Selene the rejected Luna

"You are not doing this!" Mr Damian's voice

sounded loudly in the tiny parlour of his house.

"This is the only way," Selene told him.

"I can't let you sell yourself Selene."

Selene moved close to him. "If I don't do this mom will die," she said softly.

Her father sighs heavily. He took a quick look at his dying wife, she was weak and pale with no sign of recovery. "I will try my best to get a job as quickly as possible," he assured her.

Selene shook her head in disbelief. "We are not doing that anymore dad," she said softly "We need a huge sum of money so she can get proper treatment."

"And I said I will go get a job!" He snapped.

A sharp knock came at the door.

Selene was startled and dropped the glass of water she was holding out of shock.

"damian!" A male voice called, his voice sounded hard.

"You need to hide," Selene whispered, pushing her dad to her tiny bedroom "No matter what don't come out dad."

"Are you sure you can handle him," he whispered, sounding Very worried.

The knock came again this time it's way louder.

"Damian!" The male voice called "I will break down this door if you don't open up now!" He shouted.

" I can dad," she said "just hide under the bed."

Selene opened the door, her fist closed. A tall man with tattoos sneered down at her, behind him were two men in dark coats, hands crossed.

"Good Morning Tony," she said, her voice sounding cold.

"Morning? It's a wonderful day to collect debts princess."

Without permission, Tony pushed past her his eyes scanning the tiny living room "Where is my money?"

"I told you to give me more time," she said, following him, her heart was pounding fast.

Tony turned sharply. "That was last month and I'm not going to hear the same lyrics again," he told her "your time is up."

Selene was dumbstruck but she didn't back down.

"My mother is sick and

I have been trying to get... "

Tony cut her off. "Does it look like I care if she dies? The 20 grounds your father borrowed is my problem."

Selene grinned how dare he insult her mother.

Her mother's rasping voice came through from her bedroom. " Please just give us a little more... "

"Save it woman," Tony snapped "Hey princess it's either you pay me or I will start packing some of your stuff."

Selene stepped in front of him blocking his way to the couch. "enough of your stealing attitude," she seethed "You took some of our property the last time you were here including my laptop, what else do you people want?"

"You better get creative girl," Tony sneered "Come to think of it, you are pretty and I am very sure someone would pay more money for your time."

Selene fist became tighter and her hand flew across his face the slap echoed in the room.

Tony growled in anger. One of his men reached for something in his pocket.

She did not flinched.

"Don't you dare touch my family."

Tony laughed icily. "You have got guts girl but guts doesn't pay your bills."

"Give me a week and your money will be given to you the next time you come," she told him, she was looking fearless.

"You better start talking princess because I'm not a patient man."

"I applied for a surrogacy program," she said quickly, "the pay is high, If everything goes well you will get... "

Tony snorted. "Surrogacy?"

Selene nodded slowly. "Yes. The pay is high enough to clear you of my father's debt," she said

"I will get their confirmation in a few days."

"So you are about to sell your womb for money?" He said.

"It's none of your damn business, as long as it will clear your debt, so you can stop disturbing our precious lives."

Tony scratched his long beards then signaled his men to leave. "Ten days when I come back here, let there be cash or I will take your father."

"You will not!"

"I will and you are so lucky that I'm feeling very generous today." He turned and dash out by slamming the door behind him.

Selene let out a heavy breath and she ran her fingers through her long hair. "That was close," she muttered.

Her father came out. "Thank you, child," he said his breath shaking.

"Dad we can't afford her next hospital bill, remember the last one hit us really hard. Please let me do this for us," she told him.

"There should be another way."

Selene turned to look at him. "But we have tried every means possible Dad," she said calmly "The surrogacy program is our breakthrough and I don't want to lose mom, in the cold hands of death," her voice cracked.

Her father became speechless. He did not know what else to tell her.

Selene stare at her phone.

Still no call. No confirmation.

She had applied to KindBody Fertility program one of the most highly paid clinics. She heard a rumour that they paid over $100,000 for full time surrogate contract, most especially for anonymous clients.

Her only secret prayer now was their approval.

The next morning...

Selene was holding a tray of wine, apron around her body.

She headed towards a particular table. " Here it is sir."

"How much is my bill," the man in front of her asked.

" $25 sir."

The man took money from his pocket and gave it to her. "Keep the change."

Selene was happy. " Thank you sir," She turned to leave but she felt a hand hit her ass so fast, she turned to the man who was smiling widely towards her.

"How dare you!" She snapped.

He stood. "Just give me one night with you and I will... "

Selene couldn't wait to listen to him, she hit him hard on the cheeks.

"Ouch," he shouted in pain.

The manager saw what happened and rush to the scene.

Selene became terrified and tried to explain to her manager. "I'm so sorry sir i didn't mean to hit... "

"You are fired!" The manager shouted he turned to the customer and apologized to him.

"He touched me and... "

The manager cut her off. "Enough Just pack your things and leave."

Selene stomped out of the bar in anger.

Meanwhile...

Alpha Tristan stood beside his office window, he viciously stared at the wolves in front of him, the wolves were shaking in fear.

He took one of them by her hand and spun her around. He scooped her up gently. "Are you scared?" He asked.

She shook her head. "I'm... not scared alpha."

"you should be, especially when you don't have what I have been searching for," he told her his voice sounding calm.

"And what is that alpha" She asked her expression was filled with fear.

He smiled at her and in a seconds his smile shifted into an angry look, he threw the wolf to the floor.

"No mark," he growled "Next."

The wolf trembled in fear, crawling away but his beta Landon didn't flinch at all.

"Everyone get out!" He snapped at them.

"That were the last batch from the south," Landon said.

Tristan's jaw tightened. "Five whole years and still no sign of her no identity no mark, she only appears In my dreams Landon," He said his voice sounded downcast "That crescent mark must be found."

"Alpha Tristan how are you sure that this mystery lady in question exists?" Landon said, his voice shaking "We have searched every state, small town and village but still no sign of her or anyone bearing that mark... Maybe it's just a dream."

Tristan moved towards him, his wide gaze fixed on Landon. "It is not just a dream," his eyes flashed gold, "I will find her, I must find her because I can feel she is real."

Back at home...

Selene entered the house, her face swollen from crying she felt really tired.

She checked the kitchen for food but there was no nothing.

her eyes filled with tears. "When will this end," she whispered beneath her breath.

Her father walked up to her. "You look so pale?"

"I lost my job at the bar," she sobbed.

Her father sat down beside her, he placed his hand around her comforting her.

"You are stronger my child," he told her "it is going to be okay."

Her phone rang.

She stares at the private number calling.

She picked.

"kindBody fertility program, Is this Selene Damian?"

She breaks free from her father's embrace. "Yes this is Selene!"

"We are calling to inform you that your profile has been shortlisted and matched with one of our donor clients. You have passed all medical screenings. The final phase will involve an effectual agreement, followed by propagation in three days."

Selene held her father's arm for support. "Yes thank you, please... When can I sign?"

"We will send the contract in the next 5 hours, please read and respond within twenty four hours."

She hung up nearly trembling. Three days, she had just three days to change the fate of her family.

Her face brimmed with happiness.

Her father who had been staring at her, waiting for her to spill the news. "What is the good news all about?"

"I have been approved by the surrogate fertility program," she said, her face filled with happiness "It is happening dad, they are going to pay in installments and we will pay for mom's treatment," she said, her voice sounded cheerful.

"And the child?" Her father asked.

"I just need to carry the child for nine months and then... "

He cut her off. "You are giving up your child?" He said, his voice sounded pained.

Selene's smile turned into a soured expression. "I'm saving mom." She told him.

There was silence.

Later that night...

Selene stood beside the window that night, looking at the moon. She felt a little pain from the moon shape mark on her shoulder.

It was glowing without her knowing, she touched the spot and the pain stopped.

Her mind flashed back to what her father said about the baby, she became downcast. Selling her child was something she did not thought she would do.

"God please help me out of this one," she said softly, the only thing bothering her was who the father of her unborn child really was.

Her heart pounded. "I hope he is a nice person," she said calmly.

And that answer will change everything.

The next morning...

Selene stepped out to get some medication for her sick mother, as she rushed into the hospital, her focus was on the paper she was holding, which contained her mother's prescription.

Just at the entrance she brushed someone really hard, the paper flew from her hand.

She froze the moment she saw the tall handsome man in front of her, his eyes looked seductive. Wow she thought even pain can not ruin a moment like this one. She blushed admiring him silently.

But Tristan got Angry. "Are you blind? Or you didn't see me coming?" He seethed.

Selene stood up. "Wow, I do not need anyone to tell me you have no manners," she said "what about you? Are you blind? Or you didn't see me coming."

Tristan looked at her, his eyes sizing her up. "Whose slave are you? You are lucky I'm in my good mood today, else I would have taken pleasure in keeping you In one of the psychiatry hospitals, because it's obvious you are mad."

"You are such an animal. You hit me and you expect me to say sorry to you?" She said, her voice sounded harsh.

"Whose mother birthed you?" Tristan said.

Selene lifted up her hand to slap him but he caught her hand, immediately he felt an unusual warmth flowing through him, it was sensitive and unknown, his heart thundered.

Touching her stirred something original, something sacred, something like "my Luna," he muttered.

Selene moved back an inch. "isn't it obvious you are sick."

Tristan stood in front of her surprised, he was confuse and trying to make sense of what just took place.

He finally speaks. "Where do you stay? Who are your parents?" He asked her, his voice sounding curious.

Selene tried to move past him but he quickly stood between her and the entrance.

"Answer me," Tristan seethed, his words sounded harsh.

Landon who was with him all through was confused.

"Alpha Tristan," he called his eyes scanning the few passers by, that was watching them. He leaned closer and whispered "let her go, people are watching."

Tristan felt embarrassed and moved away for her to pass.

"That is very nice of you," Selene said and walked pass him.

Tristan stare at her until she disappeared from his view.

"The car is here," Landon said.

They both walked towards the car, Landon was about to enter but Tristan stopped him.

"Wait here and make sure you find out everything about that lady," he commanded him.

"Yes alpha Tristan."

The driver drove off.

Few minutes later...

Selene walked out.

She walked quickly down the lonely road with the sound of her worn out shoe hitting against the street pavement.

She quickly stopped.

She felt someone was behind her so she quickly turned around but saw no one.

Her footsteps hastened.

Back at home...

Selene came back home tired, she felt hungry but she did not bother going to the kitchen, because there was nothing in the house before she left.

"Did you get them," her father's voice came from behind.

"Yes Dad," she said and gave the medication to him.

He took it and a glass of water inside his room.

Selene collapses tirelessly on their old couch.

Her phone peeps.

She checked.

It was a message from the KindBody Fertility clinic.

It read: KindBody Fertility clinic we are sorry about the missed up date. You will be picked from your residential address today in the next 30 minutes, we start today, the driver contact information will be sent to you shortly.

She was stunned. She dashed into her bathroom and took a quick shower, she went straight to her closet and packed some clothes and whatever she could touch at that moment. she stuffed them into her worn out backpack.

Her phone peeped.

It was a message: I'm Leo from KindBody Fertility clinic I'm outside your gate.

She looked into the mirror in her tiny room, her eyes looked gentle for what she was about to do and it made her nervous.

"Oh my goodness I am feeling very worried," she whispered beneath her breath, she put on her hoodie and walked into the living room.

"Where are you going to," her father asked.

"It's today dad," she said her voice soft.

"After all my warning and pleading," he said amidst tears.

"I'm not doing this for my own selfishness dad. Mom needs this money and the time is now."

She stepped out of the house into the street, she saw an SUV packed two blocks away, she walked towards it.

"From the fertility clinic," the driver said.

She didn't speak as she entered.

She looked in the side mirror and saw another man in black suit at the back seat, she became scared her heart pounding very fast.

Her phone buzzed.

A text from her mom. "Don't go Selene you still don't know who you truly are."

Her eyes flickered. "What?" She muttered.

She opened her mouth to talk to the driver but a sharp sting hit her neck.

Everything spun, she collapsed into the seat, her vision faded fast.

Few moments later...

Selene woke up.

Her eyes scanned through the room, binding light, a white ceiling, cold room.

She tried to move but she couldn't because she was strapped, her heart pounded. She was feeling thirsty and her body seemed pretty weak.

"Stay calm," a female voice said "You are safe sweetheart, at least for now."

"Where am I!" Selene gasped.

"Oh don't worry about that."

"What?" Selene whispered.

"You applied to the KindBody Fertility clinic?"

Selene turned her head towards her. "Well this doesn't look like their facility, so where am I?"

The woman smirks icily. ''You have been selected," the woman tapped a tablet "your vitals are good, strong body, fertile and ... " her eyes switch to Selene's shoulder "That... mark?"

Selene grinned. "What mark?"

"pretentious human, I definitely know who you are." She seethed.

The woman turned and left, the door shut quietly behind her.

Selene lay still staring at the ceiling, her heart pounded fast. What the hell does she mean by her mark?.

Somewhere upstairs...

Alpha Tristan stood in front of a wide glass, he curiously watched his next set of candidates file.

They were all lined up like his property, being labeled by number and alphabet.

He wasn't interested.

Landon pointed out. "That one just arrived today 12.C."

The screen showed a lady tied to a hospital bed, her hoodies have been removed. The camera caught the moon shaped mark on her shoulder.

"Zoom in more," Tristan said voice low.

The image on her shoulder became vivid.

His heart thundered heavily. It was her, the blurry girl from his dream, she is real and alive and she is within his reach now.

"The mark," he muttered "is it real or it was tattooed."

"There is only one way to find out," Landon said.

"Bring her to me now," Tristan ordered.

Selene was untied. The guards grabbed both of her arms, they dragged her down the hospital hall.

"Who are you?" She snapped "Where are you taking me?" She asked, her voice barely steady.

She struggled but she was no match for them.

They stopped in front of a red steel door, one of the guards raised up a card to the door scanner and the door opened with a loud click.

Inside was dim and cold but everything looked rich and expensive. At the middle of it stood a man.

Black suit, fine jaw, eyes like molten gold. He stayed quiet, not saying a word but his presence filled the room

Selene was baffled seeing him here.

They both looked surprised. "You?" They spoke at the same time both voices overlapping.