Chapter 5 - Sunshine

Two choices?

I stared at the Alpha in shock. I had thought I had found my protector. I was definitely the biggest joke of the century.

"Live with me in the palace, but not as a mate or Luna to-be, but to be of service to me, or you can walk out of this pack and never return." He said, and I froze.

"The Alpha is sure generous, he wants her to be his prostitute, haha!" a mocking voice sounded from behind.

"The Alpha sure has a good heart," another added.

Confusion and fear washed over me as I stumbled backward. "I didn't expect this. I gave you everything. I was willing to surrender my life to yours. Why did you take my virginity knowing you were going to do this?"

"You are the most hated omega. You know no one else would take that if I didn't," he fired back, and I looked up, stunned. He was going to join the entire pack in treating me like shit? I couldn't do this anymore.

I retreated, feeling the mocking gazes, until I was nowhere near the altar.

I hurried back to the room where I had slept as a maid and started packing my few belongings. I couldn't stand any more shame, or I'd just die. It was enough.

Then a knock came at the door.

My heart leaped into my throat. Goddess, were they here to kill me? I panicked. Or could it be Lysander? "I can't attend to anyone right now," I muttered, my voice shaking.

"It's me, Akira." A tender voice sounded, and I looked up in surprise. I recognized that voice.

I hurriedly opened the door, and there she was, the maid who had taken me to view the wedding dress I still wore. "Luna-to-be," she said softly.

Tears rolled down my cheeks. "You know I'm not that. I can't achieve that status, even if I died," I said, and a tear rolled down her soft cheek.

"I know the world hates you, but I don't. I could never. You're such a beautiful soul that no one deserves. It's no wonder they can't stand you." She walked into my tiny room. "You're leaving? Where will you go?" she asked.

I closed the door and zipped the torn bag. "Anywhere," I muttered.

"With the gown still on? You can take it off so they won't reject you like the Alpha did. I wish you could get a second chance mate," she said.

"The rejection isn't confirmed yet. I haven't accepted it," I told her, and she nodded.

"Will you never accept it? The Alpha might come for you if you don't..."

"And I will die if I do. So, I'd rather run far away and live. It doesn't matter if I don't get another mate," I told her, and she looked at me, pity filling her voice.

"I'm so sorry about this," she said, but I just placed the bag over my shoulder and walked out of the palace. At the center of the pack, I contemplated what to do.

Then I thought about my parents.

About an hour later, I stood in front of my father's old-looking house and couldn't help but take a deep breath. "At least I have a home," I muttered and walked toward it, clutching the white dress. "Good to see you at home." My father's voice came from the flattened couch.

I turned toward the sound and burst out crying. I fell to the floor and crawled toward them like a child.

"It's okay, my child." My mother walked to me and bent to place my head on her shoulder.

"Did you know this was going to happen? Is that why you didn't show up?" I asked them, but they just looked at each other.

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves stomping the earth echoed around my father's house, and we all got up in shock and started looking around through the window.

My mother was stunned. She quickly locked the weak door and turned to look at my father, who was already panicking.

"It's Seraphina!" I heard him say.

Seraphina!

My mother and I exchanged a look.

"Trust me, Mom, the Alpha would never send her to do this," I said to my mother, whose eyes were wide with fear.

"What does she want?" she whispered.

"I wouldn't know, Mom!" I replied, and suddenly, the sounds stopped. Then there was a loud crash at my father's door.

Bang!

We fell backward as the door splintered, revealing me and my parents on the floor, looking up in shock.

"There she is!" Seraphina's laughing voice resounded as she walked toward us like a goddess with a staff in her hand.

She kicked the broken door out of her way and walked into our little space. "How does it feel to be humiliated by the Alpha himself? You most hated Omega of the century!" She spat. "I told you to do it yourself, but you felt you could stand up to me. Now I'm going to show you what it feels like to not do as I command. You dare stress the Luna of this pack? This pack is mine, you tiny little thing, haaaa!!!" She spat and lifted her sword, striking me with it at once.

"Nooo!!!" my mother screamed in fright and threw herself over me, blocking the sword.

The sword pierced right into my mother's back, and that was the last time I heard her voice. My breathing stopped for a minute before I looked up and locked eyes with Seraphina, who still held the sword in my mother's back. "Mom!!! No, you can't do this! Mom!" I screamed, my eyes wide with horror.

"Well, I think this is sweeter. In your next life, old woman, you will let people eat their pain. So sad you won't have to experience the chaos your daughter's life is about to experience." Seraphina laughed. "The next time I come here, it will be you." She pointed at my father, who panicked.

My heart felt like it was about to burst as I held my dead mother in my arms. "This is not happening, Moon Goddess!" I cried like a child as I watched Seraphina leave with her loyal wolves.

"Rada! Rada!!" My father cried, holding my mother and begging her to get up.

This was the first time I had ever watched my father cry, and it felt frustrating and devastating. My tears doubled. "Father, please, what do we do now? We can't stay here. We need to get you to safety before Seraphina comes back," I said between sobs.

"But we can't leave your mother here," he said as though he still had hope that she would wake up, but we knew the truth.

A few hours later, we stood at a corner in the forest. We had just buried my mom with no one around to sympathize with us.

My father held my hand. "You should run, dear daughter, because..."

"I'm not going anywhere without you, Father." I refused to believe it.

"You can't stay here with me," he said.

"I want to. I can't leave you here alone," I replied.

"I built this house with my own hands, and I'm not willing to let it go for Seraphina. Run for your safety, dear Sunshine. The Moon Goddess will protect you and soak her, this pack will seek your presence and your glory." He said, holding my hand and was going to lead me out but I didn't want that.

"I'd rather die with you!" I muttered, about to hug him.

"Catch him!!!" An authoritative voice sounded, followed by the sounds of countless horses running toward us.

Seraphina again!

"She never gives up!" My father muttered, not even attempting to run. It was as though he didn't mind joining Mother.

"They are here again. Father, let's leave. They tracked us down here. Let's run!!!" I was in my deepest panic as I tried to drag my father, but he wouldn't move along.