CHANDA REBIRTH: AWAKENED UNDER THE BLOOD MOON

"I have to get out of this pack now," Chanda panicked as she closed the door to Velkan's Study. Creeping silently downstairs, she searched for guards, as they were always patrolling the hallway. Yes, Velkan always made sure his wing of the pack house was heavily guarded, even from his beta, Aiden. Probably making sure nobody would discover his plans.

Aiden, she thought. She needed to tell him what she had seen, but she also needed to get out now.

This was her only chance.

"Chanda." A voice called her name and she jumped in fear.

"Oh, pray the gods, you scared me, Mariam."She scolded the little servant who stood, staring at her.

"Why are you peeping? Are you looking for someone?" Mariam asked.

"No, I am not. Return to your work station." She scolded her.

"Yes, ma." Mariam replied and walked away. Chanda didn't like yelling, especially at the young servants, but she didn't need any distractions now. She was pretty sure Velkan had seen her, and she needed to get out.

Ever since Velkan had chased her from the Luna's Chamber to the Servant Quarters, Chanda had learned every secret passage in the mansion. She just needed to get to the kitchen. There was a back door that led to the back gate and was free from guards. From there she was as good as gone.

Once she got to the Montana pack, she would show them the papers she had stolen from the study, and tell them what Velkan was planning, then they would take her back with open arms, calling her a hero. Maybe then, Mia will forgive her and even thank her for saving her from the Horrible Lycan King, Velkan Goda.

Chanda got to the kitchen but the main cook, Boris, was there. "There is my favorite Omega turned Luna, turned Omega again." He winked at her.

Everybody just seemed to be everywhere today. She thought, I can't let him know I'm trying to escape.

"That's me." Chanda forced a smile. "Boris, what are you making?"

"Your favorite, actually, bread," he said, laughing. Chanda smiled easily now. Boris was the only other male wolf she was comfortable with, aside from Aiden, since she was forced to marry that monster, Velkan.

She was sad to leave him, but this had to happen.

"Boris, I forgot to tell you, Lupe was looking for you."

"What does that old witch want now?" he scowled.

"Better go find out now, before you get us both in trouble." Chanda pushed him to the door. "Don't worry," she said when Boris looked back at the bread in the oven. "I will watch it for you. I promise." She locked the door behind him.

It was now or never.

She opened the secret door and ran for her life. She kept falling, mostly from not eating much, but she was determined. She was almost at the fence, when someone flashed a light in her face.

"Chanda. Is that you?"

No, she couldn't be stopped now. Not when she was almost free. If she was taken back, Velkan would definitely kill her. She said a quick prayer to the Moon Goddess and jumped on the wall.

"Chanda." The voice came closer. "It's me, Aiden. Stop. You are going to hurt yourself." He ran to her and dragged her down. "Pray to the gods, you are light."

"Aiden, Oh, Aiden. Bless the Moon Goddess. It's you." She held onto him while he stroked her back.

"Now, tell me why you wanted to jump over the wall?" Aiden asked.

She suddenly remembered what she was doing. "Aiden, we have to go now. Right now. We can't waste any time." She tugged on his shirt.

"Did Velkan scare you again? I have told you he is just all bark, no bite." Aiden teased her.

"No, you don't understand. He has plans. Evil plans." She said while looking around, scared and shaking.

"Chanda, listen to me. Calm down." Aiden stroked his hands down her arm. "Just breathe and talk slowly."

"He wants to destroy everything. He is evil, Aiden. Evil." Chanda said slowly, trying to make him understand they weren't safe.

"What are you talking about?"

"It's the truth." She took out the files and showed Aiden. "It's all there. I took this from his office."

"I knew something was missing." Aiden murmured and got up, walking away from her.

"Aiden, are you listening? We have to go."

"I knew I had seen someone go into the study. You know, Chanda." He turned to her now. "I have always told you, warned you, in fact, to keep your head down and don't go looking for trouble. But you never listen."

"Aiden?" Chanda was confused.

He folded the file into his jacket and smiled at her. "Chanda, dear. The world isn't as beautiful as you want it to be. One would think by now, you would have learned not to trust anybody."

"Aiden, what are you saying?" She was getting scared. "We have to go, Aiden."

"By the gods, you are so stupid. It's you who has to go." He screamed at her. "I thought you were going to be of use to me later, that's why I begged Velkan not to kill you earlier, but I guess not. It's a shame that I have to do it now by myself, because I can't have you running off and exposing our plan now, can I?"

Chanda started to cry. Not Aiden. she had trusted him.

"For old times' sake, I am going to give you a head start." His fangs showed when he smiled. "A little chance for you to think you might escape." He whispered, "Run."

Chanda was frozen, her body so shocked she couldn't move.

"Oh, guess you don't want that chance. Hmm, not surprised though. You were always weak." Aiden started to transform into his wolf.

As if she had just realized what was happening, Chanda ran.

Aiden chased her, howling.

She ran for the kitchen door, but before she could make it, Aiden caught up with her. He dragged her with his teeth to the cliff at the other side of the house, not stopping until he got to the edge. He pinned her to the ground and changed back to his human form.

"I was going to tear you to pieces, but they will know a wolf killed you. So, this way is better. Everyone would think you killed yourself. Velkan would be so happy."

"Help! Anybody, help!" She screamed.

Aiden smacked her on the face. "Stop it. No one can hear you."

Chanda looked at him now, tears filling her eyes. "Aiden, please don't. Please don't kill me. Please." She cried.

"I have to or Velkan will be so mad that I let you go. You understand, right?" He smiled. Chanda had always loved his smile, but now it was the scariest thing to her ever.

"I remember the first time I saw you, Velkan made you cry. You look so beautiful when you cry." His eyes were cold. "That's the image I will remember you by. My beautiful crying Omega."

He kissed her on the lips and threw her off the cliff.

SIX MONTHS AGO

BEFORE CHANDA'S DEATH

The air in the clearing was filled with anticipation as werewolves-male and female, alphas and omegas, from different packs, far and beyond. All gathered as one, chanting and screaming, eager to witness the battle of Alpha supremacy.

The Lycan Trial, fought under the light of the full moon, promised the arrival of a new Lycan king that would continue to strengthen and protect the years' long bond between packs of the West region.

Velkan of the Goda pack, stood at the edge of the window, awaiting the rise of the full moon to seal his fate. It wasn't supposed to be like this, he thought, glaring down at the clearing. His dead father had been the Lycan king, loved and most importantly feared by all. His older brother was supposed to be in line for the position, but he had also died on that fateful night, leaving him now, to have to fight and prove he was worthy of the position.

"If I didn't know better, I would have said you were nervous." He turned to the voice. Aiden, he smirked. The only person apart from his mother that he felt he had left in the world.

"Nervous? Ha! I'm just angry that I have to prove to these mutts that I am their king." He answered. "I mean, I have the blood of Lycaon flowing through my veins."

"There is the cocky bastard. You know, Ryder is one of the best Gammas in the West region. He might put up a real fight."

Velkan laughed. "That is because of the Elder's Clan. They so badly wanted this trial to happen. It gives them something to be excited about."

The position of Lycan king had been passed from Alphas to their firstborn sons in the Goda pack for hundreds of years. Following the death of his brother, the Lunar trial had been proposed to pick a new one, but nobody had dared to contest it, so, the elders presented Ryder from the Farkas pack.

"I'm surprised they hadn't picked the Alpha of..." The loud cry of the blow horn cut him off.

Velkan walked to the shelf in the room, picked up the gin he had left brewing and raised a toast to Aiden. "It's time. After three strikes of Ryder's blood, we celebrate." He drank it and walked out with Aiden following.

****

"I haven't seen this many wolves in one place."

"Well, the trial doesn't happen often."

"Yeah, the last one was over 400 years ago."

"I hope Ryder wins. He is strong."

"For a warrior, yes. But Velkan is trained for this."

Velkan smiled at the comments of the spectators, as he climbed into the clearing and transformed into his wolf, Rex, a towering figure with silvery fur that glittered in the moonlight. Yes, he was trained for this, but he would have preferred to have his brother here, in the presence of their father and pack members, being crowned the new Lycan king.

Ryder, his opponent, a lean-looking wolf, known for his fast pace and sharp claws, climbed into the clearing. "Your Highness," Ryder lowered his head to him. "May the best wolf win."

Without warning, Ryder lunged at Velkan, pushing him to the far end of the clearing, causing an uproar in the crowd. It's on, Velkan thought as he struck out his front paw, claws sharp across Ryder's face, making him bleed. Strike one. Ryder loosened his hold on him, so he pushed back against him.

The two wolves circled each other. Ryder howled and lunged but Velkan dodged to the side, leaving him with the opportunity to swipe his claws at Ryder's side, drawing blood again. Strike two. 'That was too easy, he thought. The third strike and this fight will be over'. They tumbled on the floor, claws clashing when Ryder used his fangs to sink into Velkan's side, tearing off his flesh. He pushed him off, whimpering in pain on the floor.

Ryder howled and Velkan looked into his eyes. They were red, almost blood-like. Something was wrong, he thought. The trial rarely ended in death, but as Ryder circled him, he feared for his life.

When Ryder lunged for his neck and sank claws deep, he could hear him clearly in his head say, "Time for you to join your dead father."

The crowd screamed in excitement as Velkan fought for his life. He tried to fight off Ryder but felt his spirit dying. How could this be? He has been in worse positions. A scent caught his nose and he realized Ryder had stained his claws with wolfsbane and was chanting in the old tongue while choking him.

It was now or never.

He gathered sand from the ground and threw it into Ryder's eyes, causing him to fall back, losing his grip. Staggering, he lunged at Ryder, striking him for the third time, drawing blood. He rolled him off and stood, still in pain from the wolfsbane.

The crowd erupted in cheers for Velkan's win, but Ryder, half-blind, screamed as if possessed and lunged for Velkan again, but he dodged, causing Ryder to go over the edge of the clearing, falling to his death.

The energetic crowd went silent, a few gasps here and there, everyone shocked at the turn of events.

An elderly woman climbed into the clearing, joined by two men who looked just as old as her. "Today, we have witnessed a display of power and supremacy, as is the purpose of the Lunar Trial." said the old woman, her voice very loud.

She walked to Velkan, who had changed to his human form and raised his left hand to the sky. "Under the light of the full moon, Under the blessing of the Moon Goddess," a bowl with red substance in it, was presented to her by one of the men by her side. She placed a finger in it and rubbed Velkan's forehead. "I, Hati, Elder of the West Region, crown you Velkan, as the new Lycan King."

The silent crowd erupted, clapping and blowing horns in celebration, obviously neglecting that they had all just witnessed the death of one of their own.

"Velkan. Oh, Velkan. I knew you could do it." His mother, Leia, rushed to him.

Velkan fell to the ground, his body reacting to the wolfbane flowing in his veins.

"Velkan. Velkan, are you...." His mother's concerned voice was the last thing he heard as he faded into the darkness.

"Oh, this is so exciting. My friend is going to be the new Lycan Luna. Ha!" Anna squealed with delight, knocking over a glass of wine. "Oops, sorry." She murmured when Mia, the Alpha's daughter of Montana Pack, eyed her. "Where is your maid when you need her?" Anna looked towards the door.

"I haven't been selected yet, Anna. And she went out to get the dresses." The door creaked open. "There she is."

Chanda, Omega to the Alpha's daughter, walked in trying to balance the pile of dresses in one hand and a box of jewelry in the other. "My princess, your dresses as you requested. Also, Alpha sent these jewelries to you." She moved to drop the dresses on the bed when she slipped on the spilled liquid.

Clothes and jewelry flew in different directions. Just my luck, she thought, as her bottom landed on the floor, and she braced for the rain of insults from the ladies, especially Anna.

"Oh, pray me, you are so clumsy and blind now too, it seems." Anna yelled.

"Let her be. Chanda, pick them up immediately before they get ruined." Mia instructed. "And go and get my bath running."

"Yes, my lady." Chanda picked herself up and hurried round the room.

Life in the Montana pack was all Chanda knew. She has served as an omega to the Alpha house all her life, from being a maid in the staff quarters to being a personal servant for Mia. She couldn't complain because Mia was still fair and just, unlike the rest of the pack members. This even caused some of the other omegas to dislike her, saying she received special treatment.

"I wasn't even sure the Luna Ritual was going to happen, you know, after they announced the Lycan King had been poisoned." Mia said.

Poisoned? Who would dare poison the most feared wolf in all the region, Chanda wondered as she walked to the bathroom to start Mia's bath. She had heard rumors that he had killed his father and brother so he could ascend the throne. For once, Chanda was grateful to be an omega.

Imagine having to marry someone like that, she shuddered.

"I never liked that Ryder. He was always so full of himself." Anna hissed loudly. "Well, guess it was the moon goddess' punishment for him that he died. He has brought shame to his pack."

Chanda was amused. The only reason Anna disliked the Gamma was because he had rejected all the advances she had made for him during the last wolf gala the pack hosted.

So, it was Ryder who had planned to poison the Lycan and died trying? Maybe he was not as bright as Chanda had thought he was.

"Mia, darling." Sera, Mia's mother, walked into the room. "Child, why aren't you packed and ready? Your dad has the cars waiting downstairs."

"Now?!" Mia and Anna exclaimed in unison.

"Yes. We will leave this morning." Sera walked to the bed and ran her hands on the dresses on the bed. Some of them were soiled. "Aren't these the dresses I had the dressmaker send to you? What happened to them?"

Chanda winced when she heard her Luna's question and said a quick prayer to the Moon goddess that Mia might cover up for her.

"That servant, Chanda, happened. She soiled the dresses." Anna blurted out.

Oh, there goes her prayer.

"What? Chanda!" Sera screamed.

"My Lady." Chanda ran out of the bathroom and bowed her head to the Luna in respect. "You called."

"You good-for-nothing, omega." A hard blow landed on Chanda's back, forcing her to the ground. "Do you know how much these clothes cost? Or are you trying to sabotage Mia's chances of becoming the next Lycan Luna?" Sera screamed at her. "Speak up, you servant."

"No, my lady." Chanda murmured, with her head down, trying to hold back the tears.

"No, my lady," Sera mocked. "What are we going to do now, uh? She needs those dresses for the Luna ritual."

"I can wear something else, Mother. I have tons of dresses." Mia finally spoke up.

"My daughter has to look her best today, hence why I ordered new ones." Sera turned to Mia.

"I still don't get this Luna ritual. Why can't the king just pick a female and marry her? Why do we all have to go parade ourselves before him first?" Mia complained.

"Don't say that, Mia. This is also a chance for different packs to show off their wealth and influence to the Lycan King. He doesn't only pick his Luna, he also picks his right-hand pack." She scolded her daughter and turned to Chanda. "And as for you, you will be confined to your room for three days, without food or water, so you can think about your stupidity."

Chanda felt like her world ended. "No, my lady. Please. It was an accident." She begged and dared to hold on to the Luna's drape. She didn't care about starving for three days, she had served worse punishments than that.

In all her 21 years on earth, she has never left the Montana Pack. Mia had chosen her to join her on the journey for the Luna Ritual and Chanda had been dreaming of it ever since. If she was punished, her dreams of seeing outside of the pack were gone.

"Get your filthy hands off me, you wretched being." Sera kicked her, but Chanda held on, crying. "See, the peasant must have other plans for her to want to go so eagerly."

"Just let her be, mother." Mia said. "I picked her to go with me."

"Do you want her to go and humiliate us there too?"

"It was a stupid accident." Mia eyed Anna, who looked away. "Besides, she has been my maid for 5 years now, and she serves me well. She is going. When she returns, she can serve her punishment."

"Fine." Sera agreed. "But she will work in the welcoming party. Maybe the thing can learn how to be a good maid when she sees how other omegas behave in the Goda pack."

Chanda finally let go of Sera's drape. "Thank you, my lady." She said, her head still facing down.

"Don't make me regret this," Mia warned. "Clean this mess up and come help me pack quickly."

Even though her back was screaming in pain, Chanda was relieved. She walked out the room, holding onto the promise of leaving this pack, even if it was just this one time.