Rising from the Ashes of Her Past (A Lunas Tale)

In a regular fairy tale, it all starts with "Once upon a time," and then a princess gets rescued by a knight in shining armor.

However, my story diverges from the norm right from the start.

Now, let's go back to where it all began... Or at least the beginning that I remember.

I always felt like something was different between my family and me. Whether you call it a sixth sense or kismet, I had an unshakable knowing that there was more to my existence. From what I remember, we had a wonderful life filled with smiles, hugs, and kisses. Little did I know, there was a dark secret lurking behind the façade, ready to shatter our family and alter the course of my life forever.

My father was the Alpha of the Shadow Borne Pack-the most prestigious and well-respected pack in all of Shadow Falls. Although I never saw him as an Alpha, he was more than just my dad–he was my best friend and my protector.

By birth, my father held the status of an Alpha, whereas my mother's innate designation was that of an Omega. Among all the ranks in a pack, this one is considered the lowest. It is important to note that, unlike other packs, our pack does not engage in the cruel act of subjecting Omegas to slavery. My father was extremely strict when it came to that type of treatment. He ended alliances with other packs due to their enslavement of Omegas.

The only thing I remember about my childhood is my mother always forcing me to wear dresses and always styling my hair differently.

"A princess must always be well-dressed and poised," she would say while brushing my hair. I look back now and laugh at how stupid I must have looked.

The only makeup Mom ever wore was mascara and eyeliner; she didn't need makeup, if you asked me; she was a natural beauty. Her long black hair was always up in a low bun, leaving her ivory face untouched....

At five feet two, she was petite, but had just enough in the right areas that Dad couldn't keep his hands off.

Standing next to Dad's six-foot frame, Mom looked like a dwarf. His flawless tan skin looked great in any color, even though he always wore black or blue. He always combed his black hair neatly, and his bright-green eyes sparkled whenever he saw me.

Besides going to pack meetings, he devoted himself to training with the warriors, not letting his title as Alpha affect him. He always cautioned me, "Never allow your title to go to your head. Always remember where you came from."

Despite going with my dad to train with the warriors, they never trained me. They were afraid of facing a reprimand if they caused me any injury.

Mom hated the fact that Father would train me. Training a child seemed unnecessary to her. "She is only five years old and a girl; she doesn't need to learn to fight," she would tell father.

"You should be out there with us, showing the way for the other female wolves," he would mention. Mom would give us the "whatever," look and ditch us.

Unexpectedly, my dad suddenly fell ill, leaving the pack doctors puzzled about the cause of his illness and the reason behind his losing battle. I was only fifteen when he passed away, and it was on that very night when he called me into his room. As I entered, my heart sank at the sight of him. I remembered him as a strong, confident individual. He looked nothing like him. The tan color on his face was gone, and a clammy white color had replaced it. His green eyes were filled with pain instead of life.

He had an IV running through his arm, giving him the needed medicine.

I sat beside him and gently squeezed his hand, so he knew I was there.

When he squeezed back, I gently lifted his hand and placed it on my cheek. "Daddy, I'm here," I said timidly.

His green eyes opened, and he smiled, "Baby-girl, my time is ending, and I will not be with you anymore. Arina, you are truly exceptional. You have a gift that no one knows of... You must protect it," he said, taking a deep breath.

"Sadly, ‌I won't be able to keep the promise I made years ago." Arina, there may come a time you may have to leave to protect yourself." He said, pausing briefly to take a deep breath, "If anyone finds out the truth, it could cause irreparable harm," he said, closing his eyes.

"Daddy, what are you talking about? W-what gift?" I asked.

I required clarification on what he said. It was his medication that, I believed, was responsible for his peculiar remarks.

As he opened his eyes again, a tear welled up, and a smile adorned his face. "It is of utmost importance that you remember my words and give me your word that you will run and head north. I was extremely eager to share with you, but I decided to wait until your eighteenth birthday. However, the moon goddess has different plans in mind. I have always loved you, Arina, and I will always be with you." Those were his ultimate words, whispered softly before his last breath escaped, his eyes fluttering shut and his hand slipping from mine.

"DAD!" I yelled. "Daddy, wake up. Please. Don't leave me; I need you." I cried, "I promise I will do as you ask. I love you," I told him as I laid my head on his chest, hoping to hear his heartbeat.

At that moment, his home nurse burst through the door, panting. Her eyes stayed on the monitor momentarily before turning to me and telling me, "I apologize for your loss, Princess." She stepped away from the room.

That was the last time I saw my father, and from that point on, it forever changed my life.

TRIGGER WARNING:

Be cautious while reading this chapter as it delves into sensitive subjects like stalking, violence, abuse, and harassment. I get it may be challenging for you to engage with this.

Two years later-

"ARINA, YOU WORTHLESS STUPID, GIRL!" my mother yelled at me from the top of the staircase.

"Who told you that you could sleep? Look at this place; the kitchen is dirty, the laundry is not folded or put away, and you still haven't made breakfast!" She yelled.

"I am sorry, Luna. I'll be there promptly. Wiping away my sleepiness, I timidly replied. In my haste, I quickly gathered any clothes within reach, settling on an oversized black shirt and a pair of ripped, light blue jeans that were two sizes too big. I had a scarcity of options to choose from these days. Because the only clothes mother gave to me, she had deemed oversized, torn, or soiled from leftover donations to local charities.

I can vividly recall a time when my hair was bursting with energy and luminosity, casting a brilliant, shimmering radiance. Over time, my beautiful black hair lost its vibrancy and now looked atrocious. Even suffered two consequences from using multiple chemicals to clean the pack-house: constant itching and a loss of smoothness in my skin. Although there were house staff present, I was the one who had to bear the burden of all the arduous tasks.

Last night, my mother hosted a dinner party that lasted into the night. After cleaning the kitchen and dining room, I had gone into the basement to grab some more towels and had fallen asleep. It had been almost three years since I last experienced a restful night's sleep; the impact was evident in the faded and lifeless look that had taken over my once vibrant green eyes. I inherited the eyes that I have from my father.

I became my mother's personal servant after my father was buried, and I was moved into the basement. According to Mom, she thought I messed with Dad's IV and caused him to have a heart attack, since I was the last one to see him.

Whenever food was involved, I considered myself fortunate if I even had the opportunity to satisfy my hunger. If I failed to complete my chores, I had to rely on my mother's judgment for discipline. Despite my love for my mother, I found her disciplinary techniques to be less than favorable. It wasn't uncommon for her to yell at me, and sporadically, she would also savage me in front of others.

After I left the basement, I immediately went to the kitchen. As soon as I stepped into the kitchen, I noticed that my mother was already sitting at the table. Deliberately positioning herself that prevented me from seeing her face.

"Where have you been that you haven't even started your duties?" My mother asked.

"I am sorry, Luna, it won't happen again," I replied softly.

I carefully walked towards the sink, purposely avoiding making eye contact with her because it never ended well. Amid washing the dishes, I patiently awaited her to speak. The weight of her icy stare made me feel exposed. Her stare conveyed her response with such intensity that it sent a shiver down my spine when she spoke.

"You must have been whoring around, or this would have already been completed. Now tell me where you were and with whom?" she asked sinisterly.

Regardless of what I said to her, I knew it would never be enough to satisfy her. Eventually, she would give me instructions to fetch her either a broom, mop, belt, or even a tree branch. The only purpose of this was to discipline me. As she was on the verge of saying something else, her new mate walked into the kitchen and cleared his throat.

"My dear, I have a few meetings to attend this morning," Rick said, smiling, as he walked towards her and kissed her, then walked out of the kitchen.

"Play nicely, dear," he yelled as the door closed behind him.

I hated him. I never understood what she saw in him. Despite not working, he consistently provided excuses about attending important meetings. He always seemed to be in a hurry, leaving me curious about how he spent his days. Interacting with him was like encountering a frosty wall–distant and cold.

"Arina," my mother's voice broke me out of my thoughts. "You know," Mom said, her voice filled with disdain, "ever since the day you took your father's life, you have been nothing but a constant burden to this pack."

With no warning, she came to an abrupt halt by my side, forcefully gripping my chin and turning my face to lock eyes with her.

"You want to know a secret?" she said.

I didn't respond or react, as I knew better. I stayed perfectly still and utterly quiet.

Mom tilted her head slightly.

"Zeno was stupid to bring you here to love and care for you. He cared more about you than me," she spat out with venom in her voice.

"Would you like to know what is even sadder?" With a sneer, she withdrew her fingers from my chin and briefly gazed out the window, her expression filled with contempt.

"What's sad is that he worked so hard to train you, and you can't defend yourself. You are nothing but a worthless piece of flesh. You ought to be dead, just like him," she spat.

Instantly, her eyes widened in sheer disbelief, as if she had encountered an apparition. With a surge of overwhelming anger, she tightly gripped my neck and forcefully pinned me against the wall. The pressure on my windpipe was unbearable, and her nails pierced into my skin, causing immense pain. As soon as she let go, I crumbled to the ground, desperately coughing and struggling to catch my breath.

"YOU STUPID GIRL, LOOK WHAT YOU DID"? She yelled as she kicked me in the side of my stomach.

"Ahh." I cried out as I rolled into a ball, clutching my abdomen.

Without warning, she forcefully seized my hair and forcefully yanked me towards the basement. The moment the door swung open, a chilling draft swept over me as I was forcefully propelled through the entrance and down the staircase. I kept my composure and instinctively curled into a protective position when I reached the bottom. Despite the excruciating pain, I remained resolute, fully aware that my lower back would undoubtedly bear the marks of this ordeal.

I heard Mom rummaging through the drawers, the sound of clinking and shuffling filling the air. As I looked up, I saw her making her way back towards me, the clinking sound of the shovel and the jingle of the belt filling the air.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!" she yelled, lifting the shovel and letting it fall over me.

As the shovel struck my body, I screamed in pain. The pain of every blow was excruciating. With every impact, I felt my bones breaking. Despite all my attempts to cover myself, that didn't keep me safe from her wrath. Another scream escaped my mouth, as my body could not cope. Through my clothes, I could feel blood dripping.

Suddenly, I heard the shovel fall to the floor, and something cold struck my forehead. I knew she was now using the belt. But instead of hitting me with the leather, she hit me with the buckle, causing me to throw my head back in pain, only to be struck directly in the face once more.

I could barely breathe as she kicked me countless times in the back of my head and back before she turned me onto my back. While she slapped me, and spit in my face simultaneously.

"Goddess, kill me now" was all I could think of as blow after blow came at me.

The pain I felt was so intense and excruciating that I reached a point where I could no longer hold on. My body felt lighter, and my vision faded in and out.

As I turned my head, the last thing that came into view was Rick running towards us.

"ELENI, STOP!" He yelled at her and forcefully pulled her off me, only to kneel in front of me. In all the times I had seen him, his face had never displayed such raw panic until now.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" He yelled at Mom.

Suddenly, the world went dark.

From Alexandre's POV

"Beep beep beep, my phone alarm sounds off," signaling four a.m., time for a run.

Three years have transpired since the last time I could enjoy the experience of sleeping past four a.m. It was a daunting task to get accustomed to the alarm, but now it is a pleasant melody to my ears.

Just as I was about to toss the covers, I felt something on my waist. When I glanced to the right side of the bed, I saw Jessica peacefully asleep, her arm gently resting on my abdomen. It was a sorry sight to see her sleeping next to me; her face obscured by her blonde hair–a woman who was nothing more than a sad excuse, desperate and annoying. She was determined to draw my attention and secure her position as queen, going to such lengths as wearing only a red-colored baby doll. If only she had recognized the disgust I harbored towards her. She was unfit to be Queen. The mere thought of Jessica wearing the crown that once belonged to my mother caused my stomach to twist.

With a quick movement, I pushed her arm away from me and hurriedly got out of bed. Heading directly to the bathroom without looking back to avoid eye contact in case she woke up. In a hurry, I swiftly closed the bathroom door, quickly changed into comfortable sweatpants, and promptly set off for the kitchen. The pack-house was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The staff didn't start work until six a.m., so I knew no one was in the pack-house, but my Lycan was incessantly irritating me. I descended the stairs, making my way towards the kitchen, and then exited through the back door.

The early morning air shocked me awake as it contacted my face as I crossed the yard and advanced towards the forest that surrounded the pack's territory. There was no place more peaceful to seek solace from the disorder of the pack than here. To protect my clothing from any potential damage, I removed my sweatpants and t-shirt before shifting. Being naked was not a problem for us, as we are exposed more than I'd like to think. Most times, I wouldn't find it worrisome to walk around without clothing after finishing a shift. However, the last thing I wanted was to step back into my room and have Jessica adorn me.

I forcefully pushed the thought out of my mind and allowed my inner Lycan D'Artagnan to assume control. My bones cracked as they stretched to take the shape of a feared beast. As the transformation occurred, my entire body became engulfed in black fur, and from my snout, a mournful howl erupted. The sound of D'Artagnan's howl was unlike anything I had ever heard before. "What's wrong, old man?" I asked him, but he didn't give me an answer.

I found it completely unacceptable that he had been ignoring me for the past few weeks; especially given the potential threat of the pack coming under attack. His lack of performance forced me to take on additional tasks and fill in the gaps.

Upon shifting, I willingly relinquished my body and withdrew to the recesses of my consciousness, succumbing to his control. In contrast to wolves, Lycans are distinguished by their ability to stand on two feet. Besides their remarkable speed, Lycans also exhibit a superior level of robustness when compared to our cousin species. While observing the trees blur by, I was aware of the chilling wind impacting my entire body as our speed intensified. D'Artagnan ran for hours until he stopped at a small pond. He quickly glanced around, ensuring that there were no potential threats in sight. As he relaxed, the sound of rustling leaves in the trees broke the silence. A white, cloudy fog materialized around me, replacing the fading forest.

"Hello, Alexandre," a voice whispered softly, barely reaching my ears.

When I turned around, I strained my eyes to locate the source of the sound, but unfortunately, I couldn't see where it was coming from. However, my confusion quickly turned into surprise as a woman unexpectedly emerged from the radiant, cloud-like space. The surroundings of the woman were bathed in a luminous glow of white light. With her white flowing dress gently touching the floor, her long platinum-colored hair cascaded behind her in slow motion. Her beauty was truly remarkable, surpassing the beauty of anyone I had ever seen. Despite her piercing gaze of icy blue eyes, there was no malevolence present. With a smile on her pink lips, she reached out her hands towards me. I couldn't determine whether she was a friend or a foe, but noticing D'Artagnan's trust in her, I decided not to question him as he made his way towards her.

"You have been restless for too long, child, but don't worry," she said. "All will be revealed soon."

"Selene"? I asked.

She nodded and smiled. "You seem surprised that I would show myself. Your Lycan called me, which is why I am here," she said.

It surprised me to hear her, say D'Artagnan called out to her.

"Allow me to bring you peace. You may ask me two questions," she said.

I thought about what I wanted to ask.

"For the past three years, I've felt uneasy and restless, and I couldn't figure out why. There seems to be something I'm searching for, but I have no clue what it is." I told her.

She nodded and looked up at the sky before turning to me.

"You are uneasy because there is trouble ahead, not just for you, but for all. I cannot reveal everything without changing the future," she replied.

"That doesn't tell me much," I muttered.

"It might not say much now, but it will all make sense in time," she replied.

Her response would have been more comforting if she had been more specific. I remained silent momentarily as I thought about what I wanted to ask her.

"Selene, My Lycan and I seem disconnected, and I can't think of why he would be this way with me. Did I do something unworthy of him?" I asked.

The surrounding light around her got brighter.

"You did nothing wrong, and he is not upset with you. Your Lycan senses something that will reveal itself soon," she said, before disappearing into the light. "Time to wake up, Alexandre." I heard her faint voice.

"Time to wake up, Alexandre." I heard someone say as I opened my eyes to find Thiago standing before me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him, trying to understand where he came from. As I glanced around, I realized I was completely dressed from head to toe. With a perplexed expression, Thiago locked eyes with me and raised his eyebrows in a gesture of confusion.

"I tried to call you to inform you about the unfortunate news of the Alpha's passing within the Shadowborne Pack, however; you were unavailable and did not answer. I figured you had gone for a run," he said as he stretched his hand to me.

"Alpha Zeno died! When did he die?" I asked as I stood up from the ground.

"He died three years ago, but no one knew until now. His mate Luna Eleni took over and kept a low profile until," his words trailed.

"Until what?" I asked, sounding annoyed.

"One of his omegas was brutally beaten and nearly killed. As a result, she found herself in the hospital and blood had to be collected from the surrounding packs." He replied.

"So, she needs our help?" I asked.

"Well, yes, but something just doesn't seem right," Thiago replied.

I looked at Thiago questionably. He shook his head and sighed. "I can't quite pinpoint it, but there's a sense that she's not being completely truthful," he stated.

Understanding fully, I nodded in agreement as we made our way back to the pack-house.