Chapter 4

My brain could not keep up with so much emotion that was being processed in a single second. Fear and anxiety were common to me whenever I was in such situations with my father, the Gamma of Redmoon. 

But today I daresay I felt more. I felt a curiosity more pronounced than it had ever been, I felt love that had never been and against my own better judgment, I felt guilt and pity for this man who was about to beat me to an inch of my life. 

"Time is up" he barked, suddenly rising and turning for the first time towards my direction. At this point, his belt was already in his hand and a wicked smile had been substituted for the pain I knew was in his eyes some moments ago. 

"Plea… father please" I tried to reach out to the man I saw a few moments ago. The man who stooped so low even in the presence of his acclaimed enemy and slave. 

"Never call me father in your life" an order that preceded a tight smack of the face. I fell from the force of the attack and from the intensity of the malice behind it. 

"You took my mate" were the words that announced the first whip.

"And for that I curse you" the second whip. 

"I curse your matebond" another lash

"You will be mateless" an even harder whip. 

"You took my mate" he began the sequence again and repeated the same words over and over till I could not hear the words any longer or feel the pain of his lash. 

I thought that I had died and great joys filled my heart. I was finally able to rid my father and his pack of a presence like mine. 

But I was wrong. 

***

My brows shifted open slowly and I could make out a single desk and a bunch of chairs. Horror filled my heart in an instant. 

I was in an office, the Gamma's, my father's. He was lashing out on me as usual, cursing me as the iron end on his belt pierced through my flesh. He was saying things I could not remember till I fell unconscious. 

It was already getting late and from the looks of it, he was out and so were his guards. I seized that opportunity to leave the room but something was wrong.

My limbs were too weak to obey my brain. All over my body were bruises that I was stunned to look at. Those bruises were just an open display of the true pain I was feeling inside. Pain from the multiple times I was whipped and my blood was drawn, pain from the hatred of the man who whipped me. 

Pain from being born. 

Since all that I was allowed to have was a pain, I set out to use it judiciously. It was the present pain and fear of a future one that motivated my limbs to move and once they did, I ran till I felt yet another surge of pain that stopped me in my tracks. 

"Sssorry. I wasn't looking where…" all my coherence fled when I looked into his eyes. 

"Mate" he announced emphatically, startling the core of my being. 

Could this be? Could the moon goddess be so kind as to bestow me with a mate in such a time that I was desperate for one? 

"Who could have done this to you?" his voice rose in anger but instead filled my heart with warmth. This was the first time anyone had ever stood up for me and I could feel my defenses begin to crumble already. 

"Pardon my manners. I didn't introduce myself properly. I am Gray, alpha of the moon leash pack and you?" 

"Lyra…Lyra Sanchez" I mumbled trying desperately to conceal a blush. 

"Lyra. Tell me who would dare to do this to my mate?" I could see his eyes grow murderous, making it crystal clear that he indeed was my mate. 

Was I dreaming? How could I have gotten so lucky in just a few seconds? Moments ago I had nothing but now I had an alpha as a mate and a possibility of building a family with him, a dream I have had since childhood. 

"You don't need to be scared. As future Luna of my pack, I will protect you" he further prodded. 

Future Luna? His pack? Protection? My heart was beating with new life as my mind dared to envision a future that was a perfect contrast to my past. I was going to have the love I was robbed of all my life.

"Are you an Omega?" impatience had driven him to blurt out the words and I could hear his irritation stretched out in the word "Omega" 

Instantly, my heart skipped two beats as I was visited with a new fear. One more terrifying than any I have had to face. Would he reject me if he found out that I was in fact an Omega? 

"Answer me" now I could feel some of the anger that raged in his heart being directed towards me and it was frightening. My legs suddenly began to tremble, my palms grew sweaty as I had no choice but to come clean.

"Yes sir" I said, bowing my head in shame. I could not bear to look into those eyes of his and see the same disgust that everyone else had for me. My heart will not be able to stomach that. 

"Then you can't be Luna of my pack" he said curtly

"What is that supposed to.. " my words were cut off when I noticed a new presence in the scene. 

"Alpha Gray" Raven came running towards us and my mate caught her in a loving embrace. Raven who earlier said that she was getting married. 

Staring at how comfortable my fated mate was in her arms and the smile that brightened up her face, I put two and two together and got my answer. 

Hell.