Saved By The Daughter Of The Moon

Aria

"When a door shuts, another one becomes available." That has always been my belief. Today I am going to take my first stride into my future. My eighteenth birthday.

The day I would finally be recognized as more than the weakest wolf in the Shadow Moon Pack. Today is my Luna ceremony, the day I was to stand next to my mate, Alpha Mason.

Mason and I have been dating for the past 2 years, right after he discovered that we were mates. Life with him though challenging has been blissful. I had been saving myself till this day and today, I was ready to give myself completely to Mason.

I know it has been hard for Mason to restrain his se**ualurges, but he has been faithful and understanding, showering me with love and not requesting much from me, but today, I was ready to fully be his.

I stood before the mirror, toying with the white dress hanging on my small frame. My hands were shaking with anticipation, not with fear this time. I had always been told I was too weak, too insignificant to make a difference, it was all going to change, at that very moment.

Today, I'll be Luna.

The drums outside signaled the start of the ceremony. I swallowed hard, staring at my reflection. "This is it, Aria," I whispered to myself, forcing a smile. "This is your moment."

As I walked towards the hall, the whispers started.

"Look, it's Aria. She really thinks she can be Luna?"

"She's too weak for Alpha Mason."

They hurt me with their words, but I walked with my head up, and I just hoped that once Mason finally made me his Luna, they would all have to respect me. He would defend me and stand by my side. He was my mate, after all. He had to love me. Right?

A room full of wolves, all staring at me, as I walked down the aisle to the middle, where Mason was, tall and strong. When our gazes met, his icy blue eyes sent a chill down my spine instead of a sense of comfort.

"Aria." The sound of his voice reverberated loudly throughout the room.

I smiled at him and waiting for those couple of words that would change my life.

"I, Alpha Mason Stone, reject you, Aria Summers, as my mate and Luna."

My smile froze, time seemed to stop. I blinked, sure I had misheard him. The room fell deathly silent as everyone waited for my response.

"What?" My voice cracked, barely audible.

"I reject you," Mason repeated, his voice harder, colder. "You are not worthy of being my Luna."

My heart shattered in an instant. The bond we were meant to share, the one I had longed for, was torn apart.

The rejection hit me like a blow to my gut, leaving me gasping for air. I fell to my knees, the pain enveloped me like a blanket. Bile rushed to my throat as I felt the stares of everyone on me, their whispers getting louder and more mocking, as if they were all part of some joke.

Lydia advanced a step, an evil grin widening her mouth. The Beta's precious golden child, who has always been envious of my relationship with Mason, and has never once failed to take a chance to remind me of my place beneath her.

She moved in next to Mason, her hand slipping possessively over his arm.

"Did you really think you could be Luna?" She sneered. "You're nothing, Aria. Weak. Useless. A disgrace, besides, I'm carrying the future Alpha of the pack."

The pack exploded into joy and laughter at the prospect of a future Alpha, their jeers cut right through me. I wanted to die, to crawl in a hole and die, but I was frozen, tears burning the back of my eyes. I couldn't cry. Not in front of them. Not in front of Mason.

"I... I don't understand," I stammered, my voice barely a whisper. I looked at Mason pleading, praying for some kind of explanation for this, some sort of reasoning behind this nightmare.

He didn't even look at me.

"You are not Luna material," Mason said coldly. "But I have other plans for you."

Before I could question him, two of his guards came up behind me. They randomly grabbed my arms and dragged me back from the center of the room. When they dragged me down to the dungeon, fear creeped down my spine.

"No, please!" I cried, struggling against their iron grip, but they were too strong. The pack's laughter followed me, echoing in my ears as I was pulled away.

"Alpha Mason, please!" I screamed his name, hoping he would stop this, hoping that this was some horrible mistake. But he never looked back.

The dungeon was dark and frigid, with an overpowering smell of mold and wet stone. I was thrown to the ground by the guards, and before I could stand up, one of them gave me a forceful kick to the ribs. I drew my body into a ball and cringed as pain went through my body as I took a deep breath.

"Pathetic," the guard muttered before walking out, slamming the door behind him.

I stayed there, lying on the cold floor, bruised and battered, with tears running down my face. Not just from the physical pain, but from the humiliation, the betrayal. I had believed in Mason. I had thought that, as my mate, he would protect me and love me unconditionally. But he had rejected me in front of everyone on my birthday and shattered the little hope I had in life.

Hours passed in the dark, the pain of my body intensifying with each breath. I couldn't move, couldn't think. I just cried and cried, and my wails ricocheted off the empty dungeon. My heart was shattered, my spirit crushed.

And then, the door creaked open.

Fear settled in my stomach, as Mason entered the dungeon. He was holding a tray of food and a bottle of water, his expression unreadable as he walked towards me.

I actually thought that he came to apologize, to set things straight. But then he smirked.

"How's my little wolf doing?" His voice was taunting, full of mockery.

I said nothing, staring up at him with wide, tear-filled eyes.

"Hungry?" he asked, crouching down beside me. He held a piece of bread out, but when I reached for it, he yanked it back.

"You don't get to eat like a human, Aria," he said coldly. "You eat like the dog you are."

My stomach turned in disgust, but I was so hungry, so needy, I hadn't eaten in almost 48 hours because I had been made to work for longer hours than normal and when I was done, there was no food left for me to eat.

I had complained to Mason once about how stressful working as an omega maid was and he had promised that things would be better after my 18th birthday. How foolish of me to believe the lying and conniving bas***d.

I couldn't help my hands shaking as I sank to my knees. Mason smirked, holding the bread just out of reach.

"Come on, Aria. Eat."

Swallowing my pride, I lowered myself and bit the piece of bread out of his hand, feeling utterly humiliated. He chuckled as I chewed, the taste of shame bitter on my tongue.

"Good girl," he said, petting my head like I was some animal. My skin crawled under his touch, but I kept eating, tears slipping down my cheeks.

I ate the last of the bread and he opened the water bottle and just spilled some on the floor.

"Drink," he ordered.

I just looked at the puddle of water on the dirty floor, mouth dry, and pride destroyed. But I was so thirsty, and there was nothing else.

I brought my face down to the floor slowly and took a sip of the cold water searing my throat as the tears dripped in the puddle.

Mason laughed softly, watching me with cold amusement.

"Look at you," he said, standing up and looking down at me. "The future Luna, begging in the dirt like a dog. Pathetic."

I slumped on my heels, feeling disgust churn in my gut as I used the back of my hand to wipe my lips. Not just at him, but at myself. For letting him do this to me. For being so weak.

"I'm going to make you my mistress." Mason blurted out, very low and very threatening. "You'll never be Luna, but you'll still serve me. And you won't have a choice, Aria. You're mine."

My heart dropped. The word mistress echoed in my mind, filling me with a sense of dread so deep it was suffocating. I shook my head, "No," I whispered. "No! haven't you done enough?"

"Yes," Mason said, his smile cruel. "You will. Or I'll make sure you suffer for the rest of your life. You think today was bad? You have no idea what I'm capable of."

Mason took a final pleased glance at me, then exited the dungeon, shutting the door.

I was alone again. All alone in the dark, but with the burden of my shame sitting on my shoulders. Though my body hurt, the agony deep within my soul hurt far more. He had stolen my self-respect and dignity, and now he was going to take what little was left of me.

One thought forced its way to the surface even through the fog of suffering and shame.

I had to get out.

I couldn't stay here, couldn't let Mason break me any more than he already had. I had to get away, even though it meant forfeiting everything that I had known.

I wiped the tears from my face with trembling hands, forming a plan in my head immediately. I knew I would, even if I wasn't sure how or when. Whatever it takes, I will find a way to set myself free.

Because I couldn't...no, I wouldn't....let Mason win.

Aria

I'd lost count of the days. The darkness in the dungeon was absolute, making it impossible to know how long I'd been locked away.

I felt the cold stone walls closing in on me, my body sore from the harsh treatment and the numerous bruises covering my skin.

The burning sensation in my throat and churning hunger in my stomach were little in comparison to the chilling, debilitating anxiety that lurked deep within me.

Mason had come to my cell after that first night. I cringed even now thinking of how he just stood there with those eyes dark with malice and stared at me. His cruel words still rang in my ears.

"You could have had it all, Aria," he sneered, stepping closer to me. "But you chose to defy me."

I can't forget the way he touched me, his fingers on my face, slowly drifting down, following the path of the bruises he inflicted. Repulsion ran through me, deep-rooted hatred simmering just below the surface.

When his hand moved lower, trying to claim my body as he had promised he would, something snapped inside me. I bit him. Hard. So hard that I nearly ripped his finger apart.

His blood had tasted bitter on my tongue, but the satisfaction of hearing his pained grunt was enough to make the risk worth it.

That earned me a severe black eye. His fist connected with my face, sending me sprawling across the floor. But I didn't regret it. Not even for a second. Mason hadn't returned after that night.

I had made it clear to him that no matter what, I wouldn't let him break me.

My days ran together after that, all the same, all miserable. But I never stopped paying attention. I noticed things...the guards, their routines, their behaviors.

The change of shift happened twice a day, the flicker of the torches, the only signal of time passing. I observed everything, waiting for the right moment.

And then this. Well, something had been going on with me...something weird. My eyesight had sharpened. There in the pitch-black cell, I should have been blind...yet I saw clearer than I ever had.

I hadn't shifted into my wolf yet, but it felt like my senses were waking up in ways they never had before. The heightened awareness was unsettling but thrilling, like a long-buried part of me was stirring from sleep.

Every night, I lay in wait. I studied the guards every night, their steps, their patterns.

There was one in particular, a young, skittish one, who was always nervous, always looking over his shoulder. If I timed it right, I could knock him out. I just had to bide my time.

Then, one night, something unexpected happened.

It was a shift change for the guard, and the new guard was this guy who always took forever to get comfortable in his post.

But instead of standing in front of my cell, he left. Confusion gripped me, and I pressed my ear against the heavy iron bars, listening intently. The sound of footsteps receded down the hallway.

My heart raced. Was this a trick?

I hadn't decided yet when I noticed a movement, a shadow. I squinted, straining to see through the darkness.

A figure...a tall, shadowy figure, approached my cell door. The figure crouched and swiftly unlocked the door with a key I hadn't seen, causing my breath to catch in my throat.

I parted my lips to inquire about their identity, but the figure vanished before I could say anything. Disappeared just as swiftly as they had appeared.

My cell door creaked open, a sound so foreign it took me a moment to comprehend that it was real. The heavy iron door stood ajar, and freedom, though it still seemed distant, was suddenly within reach.

I didn't waste time.

I stumbled out of the cell, my legs gave out, and I almost fell flat on my face. They hadn't used in what felt like months, and the sharp pain that shot through them was enough to bring tears to my eyes.

But I gritted my teeth and forced myself forward. There was no time for weakness now.

It was so dark in that hall, but I kept to the shadows and moved as quietly as I could. Every step was agony, but I didn't stop. I couldn't.

As I approached the exit of the dungeon, I could hear the distant sounds of celebration. The pack was busy with some kind of event, and I thanked the Moon Goddess for the distraction.

I opened the door and stepped outside, feeling the refreshing night air hitting my face. I took a big breath and enjoyed the freedom I hadn't had for what seemed like ages.

The pack was distracted, the torches were ablaze, the music was playing, and everyone was laughing. I didn't even care to wonder what they were celebrating for. I was focused on one thing...escape.

I didn't stop to think. I didn't hesitate.

I tiptoed, I sprinted, in the shadows, my feet made no contact with the ground, and I passed the wolves as they gathered. No one saw me. No one called out my name. The dark was my friend, and I worked it in my favor.

The soles of my feet hit the border of the forest, and the bush ripped against my legs as I dived into the trees.

The noise of my labored breathing and the crunch of leaves beneath my feet supplanted the celebration as I moved forward.

Despite my racing heart, I continued running. I had no idea where I was heading. All I knew was that I had to get the heck away.

But I wasn't free yet.

It wasn't long before I heard the howl.

It was low and drawn out, just enough to make the blood freeze in my veins. The pack had noticed my absence. They were coming for me.

I continued running despite my legs screaming in protest at the jagged rocks and branches cutting at my bare feet.

The rush of adrenaline took over, silencing the pain and giving me strength I didn't know I had. I persisted and ran faster than I could have ever dreamed of.

I could hear them now the sound of paws beating against the ground, wolves snarling as they approached. I was breathing heavily, my chest was burning with the effort, but I didn't slow down.

Something strange was happening again. All that energy that had been stored up inside of me for days surged through my arms and legs, enabling me to move quicker, and stronger.

As if my body finally understood what was happening, the will to survive kicked in, desperately.

Branches slapped against my face, the forest flying by me, as I ran as fast as I could through the trees. The wolves were close, but I was faster.

I could feel the power surging through me, guiding me, helping me to avoid their snapping jaws.

I jumped over a fallen log and landed on the other side without my feet making much noise from hitting the ground. The pack was at my heels, but I could hear their rage. I was slipping through their grasp.

I have no idea how long I ran. The wind rushing through my hair and my pulse thumping were the only noises audible to me as time seemed to blur. But finally, the howls began to fade. The pack was losing me. I had outrun them.

It wasn't over yet, though. I continued running, my legs moving automatically, as fatigue started to set in.

I needed to put as much distance between myself and the Shadow Moon Pack as possible. I wouldn't be safe until I was well out of their reach.

The trees got shorter and shorter, and the forest became more and more thin. I tripped over a fallen log and landed face first, my body surrendering as I rolled into the grass.

I didn't care that I was panting and that every muscle in my body was screaming in pain. I was free.

I let myself finally be hopeful, for the first time in days. I had escaped. I had done what I never thought possible.

Yet as I lay there, trying to catch my breath, it all hit me. I was alone. Alone, in the bush, without food, shelter, or pack.

I was clueless about where I was going. But I will figure it out. Because there was no going back now. Not ever.

I will survive. I had to. Those were my last thoughts before sleep overtook me.

Aria

The sound of crunching leaves beneath footsteps was the first thing I heard. I snapped to attention, my muscles screaming at me as I shot up into the air.

Dizziness made my brain swim, and I had to take a moment to realize where I was. The forest. The escape. I had run... run till my legs failed me, and I had fallen here, in the middle of nowhere, hoping that fatigue would overcome me, and I would stay unconscious for a few hours.

I couldn't afford to sleep anymore.

Panic coursed through my veins as the events of yesterday came flooding back to me like a slap in the face. Mason's dungeon. The escape. The forest. The wolves chasing me.

I heard my heartbeat in my ears and I leaned in to listen more. The footsteps were approaching and I heard low whispering in the far.

They were coming.

I anxiously glanced around, trying to figure out what to do, my thoughts racing. The thick branches of the massive trees towered over me, entwined like a web, yet there wasn't any undergrowth to provide any shelter.

The voices grew louder now, and I caught snippets of their conversation.

"I can smell her. She's close."

"Her scent's fresh...she's up ahead."

Every nerve in my body went cold. There wasn't time to think. I propelled myself upwards off the ground, my legs wobbling beneath me as I forced them to do their job. I had to get out of here, now.

However I could not shake off the weariness that gnawed at my very bones and I stumbled blindly through the forest, my bare feet sliding on the moss-encrusted rocks as I ran.

Branches slapped against my face, and sharp thorns scraped against my skin, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. Now I heard them, the wolves, their voices becoming clearer, more defined, behind me. They were gaining on me.

I stumbled over a fallen log and felt a stinging agony shoot through my ankle, but I grabbed myself before I hit the ground. I was breathing heavily and had trouble seeing due to fatigue, but I persisted, fighting my wailing muscles with every stride.

And suddenly, far out in the gentle morning light, I saw it, a large stream meandering through the forest, like a ribbon made of silver. It was so wide and quick and so deep, but I did not hesitate.

All of my instincts told me to run, to just keep on running, and so without thinking, I took off towards the water.

The cold hit me in the face, the breath out of my lungs, the current pulling me under. The icy water wrapped around me, dragging me under, but I fought against the panic rising in my chest.

I had to stay submerged, had to stay hidden. My heart pounded in my ears as I kicked my legs, forcing myself deeper into the stream.

The water covered my scent, and the wolves couldn't find me. But it also threatened to drag me away, the current strong and unforgiving.

My lungs burned as I held my breath, my chest tight with the strain. After flailing for some time, I heard their voices.

"We're close. She's gotta be nearby."

"I can't smell her anymore. It stops here."

My body went numb because the voices came from just above the stream, a couple of feet above where I was in the water. I submerged myself more in the water, hoping to not be noticed.

The icy liquid stung my skin, and my lungs screamed for air, but I held on, praying that they wouldn't come closer.

"Maybe she jumped into the water," one of them muttered, his voice laced with irritation.

"Even if she did, she would never survive swimming through it," another voice rings. "We can't follow her across anyway."

I heard the footsteps retreating, the leaves rustling as they began to leave. I didn't move, though. The steady rush of the stream was the only sound remaining while I waited, my chest straining with the desire to breathe.

When I was certain they were gone, I finally allowed myself to rise. My head cracked the surface, and I took deep breaths to try and fill the smoldering hole in my chest as lungs begged for air.

I shivered violently, my body shaking from the exertion of the cold air combined with the chilling water adhering to my skin.

My heart was still pounding as I stood there for a few seconds trying to catch my breath. I forced myself to swim even though my motions were feeble and sluggish at first.

Here, the river was quieter and carried me softly downstream. Even though my body was screaming for a break and my limbs were heavy, I dared not stop.

I had no idea how long I had been in there. As I floated down the river, it felt like time was never-ending, carrying me away from the Shadow Moon Pack and all I had ever known.

Eventually, I gave up trying and let the water carry me since my arms and legs became too numb to move.

I slipped in and out of consciousness on the stream, everything around me a smear of green and blue, the leaves of the trees along it melting together.

I could feel myself fading in and out of consciousness, the sleep overtaking me like a dense fog.

I wanted to sleep. To simply close my eyes and let the water take me wherever it wanted to take me. But I couldn't. Not yet.

I was drifting for a while before I sensed the bottom of the stream getting closer to me. I gradually came to the realization that I had reached a shallow section of the river and that the water was no longer pushing me along.

My feet finally hit the ground and I kicked my body once again into forced movement, I dragged myself through that waist-deep water, until at last I made it to shore.

I landed on the bank and lay there, gasping for air, my body trembling. My muscles ached from the effort it had required to continue, and my clothes stuck to my skin, heavy and saturated. I just stood there for a long time, trying to regain my breath while staring up at the sky.

I'd succeeded. I had escaped.

But it was a hollow win. I couldn't tell where I was. I had no idea what awaited me. It was then that I realized I was still in the woods, and fatigue hit me like a lead blanket.

I groaned and forced myself to stand, my legs trembling beneath me. I was surrounded by a deep forest, with tall trees that blocked out most of the sunshine with their branches.

Following the turmoil of the previous two days, everything appeared motionless and eerily peaceful.

I did not know whether the wolves were still tracking me or whether they had given up on me once they lost my scent at the river.

But I couldn't risk staying here.

I cringed and took a hesitant step forward, the sharp rocks digging into my feet. My clothes stuck to my body, the cold air causing my body to shake uncontrollably as I marched on.

Every step was a struggle, my body begging for sleep, yet I would not allow it, and I continued to march. I had no other choice.

As I pushed through the thick brush, the trees gave way to an open clearing, and my breath caught in my throat.

It wasn't the open space that surprised me, though. But it was what I noticed in the clearing as I was stood there.