Un-Broken: A Moonlight Rebirth Story

AVELINE

"The moon goddess cannot mate you with Alpha Johan, he is too good for you!"

I raised my head to take a glance at my stepmother's face and as expected, it was there. The cold, hateful glare, the indifference, the undiluted hatred.

"You are nothing but a low-life bastard," she continued, slapping me hard across the face. "You should have never been born. Just imagine whatever made you think you could be married to the Alpha King's son!"

"But he is my mate, I felt the connection when we stood by each other."

I did not know how I found the voice, but the words were out before I realized it. And before I could take them back, another slap landed, this time on my right eye, blurring my vision.

"How dare you talk back at me!" She screeched, grabbing me by the hair and pulling me with it. "Have you lost your mind! Or do you have a death wish? You have a desire to die a miserable death, like your wretched mother, or don't you!"

I tried to respond, but a thick lump of pain had formed in my throat, rendering me voiceless and hopeless.

The kitchen floor was already soiled with the blood from the wounds I had just sustained. It would be stupid to underestimate what she would do to me next.

She would have killed me if she were opportune to and most times, I wondered what was keeping her from doing so.

Especially when I grew up listening to gossip from the pack servants that she was the one who killed my mother so that she would be able to move into our house with her illegitimate daughter.

"Now listen," Lunar Jillian said, jolting into my thoughts. "The mate bond does not work with poverty and uselessness. Your father and I have discussed it with the royal family, and they are going with my daughter instead. " she inhaled sharply before proceeding.

"Natasha will be getting married to Johan, the alpha prince. Not you. It will be advisable now for you to stay away from the prince. You know very well that it will cost me nothing to take your life and that nobody will question my decision.

"This is a call to actio. It is not an ordinary threat; it is also a warning. Your life is at stake, be careful." With those last words, she pushed me aside and stormed out.

I grew up that night. For the first time in my life, I saw things for what they were. I understood the meaning of hatred, I understood the meaning of privilege.

Understood what little power destiny has. Standing on the porch of our three-story mansion that night, I looked at the stars and cursed the moon goddess.

Every good thing I had was taken from me and despite my prayers, she could do nothing to help me. My mother, my fatherly affection, and now, my fated mate. The only man who desired me and gazed at me with love in his eyes.

As the minutes passed, the cool breeze began to penetrate my skin and tingle the fresh wounds on my face. What if I jumped? Something whispered to me, a soft dreamy voice in the wind.

I could end it all here and find peace in the clouds, and solitude in the world beyond. None of them would mourn.

At least it would be better than having to watch my step-sister marry the man I had planned a future with.

"The Silver Rain pack needed the alliance with the royal family," my father had said, "Natasha has the looks and the standard. You didn't even finish high school."

I didn't. I spent the whole of my high school and college years cooking and cleaning. I schooled with the palace maids whom I was not any different from. I was not up to par, Natasha was the standard.

I could not bring myself to jump, neither could I bring myself to hold back the tears which flooded my face as my sister and my fated mate stood across each other the next morning, gracing the moon temple.

"Is there anyone who is against this union, speak now or forever be silenced."

That was my chance. I could tell the world the truth. Natasha was not Prince Johan's mate, it was me.

My throat began to itch, Instinctively I wiped a tear that had fallen on my cheeks.

"And with the power vested in me, I pronounce the two of you, husband and wife!"

The whole crowd rose immediately, the boisterous sound of congratulations drowning out my contradictory thoughts.

It was already done, gone with the wind. The only appropriate thing for me to do was to pretend to be joyous but I still could not find the strength. Everybody in the hall congratulated the man and wife, while I was lost among them like a pin in the sand.

As the head of the ceremony announced that it was time for the wedding feast, I knew it was my call to duty; this was what I had been hired to do. But I decided to make a stop at the restroom before joining the group of servants.

I lifted the long gown as I walked along to grant my shaky legs freedom. I practically kicked the door of the bathroom open crashing on the table.

I felt so empty that I could feel my insides echo. I leaned on the vanity table, letting the coldness of the mirror relieve the heat in my brain.

I must have been so engrossed in this space of mine that I did not hear the door open.

A thick aroma of perfume suddenly descended on the atmosphere, suffocating. I did not turn around because of this smell, rather, I sensed an additional presence, one which my spirit found familiar.

"Are you going to ignore your sister at her wedding? Is that how losers truly behave?"

I looked up until around instantly, my eyes widened in surprise."

"You're even trying to give the impression of the loving sister. I don't think that is a proper way to behave."

"Please go away, Natasha; I am not in the mood to speak to you.'

"Of course you are not," she sneered. "You find it more consoling to cry over spilt milk, not that, my handsome mate..."

"Alpha Johan is abusive." I completed it for her, sounding as insouciant as I could.

"I was just attracted to him because of the mate's bond. He is arrogant, cruel, and self-centred. He doesn't love anybody. You might enjoy being queen or princess, but I am grateful for not getting trapped."

Natasha looked like someone had punched her in the gut, and I had begun to feel victorious when she suddenly dropped the bombshell.

"I will surely be queen of the werewolf land one day but I will not be the wife of a poor cripple."

She twisted the corners of her lips into a smirk.

"Alpha Kane's family is here. Father will summon you any moment from now."

"Alpha Kane..."

My heart nearly exploded in my chest.

"Yes," she nodded. "You will be getting married to him in a fortnight."

'No! I won't.' I wanted to scream it out my lungs, but before I could even gather up my thoughts Natasha grabbed my chin.

A dirty sly smirk dancing on her lips as she forced our eyes to meet, ready to rip off the last thread of composure holding me together.

"For your sake, I'm hoping you're still a Virgin."

AVELINE

TWO YEARS LATER...

With each passing moment in the serene environment of the hospital, the world seems to fade around me. I walked back and forth, my heart pounding in my chest with an intensity that threatened to rip it open.

Kane had been here for more than two months, and to prevent him from finally slipping into a vegetative state, the doctors suggested that the surgery take place today.

Alpha Kane's health was worse than I had expected; he was not only a cripple, but his nervous system was also dysfunctional.

The Wolfknight pack was truly made up of warriors and guards, but the financial situation of the pack was much more terrible.

I have spent these years of marriage tending to him as a nurse and enduring his overly spoilt behaviour and erratic manners.

We should not have been together, his fated mate rejected him because of his disability. His parents, who were desperate to find him a wife, came to my father and offered him a generous amount of money in exchange for one of his daughters.

At that very moment, as the clock ticked between life and death, I was vividly reminded of the day my father told me to pack my bags and sojourn to a faraway land.

I did not get married in an honourable way, and Jilian made sure no one in the land knew that they had given their daughter away to a cripple. No one had heard from me since then, and I did not hear from any of them.

The adjective for my relationship with Alpha Kane was strained-he barely spoke three words to me in a day. And the only physical interaction we had was whenever he needed his blankets changed or if he needed his medicines administered to him.

But as loveless as my marriage to Kane was, I still wished for him to recover from the nervous breakdown and be healthy again. I understood the apathy he had for life and everything in it, a part of me even concluded that he might treat me better once he was healthy.

I forgot the hatred I harboured for the moon goddess and started praying for Kane's recovery. I prayed for his speech, his congealing blood and strength in his weak bones.

I became constant in the moon temple, said numerous prayers and burned incense. It was said that desperate people find faith, and mine was strong enough to move a mountain.

"Doctor!" I screamed as the door of the ward was thrown open. Without further thought, I ran towards the bald man, grinding into a halt as I nearly crashed into him.

"Doctor," I called out again, my heart pitter-pattering in my chest. "Is there any success? Is my husband alright now? Will he be fine? What about his system?"

The old man waited for me to finish my tirade of questions, but instead of the warm professional look he would usually have on his face, there was an expression I could not read.

There was an indescribable heaviness on his face, a sharp contrast to the steady and reassuring one I had gotten used to.

His eyes were clouded with something I could not quite place-a mix of sorrow, hesitation, and an unspoken truth. He took a deep breath, glanced away momentarily, and then looked back at me, his lips pressing into a tight, sympathetic line.

"I'm... very sorry," he said softly, his voice almost a whisper. "We did everything we could, but Alpha Kane's body... it just couldn't endure the strain. His nervous system had deteriorated beyond repair." His words hung in the air, heavy as lead, each one striking a fresh wound in my chest.

The room seemed to spin as I tried to comprehend what he was saying. Gone. My mind refused to accept it, to let the reality sink in.

I stared at the doctor, searching his face for any sign that this was a mistake, a horrible misunderstanding. But there was nothing but sincerity in his gaze.

"No... no, you're wrong," I whispered, shaking my head as if that could somehow change the truth. "You must have missed something-some other way to save him. He can't... he can't just be gone."

The doctor reached out a comforting hand, but I pulled back, stumbling away from him as my legs gave way under me, and the room suddenly turned into a cage. Closing in around me.

Memories of Kane flashed before my eyes-his harsh stares, his bitter words, his silence. The life we had shared, as punctured and flawed as it was, was now gone.

A strange emptiness filled my heart, a hole I didn't know was there until now.

I pressed a trembling hand to my mouth, choking back a sob, even though my throat felt like it would explode. I would never see Kane anymore; this was the end. I didn't want him to die,No- I didn't want it to be this way!

I prayed or didn't I? Did the moon goddess deafen her ears to me? What did I ever do wrong?

This marriage had been anything but easy, yet, deep down, I had always hoped for something more-for a future where Kane would recover, where he might finally see me, not just as his caregiver, but as someone who could love him.

But that hope was gone, snatched away in a moment, leaving me alone in a life I no longer recognized. What would happen to me now? What would I do with my life? I didn't realize how much my life and my purpose revolved around Kane.

Tears burned in my eyes, blurring my vision. The doctor's voice brought me back into my reality, gentle and apologetic.

"I'm so sorry for your loss. I am sorry for your loss Lunar Aveline. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask."

I barely managed a nod before he turned away, leaving me standing there, frozen, alone and broken.

~~~~~~

My days were longer, my mornings, clouded. A part of me died along with him, my head becoming so heavy that I only heard my heartbeat.

I knew how hard it was being a widow in a world like this. Everyone already saw me as a weak thing. A THING!

Condolences poured from all sides, the pack suddenly becoming crowded with women who had come to console me- Because they knew how 'weak' I was.

The days continued to blur until the day of the funeral finally came.

The air was thick with the scent of rain as I stood beside Kane's coffin. The dark wood was draped in the colours of the Wolfknight pack. I felt the eyes of the pack on me, silent and respectful, yet distant-just like Kane had always been.

The officiant's words faded into the background, a hum of loss and reverence, but all I could do was stare at the coffin, hollow and numb.

"From dust to dust, ashes to..."

I left the grave site hours after the procession, driving home on my home. But I wasn't prepared for the surprise which greeted me.

I was just emerging at the gate when I spotted an unusual sight. There were two men dressed in black suits at the entrance of the pack mansion. I looked to my side and saw that they came with their car, a black convertible.

"Who are these people?" I asked my driver, removing my glasses to get a clearer glimpse of the sight.

"I'm not sure who they are," he answered. "And I don't think I have seen them before."

I was going to conclude that they were mourners but the atmosphere around them was somewhat unusual.

"Stop the car," I ordered. "Find a place to park."

Just as the driver was pulling to a stop, I peered out of the car, and I was able to see what they men were doing at the gate. They had a padlock in their hand, and they were locking the gate with it.

"What is the meaning of this?" I demanded, jumping out of the car before he could even find a place to park.

"Who are you people?" I shouted, running toward the entrance. "What do you think you're doing?"

I lunged to snatch the padlock from one of the men, but the other grabbed my hand, yanking it back. Pain shot through my wrist, and I stared at them in shock, not just from the sting but from their cold indifference.

"Orders from the royal family," one of the men said gruffly. "Alpha Kane's properties are being confiscated to settle his debts."

"Debts?"

"Yes," he responded gruffly again, before taking his time to continue.

"Alpha Kane owes four packs as well as the royal family the sum of money which exceeds 3 million dollars. We understand these loans were taken to settle the expenses which comes with his failing health, but this measures have to be taken."

Every word that rolled out seemed to leave me more shaken than the last.

Was I in some type of bad luck monopoly game?

"Listen, this house has to be confiscated being the only valuable property he had. In other words, we are not sure we can get our money back. So this house have to be sold to offset the debts. Thank you for considering us. Do have a great day."

All what he said had somehow just translated to me becoming a homeless young widow.

AVELINE

I didn't spend the night at home, the instant the royal officials left my home, I embarked on a journey to the palace.

I had not visited the palace ever since I left home and got married to Alpha Kane, and the last time I heard from my father, he had called to flaunt and boast about Natasha's pregnancy.

He was overjoyed because his daughter would give birth to the next king of the werewolf Kingdom. Their dreams would finally come true; the lineage would not go into extinction.

The Alpha king had been desperate for an heir and this was because he didn't have any other children apart from Prince Johan. It was said that he gave birth to Prince Johan when he was a relatively young man of 21. He ascended the throne at the age of 25, but he neither had any other children nor married another woman.

Rather than remarry, Alpha King Damien of The Imperial Twilight Kingdom continued to mourn the death of Prince Johan's mother, choosing to go by the nickname, The Queenless King"

My step-sister has gotten what she wanted now, always granting interviews, doing live streams and videos, and gracing magazine covers. She was also a prominent member of the popular reality TV show, Wives and Girlfriends Of Royals.

She was having the time of her lives while I was struggling to get medicines and food for the man I was forced to marry.

Throughout the phone conversation with my father on the day he called to front and boast, I listened attentively. Dropping compliments and exclamations. But when it was time for me to tell him how I had been coping, in the life consigned me to, he told me he had to get busy with something and hung up.

During this time, things were getting difficult for me and my late husband and I was going to ask my father for financial assistance. My menial jobs were not paying enough to purchase medicine and pay for Kane's mental therapy.

Kane suffered a seizure 2 weeks after and passed away.

But if I had known that he was taking a loan from the royal family, I would not have allowed him. For all I knew, Natasha might have been aware of the decision to kick me out of my home and confiscate the only property I owned.

These thoughts lingered in my mind until my driver finally pulled in front of the huge castle which served the royal palace-my stepsister's home.

Due to the urgency of my predicament, I did not spare time to gush at the intricate designs. The manicured gardens, the water fountains and the other beautiful things which the mansion featured. Features I had only ever seen on the television.

I went straight to the lobby, filled in my name and waited for my turn. I was a little lucky to be the only one on the waiting list, so I sat in the middle of the bench, heads buried between my laps.

I would appeal to the king, Natasha or anyone who responded to me. I was now a widow with no means of income. I would plead for more time to pay Kane's debt and request that my home be unlocked. I was now a widow; it would not be appropriate if I also didn't have a roof over my head, or would it?

With every second that passed, I felt my blood evaporating in my veins, my mind conjuring images of doom and distress. I had grown so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice an image towering above me.

"Is there a way I can help you?"

As I lifted my head, my breath got stuck in my lungs. Time froze in his tracks-standing before me was a man whose gaze seems to pierce every wall I had built around my heart.

He was tall, stout with a commanding presencee which radiated both strength and a warmth. His eyes, golden glistened like the sunset. His black hair, which was neatly combed back,bore tiny silver at the edges. His eyes were sharp, mysterious,yet calm..

The moment I looked into his eyes, something clicked. It was as if an invisible thread pulled me toward him, binding us together in a way that felt both familiar.

My heart pounded as a soft whisper filled my mind, Mate. The word resounded within me, stirring something long forgotten, a sense of belonging I hadn't felt in years.

He seemed to feel it too, his own eyes widening as he took a step closer. "Mate," he murmured, his voice low and soft, as if I were some cherished treasure he'd only dreamed of finding.

He reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he moved to touch my face, and in that moment, every fear, every hurt I'd endured seemed to dissolve.

But before his hand could graze my cheek, a voice broke through the stillness. A sharp voice, filled with authority.

"Father."

"What!"

The intruding voice cut into my thoughts and spiraled through me. I rose to my feet struggling to keep my weak legs from crashing under me and there,from seemingly nowhere was Prince Johan.

My chest tightened as realization struck like lightning. The man standing before me, the one I'd felt such a sudden, undeniable bond with, was the Alpha King himself-Alpha King Damien, the ruler of the Imperial Twilight Kingdom, my second-chance mate!

I barely managed to compose myself as the weight of the new Discovery descended on my shoulders, clouding my brain and destabilizing my resolve. My heart was still thumping, my fingers still trembling.

I mention something about being stuck in a nightmare the other time, but turns out I had begun to live a dystopian romantic novel.

"What do you want here Aveline?" Prince Johan growled distastefully, "what are you doing here?"

The last streak of enchantment in my brain vanished at the sound of the voice bringing me back to my predicament and the real purpose I was in a palace.

Just as I was about to move closer to the prince, my eyes fell on the King's. There was a warmth in them,a soft glare that spoke a thousand words.

I came to the life that instant, my butterflies resurrecting, I wanted him to hold me. And I could feel it, he wanted to hold me too.

Was I delusional?

My heart pounding was the only sound I could hear in the whole room.

"Speak Aveline."

Did he just mind-link me?

I looked up to find the Alpha King boring holes into my body, his jaw hardened as if trying to set me on fire right there.

But why is there a haunting familiarity in his gaze-his eyes-that hinted at a dark connection between us.