FOUR

VALERIE

SIX YEARS LATER

"Luna. Luna!" I hear a boy's voice and snap up to see Daryl trying to get my attention. He is the thirteen-year old boy golden-eyed boy caught stealing meat in the market. When they tried to tie him down and give him a punishment more severe than the actual crime, I stepped in, stopping them in time.

He is being blocked by guards. I scowl before looking over to the group I am training.

"Keep training. I will be right back," I tell them and they all nod and do as they are told.

I walk over to the two guards when one had pushed him roughly to the ground. I growl and see that the other is about to kick him but I am quick on my feet and grabbed his leg before it can connect to the boy's face. I yank it, turning him over making him land on his a*s on the ground.

He curses and looks up at me with angry eyes, ready to shift and tear into whoever tackled him to the ground, but pales when he sees my face looking down at him with a scowl.

"L.Luna!" he rushes, his face turning bright pink as he struggles to get up on his feet.

"Just what were you trying to do, Sedrick?" I growl, eyeing him.

"I. This criminal is trying to force entry. He doesn't belong here," he spits and shoots his eyes to the boy who flinches at his words.

Anger flares at the thought of this grown man labeling a child a criminal for trying to put food on the table. I find this kind of people annoying to the core.

"It seems you are so keen of dictating whoever is a criminal and who isn't. So let's do this your way. I saw you just attempt to attack a child and that is already punishable by werewolf law. It is called child cruelty. As your luna, I am entitled to order whatever punishment I deem justified for your actions. The same goes for your friend here." I say, giving the other guard involved a pointed look which makes him cower in fear he pi*sed his pants. I know by the stench of p*ss now floating in the air.

I move my gaze to Sedrick. This man has always been a pain in my rear and the amount of times I have seen him oppress some pack members make me want to go against my own principles.

I curl my lips into a sadistic smile.

"I can even punish you both with torture." I quip, and see their faces pale in comparison to their previous smug looks.

"P.Please. Luna.. A.Anything but that." The other guard pleads, and Sedrick? Now he just looks p*ssed although he is very good at hiding it.

"Please. Forgive us." He says through gritted teeth. I don't miss to notice him clenching and unclenching his fists in a bid to satiate his need to probably tear me limb from limb. My wolf scoffs at that.

'Oh please. He couldn't even if he tried.' she comments and laughs her head off like a damn banshee.

Back to Sedrick. He is clearly holding back but just like any other time, he has no choice. Unfortunately for him, I am the luna.

I look down at both of them now dropped on their knees. I rolled my eyes and shook my head at them.

"This will be the last time. But before you could even think you are off the hook, I am sending you both to take classes on basic werewolf law. See to it that you attend if you don't want me to follow up on that punishment." I snarl and make my way to the poor boy.

Looking at him, he is dressed so poorly I felt bad. He is practically clothed in rags and whatever scraps he managed to sew together to fit his thin frame. 

He practically barrels toward me and I am surprised when he buries his face in my chest.

"Luna. M. My mom she's." he struggles in between sobs. I didn't need any more confirmation and the way I see it, his mom needs help.

I cup his coal-stained face and make him look up at me.

"Take me to her." I say, my voice gentle so as to not scare the boy away. That's the last thing he needs.

He gulps and nods vigorously before taking my hand, and we take off. I mind-linked Beta Zayne to take over the training for me and that I wouldn't be back for a while. He immediately agreed and went in my stead.

I am confused as I thought the boy would be leading me to the hospital, but from the looks of it, it seems he is taking me to his home. 

Daryl is an omega and so is his mother. I have no idea if he has a father but if he had, he wouldn't be putting himself in those situations. And when we reached the apartment, which is practically a small room in this nine-story building just for housing omegas, I couldn't help but feel my anger flame at the dire living condition he is in. They all are in.

Daryl pulls out a key with trembling hands making me frown. I hold his hand and send calmness toward him, call it one of the luna perks, and it makes him relax a little just enough until he finds the key he is looking for and opens the door.

A small bed where a frail, pale-looking woman wheezes sucking in as much air as she could is seen right as you open the door. I run to her side and check her breathing. It is slow. Extremely slow and my heart picks up a beat.

"Please. Can you help her?" Daryl sobs and it makes my gut wrench. Why isn't she in the hospital?

I choose to leave the questions aside for later and take her hand.

"I believe I can. I am the luna, after all." I say and smile at the boy. Hope glimmers in his eyes and he nods, a tear sliding down his cheek. I wipe the tear from his face as I begin healing her, and in the process I am starting to feel my body lose some energy and strength.

After 30 minutes, her complexion is looking better, her hair has thickened and her lips are no longer deathly pale.

"Hold her. She needs a familial bond to help heal." I tell Daryl who has been watching me in awe. One of the perks of being a luna is that I can heal any wound from a pack member, but at a cost of losing my life energy and strength. But that can be regained, her life is more important.

After a few more minutes the healing is almost complete when I hear a ruckus going on outside.

"WHERE IS SHE?!" 

His voice roars it traveled throughout the entire building and Daryl flinches. I grip his hand and tell him to not be afraid. He nods and eyes me worriedly. He has been dying to ask why my face looks pale now.

In a moment the door bursts open to reveal my husband and chosen mate's heaving chest and face. 

Great. Now I've done it.

"Alpha." I say weakly before I let go of her hand, ending the healing process.

I try to stand but fail as my vision corrupts and everything goes black.