Luna Of The North

Gabriella

"Phew," I sigh as I keep my bucket aside and wipe the sweat from my brows. "It's been a very long day."

In the silence of the Redwood Pack backyard, I plop down on the pavement with great difficulty. My entire body is on fire. I've been crouched on all fours all morning, scrubbing, washing, cleaning, cooking and dusting.

Omegas in the Redwood Pack are the lowest ranked. It has always been like that since time immemorial, and it will remain so. My parents were once esteemed Pack members before they were among the wolves accused of treason and put to death by the previous mad Alpha, Dickson. Alpha Dickson was a sick tyrant and was responsible for a considerable number of deaths before we got troops from the Northern Pack who intervened, killed him, and elected a new Pack Alpha.

And the new Alpha just happens to be none other than my cruel uncle.

Alpha Storm.

He's my father's only brother, and the only family I have left. Before my father's death, they had never been on good terms. In fact, their paths never crossed at all, and my father made sure of that. I'd prodded my mother severely to tell me why, but she always brushed the question off, only supplying that he's a bad man. Eventually, I stopped asking. When my parents died, and Storm became the new Alpha, I became one of the Pack maids. He makes sure that I work harder than everyone else, perhaps as a result of the vendetta he held against my father.

Today, he's had me scrub and clean the entire pack compound, in preparation for an important meeting which is scheduled to hold tonight. As early as five in the morning, he's woken me up, and handed me a bucket and a mop stick. Then he relegates his beta, Beta Jackson to keep a close eye on me and ensure I don't stop working for any reason whatsoever. It isn't the first time he is giving me such strenuous work, so I've gotten used to it.

If I disobey him, I'll go without dinner.

And that is the one thing I am looking forward to tonight.

As I nurse my sore joints, I begin drifting off to sleep. A few minutes later, a sudden movement down the corridor that leads to the backyard startles me, causing me to jump up in alarm.

My best friend, Raya comes into view. Her eyes glaze over me in pity. "Alpha Storm sends for you. Are you done with the day's work?"

I nod with a sigh. "What does he want this time?""

"The Elders are all gathered in the pack hall. I think the meeting started way earlier, so he may need you to attend to them," she pauses, then adds. "I'm so sorry. He wants you to be the only one to attend to them."

Of course, he does. Of course.

With a resigned sigh, I wash my hands in the kitchen area and hurried over to the pack hall. The Alphas who guard the doors spares no second in ushering me in. The hall is large, with a long, rectangular table situated in the middle, a huge glossy chair reserved for the alpha at the head, and twelve less distinguished chairs for the twelve Pack Elders.

The Elders are conversing in hushed tones when I enter, with a crate of beer at one side of the hall. Alpha Storm isn't in yet, but he soon comes in after me, and gestures towards the alcohol wordlessly, before taking his place at the head of the long table. I get to work immediately, pouring the alcohol into small glasses and serving them.

"Greetings, Alpha."

"Greetings," Alpha Storm says, the wastes no time in diving into the business of the evening. "As you all know," he begins. "I'd visited the Northern Pack a week ago. It was quite a delight, and I bring exciting news."

The Elders all lean forward, eagerly.

"The Northern Alpha is planning to host a very important ball this winter, to pick a mate. It'll be hosted in the North, not here. And he requests that every female omega who is above the age of nineteen be present at the ceremony. We might just be lucky if he finds one that he desires from our pack. This information is not exclusive to the Redwood Pack, but other neighboring packs who will be sending their females as well."

He stops to let his words sink in, and the Elders all turn to one another with broad smiles, each and every one wishing that their daughters would be the lucky one. Being the Luna of the Northern Pack is the greatest honor a pack could have. The previous Luna had been from the Shadow Moon Pack. Redwood has never produced a Luna for the north, and I know without a doubt that Alpha Storm would love to be the first Alpha under whose rule a Luna is selected from the Redwood Pack.

"The ball is in two weeks," Alpha Storm continues, his eyes rising up to find mine now as I refill Elder Gabriel's cup. "So, we have a lot to prepare for. I'll be summoning every eligible female in our esteemed Pack in a few minutes to let them know this. I just wanted my Elders to be aware, first. As you all know, this is a grand opportunity for us all. If Redwood produces a Luna, it guarantees a solid partnership with the North. The largest Pack in the country. We can't - "

The glass cup I'm refilling slipped from my hand, and shatters on the floor, cutting him short. The Elders all turn to look at me, and in shame, I crouch, trying to assemble the broken glass.

In one instant, Alpha Storm is up, breathing downy neck.

"I'm so sorry," I mutter, as a shard digs into my finger, drawing blood.

He towers above me for a minute or two, then raise me up. Blood trickles down the wound on my finger. He looks it over, as though it is the most fascinating thing he's ever seen.

"Not deep enough," he grits out.

Without warning, he strikes my face, hard, sending me falling on the cold floor. Tears blur my vision, but nothing hurts more than the stinging pain on my cheek, and my finger.

"Clean this mess up, now!" He thunders. "And assemble all the eligible females in the Pack here in five minutes. Five minutes! Do you understand?"

When I don't answer, he growls.

"Gabriella, I said do you understand?"

Weakly, I mutter, eyes still glued to the floor. "Y-Y-Yes, Alpha Storm."

Gabriella

Alpha Storm makes sure I have no one help me in assembling the female omegas in the town hall. He doesn't care at all that I am exhausted, or that my finger is still bleeding. I have a hard time trying to concentrate on announcing that everyone concerned with the Northern Alpha's ball were expected to be in the hall in no time. By the time I return, the Elders have already left, and Alpha Storm sits at the head of the table, rocking his chair back and forth.

When he is sure every eligible female is present, he signals at me to shut the door. I do so, feeling dizzy as I walk back to my position beside the beer tray. His daughter and my cousin, Linda mutters something derisive about me under her breath, and everyone around her who hears it laughs. Alpha Storm smiles cruelly.

"Ladies," he begins, rising up to his feet. "It is with great joy that I call upon you all this evening. The Moon Goddess has worked in your favors this time."

The girls, confused, begin whispering amongst themselves, wondering what the hell he means. Linda's eyes sparkles with questions as she moves closer to her father's side. Alpha Storm places an arm around her shoulder, then continues.

"As you all know, I went to the North for a while a few weeks ago..." Everyone stops talking, holding their breaths. I wrap an edge of my gown over my wound, biting my bottom lip at the searing pain. "The new Northern Alpha is yet to find his mate. The Redwood Pack has never been lucky in producing a Luna for the North, but perhaps..." He looks down at an eager Linda who gasps, "that's about to change."

The girls can't believe their ears. They begin shouting and jumping in joy, while hugging one another. Linda hugs her father, and they hold each other for a while as she sobs in joy. I am in so much pain to care about the damn ball. Matter of fact, I want nothing more than to retire to my room and rest for the day.

The ball might change nothing for me. Alpha Storm might not even allow me attend. I am of so much importance here, in the pack. An unpaid maid. One whom everyone can push about. There is no way the Northern Alpha could ever be my mate.

In truth, I am even surprised a Luna is to be crowned so soon. The previous Northern Alpha, Vincent Lahiz had died two months ago, and his son, Elijah has been declared the new Alpha just last week. As protocol demands, he will have to learn the ropes of what being Alpha entails first, before he is to be allowed to pick a Luna, whether he is mated to her or not.

This whole ball... it's odd.

And a little desperate if I am to be honest about it.

"This is exciting news, father," Linda says, her eyes sparkling with so much joy you'd never believe she is mean-spirited. "And an incredible honor."

The girls murmur in agreement.

I suppress the urge to roll my eyes.

"Every female here has been provided a chance. A chance to be a Luna. What a day to be proud of being a member of this Pack."

They all claps, and Alpha Storm nods in approval of her words.

Her untrue words, by the way. As the daughter of the Redwood Pack's Alpha, Linda stands a better chance at being chosen as the Northern Luna than everyone else. She will be the lady of the ball, as I am sure Alpha Storm will design it. A female member of his pack being Luna wouldn't be as lucrative as his own daughter being the Luna.

"When are we expected to head to the North, Father?" Linda asks.

"In two days time. You'll all be required to start preparing in earnest. I want you all to set out with your best wears, and be on your best behavior. There'll be omegas from other packs present there. You'll all have to represent this pack well. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Alpha."

"Good. You're all dismissed."

As they troop out of the hall, I move to the table, and begin packing up the glass cups and cleaning up. Alpha Storm lingers, not moving from his position at the head of the table. I can feel his eyes boring holes into me as I clean silently.

"Gabriella?" He calls.

I shut my eyes, the rag in my hand falling to the floor. "S-S-Sir?"

"Come."

I bend forward to pick up the rag and place it on the table, before moving over to stand in front of him, my eyes glued to the floor. Once, when I'd forgotten myself and stared directly into his eyes, I'd gotten the beating of life. He could stand anyone else looking up at him. Not me. Not the pathetic excuse of an Omega.

He wraps an arm around my neck, as he'd done to Linda. "I want to ask you for a favor."

I blanche. A favor?

He smiles. A vicious, cruel smile. The one he'd shot me that night my parents were pronounced dead. "You'll be going with the others to the North. Keep in mind that my daughter needs to be taken care of, and I want you to be in charge of that. I'll also give you a little assignment."

I blink, a cold chill running down my spine. "A-A-A-ssignment?"

He nods. "You'll be my spy. I want you to monitor the Northern Alpha. Father Intel on the pack. How they operate. Where they hold their meetings. Their hunting hours. Their way of life, etc."

His arm around my neck tightens, close to robbing me of my oxygen. I cough, tears springing to my eyes.

"This is a very important task, Gabriela. More important than you looking after Linda, and if you fail..." He trails off, his voice dropping dangerously low, eyes flashing a deep golden glow. "If you fail, I won't throw you into the dungeon. No. I will tie you to a stake, and have every female omega take turns in stoning you to death. You'll die cruel and slow. "

The words are like lethal darts stabbing my chest. The tears fall as his arm relaxes again. I nod, wiping my eyes.

"I won't fail. I promise."

"Good," he says as he toss me to the ground, almost stepping on me as he walks over me. "Now get up from their, and go help Linda with her preparations. You have a lot to prepare for as well."

"Yes, Alpha."

Gabriella

"Northern Pack, here we arrive!" Raya screams excitedly as she jumps on the threadbare mattress, rolling to the extreme end so I can sit. "Do you know what this means for us, Gabriela? We could be lucky! Oh, thank you Moon Goddess."

She'd escorted me to the Pack clinic to dress my wound. I didn't see her at all in the hall, so I assumed that perhaps she was helping Luna Angela prepare dinner in the Pack kitchen. "We could have a new life far away from here," she continued dreamily, her eyes brimming with happiness. "With kind, considerate Alphas. Pups. Love. Everything."

"Hmm," I mutter absentmindedly, envying her a little bit. Though we are both omegas, Raya's life is smoother than mine. No one picks on her, nor do they mock her, and that's because her father is Alpha Storm's best friend. She has a set goal in life: find her fated mate, and everything else would fall into place.

And me?

I have to be related to the Alpha of our Pack who wants me to spy on the Northern Alpha.

A mission that can end my life.

Not that anything is worth living for anyways. I am not enthusiastic about the entire mate bond thingy, and finding my fated mate in the Northern Pack is highly unlikely. Knowing how Linda is, she'll try all she could to keep me away from the ball. And the ball will be my best opportunity at meeting with the Northern Alpha.

"Earth to Gabriela," Raya says, snapping two fingers in front of my face. I pull myself out of my wandering thoughts reluctantly. "Is something wrong? You've been...quiet."

I shake my head. "No, I'm fine. It's... it's nothing."

I can't tell her about the mission Alpha Storm gave me. Here, in this pack, words pass through walls quicker than the wind. I don't want to risk getting her into trouble. "Alpha Storm has asked me to watch over Linda while we're at the North."

Raya scowls. "She's no longer a baby, for crying out loud. Why does she need you as a babysitter?"

I shrugs. "She's her father's daughter, isn't she?"

"Indeed. So you might not be attending the ball, anyway? Or swoon over alphas with me as that witch will do everything in her power to keep you - "

Just then, I notice a figure looming in the doorway and clamp a hand over Raya's mouth. She resists, brows creased, until Linda saunters into the room fully, her lips upturned in disgust.

"Don't you girls have anything better to do than sit here all day and gossip?"

I try not to roll my eyes and stand up. "I was about to come see you. Your father - "

She slaps me with all her might, sending me flying to the other side of the room. I hit my left temple against the wall, and crouch, a warm liquid running down my hand.

I groan, my vision blurred by a dizzying headache.

"What do you think you're doing?" Raya exclaims in horror. "What did she do..."

"Shut up," Linda thunders. "Or you'll join her. You have no right to question me!"

I sit still, tears stinging my eyes. The pain from my finger injury plus the pounding headache has me incredibly weak.

"You wouldn't dare." Raya says coolly. "And I shall be telling your father about this. You'll be punished, I'll make sure of it!"

"Shut up, I said," Linda growls, raising a hand to hit Raya, but Raya catches her hand in the air just in time. She gives Linda a hard shove.

Linda gasps as she fell, looking up at Raya in shock. "How dare you?!"

"You're a disappointment," Raya spits. She hurries over to help me, tearing a little part of her dress to wrap around my head and helped me stand. "Come on. Let's get you to the clinic. Again."

Linda still sits there, still not believing her eyes. We trudge past her outside.

--------------

Traveling to the Northern Pack takes us a day and a half, and without Alpha Storm's heavy presence looming over me, I finally feel free for once in my life.

But I can still feel Linda glare at me whenever I'm not looking. Raya had reported her to her father, and though it annoyed him to do so, he punished her for it. I was no longer obligated to look after her during our brief stay in the North. In fact, no one would attend to her, and when we were done, she was meant to spend two weeks in the Pack kitchen helping out. She also tendered a public apology to me.

I didn't care for her apology. I don't care for Linda. I have bigger fish to fry.

Alpha Storm's assignment.

It's no surprise to me that he's taken this chance as his golden opportunity. My uncle has always had it in his head that if he could steal trade secrets away from other packs, it would lead him to acquiring more territory, therefore making him more powerful.

Rather ironic in a sense, considering he can barely handle the pack he has now, and has to rely on the Elders to make important decisions for him.

When we arrive at the North border, we're met with a small band of enforcers who greet us all warmly before escorting us over packlines. To my surprise, we're brought to an actual town and not just a large estate like our pack lives in.

Houses and businesses on either side of a large road that seems to stretch all throughout the small town are busy with dozens of other shifters, who greet us and offer more warm welcomes as we pass through.

We're soon brought to a small section of cabins close to the center of the town that overlooks the large mansion, where I'm sure the Northern alpha lives.

Other female shifters from different packs are already here and getting settled in by the time we arrive, and we're soon turned loose with instructions to be at the mansion's doors by sundown.

Thankfully, Raya and I are able to secure a room to ourselves, and once I've got the door shut to all of the chaos on the other side of it, I'm able to finally let myself breathe.