"No."

In the midst of almost being controlled by whatever it was that enveloped me in this dark place, I clenched my fists. My desire of wanting to know more lessen as my mind kept going back to Ajax's eyes that stared at me with warmth.

No matter how little, no matter how absurd, I must cling onto it and not let it fade.

"Claire...!" The voice called me once more.

But I remained unbothered. How can I listen to these voices when I didn't even know them? What if they were only lying and trying to control me?

I wasn't born to be someone to let that happen.

More than anything and anyone, I knew myself and understood what I wanted.

And right now, I chose and want to understand Ajax.

With a resolute mind, the voice of Ursula who claimed to be a witch and member of the Jaderoot Order, slowly faded. In another second, my eyes opened.

"Ah, you're awake!"

A voice of a young woman came to my ears. When I glanced at my side, I found the female omega from before. I remembered her name being Shila.

"W-Water, do you need water?" Shila asked, anxiously looking at me.

I realized then that my body felt heavy and I couldn't move that well. What happened?

I heard the door opened and watched as another woman arrived with a basin and new set of clothes. I remembered her name being Ether, another female omega.

"Shila, how many times I have to tell you not to raise your volume like that? Luna Claire is having a rest!" Ether scolded Shila in a lower voice which I still caught nonetheless.

"B-But she looks in pain and having a nightmare...I wanted to wake her up..." Shila mumbled and kept glancing at me.

A smile forming in my lips as I watched the two sisters' interaction, remembering Navi and I whenever we argued.

Slowly, I tried moving my fingers and motioned them to help me move my body. Thankfully, the two immediately understood and helped me get up from the bed. In a swift yet careful movement, Shila gave me a cup of water, assisting me to drink it.

"Are you okay?" Shila asked, her big round eyes looking worried as she stared at me.

I glanced up and noticed Ether was also waiting for me to speak. She was holding the pair of clothes, probably to change me into newer ones.

"I'm okay," my voice sounded hoarse as I responded.

My sore body felt heavier each time I moved but I dared not to stop from moving up. Even if I had to feel pain all over, I still had things to do. Therefore, I must move.

"L-Luna, please don't move too much! You need to rest more!" Ether exclaimed.

"Where's the Alpha Prince... I mean, the Alpha King?" I asked them while forcing myself to reach for the clothes Ether was holding.

As if they could no longer watch it, Ether and Shila sighed and started helping me dress up.

"The Alpha King headed to the Southeastern Woods two days ago. Master Ren and Zen mentioned it will probably take five days before they return," Ether explained.

"We were tasked to accompany you wherever you go... You've been asleep for two days. How do you feel? Do you need more water?" Shila moved closer, the cup of water refilled in between her hands.

I shook my head as a response, wanting to ease the atmosphere with a better glance at them. They must have been worried about me while waiting for me to wake up. According to them, Ajax fled after having a meeting with Elias Thornwheel, guided by the elders of our pack. It wasn't Ajax but his right hand in command, Zen, who instructed Ether and Shila to look after me. Ajax didn't see me after what happened between us and not even once did he ask about me...

Feeling a heavy block stuck at my chest at that, I faced Ether and Shila, "The omegas, the omegas of my pack. Have you heard any word about them?"

Ether and Shila exchanged glances before Ether directly faced me. "Do you love the Alpha King, Luna?"

"Ether!" Shila called, hand about to grab Ether.

I was surprised myself at the sudden question. "Why... are you asking?"

Ether nudged Shila's hand away from her and said, "The Alpha King... hates omegas. He hates us more than anything in this world. Your mother and brother disappeared because of him, too, right?"

My eyes widened at her words, questioning looks throwing at them. How did they know about that?

"We've heard from other omegas from your pack," Ether said. "Before they were taken away."

My heartbeat stopped. "What?"

Shila grabbed Ether's arm, as if trying to hold her back and refrain her from speaking more. But I was the one who moved closer to them, my silent weakness diminishing in every beat.

"They're taken away? The omegas of Crescent Glaciers?"

"Enough is enough, Shila. Luna Claire deserves to know what happened," Ether exclaimed, her face turning to me once again. "Luna, the omegas are suffering under the Crescent Glaciers Pack. You've been detained in this mansion for weeks. During your disappearance, there are plenty of omegas taken away by force. Until now, nobody knows where they were taken to. One of them is named Lagand, he stutters all the time. Do you know him?"

My body turned cold at what Ether has explained. A broken whisper escaped my lips, "Yes..."

Who would forget that man child who always beams the brightest smiles despite having a speaking difficulty? Out of all the omegas in Crescent Glaciers Pack, he had the kindest and purest heart.

"Lagand is the one who told us about your family's disappearance when we first came to North. That day, a month after the blue moon where the Alpha Prince, Ajax, was supposed to say his mate's identity but failed to do so, alphas of different packs came. As they left, they took some omegas with them. Lagand thought you're one of the omegas taken away and so he," Ether glanced at me then looked down, "He followed after them."

I felt my head becoming dizzy for all the sudden information I had heard. Omegas were taken away, even Lagand was one of them. But why? And who did it?

"That's why, Luna Claire... Please answer our question. Do you love the Alpha King?" Ether once again asked.

I stared back at her, unable to form words for a response. I wanted to ask them what did it have to do with the current situation. But her words even surprised me, waking up something that had been sleeping inside me all along.

"The Alpha King has changed. Can you really love and accept him nevertheless?"

"But we can't disagree with him," I told Ether, my heart twisting.

"Then do you accept the treatment he gives to us omegas? Luna Claire, remember what he did to your family. He separated you from your loved ones. Who knows, they may also be part of why those omegas were taken away by force. Aren't you afraid something might happen to them while you're here, staying with the Alpha King, who doesn't tell you anything at all?"

"Tell me, Luna," Ether added, eyes filled with emotions deeply rooted from something I failed to notice.

"Loving and trusting someone who only causes you pain and misery. Is it really worth it?"

As Ether stared at me with a pair of raging, desperate eyes, my heart pounded loudly at the thought of the person mentioned and I found myself glancing over the past.

Ajax.

He was the one who treated me fairly when everyone did the opposite. Even knowing he was an alpha and I was an omega, he never made me feel there was a line between us, that we were from different worlds, that there were no possibilities of living in peace together regardless of our races. When I reached the age where I began to understand my position and his position, I began to treat him with so much, more respect, than ever, and even tried to distance myself so as not to cross the line.

"You can still call me by my name," he had replied then. The mahogany trees around us had dried leaves dancing as they fell to the ground, the wind humid and my eyes couldn't help but feel enthralled by the image of a handsome boy. From a certain point, he looked like a live painting, and I, his playmate slash servant, was a thief of this beautiful piece.

"Say, Claire. Being an alpha... is it really that good?"

He was thirteen and I was twelve. It was the age where we were tested by the pack's physician and confirmed our second genders, of being alphas, betas, and omegas. At that time, I couldn't speak and only stared at him.

I began to think that Ajax―this person whom everyone looked up to for being the Alpha King's son, next to the throne, future leader of our pack―was innocent and pure by nature.

After that, my smile was the widest and although he never returned it with his usual expressionless face, my heart was filled with so much warmth. I fell in love with Ajax more and more.

As a playmate whom the Alpha Prince practically grew up together with, I gave him a casual reply, not bothering to hide my truest feelings at that time. "I think they are. My mother said alphas are strong and brave and," I stared at him, then a foolish grin made its way on my face. "Beautiful."

"You think alphas are beautiful?" Ajax asked.

I blushed, realizing what I just said. Shaking my head in an attempt to hide my emotions, I told him with a laugh, "I-I mean, alphas are naturally good-looking and awesome. But I... I think Ajax is the coolest among them."

"Claire, do you... like alphas?"

My heart pounded louder and louder. It was as if Ajax was actually asking whether I liked him or not. And so I answered with a biggest, warmest, and truest smile, "Yes."

Now, more than a decade later, the very same face had shown me how he despised my race. Questions as to how and why did it come to this lingered in my mind and among these many questions, one always knocked on my heart, seemingly wanting to cling unto something that had been always there with no intention of leaving.

"I will ask him." My voice sounded like a weak whisper, barely holding to a thin line of thread.

"Luna!" Ether called and I could feel her becoming even angrier.

"Ether," I called, "I think there are reasons why these things kept happening. Whether it is about alphas or betas or omegas―I believe Ajax would not do anything just because he wants it. There must be a reason. That's why, I... I will go and ask him about these things."

I looked at Ether and Shila, hopeful as I said, "I will trust Ajax."

I wanted to. I had to talk to him. I needed to hear what happened. Even if he got mad, I no longer cared. Whether those were all truths or lies, the reason why he rejected me, I want to hear it from his own mouth!

"Luna is right."

Both Ether and I turned to Shila, who suddenly spoke after remaining silent while Ether and I were exchanging words.

There was a smile on her face as she stared at me, looking soft and amiable as ever as if she felt comforted while having me in her eyes. "Luna is someone whom the Alpha King relies on the most, therefore, it is only right Luna speaks to Alpha King first before doing anything. The Alpha King... might really have a reason."

"Shila!" Ether called out, anger in her voice.

"For a thousand years, it is the first time our Luna came from an omega race. I believe the Moon Goddess chose you for a reason to be our next leader. For this... I really hope you can bring a change. Not only to us omegas but also to everyone, to every race and every creature in this land. Luna Claire, I believe in you," Shila said, looking at me with the most clear, sincere eyes I have ever seen in my life.

For a moment there, I felt my whole being feel the pressure of looking over this person. Believing in people... For the first time in my life, someone told me they "believed" in me.

Appreciating her words, I internally began to assess the current situation and my plans to accomplish their wishes. While doing so, all lines brought me back to one person―Ajax.

If there was someone who could help me achieve these things, it would be Ajax. He was the most powerful in this area, the highest figure everyone would surely listen to.

Perhaps, I could talk to him about these things... Whatever the reason why he rejected me, and whatever he intended to do for our people, my race, his race, everyone―I wanted to know and understand.

I didn't desire to be the Luna. I never wished to be one. But when I remembered how Ajax looked at me that time with such eyes, and the words replaying in my mind about omegas' sufferings, my heart felt as if it wanted to do something. In order to do so, power was needed.

Perhaps, being a Luna wasn't bad at all.

But then again, I was proven wrong right after I thought such a ridiculous thing. Because when I thought I had already become the Luna of our pack, Ajax's partner, leader of the people... Ajax came home. And on his side was a very beautiful female alpha, Selene Alcarez.

And with our eyes meeting as if to stab my heart pointedly, Ajax announced to everyone that Selene was his mate, officially making Selene the Luna of our pack and beginning the ritual.

"Bring her to the basement and don't let her out until it's over."

I heard Ajax's orders, loud and clear as betas came in and dragged me out of the room and into the basement of the mansion. I even heard the voices of Shila and Ether as they tried to stop the men from dragging me out but I was too shocked to make even a sound.

Disbelief showered me and I kept wanting to look up and see what kind of expression Ajax wore as he gave his orders, wanting to ask a thousand questions as everything happened so fast... My heart made me fail to move however as I couldn't even move a single finger.

Still lost in the sudden happenings around me, the doors of the almost empty, dark room in the basement was shut tight, and my heart grasped the words of Ajax's men from outside which made me understand what kind of a big joke I had been, what miserable fate I had.

... What it actually meant to be someone of the lowest rank. What it actually meant to be an omega to the people of the pack I grew up with.

"An omega can only dream of becoming a Luna. She will never be one even if she desires to. After all, she's only here to serve the Alpha King in bed. A weak and powerless omega like her... Nothing good will come out of them except their skills in bed and being a bloody sacrifice in the battlefield. That's her and the rest of her race's only use."

"Truly, a person who was born as a slave will also die as a slave."