LUNA BETWEEN ALPHAS

SCARLET'S POV

I rolled on the mat one more time as I heard my name being called again. That was the usual practice, but today, they would have to come and get me themselves.

"Where is that girl, what is she still doing on the bed by this time?" he screamed and cursed.

I could tell that he was furious, but for now, I don't care how he felt. So determined to pull through this, I remained on my bed with my eyes closed. I was ready for whatever punishment he would dish out this time.

"Damn it, it is already 4:00 am and I have been up to some good this morning. Then why is she still sleeping?" I heard him say as he approaches and from how he sounded, I could tell that he would be in here soon.

I heard the shattering sound of falling iron buckets followed by a scream from him. He must have hit his leg on one of the iron buckets littered on the passage leading to my room and I could tell it must have hurt him so badly as he continued to scream and curse at the buckets.

"Shit, I can't believe this shit is this painful, fool" he cursed.

I have been awake even before three and had been rolling on my tattered mat ever since trying to fight off the giant mosquitoes that sang rough songs with terrible beats on my ear. Even my skin was not spared from their fierce attack as I wondered when all these would be over.

Anyways, I am already used to this way of life. In fact, this is the only life that I know of even though I was living in the second largest mansion in the Diamond Cut Pack, with my own family. Yes, you heard me right, my own family.

I barely slept for more than three hours after retiring by midnight. I always have to be awake in case I am needed by any one of them for even the most minute reason. A delay of an extra second on my part always resulted in extreme torture.

But this morning is just different for me. The weather is too cold and I think I need some more rest just as my sister, Dawn, was allowed to have.

And so, I had vowed that unless I am dragged out of this old mat by them, I am going to get some extra rest.

As I unwillingly awaited his arrival, I cursed each one of them under my breath and I hoped that the pain he sustained from hitting the iron bucket never subside any soon.

"What is she even still doing in bed by this time?" I could hear him yell again.

I intentionally remained quiet and refused to answer as I would have done. What difference would that make anyway? Whether I answer his call or not, I was still going to get some terrible beating. And of course, I am aware that the torture I would receive for not answering would always be more, but at least that one is justified, so cut me some slacks.

"Scarlet" he called. "Where is that bitch, Scarlet?" he cursed again.

Scarlet, Yes I am Scarlet. That was the name that my father, the beta of the Pack had given me as soon as he set his eyes on me.

I was so frail to pass for his daughter and I was nothing compared to anyone of them. In fact, I was a disgrace to every one of them. So he did not care to give me a name that was common among my people, but Scarlet. When asked about the import of the name, he said he does not care whatever it meant. He however revealed to some that I was a danger to him.

"You good for nothing, get out of this bed now" he shouted and emptied a bucket of water on me.

This was unexpected and I screamed when I felt the cold and harsh water on my skin. Every part of my body that the water touched went numb for the first few seconds before I was able to feel them again.

Now I remember that I had stopped locking the door which was why I did not notice when he had entered my room. The lock of the door was of no good and even a single kick from a kid would bring it down so I figured that since it could not guarantee my safety, it was better to leave it open. And what was the use of a door that cannot protect? However, with the cold water splashed all over my body, I see the usefulness of even a useless door.

Nevertheless, since I had already vowed that if he wanted me, he must get me, I remained where I was with my whole body wrapped up and did not attempt to get up even after the cold water was poured on me.

"Won't you ever be useful in your life, you loser?" he screamed and threw the bucket at me.

I screeched and rolled myself even more. My eyes were still tightly closed as I did not want to see what was coming for me.

"You are always a disgrace" he cursed.

Yes, he was right. To everyone, I am a disgrace to the enviable family of Beta Tim. They are the strongest family in the Pack after the alpha and their offspring were the best but I am the direct opposite to all of those.

In anger, he used just one hand to drag me away from the mat and flung me in the air. I landed on the bare floor with my back and I screamed out in agony. At least, I wished to be lifted and now that I was, I have come to realize that it was not a very good wish.

"Sam, I am sorry" I begged.

I know what was coming next, no one needs to tell me. I have already infuriated him this morning and now he will make sure I pay a fair price for that.

Every single part of my body reflects the prizes that I have to pay for not living up to their expectations which as a result of my condition, was unattainable. The scars, the wounds, the pains, and the broken bone were all shreds of evidence of my predicament.

My predicament did not stop at that, it continued to my wolf which is completely different from every other regular wolf. My wolf could not assist my wounds to heal themselves like every other werewolf. It takes time to heal and still leaves some scars just like humans.

Now you can see that Stake, my wolf is not just useless to everyone, but was of no value to me either. However, I loved it still because just like Mama Ruth, she was one person that expects nothing from me, she accepted me wholeheartedly just as I am.

"You fool, why have you not been responding to my calls and what are you still doing sleeping by this time?" he asked in a fury.

Sam is the first child of my parents and they are two other boys after him. I am the fourth and when my mother was pregnant with me, everyone was happy that she was finally going to have a girl since the luna of our Pack had no female child. But I came and my appearance turned their joy into a living nightmare.

"I didn't hear you call, brother" I begged again.

Addressing him as a brother further infuriated him. He had always hated to hear me do that and had never failed to show his displeasure. In fact, none of my family members wanted me to associate myself with them. They all wished that I never existed and they made sure to use every opportunity they get to pass the message to me.

"Brother?" he walked up to me and without as much as giving it a second thought, he slapped me hard on my face.

"No Sam, Sam, I mean to say Sam" I apologized and corrected myself as I held on to my hurting cheek.

He chuckled and looked at me with disdain, and his eyes filled with rage and he said. "Go look for your brother amongst fools and weaklings"

He smirked. I was shivering in fear, afraid of what might come next.

"I would not want to get to the mansion before you" he warned.

Before he left, he turned to me and said. "Don't worry, we would soon hand you over to a mate just as misery as you are. But we are even finding it difficult to get such a person. You are just so disgusting" he cursed.

"Yo... you said..." I stammered.

A mate? I just turned sixteen only a few months ago why are they already thinking of handing me away just yet, or am I that useless to them that they cannot even wait to discard me and why were they not decent enough to hide it?

I had always believed that all these torments were going to end someday. I had hoped that one day they were going to see me as one of them and would apologize for all the wrongs that they had inflicted on me and then I was going to forgive them and we would all live as one big and happy family.

But no, they are not even sorry and it is now obvious to me that they would never be. Now they want to do even worse than they have always done, handling me over to just anyone without caring how I felt. They don't care if I was going to love him or not.

But what I am even thinking? Did I for once believe that I was going to find love? From who and how? My own family doesn't love me and no one ever does. Now I think that even I don't love myself. Yes. So how would anyone accept such a weak and useless werewolf?

Or maybe they are even doing me a favour. Finding someone might be the best for me because if I should grow older in this weak state, no man might ever find me attractive. And now, I have to start praying and hoping that my mate would find me worthy, or at least he would be less brutal than my own family.

"That is to show you the trouble that you are putting us through. But you will never appreciate the sacrifices. You would never see the pains that we have to bear just because of you. You are just so ungrateful. Now we have to go through great pain to find you a mate. We have to beg for someone to accept you and we are even ready to pay if that is what it takes. But what do we get from you in return? Nothing but ingratitude. You are the ingrate here" he yelled.

"I am happy and grateful for everything, Sam" I murmured.

He smirked. "So you always say, Scarlet, so you always say"

He walked out of the room and I ran steadily behind him because I must be right behind him when he gets to the mansion just as he had commanded if I don't want to feel his wrath.

"If you were any normal, now we should be thinking of mating you to the alpha" he murmured as he walked.

DAWN'S POV

"You are of no use to me, you are just a loser" my mother screamed at Scarlet.

I listened from where I was sitting with my friend, Gina. I hated it when she has to show face whenever I have my friends around. I don't ever want to associate myself with her and I wished I could stop her from being my sister.

They were in the kitchen trying to make dinner while Gina and I sat at a corner munching some oranges.

Scarlet could not just do anything right and someone must be by her to watch her whenever she engages in any task. I find this gross. She is of no use to anyone, not even to herself. Even though she always claimed to have a weak wolf, I see her as being plain lazy and I wonder why my father was still keeping her even till now.

"I am so sorry, mother" Scarlet replied.

I raised my head to look at her. Did she just refer to my mother as mother? Without being told, I already know what was coming for her but I did not pity her one bit because she knows better than to ever try such.

I was waiting to see my mother's reaction and so was Gina. We both wished she could get what she had just asked for. As for me, I don't care what becomes of her and I am indifferent about whatever happens to her but I would not tolerate her trying to establish a relationship with any member of my family.

Yes, she is my sister or so they say. But if there was one thing that I could change, it would be the womb that had carried her. And I am so glad and would forever remain indebted to my mother for never allowing her to suck her breast because the thought of her lips close to the same nipples that I sucked would have suffocated me.

"What did I just hear you say?" my mother asked.

Gina made to get up angrily and go to Scarlet but I stopped her. My mum was in control of the situation and I was sure she would handle it properly.

"Mother, I said that I am sorry, mother" she stammered.

It was already enough that I had to attend the same school as her and now she wants my mother too and even my whole family. Why must she always make me go through this torture?

I could still remember the shame I had to live with when my fellow students addressed her as my sister. She was in the same class as me because her weakness wouldn't let her start school the same year as her mates.

Back then, every single day was a nightmare for me. And now that we are done with schooling, I would not want to share anything with her ever again. And if I can change the fact that I am living in the same house as her, I would gladly do that.

"Get down on your knees this very minute" my mother instructed.

She quickly got down on her knees and tried to mumble some apologies.

"I have always warned you against such but you will not listen. You never listen" my mother yelled.

I could feel the anger emanating from my mother. She is furious and she did not attempt to hide it. But then, she is justified in being the way she is.

Scarlet had been corrected many times on how to address members of our family. She was to address me and my brothers by our names while she was instructed to add ma or sir to the names of our parents.

Now, what was so difficult in what she was asked to do? Must she keep reminding us that we are family? This was the pain that we all want to forget and act like it was never there but all she does is rub it on our face at any slight opportunity.

The door opened and someone entered.

"Madam Patricia, Beta Tim says you should meet him at his chambers"

I turned around to see one of the omegas address my mother. This development made my spirit drop. I hated this omega for this. Why must he come at this very minute?

Gina grabs my hands and squeezes them. I knew she was as angry as I was or even more. I looked at her and smiled as I tried to assure her that this has not even started and so, it was not over yet. She mumbled some words to me revealing her displeasure.

I knew my mum was not one to forgive easily so Scarlet was not free yet and I would like to be there when she finally gets what she deserved. So I shook my head at Gina assuring her that nothing was going to change.

"I am right behind you," my mother said to the omega that had come to call her and he left.

My mother made to go to the door and this brought disappointment to Gina and she squeezed my hands again and all I did was shake my head.

Scarlet, on seeing that my mother was on her way out made to stand but my mother turned back, went to her and slapped her with the back of her hands and this caused her to stumble for a few seconds before falling.

When she was able to get hold of herself, she quickly got back on her kneel and mumbled some apologies to my mother.

"Did I give you permission to get up, you ingrate?" my mother cursed.

"Forgive my insolence, ma Patricia" Scarlet mumbled.

I waited impatiently to see what would be the decision of my mother since Scarlet has apologized. I wanted my mother to show her no mercy for whatsoever reason.

"I leave her to you. Do make sure to give her the right punishment she deserves" my mother instructed me before she left.

This was even better than we expected. Gina smirked as the instruction was all she needed to get right into action. She hated Scarlet even more than I do and this gladdened my heart and it showed that she was watching out for me, her friend.

I love Gina and I love the fact that she hated Scarlet who had done nothing to her. A pain to me is a pain to Gina and so she needed no reason to despise Scarlet's entire existence.

SCARLET'S POV

I felt a hot slap on my face, it was unexpected, so I stumbled and fell. But as soon as I could, I got up and went back on my knees. I didn't know I had done something wrong and that was why I never expected such a reaction from her.

I was still wondering what I might have done wrong when she yelled at me. "Did I give you permission to get up you ingrate?"

She has always been disgusted by my sight and she never tried to hide this hate. No one ever tried to hide this hate, not even the woman that had me in her womb for months.

Immediately after she gave birth to me, she placed the omegas in charge of me and I had to live with them on the servant's quarter right from my very first day on earth. So you see, I never know what life in the mansion felt like except for the numerous occasions when I had to run errands in the mansion just like now.

"Forgive my insolence, ma Patricia" I mumbled.

I saw her leaving and I had erroneously thought that it transcends to discharging me of the punishment from her.

Of course, right? If she was going to leave that only meant I can get up. Why then was she angry when I did or was I supposed to remain on my knees till eternity?

Truly, I find it just so difficult to understand these people I call my own. I don't know how they do their logical calculations and arrive at their decisions. And whenever it appeared to me like I was beginning to understand them, they turn around and transform into something totally different from what I had gotten accustomed to.

My whole life, all I do was try to understand them and live up to their expectations. And doing this is even worse when compared to chasing shadows. They always ended up making me feel like an outcast even when all I tried to do was to love them.

But I am never going to stop, I appreciate all that they have done for me and so I will keep doing even much more to make them see me as an asset and value my place in their lives.

"I leave her to you. Do make sure to give her the right punishment she deserves" my mother said.

I felt shattered as I watch her leave and I turned to my sister and her friend and saw just how happy this instruction made Gina feel. She was just so happy to have me in her mercy and was not decent enough to conceal it.

She hated me more than everyone else even though I have done nothing against her to deserve such revulsion from her.

"Now I have her" Dawn chuckled. She was elated as she walked up to me.

Dawn arrived a year after I was born. She is my younger sister and unlike me, she was everything the beta dreamt of in a daughter. In fact, she was even more. She was beautiful and was only fit for alphas and princes. Even though she tried not to admit it, I know she has a good heart, and deep down somewhere in her heart, she loved me just like a sister should.

The omega that was in charge of me, Mama Ruth, was kind enough to me and she saw that I went to school just like other kids but she could do nothing to ease my pains as even she too had her burdens.

She sent me to the same school as Dawn and even though I was a year older than her, we were in the same class because I did not start school together with my peers because of my slow growth and frailness.

The school I attended was for the children of the high and mighty and if it had not been under the management of the alpha which meant that I never had to pay for anything, I know that there was no way mama Ruth would have been able to afford such school for me since she received no extra penny from my parents to cater for me.

The children of the omegas do not attend the same school because of its high rate, but Mama Ruth felt that since I have lost in other things, I should benefit from schooling as children of the same social status as myself.

"I am sorry, Dawn," I pleaded in the hope that she would take pity on me and ask me to get up.

But instead of replying, she burst into re-echoing laughter and when she was done laughing, she said. "I am the one that should be sorry here. I am the one that had been made to put up with you all my life even when it was the most demeaning thing to ever happen to me"

I would have loved to admit that she was right, but no, she has never suffered as a result of me. I am the one that was made to always clean up after her and even though I was her elder sister, I was taught never to question her authority. And all through my childhood, I never saw anything wrong with this arrangement until I began to understand life better.

But then, it was better I never did because I would not want to remember what my mother made me pass through on the very first day I had dared to put up a challenge against Dawn. Believe me, that day was hell.

"But sis..."

Before I could complete my statement, Gina had already landed a thunderous slap on my face which sent me scampering blindly on the floor.

I didn't see her coming. The last I checked, she was sitting on the chair far from where I was kneeling. I was still trying to regain consciousness when Gina dragged me from where I was on the floor and forced me to go back on my knees.

"Knee down you fool, who asked you to lie down?" Gina yelled.

"Have mercy on her, Gina, you know she is not strong" Dawn said in a mocking tone.

"Of course, she is not strong, and do you know I had almost forgotten that?" Gina replied and they started to laugh.

My legs were already weak and I was feeling numb on my knees. I could not kneel for long and I was already dizzy and feeling nauseated. If care is not taken, I might faint soon.

Dawn turned to me and said. "Since you are this weak why are you living among us? What are you doing among the strong? You should be in the forest with ants because that is where you belong"

Her words hurt me really bad. I can get used to the hostilities from others but not from my sister who I love so much. I expect the same emotion from her. I want her to love me as much as I love her.

I cannot live with the pain that I was feeling because of her. My heart was bleeding as I hear her utter those hurtful words. Maybe she was right. No, not maybe, I am a weakling and was not supposed to dwell among the strong.

"Don't bother yourself, Dawn, leave her to me, I will deal with her myself" Gina said.

I smirked. Gina was threatening to deal with me. A girl that I was way older than. What right does she have to say such?

However, I tried to hide just how furious I was. All I wanted was to get to Gina and tear Gina apart and then send her remains to her parents but for Dawn. She was Dawn's friend and I know that doing that would hurt Dawn which is something that I will never do intentionally.

But no, I have no chance against Gina. I am a weakling remember? So I can't face Gina even if I wanted to. I sulked at my predicament.

"Just with one finger, I am going to destroy you. No, I don't even need to lift a finger, I will turn you to shreds by just the word of my mouth" she grinned.

I looked at her, feeling irritated by her person and she looked back at me scornfully.

"And what do you want to do? Imbecile, that is what you are, you are an imbecile" she said.

I don't how I did it or what made me do it but I rose to my feet and charged at her.

She never expected such a reaction from me and so she was in the least prepared for what came for her. I had never stood up to her before and she believed I would not even do that now.

I screamed as I grabbed her by the throat and tried to strangle her. I don't care if she dies or what would happen to me after this but I would make sure I gave her a dose of her own bitter pills.

She screamed in shock and tried to pull me away from her body but could not. She rotated and dragged me away from her body and flung me so hard on the floor.

I fell and tried to open my eyes but I could not see anything. Everywhere was dark and I could only detect some tiny sparkling stars. I tried to get up immediately and charge towards her again but I could barely lift my body as I wanted to.

Even though it was almost impossible for me to do what I wanted, I was resilient and persistent.

At last, I was able to drag myself up from the floor and made to go for Gina with all the hate in me.

I think I was still running towards her when I heard one of them say. "Are you sure she is still alive, Gina?"

"What difference does that make? it is not like you have ever wanted her" the other reply.

Hearing their voices made me realize that I have fainted.