Better Luna

A summer's night. In the woods of the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. Where the Lunar Pack lives. Living a happy life, but unfortunately, everything changed.

"Bring Ethan to the pack house immediately!" Danyon commanded Ash. One of his servants.

"Right away, sir," Ash replied and rushed out of Danyon's sight.

"My darling Aurelia. Shall we make our way to the pack house?" Danyon asked his mate.

"Of course, my dear." Aurelia made her way down the steps towards Danyon.

Their arms intertwine. They make their way out of the castle. They watched as the entire pack make their way to the pack house.

Excited.

The announcement of the Alpha's son receiving his mate makes every female wolf anxious. Every Alpha needs a suitable mate to be able to fill the shoes of this extensive role.

Everyone makes their way into the pack house. Taking a seat. The single wolves find their seat in the front row. The girls in the front range from short to tall. One or two have blond hair, and most of them have brown. Only one has black hair.

Her eyes are blue. Her body is firm. She wears a t-shirt with blue jeans complimenting her lower body. She seems a little bit more nervous than the other girls.

The trumpets echo through the pack house, making a loud noise-the scraping of the chairs as the pack stands up from their chairs. Restlessness throughout the house. Everyone turned around to look towards the door.

The Omega of the pack, Aurelia, makes the first entrance. Following her is Danyon, the Alpha of the pack. Thirdly, to follow is Ethan. The soon-to-be alpha. The three of them make their way toward the pulpit.

"Please be seated," Danyon commanded the pack. "Welcome all to the annual insinuation of the mating ritual." The pack house filled with the sound of hand clapping.

"Ethan. If you would please stand closer." Aurelia gave a gesture with her hand for Ethan to stand next to her.

"Certainly," Ethan responded and made his way toward his mother.

"Ethan and our loyal pack. We believe you all know why we are here and the producers we must follow." Danyon said.

"Yes." Ethan, including the pack, replied. Sounding like a chorus.

Ethan's tone sounded like disappointment and anger.

"Ethan, darling. Smile a little." Aurelia asked Ethan. Ethan forced a smile.

"Now. For the important part. We have been looking into all our single wolves. That has not yet been chosen to be someone's mate." Danyon said. "One of our lucky wolves will be chosen to be our son's mate. Although he can reject you, if so, a new mate must be chosen. This can take up to a few weeks, and everything can delay the process of crowning Ethan the Alpha."

"You will not reject the mate we have chosen for you. Do you understand me?" Aurelia whispered to Ethan. She smiles at the pack.

"Yes, mother," Ethan replied with disappointment. Staring towards the ground.

"Now, let the initiation begin," Danyon said, smiling at the pack. "Ladies, if you would please come up to the pulpit." He gestures to them to come.

The female wolves make their way up to the pulpit. Standing prim and proper the way they have been taught. Seeing the girls look nervous. Looking around. Looking at the other girls standing there feeling insecure about themselves.

"The mate that we have chosen for our son is...." Danyon has a moment of silence, and before continuing, Aurelia finishes his sentence for him.

"Mia Phillips."

Ethan's eyes widen in shock. His jaw dropped to the ground.

***

Mia's Point of View

A smile appears on my face. Excitement filled my heart.

The other girls looked at me, anger filling their eyes. Unfortunately, they didn't have a say in what the Alpha and the omega had chosen. They decided to clap their hands and pretend to be happy.

"Ethan Miller. Do you accept Mia Phillips as your mate?" Danyon asked.

Ethan stared at me. Then stormed out of the pack house in anger. I stood there in shock.

Disappointed.

"Don't worry, sweetie. He does accept you. He is just a bit in shock at this moment." Aurelia assured me.

I nodded while taking a big breath.

"Fellow pack. Ethan is just in shock. We will continue the ceremony tomorrow night. We can make our way to the bonfire area for the annual barbecue." Danyon said, making his way down the pulpit steps.

While everyone made their way out of the pack house, Mia was the last to leave. Just as Mia was leaving the pack house, Ethan pulled her to the side.

"Ethan," I said in surprise.

"Let's just wait until everyone is at the bonfire. I don't want them to hear us." Ethan said with anger. Never have I seen him like this.

"What is wrong with you? What is going on? Why didn't you say anything in there?" I asked with a crackling tone.

"I will explain everything in a minute."

Everyone was gone. Silence filled the air. Making everything intense. Mia stood there waiting for Ethan to say something.

"I, Ethan Miller, reject you, Mia Phillip, as my Luna and mate," Ethan said emotionless.

"What?" Tears started to fill my eyes.

"You heard me dam it. I don't want a weak human like you at my side." His tone got aggressive.

"I..." I stuttered as I fought to hold back my tears.

"How will you ever be able to protect yourself when I'm not nearby? How?" He said, grabbing my hair and pulling my head back. I whimper from the pain. "My point exactly. You can't even protect yourself from me." He flung me back while releasing my hair, making me almost lose my balance.

"Accept the fucking, rejection. Now!" He commanded.

"I, Mia Phillips, accept your rejection." Tears started to roll down my cheeks.

"I think it is better if you tell my parents, you rejected me and not the other way around," Ethan said with no remorse.

Mia stared at Ethan, not knowing what to say. She decided to turn around and walk away. Not looking back. Wiping away her tears. Sobbing as she walks through the forest. Dodging branches. Climbing over logs. Not wanting to join the barbecue.

Mia stared at the bright white moon when she reached a huge cliff. She wiped away her last tear.

"Maybe it would be best if I leave the pack. Ethan is right. I'm nothing but a weak human." I whispered to myself.

Mia decided to sit on the ledge of the cliff. Her legs hanging off. Staring at the cloudless sky. The moon was right in front of her with thousands of stars around it. After a few minutes, while Mia was sitting on the ledge, Roman made his appearance from the woods.

"Mia. What are you doing here?" Roman asked.

"I just wanted to look at the stars. I'm not in the mood for all the congratulatory speeches." I said with a sniffle.

"Are you all, right?" He asked, finding himself a seat next to me.

"I'm fine. Couldn't be better." I forced a smile, holding back my tears.

"I don't think Ethan deserves you." He said, placing his hand on my leg. "You belong with me."

"You're supposed to be Ethan's best friend. Meaning don't hit on his mate." I made my way to my feet.

"You and I both know. He doesn't want you. I overheard your conversation earlier. He rejected you." A grin appeared on his face as he walked closer to me.

"Stay away from me." I turned around to walk back to the pack when Roman grabbed my arm.

"You're not going anywhere." Roman pulled me closer while trying to kiss me.

"Fuck off, Roman!" I said, then slapped him through the face.

"You, fucking bitch!"

Mia tried to break loose from his grip, but unfortunately, she wasn't strong enough. They went back and forth as Mia tried to shake free, looking like a tug of war. They were fighting on the cliff's ledge when Mia slipped, and Roman released his grip on her. Making Mia fall off the cliff into the sea.

Roman stared at the waves of the sea. Trying to see if he can spot her.

Nothing.

Not even a piece of clothing drifting.

"Fucking bitch. That will show her to reject me. No one rejects me." He whispered to himself. He made his way back to the pack. Pretending like nothing had happened.

***

"Roman, my man! Where have you been?" Ethan asked, throwing his arm around Roman's neck.

"I had to take a piss." Roman forced a smile.

"Seriously, too much information," Ethan replied.

"Can we have a drink, please?" Roman said with a giggle.

With laughter and giggles filling the air. A voice screaming from the other side of the forest began soft and became louder and louder as the voice got closer.

"Mia! Where's Mia?" Mace asked in a panic state.

"What's going on?" Ethan asked. Trying to calm her down.

"We can't find Mia anywhere. She left the pack house last. Ethan, wasn't she with you?" Mace asked with tears filling her eyes.

"She was, but she said she wanted to clear her head," Ethan replied with a shacking tone.

"We need to start a search for her." Roman suggested.

"You're right." Ethan pointed his nose to the sky and started to sniff to find her scent. "This way." He pointed in the direction of the cliff.

Even though Ethan rejected Mia as his mate. They were still connected. He could smell her rosy scent, but it was starting to fade. Ethan and Roman sprinted to the cliff where Mia's scent still lingered.

Mia's scent was whiff.

Ethan, Roman, and Mia's parents Mace and Asher arrived at the cliff where her scent stopped.

"No, please no." Mace whispered.

The rest of the pack had followed them. Stopping at the cliff trying to find any evidence of Mia anywhere.

Ethan spotted something in the corner of his eye.

"No." A whisper left his mouth.

Ethan made his way to the object, Mia's cell phone. The screen is cracked. No use in trying to call her.

Ethan's Point of View

The rainy clouds rolled in. Making the air cold and moist. The sound of sobbing echoed through the air.

"It can't be. Please tell me it isn't so." Mace started to sob.

"She needs to be around here somewhere," I responded. "Roman, go and check the bottom. See if you can find anything."

"Currently." Roman nodded and headed towards the side of the cliff and started climbing down the edge.

"We will find her. I promise." I tried to comfort Mace.

The cold breeze of the air made our faces numb. Everyone is trying to hold back the tears, hoping for a miracle.

After a minute or two, holding their breaths. Roman made his way back up the cliff with something in his hands. Everyone's eyes scanned to identify what he was holding.

"Only one of her shoes was down there. Nothing else." Roman stared toward the ground.

"No!" Mace yelled out, falling to the ground crying.

Raven joined her. Holding her.

"Why her? Who would do something like this?" Mace asked.

"I don't think anyone had something to do with this. Did she maybe have any signs of not wanting to live anymore?" Roman asked.

"No! Why would you even say something like that? My little girl will never take her own life." Mace replied with sobs.

"I apologize," Roman said while making his way to the ledge.

Silence filled the air. No one is saying anything. Not a single peep except for sobs in the background. Ethan made his way towards the cliff, finding a seat. Roman joined him not long after.

"What do you think?" Roman asked.

"I don't know. I rejected her. Maybe that is the reason she jumped." I said with hesitation in a whispering tone.

"You what?" Roman said with shock.

"Nothing." I shook his head. "Nothing, I'm just rambling."

"Okay, if you say so."

We stared out at the ocean. Trying to make sense of everything.

"Can you still smell her?" Mace asked with her voice shaken.

Staring at Mace with tears in his eyes. Ethan made his way to his feet. Stood still and started smelling the air.

Nope. Nothing.

He stared down towards the ground and then fell to his knees.

"If only you were a wolf, Mia." I said as my voice quivered by these words.

As Ethan fell to his knees, Mace saw this and shook her head.

"No!" Mace screamed, continuing her cries.

Her scent was gone. That rosy sent.

Just gone.

The air got colder as the rest of the pack stood closer. At the edge of the cliff, the pack transformed into their wolf forms. The howling of wolves echoed over the waters of the sea.

Plunging waves crash against the rocks, making the howling of the pack deafening.

***

After a while, almost all members of the pack had left.

Ethan sat on the ground staring into the abyss, wishing Mia would jump up from the waters. Laughing at him, not believing that he fell for her prank. Joking like she always did.

"Mia!" He screamed knowing she wouldn't answer him. "Mia, please. Come back." His voice softened.

Silence filled the air with only the sound of waves crashing. Even for the bond that was broken between them, she was still his mate. He could still sense her.

The alluring scent of roses became weaker and weaker. Until there was nothing.

Gone.

Roman made his way towards Ethan and found a spot next to him.

"Come on, let's go home. There is nothing more that we can do." Roman said with his hand placed on Ethan's shoulder.

Ethan and Roman stood up from the ground. Dusting themselves off. Making their way towards their homes.

Ethan stood still for a moment before entering the front door.

An uproar of regret instantly filled Ethan's heart.

Ethan made his way to his room falling onto his bed. Regretting what he had done. Not because he denied their bond, and rejected Mia as his mate, but because he feared his father. What he might do if he found out. Denouncing him as the next alpha in line.

He can simply not allow that to happen.

Making his way into his room Ethan stared towards the giant chandelier that is hanging on the roof in his room. His mind exaggerates. Thinking that the pack almost found out what he had done.

"Fuck Ethan! You almost made yourself lose your title." He muttered to himself. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

He made his way to the shower. Turning on the hot water to run. Steam fogging up the glass of the shower and the mirror. Undressing himself and climbing into the shower. Standing. Staring towards the ground as the water drips from his body.

Ethan's black hair dangled over his face. Covering his forehead. He turns off the water holding the shower knob. Keeping his eyes closed. His body froze, as if someone had just pressed the pause button on a remote.

Coming back to reality he makes his way out of the shower grabbing a towel. Wrapping it around his waist. His v-line showing. His chest hair was just enough for it to dry quickly. Grabbing another towel to dry off his hair.

A knock on his bedroom door startled him. Making Ethan flinch.

"Yes?" His voice stuttered.

"Honey, sweety are you okay?" Aurelia asked with a sad tone. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah, sure."

The door slowly opens as Aurelia makes her way into Ethan's room. Aurelia is dressed in a beautiful pink dress. Her hair loosened, is long blond curls.

"Honey, are you sure you are, okay?" Aurelia asked with a concerned tone.

"I'm fine mom. You will pick a new mate for me. My crowning will just have to wait for a while. -no biggie-." He responded with a touch of sarcasm.

"You will not disrespect me. I am your mother and I only want what is best for you, because I love you." She said with anger filling her heart.

"Oh, really? Is that what you call it, love? Wow, if it was love you would have asked what I wanted. Not what you wanted. Please get out of my room, I want to get dressed." Ethan said to Aurelia while making his way to his feet.

"If that is what you want. Fine. I think your father would be pleased to hear what you have to say." Aurelia stormed out in anger and frustration.

***

Waves crashing. The heat of the sun makes it unbearable to be outside on the beach. Unfortunately, Mia didn't have a choice but to lie here. Trying to open her eyes, it was difficult. Her eyes were heavy. Mia turned around to lie on her back. The sun shone in her eyes making them more difficult to open. She released a growth of pain as she tried to figure out where she was.

A sound came from a distance. Mia tried opening her eyes to figure out what it could be, but all she could see was a figure standing right in front of her. Giving up trying and staying awake. Mia passed out.

Almost two hours had passed when Mia eventually came to. Being able to open her eyes and being able to completely focus on what was around her. The clinging of plates and utensils. She noticed that she was in a white tent. A tray next to her with medicine and other objects. She tried to pace her breathing to not panic.

Mia's Point of View

"Princess, you're awake." A voice came from a distance. "Lexa, please inform the king and queen that the princess has woken up." She yelled out.

"Where?" I stuttered as I continued my sentence. "Where am I? What is this place?"

"You're safe my princess. You have nothing to worry about. If it wasn't for the king, you would probably still be lying on the beach. Then the sun might have died from dehydration." She replied not answering my question.

"But where am I?" I asked again, waiting for a different reply.

"Oh, my apologies princess." A giggle slipped out. "You're in the nursing tent. Before we can let you see the king and queen, we first need to get you back into shape. Your vitals are exceptionally low, and not good for someone that is healthy."

She held a syringe and a tube that contained some liquid. Pulling the liquid into the syringe. She tapped the syringe to get out all the air bubbles. Being too weak to move, I just laid there.

Scared.

"Don't worry princess. This is only going to sting, but after this you will be good as new." The nurse gave me a bright smile.

"What is your name?" I asked as she injected me with the fluids.

"My name is Eve, princess." She replied focused on my arm.

"Just like Adam and." I stopped mid-sentence as it got harder to speak.

"Sleep, tight princess. When you wake up you will feel ten times better." Eve's voice faded as I fell asleep.

After an hour, Mia is awake but still struggling to get her eyes to open. Rubbing her head. With the morning sun shining into her room onto her face.

Ouch, my fucking head. Why is it so hard to open my eyes? How long have I been out for? Fuck! I need to get up and find out where the hell I am, and how to get the fuck out of here. I can't be stuck here with these strange people. People that I don't even know. Come on Mia! You need to get up. Come on, one, two, three!

"Wow, I can't believe that worked." I whispered to myself, shaking my head.

This room. Why does it seem familiar? It's like I have been here before. The wooden cabinets with flowers engraved with a horse. The hanging chandelier is bigger than a car. Unbelievable how certain people will buy unnecessary stuff that has no use.

Making her way towards the dressing table, she noticed a music box. Pink with glitter, with a little baby cub with white fur inside. Spinning in a circle. The memory of the box flashed through Mia's mind. She was only a baby back then, but she remembered every single detail about the day she got it.

I was sitting on a man's lap, assuming it was my birth father. Telling me a story about the better Luna. It was about a wolf cub, who didn't show any signs of a wolf. Everyone thought she was human, then at the age of twenty-two, she would become the most powerful wolf in all the kingdoms. Legends also said that she would have a power that no one has ever seen. No one yet knows what that power was or is.

All of that is unfortunately only a myth. A story told to children to make them fall asleep.

Everything from that room. Mia remembered.

Hearing footsteps coming from the hall, she rushed to the bed. The door opened slowly, then someone's head popped through the slit of the door.

"Honey, is she awake?" A man's voice asked.

"Yes, she is." A woman responded with a bright smile on her face.

"Darling, my precious daughter." The man rushed in, giving me a tight hug. My eyes widened.

"Sweetie, give her a bit of space. She is probably still processing everything that has happened." The woman said and the man left me.

"I do apologize. I just missed you so much. We missed you." The man said with tears filling his eyes.

"Sorry, who are you?" I asked with confusion.

"Oh, yes. Sorry sweetie, we are your parents. The king, Kaylo, and me. The queen and my name is Maya." She said with a bright smile.

Confusion took over Mia's face.

"What do you mean my parents? My parents left me in a forest to die." Anger started to fill my heart.

"No sweetie, we never left you. You were stolen from us." Maya said holding back her tears.

"You're lying to me." I said and made my way to my feet walking towards the window.

"No, this is the truth. You were just two weeks old, sleeping peacefully in your crib. Then there was a breach at the gates. A few of our men didn't make it, trying to protect the kingdom. Strangely enough, they knew exactly where your room was. Taking you away from us." The king said pacing back and forth as he was trying to puzzle everything together.

As Mia is staring out of the window, she feels her heart racing. The freezing wind blew against her face. Trying to hold back the tears not knowing what to believe. Shaking her head in disbelief, a tear rolled down her face.

Can everything that her adoptive parents had told her be a lie? Have they been lying to her? For her entire life? A sad truth that she had to accept. She fell to her knees and burst into tears.

Hands shaking. Difficulty breathing.

How can this all be true? She thought to herself. After all these years of telling me that my parents had left me. That they didn't want me. Everything is a complete and utter lie.

Mia's thoughts directly went to Raven if she knew about what their parents had done. If she knew that she wasn't left in the forest. That she was kidnapped.

The thought of Ethan also knowing. If he knows that she was a stolen baby. Ethan knew that she wasn't born into the pack. That she was brought in for the outside. Mia thinks that might be the reason he rejected her. That she isn't completely part of their pack.

That she is an abomination.

All these thoughts ran through her head. Maya stepped closer and hugged her, holding her in her arms for some strange reason, at that moment Mia felt safe. Something that she didn't even feel with Mace, her adoptive mother.

Kylo made his way towards me and Maya. Holding something in his hand. A piece of paper I looked at him. My face was red from crying. He gave the piece of paper to me. I looked at him with confusion in my eyes. When I looked down it was a picture of a baby. My mouth fell open.

The realization that the baby in the picture was me.

Kylo sat down next to me. Staring at the photo for a little while I looked at Kylo.

"Dad? Mom?" These were the only words that I could form.

"Please tell us you believe us now?" Maya asked with a shivering tone.

Shaking my head up and down.

"Thank goodness!" Maya's eyes filled with tears, as she hugged me.

"Oh, honey you have no idea how long we've searched for you. We've missed you so much." Kylo said while coming closer and hugging me as well.

After their conversation, the king and queen decide to leave Mia. It was getting late, and they needed to sleep and then carry on their discussion the next day. Giving Mia time to process everything. With all this information Mia's mind is spinning and she feels dizzy. Mia dosed off to sleep.

The next morning the sun was bright and warm. Mia's eyes were heavy. Making it difficult for her to open her eyes. Mia turned around in her bed thinking she had an extreme dream. By opening her eyes, she realizes it wasn't a dream. Mia jumped up rushing towards the window.

It wasn't a dream. Everything that had happened yesterday was true. No, this must be my mind playing games on me. None of this can be true.

Mia's thoughts spanned through her mind.

Mia paced back and forth. With her second pacing, she noticed something hanging on the dresser. She slowly turned to the dresser and saw a rose gold and black dress hanging there. The style was A-line. A style that compliments her figure.

She decided to get dressed. After the dress was on she stared at herself in the mirror. Inspecting every inch of her body, from head to toe. Mia felt beautiful in this dress. She had a feeling that she never felt in a long time.

Grabbing the black shoes that were laid out with the dress, complimenting the dress beautifully. Mia quickly put them on and made her way out to the garden.