Luna's Revenge

Mortals

Rowan was sitting in his study, trying to focus on the pile of papers on the desk in front of him. Those papers contained all of the information that his spies had from other packs, including some of those that Jenna had left for him.

This was usual procedure for him. Knowing if another pack was planning to make a move on Viribus was a crucial part of being prepared for any untimely attacks.

However, even though his eyes were on the papers in his hand, his mind was in the storage room down the hall, knowing that Ophelia was working there.

He had spent the entirety of the last night sitting outside her cell, watching her sleep. And more than that, he had found the peace and quiet that he had been looking for, for so long.

He knew that as an Alpha, it was ill-advised for him to even think about a rogue. However, being near her created waves of serenity inside his heart.

His face was pulled in a deep scowl before he heard a sharp knock at the door as he looked up and found Clark standing there.

He rolled his eyes. “How many times do I need to tell you not to knock?” He grumbled, shaking his head as he returned his gaze to the stack of papers.

Clark, with his sword still strapped to his back and a friendly smile on his face, walked in. “You are an Alpha and I am burdened with my own formalities. None of those things is going to change.” He told Rowan as he walked over to the desk where he was working but did not sit down.

Rowan looked up and raised an eyebrow questioningly. “What is it?” He asked.

“Border activity has increased in the past week. And every day, the hunting party comes back with less and less food.” Clark’s voice was low, making sure that no prying ears heard them.

Rowan’s face shifted into an unreadable mask. “What do you think is the reason?” He asked in the same manner, his own mind working on an overdrive after listening to his general’s words.

“I think that someone is planning an attack on the city.”

It took Rowan a few seconds before he nodded and got up, folding up his shirt sleeves. “Or, it could be something else running through the woods.” He pointed out. “Either way, I will be going out tonight to see for myself. Perhaps we will have an idea of what is stealing our dinner.”

Clark’s eyes widened slightly, “I would highly suggest against it, Alpha.” He voiced. “Your life matters the most and if whatever is out there is dangerous, then we should send the Omegas first.”

Rowan shook his head. “I have told you this before and I will repeat it again: I am not going to be an Alpha who relies on others to do his dirty work and protect him from the dangers. This is my pack and so, it is my responsibility to protect the city of Viribus.” His voice was unwavering and his resolve was so absolute that Clark could not find words to argue.

However, being his advisor, he did. “I was your father’s age when he was an Alpha and I remember warning him against such impulsive thoughts. He allowed his emotions for the pack cloud his judgement and that got him killed. He forgot that the pack is safe as long as the Alpha is.”

Rowan’s head snapped up towards Clark as he looked at him with a bellowing rage in his eyes. He knew that his general meant well and only wanted to see him safe, however, there were still some things in Rowan’s past life that he did not want ruffled with.

“And what of my uncle then? I remember him hanging on to every single word that came out of your mouth. He never did anything out of the line and always sent his people to protect him. And things got so terrible that our pack suffered through a prolonged phase of destruction and starvation.” Rowan’s eyes were boring into Clark’s as he looked at him with an unflinching intensity. “My father was a good Alpha. He knew what to do for his own people, irrespective of his ruthlessness. And my uncle was just cruel and selfish. And as for me, I intend to do better than both of them. I intend on righting their wrongs and I intend to start now.”

And as Rowan walked out of the room, Clark could not help but wonder if he would succeed in his quest.

Rowan’s mind was rushing with thoughts, his anger still steaming inside his veins as he took a sharp left and entered a room.

A cough broke his thoughts as he looked up and registered his surroundings of where his feet had taken him.

He was standing in the storage room.

In front of him was Ophelia, stretching on her toes as she stood on a stool to clean the cobwebs from the walls.

He was stunned at the fact that just like last night, his conscience had once again taken him to her. He could not help but deny the tug he had felt when he left his study. He had felt his blood rushing through his body and his anger rising with each step, only for all of it to vanish the moment he entered this room.

And now, as he stood there, watching her try to reach for the cobwebs on a lamp attached high above her head on the wall, he could not help the chuckle that escaped his lips.

Ophelia turned sharply at the sound, it having startled her, and in the process, she lost her footing as she slipped from the stool she was on.

Rowan’s eyes widened as he instinctively stepped towards her with hopes of catching her before she fell but it was so swift that one moment she was standing on the stool and in the other, she was on the floor, hissing because of the pain.

She sat up on the ground, glaring at him as she tried to ignore the sheer pain that had risen in her lower back but could not help but wince when she tried to get back up with the help of the stool.

“What the hell do you want?” She snapped at Rowan whose eyes widened at her tone.

“Is that how you talk to the Alpha who is keeping you captive?” He asked gruffly.

Ophelia simply looked at him for a long moment, “what the hell do you want, your Majesty?” She repeated with a sarcastic smile on her face.

Rowan was baffled by her wit but he simply shook his head.

When he looked back at her, she was standing there with her arms crossed on her chest, still looking at him questioningly, waiting for his answer.

His eyes roamed over to the room as if he was looking for something. “Yeah, I needed that!” He said as he dashed to his left and picked up a hideous looking ceramic vase which was slightly crooked at the rim.

Ophelia raised her eyebrow, not believing him for a second but Rowan shrugged and walked out of the room without once looking back at her.

She shook her head, “arrogant prick.” She whispered underneath her breath.

However, with his own advanced hearing, he heard her words loud and clear as soon as he stepped out of the room and shut the door behind him.

What is wrong with me? She is rude and clumsy and above all, a rogue. I should not be walking up to her for not reason. And I sure as hell should not be feeling bad that she fell.

Those were his thoughts as he walked away from the storage, leaving her to her work before he made it to his own bedroom and slammed the door shut as he threw the vase in his trash can, rolling his eyes.

Fool. He cussed himself before he walked over to the small desk in his own room and sat down thinking about what he was supposed to do in the evening.

♚♚♚

Ophelia was almost done with the cobwebs as she wiped at the sweat beads forming on her forehead. Her black t-shirt and jeans were now stained with dust and her hair was matted with sweat. She groaned as she stretched her back and her muscles screamed at her with pain.

She cussed the Alpha again as the pain in her back increased because of the fall as she wondered why exactly had he come to her.

Or perhaps, he did need that vase. You know how crazy this pack is. She reasoned with herself as she walked out of the room after dusting herself off.

Not knowing where to go for lunch, she walked out of the house as she looked over the entirety of the square, bustling in front of her.

Some slaves, like her own self, worked for other families and houses but looking closely, she realized that they weren’t wolves like herself.

Human.

The Viribus pack had enslaved humans.

Rage coursed through her veins, knowing that it was illegal for werewolf cities to do that to the mortals. The law had been made centuries ago and even then, just as she had expected, this pack had refused to follow any accords.

Shaking her head, she was about to walk back inside to find Justin when her eyes landed to the small group of trees at the northern end of the square where some of the humans were huddled together.

She wondered what that was about as she walked down the marble steps of the mansion and made her way to the group.

Some of them looked up at her, probably sensing what she was, as they stepped back in fear from her.

She raised her hands in surrender. “I am not here to harm you. I am exactly like you.” She blurted.

“You’re a wolf.” A woman, middle aged, hissed at her with hatred. Her hands were covered in burnt scars. Ophelia assumed that those scars were somehow a result of this city’s cruelty and that soon, she too would bear them.

“No, you don’t understand, I am a rogue. Their prisoner.” She tried to explain as the woman continued to stare at her with distaste.

“What do you want?” A man, almost her own age, asked in an angry tone.

“I was wondering if you would tell me what the rules here have been for you and where do I go if I wish to eat something.” She requested but soon regretted her words as they looked at her with expressions filled with hatred.

And before she could realize what was happening, an eight-year-old girl with dusty blonde hair spat at her feet and she jumped back, startled at the gesture.

“Find your own way, b***h. And stay away from us.” The woman who had spoken first snapped at her before the crowd began to disperse and Ophelia saw a small table arranged with some meat and bread loafs from where all of them were eating. It was certainly not a lot for so many people.

Her stomach protested as she tried to take a step towards it but the young man who was still standing, clutched her arm to a point that she knew that it was going to bruise.

“Listen here, girl, don’t ever try to be a part of us. You might be their slave just like us, but we are not the same.” His voice was razor sharp before he pushed her away roughly and she had to stumble before she caught her footing.

Okay, the humans hate me, and all of this pack hates me. Point taken.

Rolling her eyes, she walked back into the mansion and to the storage room, continuing to clean it, since she knew that there was no way that she was going to get food anytime soon.