The pre-birthday dinner that I have been anticipating, and even managed to convince my mate became a failure. I could already imagine the mood of the pack tomorrow.
A double celebration.
Their Alpha’s birthday and the miraculous recovery of my twin sister.
My mind was completely blank as I locked the door, and turned off the lights. I simply packed up the cake into the fridge along with the wine. As for the dinner, I didn’t feel like eating, but I took three or four bites by force for the sake of my unborn child, and then packed everything up before washing the dirty dishes.
I didn’t even register how I walked to my room and got on my bed in the covers. Before I knew it, the next day arrives and I did not sleep a wink.
My head was filled with many thoughts of what happened.
The failed announcement of my baby.
My twin sister’s recovery.
My happy mate.
And my life from now on in the pack.
‘...I’m tired.’ I stare blankly at the cream wall of my room, mentally drained of these depressing thoughts. I just want to remain on this bed under the covers forever.
I am scared.
So scared of going outside.
*bzzzt* *bzzzt*
My alarm went off on my phone, and I lower my gaze to the vibrating device on the nightstand for a moment.
‘I should send a message to Steph or Logan.’ I groggily bring the device close to my face and quickly type a message to Stephanie about not going to make it to the class, and calling in sick.
‘I’m supposed to meet my supervisor today.’ I suddenly recall and then dismiss without hesitation. ‘I’ll send an email later.’
I return my phone back to the nightstand and bury half of my face under the covers.
*****
‘’Did you hear? Beta Monroe’s eldest daughter is awake!’’
‘’Really? I thought that was a rumor.’’
‘’No, it isn’t. The Monroe family decided to hold a banquet celebrating Miss Sienna’s recovery after the Alpha’s birthday banquet.’’
‘’I can’t wait. I have missed Miss Sienna and her silly quirks.’’
‘’Me too.’’
Northern Moon pack was drenched in a festive atmosphere. Their beloved Miss Sienna has finally awoken from her long coma, and their Alpha was also celebrating today. Many pack members decided to wear their best outfits for the banquets, and also bring appropriate gifts for both their Alpha, and their Beta’s eldest daughter.
Some pack members even thought of their acclaimed Luna, but dismissed her from their thoughts as their Alpha would surely handle her accordingly.
And so, the awaited birthday banquet finally arrived at the night.
****
*grrrr*
I groan softly at the rumbles coming from my belly. This was the third or fourth time now. I don’t know how much time has passed, but I am definitely feeling hungry at the moment.
‘I should heat up the leftovers.’ I purse my lips as I pull off the covers and sit up with my feet searching for my slippers. My destination was obviously the kitchen. I turned on the lights when I got there, and quickly heat up my portion of the leftovers before serving myself and eating on counter.
*clink*
*clink*
My fork kept on making that scraping sound on the plate as I ate in silence. My ears twitched at the faint sound of music coming from outside, and I knew without a second guess that my mate’s birthday banquet was ongoing.....without the Luna.
Here I was, the Luna and fated mate trying to satisfy her hunger even though the taste felt bland.
Unlike the pack members, my family, my mate....perhaps my twin sister who were definitely at the banquet.
Especially my mate and twin sister.
The perfect picture of a pair that everyone wanted in the pack. I knew firsthand how that scene would be, because I have experienced it so many times before that incident.
*sniff*
*sniff*
Tears gradually burst out of my eyes as I dropped my fork with the food bouncing over all the plate.
‘’W-What should I do?’’ I cry out softly. ‘’What should I do? What should I do? What should I do?’’ I almost slam the counter out of frustration, anger, sadness and all sorts of negative emotions, exploding from within my heart. Emotions that I have been trying to keep in check.
Indeed, what should I do?
I have tried to explain myself, but no one listened. I have endured the insults, the sneers, the mental abuse in hopes that I could be forgiven one day. I have lowered myself, my dignity, and even two years of my life, like a prostitute to my mate. I even begged for little of his time, and yet, just at the news of my twin sister’s recovery, he vanished like a puff of smoke without thinking of me, his own mate.
‘’I-I haven’t told him about you yet, baby.’’ I whimper, wiping my tears at the thought of my poor unborn child. I was so close in revealing the news to him and yet....
‘’S-Sorry, baby.’’ I apologize to my child in tears. ‘’I am truly sorry, baby.’’
I couldn’t even hold the father of my child back for just a moment. What kind of mother am I, honestly?
*Knock*
*Knock*
‘’Luna? Are you there?’’ I flinch at the unexpected voices and series of knocks. ‘’The Alpha calls for your presence at the banquet, Luna.’’
‘’...Y-Yes!’’ I quickly wipe my tears with my fingers, and hurry out of the kitchen. Inwardly, I was puzzled because Jared has never invited me to his birthday banquet.
All of a sudden, my heart drops at a bad premonition.
‘’Excuse us, Luna, but the Alpha calls your presence at the banquet.’’ A female pack member repeats after I open the door to her and some other pack members.
‘’I-Is he alright?’’ My voice shook a bit. I couldn’t help but ask with some concern. If Jared truly needed me, perhaps his werewolf was getting out of control. Someone must have angered him, but I haven’t felt any sort of anger or negative feelings from our incomplete mate bond. If anything, I have been feeling his happiness, and I knew who was the reason for that.
‘’You’ll know when you get there!’’ Another pack member snaps impatiently, and the female pack member glares openly at the person.
‘’The Alpha is alright, Luna.’’ The female pack member turns back and replies to my question. ‘’He just calls for your presence.’’
‘’I see.’’ I nod in understanding. ‘’Please give me some minutes to wear something appropriate.’’ I didn’t wait for their answers before shutting the door.
‘’Hey!’’
‘’Quiet, Sandra.’’
‘’But she’s rude!’’
‘’She’s our Luna.’’
‘’Hmph! What Luna?! Our true Luna is finally awake!’’
‘’......’’
Although that female pack member seemed polite on the surface, perhaps she was like the rest of them who openly disrespected me.
I simply ignore the conversation going outside and went to change my outfit to a jeans and sweater to hide my baby bump.
‘’What the heck happened?’’ Stephanie asks first, but then stopped herself. ‘’You know what? I’ll be right there!’’ She did not ask further questions and immediately ended the call. I stare at my phone, a small smile curling on my lips, feeling relieved that I had such good friends whom I could always turn to when my family, pack and mate have failed me.‘I just have to be careful now.’ I survey the deep forest with my vigilance heightened to the highest. My identity now was that of a rogue.Rogues were werewolves with no pack. They survive on their own, and most of them resorted to raiding packs for their basic needs. An example was that incident that happened two years ago.Innocent pack members have been killed by these rogues, and that’s why they are deeply hated by the werewolf society.And now, I have become one through a banishment.Through frequent outings at the human society, I was quite familiar with this deep forest, but that did not mean I have ever lowered my vigilance.
‘’No!’’ I scream from inside. ‘’Let me out! Let me out!’’ I try to take over, but my werewolf did not let me. From her feelings, I detected betrayal, hurt, anger, frustration, all sorts of negative emotions that I also felt, and most of all....Grief.Grief that Jared rejected us.From our joined minds, I watch as my werewolf growls angrily at my family, and even snarls at my mate.This was the angriest that I have seen her. No...this was the first time I’ve actually seen her angry. My werewolf has always been like me.Reserved, quiet and calm to the point that I hardly felt her presence.‘’Protect Sienna, Jared.’’ These were my elder brother’s words before he shifted to his werewolf, and snarls at mine. He clashes against my werewolf, and together, they tumble down the stairs to the audience.My werewolf kicks his snout once their momentum stopped and quickly escape from him. Before she could attack, other pack members had already shifted and joined Simone in opposing my werewolf.‘
The walk to the birthday banquet was quite far. The ceremonial hall was on the other side of the pack close to the busy areas, and the house I stay in was near the outskirt of the pack.*murmur**murmur* As I near the banquet, I sense the glances around me outside, along with their whispers. I can already imagine how worse the stares would be once I step inside.And indeed, the stares of the pack members literally pierce every part of my face and body. The moment I stepped in, the chatters had suddenly ceased and all eyes snapped in my way.Even without meeting any gaze, I understand the unspoken question lingering in the air.‘What is she doing here?’ Their eyes all seem to convey the same words.I unconsciously gulp at the attention. Perhaps feeling some sort of challenge from their gaze, my back straightened up and my gaze remain forward with bolder steps towards Jared and my family in front of the moon goddess statue.‘’I heard Miss Sienna pleaded the Alpha to invite the Luna.’’
The pre-birthday dinner that I have been anticipating, and even managed to convince my mate became a failure. I could already imagine the mood of the pack tomorrow.A double celebration.Their Alpha’s birthday and the miraculous recovery of my twin sister.My mind was completely blank as I locked the door, and turned off the lights. I simply packed up the cake into the fridge along with the wine. As for the dinner, I didn’t feel like eating, but I took three or four bites by force for the sake of my unborn child, and then packed everything up before washing the dirty dishes.I didn’t even register how I walked to my room and got on my bed in the covers. Before I knew it, the next day arrives and I did not sleep a wink.My head was filled with many thoughts of what happened.The failed announcement of my baby.My twin sister’s recovery.My happy mate.And my life from now on in the pack.‘...I’m tired.’ I stare blankly at the cream wall of my room, mentally drained of these depressing
That’s right. Jared’s 24th birthday comes up in the next two days, and as usual, I have already made plans to prepare for a birthday dinner between us.In the ultrasound room, I hardened my heart and decided to reveal the existence of my precious bab through this birthday dinner; a day before his birthday. That small heartbeat had made me realize that I wasn’t alone.If I truly love my baby, I would not keep delaying to reveal the news to my mate. No matter how our relationship has been for the past two years, it never change that he is rightful father to my child.The pack members also deserved to know their future Alpha.My family also deserved to know their new grandchild.Even if I bear the weight of a false crime, my child remains innocent, and I believe that the pack, my family and Jared would surely understand that.****‘’Hmmm....’’ I slowly hum to a birthday song, and gently carried a small cake with a stripped candle on top to the dining room. The wine and dinner had already
Fortunately, I arrived at the main party safely, and exchanged my thanks with the kind human for leading me back. Stephanie remains on the dance floor until the end of party. I am glad she hadn’t noticed my absence at the bar or she would have definitely freaked out.As for the strange lady who definitely knew something about my twin sister that I didn’t, and also the existence of my unborn child, I did not give up on searching for her face from the bar end. However, there was no sign of her, and I later decided to give up for now. Inwardly, I noted to myself to be careful around people. Perhaps I had exposed my child’s existence or so, but I couldn’t recall any memory that I told another apart from my two best friends.I also did not forget to apologize to my baby in my heart. Because of my carelessness, I almost fainted from feeling a bit dizzy. Frat parties are definitely no good for a pregnant woman with the smell of alcohol, perfume and sweat mixed together.It’s a miracle that I