Two Mates For The Reborn Luna

Ellen furrowed her brows as she walked toward the training area. She truly hated training with the other wolves, as most of them were pure-blooded, and she always felt awkward running in her human form alongside the pure she-wolves.

"Ahhhhh... ah... h..."

The heavy crash of something large hitting the ground snapped her out of her daze, dragging her back to reality.

"What just fell?" she asked, not directing the question to anyone in particular. She turned her head but saw nothing, so she slowly faced forward again and fixed her gaze on the path ahead.

Soon, flames engulfed the entire surroundings, and her breath hitched as she turned sharply behind her and saw that the pack houses were burning.

"Mom! Dad!" she screamed, her voice cracking as she bolted toward her home. Maybe the fire hadn't reached inside yet, maybe her parents were still safe, or perhaps they were even searching for her. All these questions stormed her mind, yet none had answers.

She ran with everything she had until she suddenly halted when she saw two silhouettes standing along the narrow path that led to her house. She couldn't tell if they were men or women, but she was certain they were two in number. Slowly and cautiously, she pressed herself against the wall beside them and crept closer, lowering herself into a squat to catch a glimpse of what they were saying.

To her surprise, the moment she squatted, the two figures split and went in separate directions, as though they had sensed her presence.

Her heart pounded violently, and she was about to stand when she heard the heavy footsteps of running wolves. When she looked at them, they didn't feel like pack warriors to her-they felt like strangers. Dangerous strangers.

She watched them run past and disappear into the distance before slowly rising to her feet again. Fear, unease, and disquiet settled deep within her chest as the anguished wailing of omegas echoed through the air.

She felt that same agony might become hers if she continued heading home, but on second thought, she knew that if she left the pack without knowing whether her parents were alive, she would live forever with guilt, pain, and regret.

"Alpha, I have bad news."

A man's voice cut through the chaos, freezing her in her tracks. She quickly looked around for somewhere to hide and finally spotted a trash can that could conceal her. She slipped behind it and crouched low as she listened.

"What news? Speak," the Alpha said in a sharp, commanding tone that made Ellen shiver.

"I discovered that we don't only have Micheal to deal with. There's someone else," the man replied.

"And who might that be?" the Alpha asked, his voice rising slightly.

"I found out he has a daughter, one he's been hiding from everyone-even his own pack doesn't know about her."

"The girl... where is she?" the Alpha asked, his tone now calm but dangerous.

"I believe she's among the omegas in his pack, or perhaps hidden wherever his son was sent."

"Alpha Damien, I think they've got support," the Beta mind-linked to him.

"Zach, you may leave. I'll call you when we're done," the Alpha said. Without waiting for a reply, the man ran off, shifting into his wolf mid-motion. Moments later, the other followed in a different direction.

Ellen remained still for a few seconds before standing up and running again, faster than before. She had to reach her parents before the fire consumed everything.

Her mom... her dad...

She suddenly halted again as realization struck her-her little brother had gone to the Alpha's mansion that morning. Without hesitation, she turned and sprinted in the opposite direction toward the Alpha's mansion, the only building untouched by flames.

She walked past the gate, surprised to see no guards present. With determination, she approached the house, slowing down when she heard the clear sobbing of a child.

"Where is Micheal?" a man demanded.

"I-I don't know! I'm telling the truth! He just asked me to read some books from his library, then he left! I also-"

A loud slap echoed, cutting him off. The sound was harsh, landing across both cheeks, and Ellen's body trembled. The voice sounded like her brother's, but she refused to believe it.

It couldn't be him.

"Tell me the truth. Where is Micheal?" the man asked again.

"I don't know! It was when my sister Ellen-"

His words were abruptly cut off as loud, agonizing screams filled the room. Then, suddenly, silence followed by a heavy thud. After that, nothing.

Hot tears streamed down Ellen's face. Her little brother... her innocent little boy who didn't even understand what war was. He didn't know his offense, yet he died for someone else.

"Ellen, I'll be Beta when I turn eighteen."

His voice echoed in her mind.

"Ellen, I love you. You're the best sister in the world."

She hugged her knees tightly as if holding onto him.

"It was my sister Ellen..."

Those were his last words.

A sharp, unbearable pain tore through her chest.

The click of a door snapped her back to reality. She should have run when she had the chance, but she didn't. She saw a man dragging something across the floor, and when she looked closer, her breath stopped.

It was a body.

A child's body.

Her brother.

A broken cry escaped her lips, alerting the men, who immediately turned to locate the source of the sound. She didn't wait for them to find her-she ran. Faster than she ever had before.

She ran for her life.

She couldn't end up like her brother. Her parents needed her.

As soon as she reached her house, she rushed inside, but before she could shut the door, the men chasing her were already inside.

She heard a weak, painful groan from an inner room and was about to ignore it when one of them grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back.

"Ahhhh!" she screamed.

Then she saw them.

Her parents lay in pools of blood.

"Mom! Dad!"

Her voice shattered as she looked up and saw a man standing behind them, his body drenched in blood.

"Alpha, I think he's falling into the trap," someone said from the doorway.

"Who is that?" Alpha Damien asked the man who had just entered the room.

"Micheal is gradually walking into our trap," his Gamma replied as he stepped forward.

"Okay, you and Van should go to the houses that didn't burn completely, get the people inside, and come-let's head back to the Blue Moon Pack, fast!" Damien ordered, his voice sharp and commanding, and his men immediately moved out.

"Move! I said move faster!" someone shouted at the people who were lined up in a queue, bound tightly with heavy chains.

"What are you looking at?" one of the guards asked Ellen, noticing her full attention was fixed on a pregnant she-wolf who was wincing in pain as though she was in labor.

"Nothing, I was looking at the tall trees, so..." Ellen tried to explain herself, but instead of listening, the man raised his elbow. Being only seventeen and not very tall, his elbow landed hard on her head, and she cried out loudly.

"Ahhhhh-ahhhhh!" Ellen screamed at the top of her voice, drawing everyone's attention to herself.

When Alpha Damien approached the scene because of the noise she caused, he froze for a moment, unable to believe what he was seeing as his wolf stirred violently within him.

'Mate! Mate!' his wolf echoed excitedly, urging him forward.

"You? My mate? Never!" Alpha Damien snapped, his face twisting in fury as he turned and stormed off.

'How can my mate be an Omega? And that too, a girl who looks so dirty? I can't be mated to an Omega. I, Alpha Damien, can never make an Omega my Luna,' he thought bitterly as he entered his car, and the driver sped off immediately.

Alpha Damien was known as an arrogant, proud, and cold-blooded Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. He found pleasure in the pain of others, following in his father's footsteps of killing without reason. He kept everyone at arm's length and avoided any form of emotional attachment.

Ellen felt her heart shatter when she heard his words. She didn't understand why, but the pain felt like a dagger piercing straight through her chest. She only hoped it didn't mean he had rejected her, because if he had, she might never have a mate again. Then again, she hadn't even shifted yet-if she ever would.

"Alpha, we just caught him," Victor said as Damien entered his study, where he had been contemplating whether or not to reject his mate.

"Okay, take me to him," Damien replied as he rose from his swivel chair.

••••

"Micheal, your father thought he could hide you from me after he murdered my parents and sister, right? I don't understand why a murderer would never want to experience what it feels like to die or to lose someone," Alpha Damien said coldly to the man tied to the chair, his hands bound behind it and his legs secured as well.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm sure my father didn't kill anyone. He said that when he was in the room with your sister, then-" Micheal tried to explain, but Damien cut him off.

"Victor, finish him in a more painful way and dispose of everything-out of the pack," Alpha Damien ordered before turning his back and walking out without another glance.

He made his way to the Omega chamber, where he had instructed his Gamma to keep the captured members of the other pack.

"Greetings, Alpha," multiple voices echoed as they bowed their heads, but he ignored them completely.

He stopped when he reached Ellen, who had her head bent as she washed the dishes.

"Greetings, Alpha," a new friend Ellen had just met said, and Ellen immediately lifted her head to look at him.

He furrowed his brows slightly when Ellen's lips moved as though she wanted to speak, but his voice cut over hers.

"What is your name?" he asked, his tone unnecessarily loud.

"It's Ellen," she replied, her voice trembling. At that moment, she didn't want him to be her mate anymore-if she was already this afraid of him as an Alpha, what would happen if he accepted her?

"By tomorrow at this time, come to the Pack ceremonial stage," he said before turning his back and walking out of the Omega hall.

Ellen chose not to speak about the encounter with Damien, avoiding the topic as much as she could.

"Hey... Ellen," Victor called in a low tone when he saw her leaving the hall after serving food to the pack members. Before she could react, he grabbed her hand forcefully and dragged her toward a dark corner.

"Leave me alone! Where are you taking me?" Ellen shouted, struggling to free herself, but his grip was far too strong.

"Ellen, be quiet, I don't bite," Victor whispered as he pressed closer, trailing unwanted kisses along her neck.

Ellen screamed for help, but the area was deserted-no one passed by, no one heard her.

Summoning what strength she had, she raised her knee and drove it hard into his crotch. He groaned in pain and released her immediately.

She didn't wait-she ran.

She ran straight back to the Omega hall, only slowing down when she reached her mattress, collapsing onto it as she struggled to steady her breathing.

••••

"Alpha, we found out who his daughter is," Zach said as he entered Damien's study.

"Who is she? Do you have a picture of her?" Damien asked immediately, his interest piqued.

Zach handed him a photograph.

"Are you sure this is her?" Damien asked as he examined it closely.

"Yes, Alpha. According to my investigation, she is his daughter," Zach replied confidently.

A slow smile crept onto Damien's lips as he gently caressed the picture.

•••

Ellen was more than nervous as she walked toward the ceremonial stage, uncertain of what the outcome would be.

As she stepped out of the Omega hall, she was shocked to see that the entire pack had gathered, waiting for the Alpha to address them.

Her heart pounded rapidly when she saw Damien walk onto the stage, and everyone bowed in respect.

After delivering a brief speech, his gaze scanned the crowd until it landed on her. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he gestured for her to join him.

With trembling legs, Ellen made her way to the stage and stood beside him.

"This is my mate, Ellen," he announced, and the crowd erupted into applause.

When the clapping finally died down, he turned to her, staring directly into her dark green eyes.

'I can't have anything to do with my enemy's daughter,' he thought coldly.

"I, Alpha Damien, hereby reject you as my mate," he declared.

The whole crowd that had gathered made low murmuring sounds as they looked at their Alpha with doubt. They were obviously shocked at how someone could introduce his mate to the entire pack one minute and reject her the next.

"You can go," he ordered, turning to his side where Ellen stood.

She slowly climbed down the stairs as tears of opprobrium and obloquy filled her eyes, threatening to make her even more embarrassed than she already was. All eyes were fixed on her as she walked away toward the Omega hall. It was as though the entire pack formed an aisle for her to pass through, and when her tears finally rolled down her cheeks, they drew pity and sympathy from almost everyone present-something she absolutely did not need.

'I'm an Omega after all. I don't deserve to be the Luna. I am just an Omega who probably has nothing to offer. Maybe not probably-I can't offer anything to him... I can't offer anything to anyone... not to him, not to his pack...!' Ellen thought within herself as tears continued to fall uncontrollably. Her heart twisted painfully, forcing a quiet wince out of her.

Ah... she had thought it wouldn't hurt, but it did. It really did hurt to know how much people didn't want you.

Her mom and dad had both left her... her little best friend, her brother, he had also left her... not by choice, but still-they all left her. And now she was left to face the most embarrassing moment of her life-to be rejected by her mate in front of the entire pack. Maybe it wouldn't have hurt this much if he had rejected her privately, without summoning the whole pack, but he had done it deliberately-to shame her, to humiliate her, or perhaps because she came from his enemy's pack.

At a point, she began to run as fast as she could. She ran until her legs could no longer carry her, and she collapsed onto the ground when they finally gave out. Then she began to bawl uncontrollably, crying until even her tears seemed to abandon her.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" a familiar voice asked as footsteps approached her.

Ellen looked up and saw her friend, Kelly.

"Ellen, I know it hurts a lot to be rejected by your mate like that, but you don't have to dwell on it. One thing is certain-whether you have another mate or not, someone out there will love and cherish you because you deserve more than this. Ellen, stop crying and move on with your life. This is definitely not the end," Kelly said, and Ellen looked up at her as the tears she thought had dried up began to fall again like spring water.

Maybe this was what she needed-a shoulder to lean on, a friend who knew when to be there when you needed them the most.

•••

"Kelly, have you done it?" someone asked over the phone.

She looked around carefully to ensure no one was nearby before replying. "Yes, I have done it. You can come check on it by tomorrow," she said in a near whisper.

After ending the call, she looked around once more before heading back into the Omega hall.

It had been a month since Alpha Damien rejected Ellen, and just as Kelly had advised, Ellen continued her life as though nothing had happened. She had come to understand one thing clearly-no matter what happened in her life, she had to overcome it, if not for anything else, then for one important person.

For herself.

"Ellen! Ellen! Ellen!" Kelly called out loudly when she saw Ellen heading toward her mattress, probably to take some clothes to wash as she had been instructed.

"Kelly, I didn't hear you. I'm sorry," Ellen said apologetically.

"No need for that, I urgently need your help with something," Kelly replied, grabbing her hand and pulling her along without giving her a choice.

On their way to wherever Kelly was taking her, they saw Victor heading toward the Omega hall with several pack warriors behind him. Ellen felt nervous at the sight of him, but when he glanced at her and continued walking, she felt slightly relieved.

When they returned, they were shocked to see Victor scattering the corner where Ellen slept.

"What are they doing?" she asked the person standing beside her.

"They're searching for the Alpha's ancestral staff that was given to him by his late father," the person replied.

Ellen looked closely and noticed that the way he searched others' belongings was not the same way he searched hers. She became infuriated and was about to step forward when he suddenly raised his head from her bag, holding a short cane-like object in his hand.

"Where is Ellen!" Victor shouted.

Everyone immediately stepped away from her, leaving her completely exposed. Even Kelly moved away. Ellen had thought Kelly would stand by her, but she was the first to distance herself.

She thought they were friends.

"Take her to the ceremonial stage-now!" Victor ordered the warriors.

Before Ellen could react, she was dragged by her hands toward the ceremonial ground. They didn't care that she wasn't as strong as them. At one point, she fell to the ground, but they continued dragging her, her body scraping painfully against the floor until they reached the stage.

At that moment, she held onto a tiny glimmer of hope-that the Alpha would at least give her a chance to explain herself.

The Alpha was already standing on the stage when they arrived. She looked up and met his gaze, clinging to that last bit of hope until-

"Burial her alive!" he ordered.

The moment those words left his lips, tears streamed down her cheeks. This was supposed to be her mate... how could he hate her so much without reason? Maybe her greatest mistake was being his mate-but that was never her choice.

Victor, as though he had won a prize, immediately began tearing off her clothes, touching her in ways he had always wanted. Ellen screamed in protest, hoping the Alpha would hear her and stop them-but he didn't. Her pleas fell on deaf ears.

And now she was here.

"Let me out... let me out! Please, let me out... I didn't do anything to deserve this... I didn't steal anything..." Ellen cried as she banged against the top of the coffin they had sealed her in.

As she continued hitting it with all her strength, she began to notice something-her strength was failing. Her breathing grew weaker with each passing second. She realized she was no longer inhaling fresh air... only the same air she exhaled.

And death...

Death was waiting for her.

With open arms.

She stopped hitting the coffin when she realized it was useless. Her own breath began to suffocate her.

She was dying.

Tears rolled down her cheeks-perhaps the only thing she still had left.

'I don't deserve this... I'm sure... I don't... Life, you have been so cruel to me... as if I wasn't human to begin with... why did you make my life worse than death...?'

Her breathing became even more strained, and her eyes began to close weakly. Gathering the last strength she had left, she whispered-

"If only I am given another chance at life... I vow to make all of you feel what pain is like... I will make sure you experience nothing but pain... if only life permits me again..." she muttered as her eyes slowly shut, and darkness consumed her.

Her soul faded into darkness.