SECOND CHANCE AS A LUNA.

~ BENITA'S POV ~

"Wh...what's going on?" The words finally tore from my throat, a ragged cry lost in the silent night. My eyes darted down my body, searching for the tell-tale signs.

The tearing of skin, the shifting of bones, the fur. Nothing. I was just... me. Standing still in the white gown, feeling a cold dread sipping into bones.

The clock had struck twelve twenty minutes ago. I was eighteen. By every right, by every law of our kind, I should have been mid-transformation, my first shift. Soon after, the Luna ceremony with Alpha Maxwell would begin. But here I was, standing in the cold, human and horribly alone.

I looked around at the faces of my pack members, and the sight was a punch to my gut.

Pity, confusion, and something sharp and cold, disappointment. My heart stopped, then began a frantic, panicked drum against my ribs.

My eyes landed on him, my Alpha, my Maxwell. The one who was supposed to stand by me. The panic swelled, suffocating me, when he just shook his head.

A single, definitive shake that ended my world. He turned and disappeared into the shadows, a black silhouette swallowed by the night.

No. It's not possible. The thought screamed in my head. I had waited. Everyone had waited, Most especially Maxwell had waited. When I didn't get my wolf.

My frantic gaze swept the crowd again, finally landing on my parents and my sister Madison. The look on their face, pale and stricken, was the final blow. The last shreds of hope shattered, and the cold reality of what was happening slammed into me.

"Oh moon goddess, Benita is wolfless." Lucie who had just transformed a while ago whispered to her sister.

"That can't possibly be true. She is supposed to be a Beta female." Jasmine responded.

"Oh please, can't you see? It's been twenty minutes. None of us took that long unless... She can't get a wolf."

"This is so sad. And to think she was supposed to be Luna. Now we are stuck with her evil sister Madison." The whispers swirled around me, a venomous cloud of words.

"No, no! That's not true! My wolf is coming! It's just taking a long time!" I screamed, the words spilling out in a desperate plea. Was I trying to convince them or myself?

The cold wind sliced through the night, a cruel reminder of my exposed skin, my lack of fur. It whipped my hair across my face, and I pushed it back, closing my eyes, trying to block out their voices. I needed to focus. I needed to remember the lessons Elder Silas taught me, to brace for the pain of the shift that I'd been told was coming.

I waited. I concentrated. But, nothing. I was the same.

The silence was deafening. It was then, in that profound stillness, that I finally knew. Everyone was right. I was wolfless. My eyes fluttered open to a world that was already moving on. Some people were leaving, others stared with mocking eyes, and a few offered pitiful glances that felt like daggers.

I ran. My white gown billowed behind me as I rushed to my mother, her face still a mask of shock.

"Mum, it's a lie, right? My wolf is coming!" I grabbed her hands, shaking them, my eyes frantically searching hers for reassurance, for a lie, for anything but the truth. But the next thing that followed was a hot slap on my face.

"How could you let us down? How dear you disappoint the Arthur's name in public, I have always known that you were cursed, and you should not exist on the face of this earth." She cursed out in anger as she pushed me to the floor.

I had seen my mother angry many times but this was on a higher level.

My chin began to tremble, and tears blurred my vision. "Dad please I am sorry!" A sob tore from my chest, as I tried to persuade my dad then my knees gave out. I collapsed to the ground.

"It's a lie, right? Just a dream? I'm still going to be Luna, right?"

"Benita."

A soft, familiar pair of arms wrapped around me. My best friend, Chloe. She was crying too. I turned, my tear-filled eyes searching hers. "It's a dream. I'll wake up soon, right, Chloe?"

She shook her head, her body trembling with sobs. "I don't think it's a dream. I wish it was. You couldn't get your wolf, Benita."

"No!" I yelled, pushing her away as if she were the source of my pain.

"It's a lie! You're all liars! My wolf is coming, it's just taking time. I'm still going to be Maxwell's Luna. He promised to wait for me!"

Everything had been perfect for us before tonight. I was the Beta's daughter, a Beta female in the making, though I hadn't been treated right by my parents, I'd trained my whole life for this day.

I was among the hundreds of girls who wished for a glance from Maxwell, our Alpha. My life had been set the moment he looked at me and asked me to be his.

A thousand years. It had been a thousand years since a werewolf couldn't get their wolf. I couldn't be that one percent. I couldn't.

Chloe moved forward on her knees and pulled me back into her arms. We just held each other, two figures crying in the moonlight, our dreams turning to ash.

Then I saw him. Alpha Maxwell. He was coming back. Hope, a fragile, desperate thing, flared in my chest. I didn't even care about my surroundings anymore, All I saw was him.

I shoved Chloe aside and ran to him.

"Maxwell, it's not possible, right? I'm getting my wolf soon. Then I'll be your Luna, right?" I pleaded, trying to meet his eyes, to find the man who had promised me my future. But he wouldn't look at me.

"I don't think that will be possible, Benita." His voice was a flat, cold line.

My heart froze. "Wh... what do you mean by that?"

He finally met my gaze, and in his eyes, there was only a chilling absence of the love I'd known.

"You couldn't get your wolf. I can't have a Luna without a wolf. You disappointed us, our love. I am not sure I can wait any longer."

His words hit me like a physical blow, a weight so immense it crushed the air from my lungs. The world slowed, then stopped. I fell, the ground meeting me with a hard, cold finality.

I stayed there, numb and broken, as he turned and walked away. The crowd, the whispers, the pity it all faded. I was still there after everyone was gone, a broken girl on the cold ground, watching the moon that had betrayed me.

Then everywhere became dark, all lights faded, and I passed out.

~ MAXWELL'S POV ~

I was in my room all day reminiscing about the other day's events. I just couldn't wait to get to see Benita. I hope she is doing better and well than she was yesterday. I had over reacted, I shouldn't have scolded her.

Benita and I have been waiting desperately for yesterday, the day she turned eighteen and finally had her wolf, who would have thought she wasn't going to have her wolf. At the Red Crescent Park we had hardly experienced such a thing.

In our pack, we boasted the highest rate of wolf transformation, a fact that filled me with pride.

Yet, Benita remained an enigma, her wolf hadn't emerged, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her story. Perhaps her wolf was biding its time, or maybe it was something more, a warrior's spirit, strong and fierce.

Though I was angry with her for not having her wolf, she was the one I loved, and though becoming Alpha required a Luna, I was willing to wait for her transformation.

Lost in thought, I barely registered the sound of footsteps outside, followed by a knock on the door.

"Yes coming" I replied rearranging myself on the bed. It was my best friend Caleb.

"Alpha you are still in bed, aren't you ready to start your day? Don't tell me you are still reeling from yesterday's event?" He asked, I guessed he could notice from my facial expression.

"I just got up, Caleb, well I have just been thinking about Benita and I really don't know what to do." I confessed taking a deep breath.

"I know just how it feels Max, but I think you will have to pick another mate. The elders are already complaining, rumors are beginning to spread that the Alpha is about to be mated to a Luna who had no wolf." Caleb said with his head low, though he was my friend and the beta of the pack there was still a sense of respect he showed me.

"Well ditch all those rumours, i don't care what the people think about who I choose to be my mate, the fact is that I love Benita and nothing can stop me from making her my mate." I said meaning every single bit of my word.

Ever since I lost my parents in a pack rivalry war, Benita had been my closest friend. She had stood by my side ever since, her family had tried all they could to make sure she wasn't with me but I just couldn't wait to get her out the house.

"Alright then, let go get breakfast," Caleb suggested casually, like he knew I was very hungry.

I quickly put on my robe as we made our way to the dining. The silence in the hallway was very evident. The mansion had been much quieter than it was a few years ago when my parents were still around, the guards, the cooks and workers all had left as there was no need for their services.

Surprisingly as we reached the dinning I was shocked to see Madison Benita's elder sister sitting in the dining room.

"Good morning, Alpha Maxwell, I hope you are doing fine?" she asked as she stood up from her seat.

"Madison, what brings you here, is everything ok?" I was shocked as I glanced at Caleb who out of shame couldn't look at me, it must have been him who set this meeting up but why? I thought.

"Well Alpha, I am sorry for coming to the mansion at such an hour, it was a message from my mother," she said, pausing.

Her suspense actually got me worried, was Benita alright I thought or had something bad gone wrong.

"She seeks your forgiveness for what happened yesterday" she said, her eyes pleading with a hint of manipulation. "She invites you to dinner, as a gesture of apology for the disgrace. Please, Alpha, don't decline."

I considered her words, reflecting on the previous day's events. My outburst had been fueled by the stress of the transformation, and I regretted speaking to Benita that way. I needed to apologise to the Beta family and check in on Benita also.

The request seemed genuine, and accepting her apology might help ease the tension between us. I decided to attend dinner, hoping it would be a step towards resolving the issues.

The house felt eerily cold, and something about the atmosphere seemed off. I sat at the desk, waiting patiently for Benita to arrive, but she never showed up. When dinner was served, her absence became increasingly concerning, as there was no place setting for her.

"How is Benita? Hasn't she come home yet?" I asked, my worry growing.

"That girl? Only the Moon Goddess knows where she is," Mrs. Arthur said with a dismissive tone.

"I think she's just running late from Chloe's house," Madison added calmly.

Mrs. Arthur turned to me, her expression turning serious. "Alpha Maxwell, I'm sorry about the other day. I have a proposal to make," she said, pausing her meal. "I'd like you to consider Madison as your next Luna. She has a strong wolf and is beautiful, qualities that make her well-suited for the role. What do you think?"

Her words caught me off guard; the thought of considering Madison as my Luna hadn't crossed my mind, and I was surprised by the directness of her suggestion.

~ BENITA'S POV ~

The harsh sunlight streaming through the window was enough to rouse me from my slumber. I woke up feeling drained and exhausted, as if I'd been hit by a truck.

Wincing in pain, I clutched my head as I tried to sit up, the throbbing sensation making it feel like my head was about to explode.

My vision blurred, but as it cleared, I took in my surroundings. This wasn't my room, where was I? How did I end up here? The unfamiliar surroundings only added to my confusion.

Just as I was trying to piece together my fragmented thoughts, the door swung open.

"Chloe!" I exclaimed, my heart swelling with joy. Seeing my best friend walk in, I felt a wave of relief wash over me, but it was tempered by my weakness and the tears streaming down my face.

"Benny, thank the Moon Goddess you're awake!" Chloe rushed over, enveloping me in a tight hug. In that moment, everything came flooding back the events of the previous day replaying like a movie in my mind.

I held onto Chloe tightly, overcome with emotion as the humiliation of the previous day replayed in my mind.

The inability to morph into my wolf had left me feeling defeated and exposed in front of the entire pack. Tears streamed down my face as I wailed, "So it's true, I don't have a wolf? I'm wolfless?"

The thought of how this would affect my relationship with Alpha Maxwell, the person I had envisioned a happy life with, filled me with anxiety. I had always dreamed of a life free from the scrutiny and cruelty of my family, but now uncertainty clouded my future.

Chloe's gentle touch and reassuring words offered some comfort. "Benny, I thought we'd moved past this.

You don't have to do much, just let fate do her thing," she said, softly rubbing my back. "Alpha Maxwell's feelings for you will depend on whether you two are fated for each other. That's all that matters."

Her encouragement and love were exactly what I needed in that dark moment.

"Don't hurt yourself, Benny. I love you, and I was terrified when you passed out yesterday. Please don't be sad," she whispered, her voice a soothing balm to my frazzled emotions. Chloe's words gave me the strength to face my challenges head-on, even in the midst of uncertainty.

"Thanks, Chloe. How long have I been asleep? And what about my house? Did they bother to check on me or try to find out how I was?" I asked, my tone laced with skepticism. I didn't expect any genuine concern from my family, they only cared about Madison and their own interests. Chloe's sheepish expression confirmed my suspicions.

"How about Max?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. Chloe's response brought a mix of emotions. "He was the one who brought you here after you passed out. He specifically asked me to watch over you." I felt a pang of gratitude toward Maxwell, but it was bittersweet, given my failure to shift.

Chloe's practicality snapped me back to reality. "Come on, you need to freshen up and get started for the day. I'll go prepare something to eat while you get changed." She patted me on the shoulder and left the room, leaving me to process my thoughts.

Chloe had been my rock since childhood, a true friend through thick and thin. Even when her parents were alive, she showed me kindness and loyalty that went beyond friendship.

She was the sister I never had, filling the void left by Madison's neglect. Madison's behavior toward me had always been tinged with jealousy and bitterness, but Chloe's love and support had been a constant source of comfort in my life.

****

As the evening drew to a close, I felt restless, my mind racing with thoughts of Maxwell and the pack. I needed to know what had changed in my absence and how my life would be affected without my wolf.

The walk home seemed long, my feet heavy with indecision. Should I head straight to Maxwell's mansion or go home first?

Chloe's concerns about my safety at this late hour only added to my turmoil, but I was determined to get answers.

As I stood at the crossroads, torn between two paths, a shiver ran down my spine. I felt like I was being watched, someone lurking in the shadows, tracking my every move.

I glanced around, but the darkness seemed to swallow everything in its path, leaving me with only my growing unease.

I pushed aside my doubts and headed toward Maxwell's mansion, determined to get answers.

But as I walked, the feeling of being watched grew stronger. "Who's there?" I called out, trying to shake off the unease. The silence that followed only heightened my fear.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked in darkness and masked. My heart racing, I demanded,

"Who are you? What do you want?" I took a step back, trying to create distance between us. The way he moved, his build, screamed "rogue."

A chill ran down my spine as I realized rogues weren't sent for trivial matters; they were dispatched to eliminate.

"Oh, Moon Goddess, what have I gotten myself into?" I whispered, my hands trembling.

Despite my wolf's absence, I steeled myself for a fight. But before I could prepare, a second attacker struck me from behind, sending a searing pain through my head.

The world spun, and darkness consumed me, rendering me unconscious before I hit the ground.