Chapter 7

No. Wait. I wasn't a rogue… I wasn't… but I can't tell him the truth. He might send me back to the Blood Moon Pack and that would be an even worse fate than this. I have made a promise never to return there and I will keep it no matter what. A gasp leaves my lips, my fingers digging into his wrist as I struggle to breathe. The pain of his rejection was nothing compared to the weight of his dominance pressing against me, demanding submission. My vision blurred slightly and I spasmed and coughed. For a moment, I thought I saw something flicker in his expression— hesitation, maybe even regret. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced by the cold, ruthless Alpha once more. He released me abruptly, and I collapsed to the floor, coughing as I gulped in air. My throat ached, my entire body shaking from both fear and the unrelenting pain of rejection. But I still refused to look away. "Your duties begin at dawn," He said, his voice devoid of emotion. "You will work, and you will obey. Step out of line, and you will regret it." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the dimly lit room. The moment the door shut behind him, my composure shattered completely. I curled into myself, silent sobs wracking my body. This was not the fate I had dreamed of. This was not the mate bond I had longed for. Yet here I was about to live the same life that I tried to escape. "Don't be afraid." A kind and soft voice spoke from behind me. The woman carried herself with grace, her presence commanding yet gentle. Her dark hair was streaked with silver, and wisdom from her years showing in her eyes. She studied me for a moment, then smiled, the warmth in it something I hadn't seen in years. I hadn't seen ever. "I'm Julianna," She quietly introduces, sounding afraid to startle me. "I'm the former Luna— Damon's mother." The Former Luna? I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. This woman, the highest ranking female in the pack, was standing before me with kindness in her eyes. And then, there is also this motherly energy from her that I have never experienced before which my heart pulled towards. "You don't have to be afraid," She continued, as if sensing my wariness and hesitancy to speak. "Damon is… struggling. He has waited too long for his mate. He doesn't know how to handle this." Again, I couldn't find the words to say to her. He waited so long yet he quickly rejected me like I was nothing to him? My heart clenched. Julianna sighed, nodding as if she understood. "I understand how difficult this all might be for you. I don't blame you. But I ask that you be patient with him." Patient… Is that all I need? It seems life only keeps giving me hope, only to throw it back to my face. She knelt beside me then, her expression softening. "This life hasn't been kind to you, has it?" How I wish it wasn't so obvious but the answer was written all over me— the bruises, the scars, the hollowness in my eyes. Julianna didn't press for a response. Instead, she simply reached out and squeezed my hand. "You have to trust me when I say this. Damon placed you in the kitchen to keep you safe. You will see that what he did is for you." She explained, holding me so gently and tenderly despite not even knowing who I am. "Many in the pack will have strong opinions about your presence. Especially because of the mystery surrounding you." Despite everything, I saw how genuine she was and felt grateful for it. Her warmth. Her care. It's something I haven't felt in a very long time. "Thank you," I whispered, managing at least that. "Oh, no thanks needed." She cooed, giving me a small smile while helping me up. "Come. You need a bath and some fresh clothes." Her kindness stunned me. It had been so long since someone looked at me like I was more than a burden and a curse. I didn't know how to react. A lump formed in my throat, and for a brief moment, I felt like crying. But I managed to hold it in for her sake. "If you need anything, you only need to ask for Beta Charles. He's the man that took you here." She explained to me, gesturing to the door. That man was a Beta? "He's a good person and I am sure he will help you with whatever you need." I could only nod as she went on to tell me who to trust and who to look for. Before she left, she smiled at me once more. "Of course, if you need me, I'll be there to help you too. Okay?" "Okay." I choked out. Even after she left, I sat there, staring at the door in disbelief. I had expected death. Instead, I had been given a place to stay and a job. Was this really happening? It might not be a big difference from my life before but at least these people are kind and gentle. A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. The door creaked open, revealing an older woman with a kind face and round glasses perched on her nose. She was an Omega but she did not look like any of the Omegas in the Blood Moon Pack. She is obviously taken care of too. "Hello. I'm Martha," She introduced herself. "I'm the Head maid. Come with me." I hesitated— a reflex of my past, before shaking my head and following her through the halls of the packhouse. It was nothing like the dungeons, where cold stone and damp air suffocated me. Here, warmth radiated from the walls, the scent of fresh bread and burning wood filling my nose. It felt… lived in. Like a home. I wasn't quite used to it. Martha quietly led me to a small but comfortable room. "This is where you'll live." I blinked at the sight before me. A bed. A real bed, with thick blankets neatly tucked in. A wooden dresser stood in the corner, and to my utter shock, an attached bathroom. My chest tightened but for a different reason completely. For this can't be real. Was I allowed to touch any of it? Was I even allowed to be here? A part of me feels like she must be tricking me… that this is a joke. That I will be punished for even being here. Martha must have sensed my confusion because she placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "It's yours." I swallowed hard. My hands trembled as I stepped inside, half expecting someone to yell at me, to rip it all away. But nothing happened. The room remained mine. No shouting or punishment came. Martha handed me a bundle of clothes. "Take your time. There's warm water." Warm. Water. How is that even possible? I couldn't remember the last time I had bathed without icy streams or a filthy basin in the small windowless basement in the Blood Moon Pack. Nodding weakly, I stepped into the bathroom and closed the door. For the first time in years, I stood in front of a mirror and truly saw myself. My breath caught in my throat. Sunken eyes, deep with exhaustion. Hollow cheeks. Faded bruises on my collarbone, fresh ones on my wrists. I turned slightly, pulling up my tattered shirt, revealing the scars that marred my back. Thin white lines, some old, some new, carved across my skin like a painful story written in my flesh. I traced my ribs with a trembling hand. I was too thin. Too broken. No one would ever want a body like this. A mate like this. No wonder he rejected me. No wonder I wasn't enough. I wasn't worthy of an Alpha. I wasn't worthy of someone like Damon. Molly? I called out hesitantly. Her voice was barely a whisper in my mind. ‘At least we're under the same roof as our mate now. Maybe there's a chance.' I closed my eyes, gripping the edge of the sink. Damon. I refused to get my hopes up. Not when he looked at me with such loathing. But could I really stay here? Could I really endure his hatred for me? It didn't matter. For now, I will survive. And maybe… just maybe… I would learn what it means to live.