Chapter 2 I Own You

Avery's Point of View

"Please welcome your future Luna, Sophia Smith", he announced as Sophia gracefully stepped out and moved into his arms.

Sophia Smith.

The name echoed through the hall, crashing down on me with a force that stole my breath. Sophia. Not me... it was never me.

Suddenly, I felt the air in my lungs disappear as I scrambled for support, I felt weak, I almost passed out from the shock.

My knees wobbled, and I felt myself sway, barely steadying myself with a trembling hand on a nearby chair.

He's been cheating on me..... With my own blood sister!!

Was this the reason he was keeping us a secret?! The reason he watched me suffer in the hands of Sophia?

How long has this been going on? I've been so naive, so foolish to think that an Alpha would fall for the pack's slave.

What was I thinking?!!

When I couldn't take it anymore, I ran out of the hall, I ran straight home, away from the prying eyes..... away from everyone.

The cold night air hit me as I stumbled out of the hall, my heart pounding and legs barely holding me up.

How I wish I could just vanish?! If wishes were horses. But if I couldn't disappear, then I guess I should just drown myself with my tears.

Each word echoed in my mind, piercing me like a blade, it had always been Sophia, not me. I felt my chest clench painfully, as if my heart were breaking all over again with every beat. The bitter taste of betrayal filled my mouth, and I swallowed hard, struggling to contain a sob that clawed its way up my throat. My lips parted, but no sound came, just a shallow gasp as my mind filled with unanswered questions.

'How foolish have I been?', I thought, my stomach churning with self-loathing. Tears pricked my eyes, blurring my vision further as memories flooded back-every whispered promise, every stolen glance, all lies. My hands clenched tightly, nails digging into my palms as regret surged through me, mixed with an ache so deep it felt as though it would never leave my bones.

"Where's she?!!", that was my mother, Cheryl screaming down the house.

Don't I even have the right to cry in peace? Is my life a joke to you all.

"There you are", my mom sneered as she walked into my room. "Your sister is back, go draw her a warm bath, get useful and stop being useless"

'Maybe this is all I am meant for,' I thought, my gaze distant, my spirit numb.

My mind was a fog, and my limbs felt heavy as if I was moving through a nightmare I couldn't escape.

I gritted my teeth together in anger as I slowly got up from the bed and walked to Sophia's bathroom. I was lost in thought when I felt ice-cold water over me.

I gasped, staring in shock as Sophia stood over me with that smug, twisted grin.

"It's Luna to you, bitch!!!" She sneered as she eyed me with contempt.

"You wish", I muttered under my breath, but she heard them anyways and I was glad she did.

"What did you just say?" She growled and suddenly kicked me in my lower abdomen.

I suck in my breath, I wasn't expecting that as I clutched at my tummy and groaned in pain.

My gaze met Sophia's, fierce and unyielding, even as pain radiated through me from the latest kick. I had nothing left to lose.

I wanted to scream, to lash out, but fear and years of submission held me back, leaving my voice only a broken whisper. How could they? How could he?

"Address me with respect, slave. A pathetic thing like you wouldn't understand what it means to be Luna." Sophia's voice dripped with disdain. "Look at you, clinging to dreams you'll never reach. Even the Moon Goddess must have cursed you-why else would you be so lonely?"

She pulled me up to my feet by my hair only to push me again face flat to the floor and my head bashed hardly against the bathtub as blood spilled all over.

Sophia's words dug into me, twisting inside like poisoned thorns. Maybe she's right, a small voice in my mind whispered. Maybe I really am cursed.

When Sophia's blows landed, each one was a reminder of my powerlessness, my worthlessness, yet I held my silence, biting down on my lip to keep from crying out.

When I thought it was over, but I was wrong as she wasn't done with me. She walked closer to me and kicked me severally in my abdomen and I howled in pain.

"Please!", I pleaded as I doubled over in pains while desperately clutching at my abdomen. I was tired of living in pain, I just want it over with, maybe when I die, all the pains will go. She'll be able to live her life comfortably.

"You actually thought you would become Luna, right?!" She said and my eyes widened in shock. How did.....

"How did I know?!" She snatched the words right out of my thoughts. "Oh, Avery darling, you're such a fool. Julian told me everything, about you guys being mate, but guess what?! He still chose me over you", She squealed as she clapped her hands together in mockery.

"You're just a worthless bitch that doesn't deserve love, everything about you screams bad luck and you'll die all alone because no one wants to be with you" She spat in my face as she kicked me again with her heels.

"Get out!!", She yelled and I left immediately in order to avoid any other outburst from her.

Was it a crime to yearn for love? To hope to find love with the one the Moon Goddess had destined to love me unconditionally?

I had really hoped that one day, I'll be free from this slavery, but now they are all what they were...... wishes.

I really don't know why everyone hated me, I had tried remembering where I've gone wrong but I couldn't pinpoint anything. Right from my childhood, I've been treated like a rag doll and my parents didn't even show any sign of concern towards me.

Or was it because of my odd appearance?! I had starlight white hair and hazel violet eyes, which was very strange, but I didn't create myself to be like this.

I never wanted this. My thoughts were cloudy as I weakly walked to the place where I always come when I'm in pains....... The lake.

The lake was my only escape, a quiet refuge where I could shed my pain, if only for a while.

There was something about this lake, something that draws me, I just feel connected with it and it was somehow soothing.

The night air felt cool and calming, but inside, a storm of emotions raged. I let myself sink down by the water's edge, staring into the rippling depths as tears spilled silently down my cheeks.

'Why am I so different?' I thought, my hand reaching out to touch the water's surface, as if it could wash away all my scars, my pain, my past.

Suddenly I heard some rustling in the woods and Julian's imposing figure emerged. His expression was hard as granite. "Do you think I would choose you? A weak, useless mate who brings nothing but shame to her bloodline?"

Suddenly, my face hardened as I clenched my fists tightly, I was about to leave, when he authoritatively said.

"How dare you try to walk out on your Alpha?!!" Though I hated him right now, though I wanted him dead but I couldn't deny the mate bond between us. And I decided that I've had enough.

"I hate you! You're so pathetic and a sorry excuse for an Alpha. I hate you!" I knew what I was doing.... Digging my own grave but I just didn't give a damn about it anymore.

He sneered and with super speed that I didn't see coming, he gripped my neck and threw me against the rock. I groaned as pains shot through my entire body and I felt a hot liquid trickling down my face.

"I despise you more, Avery. Do you think I want a sorry excuse as you for a mate?! You don't even have a wolf!!" He growled as he stepped closer to me, Julian had never raised his hands on me...... until today. He must have been really wanting to get rid of me.

"A weak thing like you can never be my mate", Alpha Julian spat, his eyes flashing with disdain.

"So, I, Julian Styles, Alpha of Krypta Clan, reject you, Avery Smith, as my mate and Luna of this pack"

The rejection hit me like a physical blow. I felt our bond rip apart, a searing pain that left me gasping. My heart burned, as if set aflame by Julian's words.

I tried to speak, but my voice caught in my throat. Instead, I spat out blood, my body's reaction to the agony coursing through me.

"No..." I whispered, each word cut deeper, until I was left bleeding, my heart shattered into a million pieces.

I sniffed and wiped the blood at the corner of my mouth, but this time, the hurt was mixed with something new-a simmering anger. I was pathetic, yes, but I was also alive, still breathing despite his contempt.

I stood up to my feet weakly as I looked at him with disgust, "I also don't want a heartless beast as you for a mate, if that's so, then..... I, Avery Smith, accept........"

The words didn't leave my mouth when he lunged forward, cutting me off, his fingers coiling around my throat like a vice and yanked me off the ground.

"Reject me?! You think you're strong enough to leave me?" Julian sneered, his grip tightening around my throat.

"You don't get to reject me, Avery, I will never give you that pleasure" Julian's voice was a dark promise. "I'll keep you, watch you suffer, until I'm ready to discard you. Remember, I own you. And when I'm done with you... you'll wish you were never born."