The Luna Queen's Blood Oath

CHAPTER 1: Aniversary

Layla's POV

"Where do you want the extra flowers, Mrs Kruger!" A servant called in urgency.

"Mrs Kruger, this part of the wall is all set!" Another called, loudly.

The house was buzzing with energy as servants and maids scurried from corner to corner hanging up designs and decorations and I was caught in the middle of it all, overseeing the decorations and giving pieces of advice where necessary.

Mrs Kruger... The name had a certain ring to it, I must admit I wasn't used to being called Mrs Kruger, at least not yet.

"Mrs Kruger!" Someone interrupted my thought thoughts, rousing a little irritation from within me.

I turned sharply only to find my best friend, Sabrina by the door.

I forced a small smile as I walked towards the door to welcome her.

"Sabrina." We embraced. "You're really early, you know that? Really punctual." I said, sarcastically.

"Oh please... Gimme a break." She rolled her eyes. "Traffic was something else. And heyy you've got everything set already without my help."

"Yeah but the plan was to have everything set WITH your help, remember?"

"Makes no difference." Sabrina moved around, eyeing the decorations with that judgy look on her face. Even though she said nothing, I knew that given the chance, she'd probably tear down everything and start from scratch.

"Does he know?" Sabrina asked abruptly.

Even though it sounded like a simple question, to me it wasn't.

I unconsciously let out a sigh and sat in the nearest chair. Sabrina took a seat beside me and at the corners of my eyes, I could make out the look of pity on her face.

"It's been years, Sabrina." I said quietly. "It's been years already and he still acts as if we are strangers who had just met. I've done all in my power to please him. I've gone out of my way to make him see me for who I am, but each time, it's always that cold behavior, that nonchalant attitude he reserves just for me."

"Well, I'm sure someday, he's going to finally acknowledge you." Sabrina assured.

I only laughed painfully. "How long is that going to take? A lifetime? It's been five years already, Sabrina. Five years since my sister, Daisy died. Ooh bless her sweet soul. Five years since I was given to Alpha Daven as a wife in place of my sister! I know this is the final weapon in my arsenal this..." I waved at the decorated room. "...this is as far as I can go, Sabrina."

"Yeah, well, he did make it clear on the first night that he doesn't love you." Sabrina blurted out.

"Real smooth, Sabrina." I rolled my eyes, getting up to my feet once more.

"What? I'm only stating a fact." She shrugged.

Sabrina was my closest friend, perhaps my only friend too and I had no problem sharing even secrets with her but what I really loved and enjoyed about her was her humor and bluntness, her ability to turn any situation into a joke.

"Well come on, wise girl. Help me set up the last decorations before he gets home." I urged her.

She got up too and I could see the sudden look of seriousness in her eyes. I had seen that before and that look always came when she was ready to spew some serious life advice or something.

"Uh here we go again." I muttered, loud enough for her to hear.

"Listen up, Layla." She started. "Even though you don't say it out loud, I can read you like a book already and I know somehow you blame yourself for what happened to Daisy..."

That sentence struck a nerve within me. I suddenly felt my heartbeat increase and I could almost hear the blood rushing through my veins.

"I'm sorry to bring that up but you gotta listen to this." Sabrina apologized quickly, sensing my distress. "You see, the thing is, what happened to Daisy wasn't your fault and you really gotta stop beating yourself about it. Daisy wouldn't want you to remain on that guilt trip.! Because it's complicated between you and Alpha Daven now doesn't mean it'll forever remain this way, the moon goddess has her plans and they always work out for our good."

Do they always work out for our good? How about Daisy? Did she deserve the end she got? I asked sarcastically within me.

"I'm sorry. Didn't mean to open up old wounds." Sabrina touched my shoulder gently as if she was hoping to find a button she could turn off the sadness in me.

"That was some real piece of advice there." I smiled forcefully. "You should really consider being a therapist." I joked.

"I know, right." She laughed. "Now come on, we gotta finish this so I can leave before Mr grumpy gets home."

I laughed again.

***

The clock struck 6 pm and I waited patiently knowing that any moment from then, Daven would be back home.

The servants and maids had all dispersed out of sight and Sabrina was long gone, leaving the room empty except for me.

I kept pacing up and down the living room with occasional glances at the wall clock and even as I did, I found myself unconsciously muttering a silent prayer to the moon goddess. All I wanted, all I ever wanted was for Daven to finally see me, to finally bridge the distance between us.

After a few minutes past 6 pm, the door opened as I expected and Daven walked in.

"Surprise!!" I shouted with a wide smile on my face spreading ear to ear.

Daven stopped in his tracks and stared blankly at the decorations.

"Today marks our 5th anniversary so I took the liberty to set up some designs. I really hope...." I stopped mid-sentence. What was that? Was that a smile I just saw?! Daven was smiling!!

My heart jumped to my throat at the sight. The goddess has answered my silent prayers! Daven was pleased! He was smiling....!

"Oh, excuse me." He said and reached behind the door.

What was it? Perhaps he remembered about the anniversary and also brought some kind of gift for me??! I was hyper already with my emotions ready to burst out like a volcano eruption.

As I watched in excitement, Daven pulled a lady into the room and closer to his body. That was when I noticed his smile was actually a smirk.

My heart sank to the deepest part of my stomach as I saw the woman enter, dressed in a fitting red dress that exposed her sexy curves. The lady slowly turned towards me and my knees buckled.

"Daisy!!" I screamed. "What? You are alive?!"

CHAPTER 2: Life Time Secrets Laid Bare

Layla's POV

*FLASHBACK*

"Daisy! Hold on!" I was out of breath as I heaved on the rocky path leading to the cliff where Daisy was suspended, dangling dangerously over the deep and steep valley covered with thick and dense foliage.

The sweat from the hot sun baked my skin mercilessly as hot sweat poured into my eyes, stinging my eyes in the process.

"I'm slipping!" Daisy's cry came again, sending goosebumps to my skin.

From where I was, I couldn't see her but I pushed on and on with relentless energy. Even as I did, part of my mind kept screaming at me HOW COULD YOU BE SO STUPID, LILY?! HOW COULD YOU ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN?!..

Daisy rarely went out, talk more of doing so with me. It was my idea to embark on this hike, the peaceful hike through the woods as I had called it.

"I'm here!" I screamed out as I finally arrived at the top of the heel where Daisy had voluntarily climbed for sightseeing but had instead, met a sudden descent into the steep valley.

"Daisy?" I looked around with nervous energy. "Where are you?"

The only thing that greeted me was the eerie silence and the harsh and scorching sun overhead, seemingly mocking my efforts.

No no no no...! I screamed internally and launched myself at the spot where I thought I had heard her voice the last time. All I saw was a piece of cloth tangled up in some shrubs. I recognized the cloth at once, it belonged to Daisy!

I let out a scream I didn't know I was holding and collapsed flat on my back. The ground was burningly hot and the sun showed no mercy but at the moment nothing mattered. She was gone! Daisy was gone! I had caused it!

"Murderer!"

"Witch!!"

"Selfish little brat!"

Those words reverberated in my ears non-stop the moment I returned home and reported what had happened. My parents, my own parents were at the forefront of the verbal and physical abuse I faced. I already expected this from them. For years they had treated me like vermin and showered Daisy with love and praises while I had no memory of what I had ever done to deserve such treatment.

"Daisy's blood is on your hands, you murderer!" They screamed...

*BACK TO THE PRESENT*

The same Daisy that was assumed dead five years ago now stood before me smirking in unison with Alpha Daven.

I took a step back in utter disbelief. "Y-you are alive?" I asked. "What's the meaning of this?" My eyes snapped back to Daven.

"This.." He removed an envelope from his jacket. "This is the beginning of the end for you." He threw the envelope at my feet.

I stooped and picked the envelope up with trembling hands. I tore it up and my heart did a backflip, just as I expected, it was divorce papers.

"Your time's up, Lily." Daven coldly stated. "You are free to leave, and spend the rest of your miserable life elsewhere."

I wasn't really listening to what he was saying. My attention at the moment was fixed on the lady beside him, Daisy! The same Daisy I had mourned and has mourned for every day since then, blaming myself for her death!

"Why?" The word came out as a whisper. I was shaken quite badly too and in the process, my throat had suddenly gone dry. "I saw you fall from that cliff! I saw you die!"

"Did you though?" Daisy asked mockingly.

At that point, the realization sank in. "You never died, did you?" I asked. "That was all lies? But why?"

"Sign the papers, Lily!" Daven thundered angrily.

I had seen his annoyance, I'd seen him angry and I knew exactly how he was when he was angry but I needed to understand what was going on! I needed to inform Mom and Dad of the recent developments so I walked out of the room with tears welling up in my eyes as they both laughed at me..

***

Moments later, I found myself knocking at my parent's door. I was broken, stranded and hurt beyond comprehension. I needed to see them, to inform them of the recent developments.

The door opened at my first knock and I came face to face with Mom and Dad at the entrance. It was almost as if they knew already that I was coming.

"Mom.. Dad... You won't believe this." I gasped but then hesitated when I saw the look on their faces. "I.. I just saw Daisy!" I finally blurted out.

Their expression still remained the same, nonchalant and cold. I gasped and took a step back. "You.. you knew too?!" I couldn't believe it!!!

"What else do you need? If there's nothing else, you should leave." My mom spoke coldly with not even an ounce of care in her tone. My heart shattered.

"Why?! How could you do this to me?" I cried out. "How could you do this to your own daughter?!"

Mom and Dad exchanged looks and then burst into laughter.

I frowned in confusion at the sight. What was really going on here? I was eager and itching to hear the reason behind all this madness but unfortunately, no one was willing to give me answers!

"Daughter? No no no.." My dad said as he wiped the tears from his eyes, tears that had accumulated when he laughed.

"What do mean?" My confusion was growing by the minute and clarity was racing miles and miles away.

"You are not our daughter!" Mom declared loudly.

Her declaration sent a wave of panic crashing down on me. "Wh..what.. I grew up with you! You are the only parents I've ever known!" I stammered.

"Yeah." Dad nodded. "That's because even your real parents didn't want you! You were left by your parents by the roadside when you were a baby. You were left by the roadside in the cold."

"We saw you, took you in and gave you a home." Mom spoke up. "We thought you would be a sister and a friend to our Daisy who was by then still in my womb then. But what did you do? You took the spotlight! Of course you're more beautiful so you just wanted to make everything about you!"

I realized at this moment that I was shivering slightly with cold sweat pouring from my forehead and the back of my neck. What the hell was this?! Was this a dream I needed to wake up from?

The accusation stung even more than the fact that I wasn't the biological daughter to the man and woman I grew up calling mom and dad. I suddenly realized the reason behind the abuse I suffered at their hands while growing up. This was all because they saw me as a competition?!

"You.. you. mean I'm not your daughter for real?" I couldn't help but ask in disbelief. "I never tried to outbest Daisy in anything, I... I..."

"Leave now! Or we'll call security!" Mom said coldly before slamming the door in my face.

***

With legs as weak as weak as jelly, I dragged myself along the roadside with no clear idea of where I was heading. Like a zombified corpse, I walked on and on, not really paying heed to where I was going.

My mind was heavy with the occurrence of the last few hours, Daisy's return, Daven's divorce, Mom and Dad or rather Daisy's Mom and Dad's revelation. That was way too much for one person to shoulder and I was unfortunate to have myself shouldering it all.

"There she is.. She's back."

"Where?"

"Right there approaching the entrance!"

"Ooh yea, I see her too. No longer the princess she thought she was."

"I never did like her!"

The voices interrupted my haze. I quickly looked around realizing that they were coming from maids who were working in the gardens. I was back at Daven's house and these girls were putting no effort into keeping their voices down as they freely spoke against me.

The tears threatened to fall but I held them back as I pushed into the room.

"I will sign the divorce papers." I announced...

CHAPTER 3: Bad And Rebellious

Layla's POV

Daven sitting leisurely on the couch when I came through the door. He had the remote control in his hand and was flipping through the TV channels in a relaxed manner. How could he be so relaxed after destroying my life?! I cried internally.

At the sound of my voice, Daisy returned to the room.

"Ah she's back." She said as she moved to sit beside Daven. "I take it you went to visit Mom and Dad."

I kept quiet. Hearing her voice only added to suffering. The sister I loved wholeheartedly. The girl I thought had died all those years ago and had lived with the guilt for years, the same girl was here in the flesh and for some stupid and untrue reasons was ready to end my life.

Daven rose from the couch and retrieved the divorce papers from the table. He approached me with an evil glint in his eyes. I reached out to collect the divorce papers, the papers that would put an end to the complicated marriage we had going on for 5 years, the papers that would put an end to Mrs. Kruger. Just before I could take the papers, Daven let them slip from his hands to the floor.

"Whoops." Daven smirked. Daisy laughed, taking so much glee in my humiliation but I held back tears as I reached down and picked the papers up.

I quickly signed through the papers with my eyes blurry with the tears that had accumulated there. I would not let them fall! I would not give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry! I tried as best as I could to hold back my tears as he snatched the papers from me.

"I... I need to get my things." I stammered.

"What things?" Daven demanded harshly. "There..." He pointed towards the corner of the room where a suitcase was packed and placed, leaning on the wall. "Those are your belongings. Another thing you bought here with my money will remain under my roof!"

That wasn't true! Most of my personal stuff couldn't even fit into that one suitcase and those were things I bought with my own money too!

"Are you gonna cry to Mom and Dad like a sniveling wee baby?" Daisy mocked. "Oh wait, you don't have a mom or dad!" They both roared in laughter.

I slowly grabbed the suitcase and began to drag it to the exit. I couldn't stand the shame, I couldn't stand the taunts from them. Daisy moved closer to Daven and they both engaged in a fierce kissing, an act that was meant to upset me.

I left the room and into the night. Where would I go? What would I do? I never thought that my life would suddenly end today. I was hopeless and helpless with nowhere to go but one thing was certain, I had to distance myself from that place!

"Watch her go. That little do-gooder!" I heard the maids discussing again.

"She thought she was too and would get everything she wanted? No Damn way!"

"Do you think she knows what she's carrying in that suitcase?"

The girls giggled.

I suddenly stopped and threw the suitcase open. My stomach immediately twisted at the sight of what lay within. A few of my clothes that were packed here were mutilated with a scissors, torn and soiled!

I couldn't hold back any longer! This was the last straw that broke the camel's back! The tears fell silently from my eyes as I got up and walked away empty-handed from the house while the girls laughed.

I hit the streets and just kept walking. What had I done to merit this? What exactly was my crime? I looked up, staring blankly at the moon overhead. Was I just a form of entertainment for the moon goddess? Why had she allowed me to go through all this pain?!

Tears continued to fall from my eyes as I walked on and on silently wishing I had died. I had nothing, no one to mourn my passing, nothing to live for, I was the definition of broken and shattered.

"Watch where you're going, bitch!" Someone bumped into me, prompting me to focus on my surroundings, that's when I realized that I was walking past a pub.

I paid no heed to the drunken man as he staggered away but an idea suddenly came into my mind. All my life I had tried to be good, I had played by the rules, always the kind and soft-spoken daughter! Today however all my efforts had gone down the drain for what? Just because Daisy's parents saw me as a threat to their only child?

Tonight would be different for me. I wouldn't be that goody two shoes I've always been. I would be the bad girl everyone had painted me to be and I'd end my miserable life after that!

I sniffed, wiping the tears from my eyes and then pushed into the noisy pub.

Immediately I got in, I noticed a man sitting by himself in one corner. He saw me and then did a double take and stared. He was actually the only one who was even looking at me. I frowned and moved towards the counter and ordered a bottle of whiskey.

"Are you sure you can handle that?" A man slipped onto a stool beside me. It was the same man who was staring at me earlier!

I chose silence as I angrily descended on the whiskey. I gulped a gulp until the bottle was empty. I pushed it aside and asked for another one.

"Wow." He whispered. "I guess I was wrong to underestimate you. That's quite something isn't it? For someone like you."

What the hell did he mean by someone like me? I turned around to tell him off but then I met those electric blue eyes and that strong masculine jawline and my words faltered. I felt a small sensation wash over me as I met his eyes. His grin only made my heartbeat quicken for reasons I couldn't really explain.

I took another drink and then forced the words out of my mouth, only they were not the words I thought I'd say.

"You want to have sex?" I asked.

The man seemed surprised and then his initial surprise gave way to a charming smile that exposed his dazzling teeth. He looked around with raised brows.

"You mean here?" He asked and then laughed. "I'm only kidding. I have a hotel room next street if you want." He whispered.

Was it the booze? Was it my rebellious nature kicking in? Or was it something else? I was suddenly aroused and wanted to quench that abrupt thirst and hunger. For years I had been loyal and faithful to Daven when he wouldn't do much as look at me. Tonight however, I would give up myself to this stranger, I'd give up the dignity I had always carried for Daven. What was the point of maintaining that dignity, I'd be dead soon!

Moments later, I followed the man back to his hotel room. I was completely aroused when we finally reached the room and with eager hands, I fell on him, kissing and ripping off clothes.

"Whoah, easy tiger." He tried to say but I wouldn't let him calm me. Not today, not tonight.

Soon enough, we fell into the bed and I turned immediately, pinning him down and straddling him with my legs. The night was a night I wouldn't ever forget if I would live past that point. The passion, the pleasures I felwerere satisfying, almost as if I was being compensated for the pain I had gone through that day.

***

The voices woke me up the next morning. I slowly looked around the room and it took a while before the pain of the previous day came flooding back in a painful wave and then the recollection of last night.

I quickly looked around but realized that the man wasn't in the bedroom. The voices I heard came from the parlor. Gathering the bedsheets around my body, I tiptoed to the door. I cracked the door a little and saw the man standing there shirtless but with a pair of trousers on. He gave instructions to a few Servants and maids and they bowed before walking off.

Who was he? Why was he ordering Servants and maids? I wondered in silence.

Another man walked into the parlor and handed a file to the man. As I watched, he opened it and looked at the contents for a while.

"Layla? Are you sure?" The man asked suddenly.

"PPositive Alpha." The newcomer replied.

I suddenly stepped back with my heart thumping frantically within my ribs. What was going on? He was an Alpha?!! Why were they discussing me?!

I realized immediately that I had made a mistake! I needed to get out of here at once. I turned quickly and grabbed my clothes putting them on, hastily. I couldn't take the door or else they'd see me so I turned towards the window. I would make my escape there!

I reached the window and I had barely thrown the windows open when a hand grasped my wrist.

I screamed...