get blamed for dressing like someone who wasn’t the future Luna of the Golden Moon.

“You could stand naked before them, and they still aren’t allowed to stare at you, and they know that.” Caleb answered me seriously back when I was walking along at his faster pace, not wanting to let his father wait. I wanted to run away and not see the cold Alpha Terrence, who would stare just as much as the Beta.

Caleb's shoulders got stiff hearing my thoughts because he knew I was right, and his father wasn’t a Beta; nobody could tell him off.

“As long as he doesn’t do more, I can’t protect you against that; I’m sorry, Mila….” Caleb's face was still grim, but he sounded sweet in my head, wanting to do more than just comfort me when I knew just as much as him that the head could do whatever he wanted.

I gulped, striding past the serious men, all bowing down as we walked past them. I saw more Deltas staring at me like I was acting insane for wearing something other than black and so short.

The two Betas outside the door moved, opening the door when we walked inside, my head was down, and I hated every second of standing behind Caleb before he told me to stand by his side, head still down and feeling so scared that I couldn’t stop the whine that escaped my mouth.

“Alpha.” Caleb’s voice was dark and official when he bowed his head down. I followed, going even lower, wanting to do anything to avoid eye contact with the intimidating head Alpha behind his expensive desk, dressed flawlessly in a black suit and tie, with charcoal eyes and a stern face that my mate resembled.

“It seems we have a famous Luna these days…” Alpha Terrence was still staring at me. I felt every breath from my body becoming heavier when he pushed out his Alpha aura.

Caleb was the first to answer his father’s anger against me for breaking the most important rule.

“She is my mate, and I take full responsibility for what happened.” I gasped, turning my head to Caleb when my chest could move again, not having the head Alphas focus on me. Still, his son was looking grave and ready for anything his father might throw at him.

“Well, of course you do! You think the fact that you got knocked out on Bane wouldn’t come to my attention, Caleb?” Alpha Terrence suddenly seemed furious, standing up. He was disappointed in his son, who was still standing tall, having his arms behind his back since we let go. He stared into the wall with identical eyes, not showing any emotions.

“I can’t believe you were acting so stupid?? I thought we agreed that you were going to the cabin to ensure we got the heir we needed to make this pack accept her!” I sifted my eyes from the floor to my mate, who did a small gulp from what his father had just barked all over the room; what!?

Caleb didn’t answer him; he looked sterner when I wanted to start laughing hearing the two men scheme about something that was my decision, not theirs!

“Hush, Luna…” I was breathing harder, wanting to defend myself, seeing the dark eyes of Alpha Terrence staring at me like he just realized that I was there. Not just barking at Caleb, who was linking me, still staring at the wall.

“Don’t you dare look smug on me, dear niece; do you know how many in this pack are willing to toss you out because you are weak!?” I flinched at the harsh words being spat my way. Weak?! That was absurd! I just took out two girls alone while my mate was passed out!

Caleb grew stiffer hearing my words, snarling them back at the bigger Alpha, who didn’t care. He ignored me again when he switched his eyes to my mate, still not looking like he was feeling anything!

“Maybe this was a waste of time, even trying to get this mateship to work? You are getting weak, Caleb, and it's her doing.” Alpha Terrence stood up, looking grim, when I dropped the last ounce of shield against the big man before us.

“No! You can’t do that! Caleb is my mate!” my heart was pounding in my head, trying to understand why Caleb wasn’t defending us; he loved me! I know he did, and still, he didn’t say anything when his father discussed separating us; that was impossible!

“See? She doesn’t even know when to keep quiet… I’m surprised Rosalie even ensured she could eat with cutlery, dressed like that….” Alpha Terrence didn’t care about my anger when he was staring at my clothes, that dirty old Alpha! I was going to… My thoughts snapped off hearing Caleb's growl like he had enough of me fighting the head Alpha standing cold beside me.

“Silence, the head is speaking, Luna!” Caleb growled louder, staring at me with a scowl. I didn’t understand anything. Why was he okay with this?! I was his mate, and he was supposed to protect me, not tell me to stay silent when someone was trying to separate us!

Alpha Terrence was observing us both. Caleb snapped at me, and I looked like I wanted to start crying again because that would happen as soon as I walked outside the office.

“I guess that I am being unfair… and you are bleeding Emilia, so that means that you can try again as soon as possible, one week with Delta Vivian.” Alpha Terrence sounded calm again as if he had decided on my punishment, shifting when I stared at him. I was still scared to blink, seeing that my tears would spill over from the hurt that was inside my chest. Caleb had scolded me harshly for defending our mateship. Did he even love me when he acted like this?

“I won’t accept that. She is not to be walking around like one of the servants; she is the future Luna!” Caleb suddenly woke up from his stern face, talking slowly and surely toward the annoyed Alpha Terrence.

“Oh, you will accept this, Caleb, and don’t think I can’t find out which Betas was supposed to protect you… it was Kyle, wasn’t it?” Alpha Terrace's eyes grew cold again. Did he hate Kyle? He wasn’t a bad guy; he just wasn’t like these strung-up males who looked like they wanted to kill someone.

“So, it was Kyle. Thank you, Emilia.” Alpha Terrence smirked when Caleb exhaled and looked at me, disappointed when I stared back at them with wild eyes; what? What had just happened!?

“You know what? two weeks, and she will be staying in the Delta quarters.” Alpha Terrence's smirk was all over the room when Caleb didn’t seem happy about that part. I wasn’t either, but he had just chewed me out and told me to stay quiet, and it only sounded like he was upset because of me staying in the Delta's quarters.

“Unacceptable, Father. Listen to yourself.?? She is supposed to walk around dressed as a Delta and be a target for any Beta that would take advantage of her!?” Caleb was pleading with him, and I lost some of my anger seeing him stare desperately at the older Alpha, trying to get him to change his mind about the decision he had just made.

“She will be with Delta Vivian, and you will learn that there are consequences for forgetting your place, same as Emilia will learn hers, Caleb!” Alpha Terrence's voice was loud and dark, ringing out over the whole house, making me shrink from the powerful force trusted upon my mate and me, unfazed by the heavy Alpha power his father was releasing.

“You may leave Emilia; Delta Vivian is waiting outside for you; oh, and bring me Kyle!” Alpha Terrence was barking the orders out when I started to cry, knowing that I would be separated from my mate and Kyle would suffer because of me!

Caleb didn’t even look at me when I was sniffling, trying to get one last glance at him when the door was opened, and I was supposed to leave this office alone.

“Cay?” I was still waiting when he blocked the link I sent and started to cry, walking outside, not understanding anything. I was stuck in a wooden hell, and my mate was shutting me out.

The older woman with the tight bun at the neck and flawless grey clothes was staring at me, head slightly tilted down when I had been thrown out of the Alpha office, making me jerk from the loud thud when it was shut tight behind me.

“Luna Emilia, follow me.” Delta Vivian didn’t acknowledge the Beta staring down at my legs before seeing the older woman frown and look away.

I still had my head turned back at the door; Caleb hadn’t said anything when I was cast out, forced to stay with the cold lizard that hated me.

“Move, girl; I don’t have all day standing around and waiting for you.” Delta Vivian started to walk away quickly, leaving me behind when I stumbled with my bare feet, trying to catch up with the modest black heels with which she was making her presence known.

She was downstairs when I followed, wanting to talk to Caleb so bad. However, he still was blocking me out, more hurt when the painfully correct Delta Vivian was taking me further down the basement until she stopped before a door that led inside a room that was smaller than my own bedroom; it was bare and only had one bed, a nightstand with a small window higher up, showing daylight inside the spartan space.

I showered across the hall; it was empty, with one soap and towel when I tried to scrub away most of the dirt that was on my feet before walking out and seeing the grey Delta dress that was hanging on the rack, sighing and taking off the towel, trying to dry my hair at the best possible before getting dressed in the Delta attire that was gray, same as the Beta and Alpha.

I frowned seeing it on me; I hated the dull grey making me look older, tedious, and, most of all, itching since I couldn’t dry myself off that well with a small towel.

“Luna, you are taking your sweet time; we have chores.” Delta Vivian was linking me when I frowned more, almost wanting to growl from frustration. Chores? I was an Alpha, and…. seeing my eyes in the mirror, my father would be ashamed of me, thinking I was too good for chores. I was raised better than that.

“I’m done.” I walked out, seeing the irritation in Delta Vivian’s brown eyes etched on me. She was not happy with how I looked, and I had no idea why. I was wearing Delta attire, the same as her!

“Your hair, oh… little wolf…” she was annoyed, taking me back to the room and making me sit down on the bed when she was starting to take my long blonde hair and, to my surprise, felt nice, combing it hard and slow with a steel teeth comb.

“Ouch!” I growled when she huffed back to my whining when she yanked too hard, wanting me to be quiet. She took strokes through my hair before making a neat knot at the end of my neck, not a single hair out of place.

“Next time, you are doing your hair, and don’t let me see you being late to your shift.” I stared at her in disbelief, walking outside what I assumed was supposed to be my room for the next two weeks without Caleb… that still felt like the worst punishment, not being demoted to Delta.

“I understand.” Delta Vivian started to smirk at my answer, thinking I was stupid. Or that’s what I got from her deep, dark eyes, which only showed a hint of amusement.

She mocked me more silently, snickering and walking away, only to have me follow her like a small pup that needed her guidance.

“You are to help clean the dining hall; it's due, and the girl who was supposed to do it got sick.” I stared at the hall. Deltas ate here in their free time, never thinking about setting their foot up in the luxurious surroundings meant for the Alphas and Betas.

More Deltas were standing outside like they had been waiting on us, annoyed and not wanting to show it to Delta Vivian. She was their head; anyone could see that since they all bent down their necks when she walked past them.

“It’s the Luna, the rumor was true…” some girl whispered when I didn’t look at her, wanting to just be done and go back to the room where Alpha Terrence had dumped me to go back crying for my mate and Kyle that was going to get the worst of punishment, not even deserving it.

“She is not the Luna yet! Emilia is a Delta, the same as us. We take our job seriously, and if anyone has a problem with that, you take it up with me.” Delta Vivian growled at the end, making the curious Deltas back off when they all stared at me like I was some unicorn they had never seen close.

I was scrubbing the counters with my hands, sweating, seeing the others wiping off every surface inside this place; no wonder the wooden palace was spotless; Delta Vivian was running her staff like slaves!

“Pick up the pace, Emilia.” Delta Vivian linked me when I had stopped, wanting to breathe. I was still a bit hungover from the wolfbane and hadn’t slept all night. Did she even know how hard it was for me right now?

Delta Vivian clapped her hands, making everyone else stop and look at her when she frowned, still staring at me like I had done something wrong again.

“Everyone, leave.” She barks at the relieved Deltas, saying they are all leaving the old woman and me in the empty cafeteria.

“Why are you here, Emilia?” she was saying my name with a scolding voice when I made a smirk; she sounded like my mother. I still hadn’t forgiven her for taking my father and abandoning me in this place of horrors!

“Because Alpha Terrence wanted to punish me.” I said it back sternly when she sighed, looking like she thought I couldn’t be any stupider and had just proven her wrong, not leaving the spot she had been standing since we first entered the hall.

“No, that is not true. You are here because you decided to be a Delta again, and here we are; your wish has come true, Emilia….” I snorted, hearing that, still having my arms rolled up on the gray suit; the stench of disinfection was heavy around us, making me want to take the sponge I was holding and throw it in her face; screw her! I hadn’t asked for anything!

“I didn’t wish for this! I wanted to be home with my parents and a mate that doesn’t stab me in the back and hates his first Beta; I am trapped here, don’t you understand that, Vivian??” I was calling her name back, mocking her since she didn’t use my title, I was not a Delta!

She didn’t answer, only looking intently at me with her unbreakable eyes that had something inside them that I had never seen anyone else in this pack have, firm belief.

“I understand that you are a little wolf, crying over your life being unfair every second you face a difficulty. This isn’t the human world; you are a part of the pack, the same as everyone else. No matter how small or big you are, everyone needs to do their part to make it work.” Delta Vivian scolded me when I couldn’t believe how much she sounded like my mother like she had learned that sentence word by word while living here.

“You sound just like mother….” I was snarling it when she dropped the scolding look suddenly. Did I catch sadness in her otherwise hard eyes, was it?

“You are useless and slow…. how Alpha Caleb ever got mated to you is beyond me…” her face stone again when she closed her eyes, listening to whoever was calling her before opening her dark eyes again when I wanted to kill her, I wasn’t useless! I tried my hardest, and she was an old bat who wanted to yell at young Deltas and be mean to me!

“It’s time.” She didn’t say more when I didn’t like how she grew darker; what was going on??

“Delta Vivian, time for what?!” I was saying it when the older woman looked at me heavily, giving me shivers from hearing the word that all wolves feared, having unimaginable pain getting in contact with a metal that humans wore as jewelry.

“Silver.”