THE GAMMA'S DAUGHTER

The hall shimmered with golden chandeliers and the chatter of high-ranking officials. Their laughter and celebratory toasts filled the air, drowning out the memories of blood and battle. I stood at the entrance, cradling my swollen belly, my eyes hollow and dark. A blood-stained necklace dangled from my hand, the cold metal biting into my palm.

“I am the Gamma’s daughter,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the clinking of glasses. My shaky body moved forward, through the crowd, the cold path beneath my feet leading me to the man at the center, laughing with pride and ego.

My voice grew louder with each step. “A frontliner, a commander, and the daughter of Gamma Celeriac, who gave his life protecting this pack!”

The room fell silent. All eyes turned to me, the Luna of the Moonlit Silver Wolf Pack. I could see the concern in their eyes as they took in my appearance, the once adored Luna now in her worst situation.

“Elysia,” Alpha Jonathan Hornet called, his voice laced with feigned concern. He pushed his way through the crowd, his handsome face twisted into an expression of mock sincerity. “What’s wrong? You’re distressed. Let me help you.”

I scoffed, narrowing my eyes at the man I had once loved. “Don’t pretend to care. Not tonight.” My voice cracked, but I refused to let it break me. “I gave you everything, Jonathan. My loyalty. My love. My soul. And for what?”

He hesitated, his eyes darting nervously around the crowd as they began to take notice. “Elysia, please. Your father’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain. He died so we could have a future—so our child could have a future.”

The mention of my father ignited a fire within me. “Sacrifice?” I spat, stepping closer. “Don’t you dare use that word. He didn’t sacrifice himself. You killed him!”

Gasps rippled through the room. Jonathan’s mask of concern slipped, and I saw the cold, calculating man beneath. “Watch your tongue, Luna,” he hissed, his voice low and dangerous. “You’re speaking nonsense.”

I trembled with fury, but I stood my ground, pointing a finger at him. “Don’t lie to me. There are warriors who saw you—who heard you give the order.”

The crowd murmured, their unease growing. Jonathan’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. " Don't accuse me of something nonsense like this, Luna. I don't want to go hard on you!" His voice was filled with fury and disappointment. " I loved him like I did you. He was the father I never had! You knew how much I respected him!"

I couldn't help but laugh at this point. How could he lie through his teeth like it was nothing? I never knew that he was such a good actor. How did I not see him through? He was always a good actor.

" Jonathan! Do you take me as a stupid!!?" I retorted, exhaustion and heartbreak weighing over my shoulders. I knew there was no going back,

" Sir Vale!" I turned, calling a man, my father's loyal, " Please tell me what he did to my father!"

Sir Vale lowered his gaze. " Sorry, Luna! I don't know what you are talking about!" He rose his eyes, looking at me with an uncertain gaze, " Sir Celeriac died with respect. He protected us-!"

" Commander Vale!!!" I snarled, " You of all people - Don't betray me and my Dad!" My heart shattered into pieces. Suddenly I realized that I was standing all alone against him, Jonathan, the cruel, selfish man.

" I am sorry but this is the truth!" Vale said, walking out of the Hall room immediately. Hah! So they were betraying me!

“Luna! You should calm down!" Jonathan tried to touch me.

"Your father was a liability. He was weak. This pack needed strength, not sentimentality. But we respect him and his sacrifice!”

Weak? The word burned through my veins, but my anger kept me steady. “He protected you when no one else would. He trained you, trusted you, and you repaid him with betrayal!”

Jonathan took a step forward, his voice lowering to a venomous whisper. “Enough of this drama. Go to your room and calm yourself. If something happens to my son because of your hysteria—”

I let out a laugh, sharp and unhinged. “Your son? You mean the child you forced me to carry because your mistress couldn’t give you an heir?”

The room froze, the color draining from Jonathan’s face. He started stammering, noticing the judgmental gazes falling upon him.

“Another woman?" The whispers were clear and loud. Having a mistress was a disgusting act of a Man.

“Enough! It’s just a misunderstanding!” Jonathan snapped, his voice shaking with anger.

“You think I didn’t know?” I continued, my voice rising with each word. “You think I didn’t notice the nights you disappeared, the scent of another woman on you? You’re a coward, Jonathan. A liar and a murderer.”

His rage boiled over. “Shut up!” he roared. “You’ve always been unstable, obsessed with your father. It’s unnatural, disgusting! Now you are acting like a total nuts”

His words hit me like a slap, but I refused to falter. “How dare you?” I whispered, fury trembling in my voice. “My father was the only person who ever truly loved me. And you—”

“You are being too much! Don’t force me to go hard on you!” Jonathan shouted, raising his hand.

Before he could strike, I caught his wrist with an iron grip, my gaze icy. “You don’t scare me anymore,” I growled.

I let go of his wrist, stepping back. My hands trembled as they moved to my belly, the weight of my actions settling upon me.

“Elysia, stop!” Jonathan shouted, panic creeping into his voice as I raised a blade. The room erupted into chaos, but no one dared to approach.

I pressed the knife against my stomach, my eyes locking with his. “I am the Gamma’s daughter. And I won’t let my child grow up under your shadow.”

" Wh-What are doing? Take it down! Don't hurt my child!"

He approached me, worried crept in his eyes. I knew his obsession over this child.

But he never knew that it was stupid to mess with Gamma's daughter. Even if the world went against us, I would take revenge for my father.

“Elysia, no!” he cried, reaching for me, thinking I would stab myself. But why would I sacrifice my last remaining family for him?

My voice was barely a whisper now, each word drenched in pain. “I loved you. I gave you everything. And you destroyed me. But-”

Before his hand reached me, I shoved the knife into his chest. Like he dug my father's heart out, I wanted to tear his black heart into pieces.

The silence fell through the room. Jonathan was too stunned to react before he grabbed my hands, " You Bitch! How could you -!"

I tried to take it out and stab for second time. However, a sharp pain and a metal edge cut through my body. I looked down at my stomach, bleeding out.

" Who-?" My voice barely could escape from my mouth as another stab came from the left side of my belly.

My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the red-stained carpet. The crowd moved forward, and Jonathan held up a trembling hand, trying to stop fhem. " Stop My son!" He was wailing...

My breaths came in shallow gasps. The pain was fading, replaced by a strange numbness. I looked up at Jonathan, my vision blurring.

Who were they? Who was behind me? Another betrayal?

“I curse you,” I whispered, barely able to speak. “You will never know the joy of being a father. You will never find peace. I curse you all.”

My head tilted back, my eyes staring at the ceiling as my world darkened.

---

I opened my eyes to a strange, soft light. The pain was gone, replaced by a sense of weightlessness. A gentle hand caressed my cheek, and I turned to see a figure bathed in silver light.

“Who are you?” I asked, my voice trembling.

The figure smiled. “I am the Moon Goddess.”

My breath hitched. “Why are you here? Am I dead?”

“Not yet,” the Goddess replied. “You have suffered greatly, Elysia. More than you deserved. I made a mistake in letting your path unfold this way.”

Tears welled in my eyes. “It’s too late. I’ve lost everything. My father, my child, my mate…”

The Goddess knelt beside me, taking my hand. “What if I gave you a second chance? To protect your father, to make different choices. Would you accept it?”

My heart ached with longing. “A second chance?”

“Yes,” the Goddess said. “But it will not be easy. You will face the same challenges, the same betrayals. Only your choices will determine the outcome.”

I closed my eyes, the weight of my regrets pressing down on me. “I’ll do it,” I whispered. “I’ll protect him this time. I’ll make things right.”

The Goddess smiled, her light growing brighter. “Then live well, Elysia Celeriac. Remember who you are—the Gamma’s daughter.”

The light enveloped me, and I felt myself falling, my body jolting as if awakening from a nightmare.

“Elysia!” a familiar voice shouted, pulling me back to reality. I gasped, my eyes snapping open to see my father standing before me, his expression stern but filled with love.

My burning pain in my shoulder completely threw me out of my daze, as a sharp blade ran its edge on my flesh.

“Focus!” he barked. “We’re not here to play games!”