MOONBOUND HEART

ALINA'S POV

"Alina."

I heard my name as I ran.

"Alina," the voice came again, this time it sounded faint and weak, It was the world.

"Please... save me."

I didn't stop, I kept going, reaching for the world, but the faster I ran, the farther it seemed.

"How do I save you?" I asked, breathless.

"Search within yourself," the voice said. "There's no time. Find him. Only then will you have the answers you're searching for."

"Who?" I shouted. "Who do I find?"

But the voice was already fading.

I felt blood trickled down my face, it was from the world.

It was dying.

Then the ground vanished under me.

And I fell.

I jolted awake, breathing hard and sweating profusely like I had just run for miles. The sound of my heartbeat was so loud, I could hear it echoing throughout my small room.

I sat up slowly, my arms trembling from the weight of the same dream that never left me alone.

I rubbed my face, pressing my palms hard against my eyes in an attempt to erase the images. But I couldn't.

Who did I have to find? What did the dream possibly mean? What answers was it talking about?

These questions ran through my head, I let out a shaky breath and glanced at the cracked window. Faint morning light was starting to come in, marking the start of another day.

My life was a nightmare, during the day I was shunned and bullied by my pack members and treated like a disease.

The nights weren't any better, I kept having reoccurring dreams of a dying world that kept telling me to find him. Who the him was I had no idea.

I let out a sigh and sank back against the headboard and prayed silently to the moon goddess to make today less of a pain in the ass.

I hoped, maybe this time she was listening.

I dragged myself out of bed, every muscle in my body felt stiff from another sleepless night.

I stepped across the cold floor,slipping into my worn-out tunic and thick boots.

The mirror hanging by the door was cracked, but I still caught my reflection. I looked too pale and tired for someone just waking up.

I ran a hand through my hair, tied it back, and headed out.

The hallway creaked under my weight, the packhouse was old, It looked like it would give way soon. I reached the bottom of the stairs and paused.

Just like every morning, Douglass was sitting by the fireplace.

His shoulders hunched forward, one hand resting on the armrest, the other loosely holding a glass of something he probably didn't taste anymore.

His eyes were locked on the flames, I didn't know why he did that every morning. It wasn't for warmth, we were werewolves, we didn't need it.

"Good morning..." I hesitated, then added quietly, "Dad."

He turned his head slightly and glanced at me, then turned back to the fire.

I blinked, that was new. I thought to myself

Usually, I'd speak and he wouldn't even flinch. Today, he actually looked at me.

I crossed the room quickly, heading toward the door.

I'd been holed up for days, the last time I went out, I had been tormented by Lena and her cohorts.

Lena's father was the Alpha of our pack, that seemed to get into her head. She made it her duty to make my life very miserable.

I was tired of being treated with disdain, It wasn't my fault I was born on the Blood Moon night. I didn't choose that, no one chooses when they're born.

How long was I going to hide my room?

I hesitated before taking a step outside, the chill biting at my cheeks.

As I walked down the stone-paved path toward the edge of the pack's territory, people stepped aside like I was something filthy.

"Witch," someone spat.

"Curse," another sneered.

They didn't lower their voices. They wanted me to hear.

Some turned their backs. Others just watched, waiting for me to disappear.

No one dared look me in the eye, they believed that I could make the strongest man bend at my will, just by staring into my eyes.

I kept walking, not saying a word. I bit back the tears that threatened to pour out. I fought the urge to turn and go back to the comfort of my room, away from the hateful stares.

I made my way into the woods, as I entered, the silence felt like salvation.

There was a fallen tree not far from the path, a place I usually went when it got too loud in my head.

I sank onto the bark and breathed in. The cold air felt clean here. The way it clung to my lungs almost made me feel alive again.

For a moment, I just sat there, soaking in the stillness. No one stared, no one whispered, Just trees, wind, and the rustle of leaves.

Then I heard footsteps, i silently prayed that it wasn't the people i thought.

"Some people really like pretending they matter," Lena's voice rang through the woods before I even saw her. "Walking around like they don't stink of bad luck."

I stopped. My hands curled into fists at my sides.

"Hey, Cursed One!" she called louder. " Did you Lose your way again? Or are you just trying to find a new hole to hide in?"

I stood up and turned around, my eyes were greeted with the familiar sight of Lena and her usual little crowd of four girls.

"I'm just taking a walk," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Oh, she talks now?" one of the girls snorted.

Another stepped forward. " You Must be feeling brave today."

I shook my head and started to walk past them, pretending they weren't there, but Lena sidestepped into my path.

"Uh-uh," she said. "We're not done."

"I don't want trouble."

Lena smirked. "Too late. You were born with it."

The girl to her left spat at my feet. "You should've been thrown out when you were a baby. Everyone knows you're a curse."

I kept my head down and tried to move around them, but Lena shoved me back hard.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Leave me alone," I said.

Slap! Lena slapped me across my cheek. The sound came before I felt the pain on my cheek.

"Or what?" she sneered. "You'll cry to the trees?"

The second girl laughed and pushed me too. "awn, look at you acting all tough."

I held my ground, but the third girl stepped in and shoved me from behind, I stumbled forward fighting to gain my balance. Lena slapped me again this, one harder than the first one.

The force of the slap sent me staggering backwards till I hit the ground, my hands scraped the dirt and my face almost falling into the dirt.

They all burst out laughing.

"Look at her," one of them said. "Miss Cursed on her knees."

"She looks better down there," Lena added. "Where filth belongs."

I stayed down there, there was nothing I could do, fighting back would only mean declaring war on the Alpha and his family.

"Pathetic," someone said. "She's not even fighting back."

They turned and walked off, still laughing, like what just happened meant nothing.

I waited until I couldn't hear them anymore.

Then I pulled myself up slowly, brushing the dirt from my palms, even though it didn't really matter.

No matter how hard I tried to stand tall, I still felt small. I've tried everything, but i always ended up small.

I walked out of the woods, not minding the tears that now streamed down my face and the stares I got.

Once I was far enough, I broke into a run, I didn't stop until I reached the house.

My feet hit the steps fast, and I slammed the door behind me, ignoring Douglass's voice calling faintly from the den.

I went to the drawer and pulled out the small, sharp blade I'd hidden months ago.

I sat on the floor, back against the bed, the blade trembling between my fingers.

Maybe they were right, maybe I was cursed. I thought. Maybe the world will be better without me

Tears blurred my vision as I pressed the metal to my skin. I made up my mind that I'll rather end it than live this kind of life.

As I raised my hand to finally put an end to my nightmare of a life. The door burst open

"Alina!"