Luna Battle: The Game

Chapter 5 NOT WELCOME

Have they found out I lied on my application? "Why me?" I whisper, looking at the guards as Beta Luca roughly pulls me to my feet.

“You’re to join the other candidates in the Luna Battle. Alpha Prime Darius has requested that you attend after your submission made the finals,” one of the guards announces.

My body goes still, the weight of their words sinking in. I made the finals? I never expected to be chosen and never thought my application would be anything more than a fleeting escape in my mind. Now, it’s real, and I can already feel Alpha Draven’s eyes burning into me. His anger is palpable, but there’s nothing he can do. He can’t refuse a direct order from Alpha Prime Darius. Yet, the power to expose me, to reveal that I am already bitten and claimed by him, lingers in the air between us. Then again, does he know that was a rule?

I stand there, waiting for his words. Surely, he’ll speak. Surely, he’ll deny me this opportunity.

“Mutt, I suggest you pack your bag.” His voice cuts through the tension, cold and controlled.

I move quickly, rushing to my cell and grabbing the few belongings I own. As I pull off my top to change, I wince, the pain from the lacerations still fresh. I bite my lip to keep from screaming as the wounds pull against the movement.

The door creaks open, and Alex steps inside, his expression soft. “He sent me to cover your lacerations,” he says with a small smile, approaching me with a jar of ointment. “At least you’re free,” he adds in a whisper as he gently applies the balm to my back. I wince again but don’t let the scream out. His words hang in the air—free for a short time, I think to myself. This won’t last forever.

“All done,” he says, finishing his task. “Good luck, Elara.” His tone is sincere, but there’s sadness in his eyes as he leaves the room.

I pull on a fresh top, gather the rest of my things, and make my way toward the front of the house. Beta Luca is waiting for me near the door, his smirk making my skin crawl.

“You won’t be gone long, Mutt. Enjoy the freedom while you can. Alpha Prime Darius will toss you aside as soon as he realises you’re a wolfless, packless w***e,” he sneers. His words sting, not because they’re untrue, but because they’re all too accurate.

I nod, not bothering to respond. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I’ll be thrown out once they see me for what I truly am. But maybe—just maybe—this is my chance to escape. If I can make it to Nightfall Citadel, the place where rejected and wolfless people go, Alpha Draven won’t be able to drag me back.

As I step outside, I see Alpha Draven watching me from the doorway, his eyes cold and hard. “See you soon,” he says, his voice laced with menace. “You can guarantee it.” I don’t respond. I just follow the guards into the car, feeling the eyes of the pack on me as we drive away.

The car pulls up to the palace, and I step out, feeling out of place in my worn jeans and old T-shirt. The guard gestures toward the entrance. “The maid will guide you inside.”

“Thank you,” I murmur, offering a small, nervous smile. He nods, and I follow the maid, who leads me through the grand halls of the palace. Everything is so much more lavish than anything I’ve ever seen, even more so than Alpha Draven’s home. I can hardly believe it.

“You are the last to arrive,” the maid says as she opens a door, and I step into a large room. The other women are already there, standing in clusters, their faces calm and confident. They’re dressed in elegant gowns, the kind of clothing fit for royalty. I feel completely out of place.

I stand at the edge of the room, trying to blend into the background, but it’s impossible. I don’t belong here, and I can feel the stares, the judgment. One of the women glances at me, her eyes narrowing in disgust.

“Excuse me,” a voice says sharply. I look up to see a man holding a camera, a news producer, judging by his equipment. “You’re too close. Move back.”

“I...sorry?” I stammer, confused by his aggression.

“You heard me. You’re too close to the candidates. Move!” he snaps, his tone dismissive.

“I am a candidate,” I say quietly, unsure of how to defend myself.

Laughter ripples through the room, and I feel a shove from behind, pushing me further away from the group. “Please don’t disrespect the king by standing with his possible Lunas,” the producer says, smirking. “Move away, trash.”

“I’m not lying. I was chosen to be here,” I try to explain, pointing to the maid who brought me in. But no one listens.

One of the women sneers at me. “You should be cleaning the floors in the cellar, not standing here pretending to be one of us.” Laughter echoes again, and I feel the sting of their words deep in my chest.

Before I can respond, I’m shoved hard, and I stumble, ready to hit the ground. But instead of the cold floor, I feel a hand catch me, stopping my fall.

“What is going on here?” a deep voice asks, and I look up to see Alpha Kellan standing over me, his emerald eyes, so much like Darius’s, filled with intensity.

“She wouldn’t get out of the shot, sir. We were just trying to get footage for the broadcast,” the producer stammers, suddenly unsure of himself.

“And why exactly was she required to move?” Alpha Kellan steps in front of me, shielding me from the producer.

“She doesn’t belong here. Surely, when Alpha Prime Darius arrives, he’ll be displeased to see someone like her standing with the real candidates.”

Alpha Kellan’s expression hardens. “And you caused this delay, did you not?”

“I-I just needed to get a clean shot—”

“Of only the candidates, correct? Which she is,” Alpha Kellan says firmly.

The producer’s face pales. “I-I assumed—”

“You assumed,” Kellan interrupts, his voice sharp. “Did the broadcast not say anyone could apply and that everyone had an equal chance?”

The producer fumbles for words. “W-we thought that was for the cameras, sir.”

“Well, it wasn’t. Now, apologise. I’ll be informing the king of your actions, considering she may very well be his future Luna—and your queen.”

The man’s face drains of colour. “I’m sorry, miss,” he mumbles, bowing his head.

“Ella,” Alpha Kellan calls to a maid. “See that Elara is dressed appropriately. Ensure she looks the part.” He turns and walks away, and Ella rushes to pull me into another room.

She helps me strip out of my old clothes and into a dress. It’s not as beautiful as what the others are wearing, but it’s far better than the rags I arrived in. I pull on the shoes she hands me and glance at my reflection. I still look like I don’t belong, but at least I look presentable.

Ella guides me back out, and I rejoin the women. I can feel their eyes on me, and one of them sneers. “They really are letting the mutt stay.”

Another woman laughs. “They need to make it look real. She’ll be gone in the first round.”

“Ladies!” a voice calls out, drawing our attention. A man stands on a stage, looking down at us. “I’m Beta William, the king’s personal representative. Alpha Prime Darius will be joining us shortly. Once he arrives, we’ll announce the first task. Please refrain from approaching the king. He will not be holding personal meetings today.”

The women around me nod, some of them clearly excited. I, on the other hand, feel utterly lost. I scan the group, trying to figure out where I could possibly fit in, but I don’t feel like I belong anywhere. Not here. Not with them.