His caged luna

Brenda's POV

"Father, please don't leave me! I'll do better, I promise! Please don't send me to Alpha Aaron. He's a monster!"

My voice kept echoing in my head. I pleaded with my father desperately not to give me away, but it meant nothing to him.

And now, I stand in a bathroom filled with strangers as I get myself prepared for my doom.

The bathroom smelled sweetly of roses and honey. It looked like a place made for a Luna.

The walls were made of white marble streaked with gold; candlelight shone in every corner of the room. Everything was perfect. Too perfect. A cruel kind of beauty for such an ugly night.

I stood there in a long red robe. Two women in silver uniforms stood beside me. Their eyes looked cold and empty, with no emotions, like they had done this so much that it doesn't affect them anymore. Their hands moved gracefully as they took my robe.

I watched it slip off my shoulders down to the floor, leaving me completely naked.

They guided me into the huge bathtub filled with petals, floating around me.

I felt like I was being washed for slaughter.

I wasn't here as a guest. I was here as an offering. A gift. A sacrifice.

I could still see it - Father's hand slipping away from mine as the guards dragged me from the palace gates. His face had no emotion. Not love, not mercy. Just cold determination.

"Forgive me, Brenda," he had whispered. "This is for the kingdom."

But what kingdom needed blood from its own child to survive?

I had screamed and fought until my voice broke, until the night swallowed my cries. But he never turned back. Not even once.

Now, as more women entered the bathroom carrying buckets of crushed ice, my stomach turned. They began pouring it into the tub. The warmth vanished, replaced by biting cold. I gasped as the icy water clawed at my skin.

I looked up at the head maid, a tall woman with silver hair and eyes that looked almost kind.

She saw the question in my eyes before I could ask. "This is necessary, my dear," she whispered. "It will make your body tighter. The Alpha likes his women... tight."

Her tone was gentle, but her words felt like knives.

I wanted to scream. To run. But my body refused to move.

The water was so cold that my bones ached. My lips turned blue. The maids worked silently, their faces blank, though I saw pity flicker in some of their eyes.

Two of them stood in the corner, whispering to each other.

"Oh, poor thing," one said softly. "So young and beautiful... and her father sold her."

"I heard his kingdom was crashing so he sold his daughter to save himself."

"She's just seventeen," the first maid said again with fake concern. "How could her own father offer his daughter to the monster himself... moon goddess, please show her mercy."

Their words stabbed me like knives. Every piece of pity only made me feel like another blade was twisting in my heart.

The head maid glared at them sharply. They stopped quickly and went on with their usual activities.

Finally, they helped me out of the bathtub, wrapping a warm towel around me. It warmed me a little bit, but I was still freezing. Then they began to fix my makeup.

They dressed me in white silky lingerie that was almost transparent. I smelled like fresh wine.

The head maid looked at me from my head downward. Her eyes were filled with concern, but then she took my hand quietly with a weak smile and said, "It's time."

My heart pounded so loudly I could hear it in my ears.

We walked through the hallway, which seemed like an endless tunnel. As we walked, some maids still whispered quietly behind me.

"I pity her," one said. "But maybe she'll be lucky. If she gets pregnant, she could become Luna."

"Don't be foolish," another whispered back. "Alpha Aaron never keeps a woman twice."

"What happens to them after?"

The maid touched her own neck and made a slicing motion.

The other gasped, covering her mouth.

The head maid stopped and turned sharply. "Enough." Her voice was firm. "Leave."

The maids scurried away like frightened birds.

And then it was just the two of us.

We stopped before a massive dark door - carved with wolves and moons, and the mark of the Alpha.

I froze. My legs wouldn't move. My whole body shook.

The head maid turned to me and held my hands softly. Her warmth made me feel safe, even for a second. "No matter what happens tonight, just keep in mind-it will all be over. May the moon goddess be with you, my dear."

She looked sad, but she managed a forced smile before she pushed the door open.

I walked into the room. It was huge and dark. Fear pulsed through my veins as I walked in deeper.

A fireplace burned in the corner of the room, and beside it was a figure sitting majestically on a throne-like chair.

My heart raced as I saw him.

Alpha Aaron.

He sat in a large chair near the fire, half in shadow. His black hair fell over his forehead, and his golden eyes glowed faintly in the dim light. He looked calm. Too calm. Like a predator watching his prey struggle before the kill.

When he looked at me, my knees weakened.

He didn't speak. He didn't need to. His gaze said everything.

Ownership.

Fear.

And the end of the life I once knew.

I wanted to scream, but my throat was dry. I wanted to run, but the door behind me was already closed.

So I stood there, shaking, trying not to cry.

Because crying wouldn't save me now.

"Take it off," he said in a commanding tone.

I froze. I clenched my trembling hands together. I didn't want him to see me weak.

He smirked and then rose slowly from his chair.

I stepped backward with each step he took closer.

"Do I need to repeat myself?" he said in a low tone as he reached out and grabbed my hair painfully.

"I. said. take. it. off."

My hands trembled. My legs went numb and struggled to keep me standing.

"No!" Those words escaped my lips. My heart raced even more now.

He paused, and then there were seconds of extreme silence.

I closed my eyes deeply, waiting for him to strike me dead.

But he didn't; instead he laughed in a low, pleased voice.

"You are feisty," he said. "This will be interesting."

I opened my eyes slowly. His sharp gaze was fixed on me. His eyes looked like death itself.

He lifted my chin softly as his thumb rubbed slowly over my lips. He licked his lips slowly. He stared at me like he could undress me with his eyes.

His fingers moved slowly from my chin down to my chest until he settled, caressing the tip of my nipples.

Something inside me snapped. I wouldn't let him have me without a fight. My anger burned in my chest, and without hesitation, I grabbed a jar on the dressing table beside me and struck him.

The jar hit his head, shattering with a loud sound.

For a moment everything went silent. I gasped in shock as I realized what I had done.

He staggered, pressing his hand to his head. Blood ran down his cheeks.

Without any more hesitation, I ran for the door, trying to push it open, but the handle would not move.

I froze. My breath hammered in my chest. I was trapped. And with a very monster.

Extreme silence filled the air as I turned back slowly. His shadow fell over me. Only then did I realize he was already standing right behind me.

There was no place to run. No place to hide. I was trapped.

He dragged me back angrily and then crashed me against the wall.

I screamed in pain. He pressed me against the wall. His weight felt like stone, draining me of all my strength.

I screamed until my voice broke, but that didn't stop him; neither did anyone come to save me.

He bound my wrists with his strong hands and then pinned them above my head.

His other hand was busy ripping off my dress, leaving me completely naked and helpless. His legs pinned mine to the wall.

I struggled, but my strength was no match for his. Every muscle in my body was on fire. My skin hurt. My wrists already felt numb from his strong grip.

My face was wet with tears mixed with his blood.

I clawed at his shoulders, trying to push him off, but he only laughed like a monster amused with his game.

He pressed his lips against mine, forcing a kiss on me even though I resisted. He bit my lips. I screamed, pushed him away, but before I knew it, he was all over me again, kissing my neck, sucking me like he owned me.

His grip on me loosened a bit, and with that I pushed him off with all the strength I could gather, but before I could escape, he rushed at me again and this time he didn't show any mercy.

His hands fondled my breasts and then pinched off my nipple like he owned them.

I screamed in pain and then hit his shoulder as hard as I could, but that didn't stop him; it only made him angrier.

Without warning he lifted me off the ground, trapping my nipples within his mouth as he sucked on them like he could drain my soul from me.

I screamed, kicking and fighting, but he wouldn't stop.

"Please!" I begged. This time I already felt defeated. I couldn't fight anymore. But still he didn't show mercy.

He forced me down on the bed. The mattress dipped. The room spun. I cried out. I screamed "No" until my throat was raw. The bed was a trap. He was a storm.

I looked at Alpha Aaron with all the hatred I had-for myself, my dad, the world, but most especially him. And I screamed at the top of my voice.

Finally, he finished. I do not know how long he stood over me. He breathed like the sea. He left me where I was.

I curled myself on the bed as I grabbed the mattress tightly. Tears flowed down, soaking the mattress.

My eyes darkened. I stared into empty space, clenching my teeth.

"I will kill you... I promise," I vowed silently as determination burned in my eyes.

The first night, I believed he would kill me when he was done. I even hoped for it. But he didn't.

Instead he had said to me, "I will break your spirit every day until you have nothing left but me."

And he kept that promise. Every day was torture. His words echoed in my head like chains. Every night, they wrapped around my heart until I could hardly breathe.

I used to cry and pray. I begged for my someone to save me. I begged the moon goddess to help me. But no one did. Not even God.

Now, I don't pray. I don't cry. Now I only believe in one person-Myself.

Three years of pain have burned every tear out of me. I am empty. Cold. I feel nothing now. Maybe that's what freedom feels like.

I sat in front of the mirror and watched myself. The woman looking back at me was a stranger. Her eyes were dark and tired. Her lips were pale. I used to be soft. Now I am stone.

I put on makeup slowly. I painted life on my face because he liked it that way. But inside, I was already dead.

A soft knock came at the door.

"Madam, Alpha Aaron has called for you," a maid said quietly.

I didn't look at her. I didn't answer. She understood and left.

I stood up, put on a red robe with golden patterns, and sprayed his favorite scent on my neck. The smell made my stomach turn, but I wore it anyway.

As I walked down the hall, I heard laughter. Glass breaking. Then faint cries - soft, frightened. My hands began to shake, not from fear, but anger.

When I opened the door, my heart turned to ice.

Alpha Aaron was there, drunk, half-naked, laughing like a madman. The room was a mess, wine spilled everywhere, clothes thrown on the floor. Around him were little girls within the age of twelve to fifteen I assume. They huddled in corners, terrified, trying to cover themselves. Some were naked while some still had some torn clothes on.

He was going to ruin their lives like he ruined mine.

He chased them, taunting and laughing. "Come on, don't hide from me! You know I always win!"

My blood boiled.

"Alpha Aaron!" I shouted.

He stopped and turned. For a moment, he looked confused, then smiled that cruel smile I hated.

"Oh... my favorite toy," he said, slurring his words. "You came to join the fun?"

I smiled - a cold, empty smile.

"If you want to play," I said quietly, "then play with me."

The girls looked at me with wide, shaking eyes. I didn't let them see pity in mine. I couldn't afford it.

"What are you still doing here?" I said to them, signaling them to leave.

They ran, quick as shadows, out of the room. Now it was only me and him. Again.

I hated how familiar this room felt.

I hated him.

I hated that I still breathed the same air he did.

He grinned and raised his glass. "You always surprise me, Brenda."

I tilted my head, pretending to smile. "Then come here. Let's see how much fun I can be."

He laughed and stumbled toward me. He reeked of wine and sweat. His robe slipped down his shoulders.

The moment he was close enough, I moved.

I pulled out the small knife hidden behind my robe and drove it straight into his heart.

He froze, gasping in pain. His eyes widened in shock as he looked down. Blood spread across his skin, dark and thick.

Then, slowly, he looked up at me. For a second everything went silent and still until he laughed. A dry, broken laugh.

"You think that will kill me?"

I stepped back, breathing hard.

"I'm not here to kill you," I said. "I just want you to feel it,what your end will be like."

He pulled the knife from his chest. The wound began to close right before my eyes.

"You should know by now," he said, smiling darkly, "only silver can kill a wolf."

I didn't move. My voice came out low and steady.

"I'm not going to give you the privilege of an easy death, Alpha. You don't deserve it. I'll make you suffer. I'll make you wish for death."

He stared at me for a moment, then laughed again. "This is why I can't let you go. You make life so... interesting."

He moved closer and grabbed my hair, pulling my head back hard. Pain shot through me, but I didn't flinch. I kept my gaze on him, like I was glaring deep into his dark soul.

"You have such beautiful eyes," he whispered. His breath was heavy with alcohol.

He pressed his lips against mine. I didn't fight him this time. I didn't even blink. I waited. I felt nothing. I had no soul left for him to break.

He finally pulled away, smiling. "Get dressed," he said. "We have an event tonight. Alphas from every region will be there. I want them to see how beautiful my woman is."

I wiped his touch from my lips and stepped aside.

He turned away, laughing to himself, still proud, still blind.

I walked out of the room. My steps were slow but steady. My hands shook, but not from fear but from rage.

Every breath I took burned like fire.

I whispered to myself, "Your time is coming soon, Alpha Aaron. I will destroy you. And when I'm done, there won't be a single trace of you left in this world."

The corridor was quiet except for the faint hum of night insects beyond the stone walls. Then-

a sound. Soft. A stifled sob.

I froze. My pulse quickened.

Someone was hiding.

I followed the sound to a shadowed corner, and there they were-those same little girls. Huddled together, arms around their knees, shaking. When they saw me, their eyes went wide with terror, as if I were another monster sent to drag them back.

I sighed, the ache in my chest deepening.

When I first came here, no one had looked at me with mercy. No one had tried to help.

I crouched down and whispered, "I'll help you. All of you."

Their eyes flickered with disbelief, then hope.

We moved fast and silent through the halls, bare feet whispering against cold marble. Every creak felt like thunder. Every shadow felt alive. My heart pounded in my throat, but I didn't stop. Not this time.

At last, the night air hit us. We reached the high wall that kept souls trapped inside this mansion. It looked impossibleto cross.

The girls' shoulders sagged. One began to cry.

"Climb on," I said, kneeling.

They hesitated.

"When I was in your place," I whispered, "no one reached out to me. If you stay, you'll lose yourself. Every piece of who you are will die, one by one, until nothing's left. Don't let that happen."

Silence. Then the smallest girl stepped forward.

One by one they climbed, trembling, over my shoulders. I lifted them, watching each disappear over the wall into freedom.

Only one remained. She stood frozen, her small hands twisting the hem of her torn dress.

"Go," I urged. "Now."

"I...I...I'm scared," she whispered.

Footsteps echoed behind us.

I turned toward the sound. "Jump," I said sharply. "Now!"

She leapt. I lifted her as high as I could, but she was heavy and I had no balance left. The rock beneath me shifted.

It broke.

The world tilted. I felt my body drop, air ripping from my lungs. I braced for the ground but instead, strong arms caught me mid-fall. A body twisted with mine, rolling, shielding me. The world blurred until we stopped on the soft slope below the wall.

For a second I couldn't move.

Then I felt it, a warm breath against my ear, a hand cradling the back of my head.

I opened my eyes.

Grey eyes looked down at me, bright and stormy, filled with something I hadn't seen in years-concern. He was close enough that I could see the faint scar on his jaw, the pulse beating hard in his neck.

For a moment, everything stopped. The air. The pain. The noise.

He was a stranger, but something about him felt achingly familiar.

"Are you hurt?" he asked quietly.

His voice was low and rough, yet gentle, like warmth breaking through ice. My chest ached. My heart stuttered.

I swallowed hard, unable to find words. I hadn't felt anything real in years, and now emotions rushed back like a flood. Fear, confusion... something else I couldn't name.

Footsteps and voices drew closer.

The guards.

My heart slammed against my ribs. If they found us here, both of us were as good as dead.

I sat up, pulling him with me until he was upright on the grass. The guards' torches glowed faintly through the trees - we had seconds.

Without thinking, I loosened the tie of my robe and let the fabric slip from my shoulders, exposing my back to the torchlight. The cool breeze bit into my skin. Then I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing close so the guards would see only two shapes locked together.

He froze, breath catching.

"What are you-"

"Don't move," I said quickly. My voice shook, but my mind was already racing.

The guards' voices came nearer. "Did you hear something?" one said.

They turned the corner, torches sweeping. The light flickered over us.

His hands came up instinctively, hugging me tighter. My heart thundered. The cold night turned heavy and hot.

For three endless heartbeats, I felt nothing but the sound of our breathing and the nearness of him-the strength in his arms, the steady rhythm beneath his chest.

I hadn't felt this alive in years.

The guards left just as quickly as they came, leaving only deafening silence between us as the moonlight bore witness to this.

We were still wrapped tightly around each other or should I say -me.

Lost in the warmth of his embrace, his scent so attractive that I forgot to let go.

I could feel his heartbeat, steady and warm, against my trembling skin.

"Miss," he whispered close to my ear, his breath brushing my neck, soft but teasing. "I know I'm handsome, but you don't have to keep holding on. The guards are gone."

Heat rushed through me. I pulled away instantly, my hands scrambling to fix my robe.

My lips parted, but no sound came out.

He smiled - that kind of smile that made you want to slap him and stare at him at the same time.

I hated that he looked amused. I hated myself for holding on for too long.

"Annoying," I muttered under my breath.

He chuckled. "You can call me Leon," he said, stretching out his hand.

I glanced at it, then at him. Those grey eyes gleamed like a storm, wild and knowing.

"I don't talk to strangers," I said coldly, then turned and walked away.

"Then at least tell me your name," he called.

I didn't look back. I couldn't. Because if I did, I was afraid I might not stop looking.

Back at the hall, music played loudly in the background. Laughter, loud and hollow, bounced off marble walls.

Men with power and calibers sat in clusters, surrounded by wine and women, their laughter sharp and empty.

At the head sat Alpha Aaron - confident, cruel, and proud. His presence was enough to silence the room whenever he moved.

"Allow me to appreciate every one of you for honoring my invitation," he said, lifting his glass.

One of the guests laughed. "Who could turn down the call of the great Alpha Aaron - the man of gold, wine, and women?"

Aaron grinned, showing his perfect teeth. "You flatter me."

"We heard you claimed a woman so beautiful that even the moon hides in shame," another said. "Will you show her to us tonight?"

Aaron laughed, dark and deep. He leaned toward one of his maids and whispered something.

I was in my room, rushing to fix my hair and jewelry. I had just changed from my earlier attire which was already stained. Now fixing my hair which still had traces of dirt from the fall. I barely had time to wash it off before the maid's voice came again through the door.

"The Alpha has called for you."

I sighed, my heart tightening. I looked into the mirror - painted face, lifeless eyes. I forced a smile, fixed myself a bit more.

Then I walked out.

The hall fell silent the moment I entered.

My gown was sapphire blue, soft and heavy, clinging to me in all the right places. Diamonds glittered at my neck and wrists, catching the light with every step. I had never looked more alive, yet I had never felt more hollow.

Every pair of eyes followed me. I could feel their hunger, their whispers, their awe.

But my gaze found only one face.

Leon.

He sat among them - calm, unreadable. His eyes caught mine. They followed me like shadows.

My chest tightened.

Aaron rose to meet me, his hand sliding possessively around my waist. The scent of him burned in my throat.

"Isn't she beautiful?" he said proudly, parading me like a trophy.

They all cheered, laughing and praising, raising their glasses.

But Leon didn't move. Didn't clap. He just sipped his wine slowly with his gaze still fixed on me.

"Brenda here," Aaron continued, "is not only beautiful, but a very talented dancer."

My heart stopped. My eyes cut to his, warning him silently.

The guests laughed, shouting for me to dance.

I smiled - tight, cold whispering softly to Aaron. "If you want to entertain them, Alpha, then you dance because I will not."

Aaron smile disappeared. He leaned close. "You will either obey me or suffer the consequences," he hissed.

"Then I will suffer the consequences," I whispered back.

I stepped forward and bowed slightly to the guests.

"Gentlemen, I wouldn't want to bore you with my amateur steps. And besides, I'm not feeling well tonight so I would like to take my leave. Please enjoy the night."

Then I turned and walked away, leaving the hall heavy with silence.

I didn't look back, but I could feel Aaron's rage burning holes into my back.

By the time I reached my room, my hands were shaking. I trembled for what awaits me. I knew how much he enjoys giving torture, the way he could make pain last longer than time itself.

Aaron's punishments were creative, cruel, unforgettable.

Once, he made me lie on broken glass while he forced himself on me - each breath was a scream I swallowed to stay alive, with every move I felt the piece cut deep into my skin all because I refused one night with him.

Another time, he locked me outside naked under the rain, watching through the window as I begged for mercy that never came.

Every scar on my body was a story he wrote in pain.

Aaron was not one to tolerate disobedience but I was done been his plaything.

I paced around in panic when the knock finally came, my knees nearly gave out.

The maid entered, her face pale.

"The Alpha is waiting," she whispered, handing me a blindfold.

My breath caught.

Still, I tied it over my eyes. The world went black.

She led me down the hall, her grip trembling on my arm. Her voice came faintly. "Keep walking straight. First door on your right."

I swallowed hard. My heart thudded painfully in my chest.

When I reached the door, I hesitated for only a moment before whispering, "I'm here, Alpha. Do with me as you wish."

The scent in the air was strange - not his usual one.

Then I heard footsteps approaching, slow, deliberate.

My throat tightened. I clenched my hands, bracing for pain.

But instead, a hand brushed against my waist - gently.

I froze.

His touch wasn't rough. It wasn't demanding. It was careful. Curious.

He leaned in. His breath was warm against my skin. I could scent the alcohol on him. He was probably drunk.

My knees trembled.

And then - he kissed me.

Softly. Unexpectedly.

My mind went blank. My lips parted on instinct, a gasp escaping.

This wasn't Aaron. It couldn't be.

Aaron's kisses were violent. This one was something else - something dangerous in its tenderness.

My chest burned. My heart betrayed me, beating faster.

For the first time in years, I felt warmth instead of fear.

His hand came up to my face, tracing the edge of my jaw. His touch made my skin come alive in ways I'd forgotten were possible.

He pulled me closer, his breath mixing with mine, his heartbeat loud and strong.

I didn't know what I was doing anymore. I didn't care.

For one stolen moment, I wanted to feel human again.

I let him lift me - easily, gently. He laid me down, his lips finding mine again, slower this time, like a question neither of us dared to answer.

My body trembled. My hands reached for him before I could stop them.

The world melted into heat and confusion and heartbeat. Every emotion I had buried clawed its way back to the surface - longing, fear, loneliness, and something that felt dangerously like hope.

His lips moved down to my neck. A soft moan escaped my lips. My fingers clawed on his back

I felt like a sinner for enjoying this moment. I should hate Aaron but this moment, I didn't want him to stop.

I felt fire burned through me with every kisses. His hand grabbed thighs, lifting them slowly.

For a moment I forgot all about my fears. I forgot how much I hated Aaron.

His fingers slipped within my lips.

A loud moan escaped my lips as I felt him thrust deep inside me.

He kissed me softly in ways he never did in three years.

I felt the heat burn through me the deeper he went.

For the first time in years, I didn't feel like a prisoner. I felt alive.

He whispered my name between breaths, as if it belonged to him alone.

"Brenda..."

I shivered. His voice - deep, rough, familiar. But not Aaron.

Then-

BANG!

The door crashed open.

I gasped, ripping the blindfold away. My eyes widened.

Alpha Aaron.

He stood at the door, fully dressed, his face dark with fury. His breathing came in sharp bursts.

For a heartbeat, everything went silent.

Then my gaze shifted - to the man beside me.

The man whose hands still held my waist. The man whose eyes I could never forget.

Leon.

My heart stopped.

Aaron's eyes burned with rage. My mind screamed for a way out, but there was none.

I could feel it in my bones - the storm that was about to break.

And I knew, in that moment, that my life... was about to end.