CHAPTER THREE

“Wh…what?” I widen my eyes at him.

The ‘him’ is no other than Beta Stephen, the Beta of our pack.

I had been so shocked when Stefani –the daughter of couple I work for- had rushed into the space I stay in, close to the kitchen to pull me out, while whispering hastily that Beta Stephen was here to see me.

Me? Was the first thought that came to my mind.

Why? Was the next.

The last time I got to be in the presence of any of the pack’s authority was four years ago. That is, the incidence with Pa. One that scarred me by making me a help and making me fatherless, as Pa could not and did not survive the wounds he got from the flogging.

I wasn’t enthusiastic to meet another authority. But Stefani’s enthusiasm was enough for two as she succeeded in dragging me outside the house.

I came face to face with a huge back. And I froze.

Frozen is how I still am even after he has told his reason for being here.

“Do you have a problem hearing me, or is it with your understanding?” he said rudely.

Strangely, his expression does not suit his message. With his eyes repeatedly scanning my up to down, I can read disgust.

“No, none. I ju…just cannot process all what you said.” Me and my silly stutter.

“So, you are not smart, too? Perfect.”

The last part of his utterance was more of a whisper to himself.

Are my ears aching, or did the Beta just call me foolish? Me?

Okay.

“Well, given your condition, I’ll repeat myself.” In preparation, he folds his arms behind his back, making the buttons of his tight silk shirt almost pop with the way his chest puffs out.

“You, Riley Green, has been chosen to be the new Alpha’s mate. His Luna.” He accentuates every word with a raise of his right eyebrow.

“By who?” Falls out of my mouth.

“Do you think this pack is a joke? I am not supposed to answer such dumb question, but keeping your condition…You were chosen by the Moon Goddess.”

I stare, waiting for his eyebrow to come down and for him to break into laughter. From how things have been going with me, I wouldn’t mind having a good laugh.

I wait some more.

But nothing happens.

Meaning he is serious.

“Why?” I whisper to no one exactly.

His arms move from his back to his chest. He has a slim figure but has muscles which he obviously flaunts from his posture and clothing. He is good-looking with a barely-there mustache and two centimeter long goatee. He inherited his looks and position from his late father, but it seems he was born before the manners got to him.

Everything about him screams rude. But who am I to point out who is rude or not?

“I knew you would have doubts. So I brought the Seer so you would here from the house’s mouth.”

It’s not like I don’t believe him. It’s just that it doesn’t make sense. I have not seen the new Alpha before to check if I feel a pull to him, but all he has said does not just sit right with my guts.

Can an Omega become a Luna?

“It has happened in history.” A shrill voice answers my thought.

A fat man with long hair and a long beard now stand beside the Beta. He is in rags, very similar to the ones on me and multiple strings of beads lines up around his neck.

“The…the Seer?” I ask.

“That is me.” The round man answers. “The Beta is right about all he has told you. The gracious Moon Goddess has selected you, out of all the potential and ideal maidens in the pack, to be the Alpha’s Luna.” He avoids my eyes while saying all these.

Why they are this rude with the kind of message they bear raise my suspicion. If I am to be their Luna, shouldn’t I be given some respect?

“Well, that’s enough talk for you. Tomorrow is the coronation night, and the new Alpha would be expecting his bride. Be early and,” he takes his time in looking at me from my hair to my shoes. “You know what? Just come as you are. Just perfect.” He slow grins comes to his face.

Like they were never there, they leave.

Am I a joke to them? I haven’t washed up for a whole moon and my hair was almost now locks as it has been long since a comb had gone through it. Meaning, I look my worst. And I should come this way?

Am I to see this as a good thing? Is this the Moon Goddess’ way of wetting up my dry life. I have had dreams of getting married to a prince.

But an Alpha?

That has never crossed my thought.

I sigh as mixed feelings overcome me.

This is interrupted by Stefani’s screeching. She stops in front of me with a jump.

“You are going to be the Luna?”

I search for disgust in her voice and face. But instead, I am met with the brightest smile.

“Why the frown? Smile Riley.” She pinches my cheeks. “This won’t do. Come, we have a lot of cleaning up and combing to do.”

As she drags me back into her parents’ house, I find myself smiling too.

*                                *                            *                               *                                 *

Cleaning and combing is what we actually do.

“You look so pretty, Riley.” Stefani complements.

I feel pretty.

I feel fresh.

I feel free.

Free, though the gorgeous green dress which Stefani had to search for underneath her pile and give me, makes it quite hard to walk as it keeps falling off my shoulders.

I sometimes forget to eat, so it’s no surprise I am slimmer than she.

I don’t know if it’s the joy of things to come, but I can’t wipe this big smile off my face.

I just can’t.

“Thank you.” I reply in a small voice.

Smile still on my face, I duck my head to avoid a stray branch. Nothing should ruin the colorful powders Stefani has rubbed on my face.

We are almost at the Alpha’s base, but considering how nervous I am, if Stefani lets go of my hand, which she has in a tight grip, I might run away.

I have never been this confused before.

Yes, I was born an omega. Yes, my Ma died before I could know her. Yes, my Pa has gone to meet her too, leaving behind to clear out his debt. Yes, that debt is what I have been clearing out; cooking, scrubbing, cleaning, rearing, tilling, for four years now.

Yes, this my life for the past twenty years. No, I’m not complaining. But, where does becoming Green Creek Pack’s Luna come in?

With Stefani’s excitement, that could illuminate the whole pack, I have started feeling excited too, but I know nothing about being a leader.

Nothing.

But I still smile.

“Make sure you don’t trip during the processing. Keep your head high and look straight. Discard any nervousness, Luna.” Stefani screeches in laughter. And I can’t help but giggle too.

“Well,” She continues. “In case you feel weird about the stares, just look at your Alpha and think of all he would do to you tonight.”

That stops me dead on my tracks.

How come that never crossed my mind?

Realizing my halt, with her hand still gripping mine, Stefani turns to look me right in the eye.

That has been her very recent way of gauging my reaction and how I felt about things, as I have never complain.

We weren’t this way earlier as it is not so normal to be close to the maid. She was horrible towards me.

Then she stopped.

And through the years, though her mom is sometimes against it, we got closer. Close enough to call each other friends. I had almost cried the day she called me that. I had never had one.

“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought of it. Riley you are getting married to the Alpha tonight. What do you expect? He would want pups everywhere.” She has an evil glint in her eyes.

“I…I don’t think I’m ready for that. Like I haven’t even seen him. Ever.” Panic begins to rise within me.

“Well, I have.” Stefani gives me an awkward smile.

“You have?”

“Yes. And he is quite- big.”

“He is?”

“Huge is the better word.”

“Stefani, you are making it worse.”

“I’m only speaking the truth.” She moves closer and whispers. “If only you had paid attention to me that day I read to you the content of that book I took from Mother’s shelf. If only. Now, you have little knowledge of ‘it’.”

I had listened to her ramble off words from that book, but when it got to a part that had a lot of filthy words that made me feel hot and bothered, I chased her off with a bowl of chicken dung.

“Well, I …I remember some part of it.” I stare at the ground as my face gets hot. If not that it is getting dark, how red my face gets when I blush, would make Stefani laugh out loud; like she always does.

“Perfect. Three is no need to be bothered.”

“You said he is big.”

“I did?”

“Yes.”

“Goodness. Riley, I was talking about his size. Like the size of his body. His physique. Where was your mind? In a pile of chicken shit?” she says in between laughter.

“Oh.”

“Yes. Now we have to hurry. But shouldn’t like a group of Gammas come lead their Luna to the event? I am going to be your second in command and crush them all.” She releases my hand and raises both fists for emphasis.

I laugh. “Silly girl.”

She takes hold of my hand again. “Let’s go.”

And hand in hand, we walk in silence, heading to my wedding place.

I still feel nervous and confused, but talking to Stefani, most times, calm me down. And now, it does. As we walk, she occasionally turns to look at my face, this I return with a smile.

Is she my personal parcel? A winter gift from the Moon Goddess? I don’t know.

All I can’t think of now, is that everyone deserves a friend like Stefani.