Luna Battle: The Game

I push the brush across the wooden floor, moving it over the same spot again and again, even though there’s nothing left to clean. Every inch of the room is spotless, but Alpha Draven’s expectations are ruthless. Perfection isn’t just a goal; it’s a demand. Even the slightest speck of dust, the tiniest imperfection, would be seen as a failure. And failure isn’t tolerated. So, I sweep, not because it’s needed, but because it’s required. God forbid a fleck of dirt lands on the floor and I hadn’t swept enough times that day. He’d notice. He always notices. "Mutt!" His voice booms from the other room, sharp and commanding. I freeze instantly, my body tensing with the all-too-familiar dread that accompanies his call. "Mutt!" There’s impatience now, so I place the brush down carefully and hurry toward him. I can’t keep him waiting. As I step into the room, he turns in his chair, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth. It’s not a kind smile. It never is. “Yes, Master,” I say, immediately moving to kneel before him. My head bows low, my eyes fixed on the floor as I wait for his command. “We have company tonight,” he says in that cold, calculating tone of his. “Make sure the tables are set. There will be fifteen guests.” His words settle heavily in the room, like an unspoken threat. “Yes, Master. I will get it done. Is there anything else?” My voice is steady, trained to be neutral and emotionless. Asking too many questions or speaking out of turn can provoke him, and provoking him never ends well. His smile widens, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “These guests are important, and I trust you will behave appropriately tonight.” His gaze narrows, and there’s a weight behind his words, an unspoken reminder of what happens when I don’t meet his expectations. “Do you understand?” 'I don’t have a choice,' I think bitterly, though I would never say that out loud. My life is nothing but following his commands, no matter how degrading. “Yes, Master. I will behave.” He stands, and though I can’t see his face, I can feel the shift in the room. “Raise your head.” I lift my eyes slowly until I’m looking up at him, towering above me. “What is your role tonight?” I take a breath, choosing my words carefully. “To please you, Master, and your guests.” His eyes gleam with satisfaction. “One guest in particular, Mutt—Alpha Ethan. I need him to agree to our deal. You will give him special attention tonight, more than any of the others. Do you understand?” There’s a sharpness in his tone, a threat lurking just beneath the surface. “Yes, Master,” I reply quietly. “Good. Go and get the room ready. Your outfit is in your cell. I expect you to be wearing it before the guests arrive. You may leave now.” “Thank you, Master.” I stand, keeping my movements precise and submissive as I leave the room. My heart pounds in my chest, not because of the task ahead of me, but because I know what’s coming. I’ve been through this routine too many times not to know what’s expected of me tonight. As I walk through the house to the room where Draven entertains his guests, I focus on the task at hand. I wipe down the tables, polish the surfaces, and make sure everything is immaculate. The cooks and other servants will handle the food, but the presentation must be flawless, or it will be my fault if anything is out of place. After finishing, I make my way back to my cell. It’s a small, cold room with little more than a thin mat on the floor for me to sleep on. Lying on the mat is the outfit I’m expected to wear tonight. My stomach churns as I look at the skimpy dress. It’s short—far too short for anything appropriate. This isn’t just about serving food and drinks. Alpha Ethan will expect more than polite conversation. "Mutt." The harsh voice pulls me from my thoughts. I turn to see Beta Luca standing in the doorway of my cell. Without hesitation, I kneel. “Yes, Sir.” My voice is steady, though inside I’m trembling. He steps closer, his polished shoes coming into view. “I expect your company tonight as well,” he says, his voice filled with possessiveness. “Do not be late.” “Sir, Alpha Draven has already assigned me to attend to Alpha Ethan,” I say carefully, keeping my head bowed. There’s no way to win in this situation, and I know it. Beta Luca chuckles darkly, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking my head back. Pain shoots through my scalp as I’m forced to look up at him. “Then you will have a long night ahead of you. Once Alpha Ethan is done with you, you will come to me.” “Yes, Sir.” My voice trembles, and a small whimper escapes as his grip tightens painfully. His smile twists into something cruel. “Actually, I have a better idea. I’m sure Alpha Ethan will agree to my little plan.” He releases my hair, and my head falls forward as he walks out of the room. His footsteps fade, but the tension in my chest remains heavy and suffocating. I look down at the dress again, knowing what’s expected of me. I put it on, pulling my hair into a tight knot on top of my head. I need to stay focused and keep my emotions hidden. As I walk into the room where the guests are gathered, I lower my head and move toward Alpha Ethan. “Ah, Elara,” Alpha Ethan says when he notices me. “You’re my company tonight?” “Yes, Sir.” I can’t bring myself to look at him fully, but he’s not like the others. He treats me with more respect than Alpha Draven or Beta Luca, but something in his demeanour tells me that tonight will be different. The relaxed air he usually has is gone, replaced with a tension I can feel, and I know I must do whatever is asked of me, no matter what. I learned my lesson the hard way. Years Earlier I wasn’t always this obedient. I used to fight back. The thought of anyone touching me made me sick, so I fought with everything I had. But it didn’t matter. They always took what they wanted anyway, and the more I resisted, the worse it became. When I was sold to Alpha Draven, I was still young, naive enough to believe there might be something better for me. They told me it was a blessing. That Draven was powerful and that I’d be taken care of. But it was all lies. The first time I resisted, I paid dearly. He took me with force, and when it was over, my body was covered in bruises. I remember lying there afterwards, my spirit broken, my body screaming in pain, as the door flew open, and Beta Luca dragged me outside. He threw me into the snow, naked, and left me there to freeze. I don’t know how long I lay in that snow, shivering and shaking. My body was so cold it felt like it was burning. Snow piled around me, and I knew I wouldn’t survive the night. But even then, I couldn’t stop the tears. They froze on my cheeks as soon as they fell. “Look at the Mutt,” Beta Paul laughed as he and the others stood nearby. They were watching, enjoying my suffering. “Throw this at her!” Paul’s mocking tone rang in my ears, and I felt a heavy chunk of snow hit the back of my head, knocking me forward into the freezing ground. The worst part was when they dragged me back inside. Alpha Draven stood by the door, watching with satisfaction. “Will you fight again?” he asked, his voice cold and cruel. I couldn’t even speak. My lips were frozen, and my body was shaking uncontrollably. “Answer, Mutt!” he shouted. I forced out a stuttering, “N-n-n-no, Master.” His smile widened. “Good. Now go get in my bed.” And I did. Because after that, I knew what happens when you resist. The only good side to it was his bed was plush, warm and comfortable. Not the cold damn floor of my cell. Present Now, standing before Alpha Ethan, I know better than to fight. I lower my head and wait for his orders, knowing that whatever happens tonight, I’ll survive. I always do.