My hands wrapped my stomach as yet another growling sound erupted from my inside, reminding me that I was hungry. I hadn't had anything to eat for the past twenty four hours—I was too excited to be officially mated to Lucas that I had totally forgotten about food. My once dignified anger had long dissipated and now I'm battling with the regret of running away from my pack.
It was a pitch-black and starless night, making it even harder for me to navigate through the thick woods. I had stumbled a few branches, gaining fresh cuts on my knee and elbow. Should I really continue into this forest? What if I end up becoming breakfast for a roaming wild animal?
My chaotic thoughts were interrupted by the loud clap of thunder, followed by lightning, and just as the lightning was about fading into the darkness, my eyes caught sight of a menacing figure skillfully hiding behind a large tree trunk.
Its large brown eyes glinted in the dark as it began moving towards where I stood rooted to the spot. It was a wild bear!
Before my brain could register the sight of the wild animal, my legs had already started moving on its own accord. My chest thumped loudly as I ran deeper into the forest. Nothing mattered anymore at this moment. Not Lucas. Not the rejection. Not my miserable omega status. All that matters to me at this point is surviving!
Blood rushed to my ears as I stumbled over a thorn of shrubs, gracing my skin with yet another bout of scratches. Blood trickled down my body as I picked myself up and continued my desperate race for survival. Another clap of thunder was followed by heavy patter of raindrops which suddenly grew into a full-blown downpour. My clothes were soaked in minutes and my sight became blurry, the soil underneath my feet became slippery, making movement a herculean task. I threw a furtive glance over my shoulder, and behold the bear was closing in faster than I had expected.
“April, you can't die this way,” Bianca cried.
“Shut the hell up and take over my human form!” I screamed back in anger.
If only I could turn to my wolf form…
I was still lost in thoughts when I tripped over a broken branch and crash landed on the wet soil with a loud thud. I could barely register the shock, before my body suddenly began to tumble down the steep hill. Air puffed out of my lungs, and my eyes burned with pain, the slashing sounds of jagged tree stumps and thorns tore through my skin, and my body kept rolling down like a broken record. I could feel my subconsciousness float out of my body, and suddenly everything stilled. My body wasn't moving anymore, and the pain was suddenly numbed.
“Are you dead?” Bianca’s voice sounded far away.
Maybe I am dead…
As much as I didn't want to die, the peace and quiet that comes with death is quite an alluring incentive.
Breathing the last whiff of air in my lungs, I let my subconsciousness slide into abysmal darkness.
•••••
“Is this heaven?” Bianca purred as a tiny shred of consciousness crept into my body.
“Hmmm. So heaven smells of croissant, bacon and apple pie,” Bianca sniffed harder.
Such a lousy weak wolf! I hissed internally.
I tried to move my body but every fiber in my body suddenly weighed a ton. I rolled my eyes in frustration— if I was dead and in heaven, then why am I not waking up?
Is this how the moon goddess runs the afterlife?
A mild shuffle of feet and clinking of plates jerked back my consciousness.
“Is she still unconscious?” A dangerously brusque voice asked.
“She's awake now, but she's yet to open her eyes,” a soothing male voice replied. He sounded professional, like a medical doctor or something.
“Open your eyes!” The gruff voice ordered.
Is he referring to me?
That voice commanded unmistakable authority and I'd be foolish to dare ignore it. Slowly, my eyelids fluttered open, squinting at the bright natural light that filtered through the open windows.
I blinked twice before my eyes settled onto the pair of most beautiful sapphire eyes I've ever seen. His jaws were taut, and his eyes held no atom of emotion, yet it pulled me in like gravity. A bold scar ran from his earlobe to his cheekbones, and his pepper and salt hair fell in long waves, stopping short below his neck.
What in the name of beauty is this! My thoughts roared.
I had just met him, but the mere sight of him was already stealing air from my lungs, and plunging my heart into free fall.
“Who are you?!” His voice rang, pulling me out of my subconscious daydream.
“I…I …uhh…I am… my name is April Gortham,” I stammered, wincing at the throbbing headache that dulled my senses.
“And what are you doing here? You must be a spy from the neighbouring pack.”
“Huh? No, no, no, I'm… I'm not a spy,” I began in my defense. “I was just trying to escape from my pack and then…”
My voice trailed off as it dawned on me that fragments of my memories were missing. The last thing I remembered was the loud clap of thunder and my body tumbling down the hill.
“Bold of you to think that I'll buy such feeble lies,” he scoffed.
“I'm not lying… I… ouch!” I let out a yelp as I tried to move my hands. A slight turn of head made me discover that I was bound in chains on the bed.
What sort of inhumane treatment was this? Does the stench of being an omega follow me around?
“You should count yourself lucky to be alive,” he said, approaching the bed. His height towered over the bed, and the scent of musk and leather breezed into my nostrils.
“By the order of things, you should be dead by now,” he growled as he leaned forward. “... because anyone who trespasses into the Whitlleburg pack dies right away!”
A soft gasp escaped my lips as reality dawned on me. Staring right back at me was no other but the most fearsome Alpha in the whole of Northern Ireland— the infamous Alpha Derrick.
I've heard alot of horrible things about Alpha Derrick and his brutality, but one thing I've never heard is that he was all shades of hands-down perfect beauty.
Fear crippled my muscles, while pure attraction glued my eyes to him.
“Holy fuck,” I whispered.
“Speak up!” Alpha Derrick growled, his eyes turning a shade of amber.
Fear coursed through my body at his voice, the reality of my fate dawning on me—I could be dead in minutes and nobody would even care.
“Please…” my voice squeaked. “Please save me. I don't want to die.”
Tears stung at the back of my eyes as the words rolled out of my mouth. I've done a lot of condescending things as an omega, but one thing I've never done was beg for my life.
The disdainful expression on Alpha Derrick's face made it clear that my pleas were falling on deaf ears.
“Everyone, leave!” He commanded. His words were followed by quick shuffling of feet and in split seconds, the room was empty save for the both of us. Derrick glanced over his shoulder to be sure nobody was within earshot.
“And why should I spare your insignificant life?” Derrick’s voice had reduced to a surprising whisper.
I swallowed hard, and bit my lip before saying, “I'll do anything you want me to do.”
“What makes you think that I'd want anything from you?”
“What if there's something you desperately need?” I whispered in a conspiratorial tone, pushing my luck harder.. maybe, just maybe, he'll find a need for me if I present myself as something valuable.
The thought of referring to myself as a thing formed knots in my stomach. Suddenly, Alpha Derrick’s face lit up with a thin smile.
What is he scheming this time?
“Well, I think there's something you can do for me?”
I pursed my lips as my mind ran through a thousand options. What does he want to do with me? A nanny? Maid? Object of fun for his friends?
“Be my Luna.”
My head jerked upward at his words. Is my brain so fucked up that I'm now hearing things?
“Huh?”
“You heard me right. I'll let you live on the condition that you'll become my contracted Luna.”
Fresh bead of sweat broke out of my forehead and my palm became clammy. There’s no way in the world that the most feared Alpha Derrick is asking me to be his Luna!
“Here,” Alpha Derrick tossed a brown paper envelope on my body. “This is the agreement.”
“I…I can't move,” I protested as the cold chains bit into my delicate skin. “Can you at least unbound me?”
Alpha Derrick scoffed and rolled his eyes indifferently. “Your freedom depends on your answer.”
Seriously? He wants me to sign a contract when I can't even move my body!
“You have till sunset to give me your answer,” he said and began walking towards the door.
Staring out the window, I realised that it was almost sundown, which means I don't have the luxury of time to think.
“Wait!” I called out, causing his form to stiffen, but he didn't look back.
“I've made up my mind… I will be your Luna.”
A wide smirk graced his beautiful face as he turned to face me. “That's a good choice, but I think you should read the terms of the contract first.”
“My hands are tied,” I protested.
Letting out a sigh, Derrick crossed the room in a few long strides and untied the chains. The rattling sound of chains did nothing to douse the mind-numbing effect that his musky scent had on me as every atom of oxygen I breathed in suddenly smelt like him.
“You can go through the contract and sign it. I'll have my beta pick it up when you're done.” And without another word, he sauntered out of the room, leaving me in both awe and pain.
The bang of the closed door brought me back to my senses, reminding me of the searing pain that pulsed my entire skin. Ignoring the pains, I flipped open the document and the words printed in bold italics tipped me over the edge.
“CONTRACT TO BE THE SURROGATE LUNA”
The words stared back at me daringly, as though mocking my miserable life.
“What?” I gasped. “There's no way I'm carrying Alpha Derrick's child in my womb.”
But even as the words rolled off my tongue, I knew it was mere wishful thinking. Alpha Derrick has bought my womb in exchange for my life and there was nothing I could do about it.
It's been eleven months since I signed my life away on a contract, but that impulsive decision turned out to be the best decision I'd made in my entire life.
The details of the contract were clearly stated— I would have all the benefits of a Luna, but I would not have any legal custody of my child. It was a tough decision to make, but still, I considered losing my child as collateral damage. I just wanted to live, and now, I am living the life I ever dreamt of.
Respect. Reverence. Love. Security and sense of belonging were all part of the package that came with being Alpha Derrick’s Luna. Despite his cold and detached attitude, I was still grateful for the life Alpha Derrick had given me, and most importantly, the gift of a child he offered me on a platter.
A warm smile swept across my face as I caressed the soft, lush skin of my one-month old baby— my bundle of joy. He was the spitting image of his father, inheriting Alpha Derrick’s blue eyes and defined cheekbones. My heart swelled with pride as his tiny hands wrapped around my index finger. Deep down, I knew that I was ignoring the truth that lurked underneath my smile— the duration of my contract is over and I have to leave the Whitlleburg pack.
Tears stung in my eyes as uncertainty about the future overwhelmed me. Here in the Whitlleburg pack, I am the revered Luna, but outside the boundaries of the pack, I was just a random omega whom everyone believed to be cursed. Tears spilled down my face as I lifted my little baby, and gently laid him in his crib. His innocent giggles and toothless smile tugged at my heartstrings, breaking my heart all over again.
Wiping my tears with the back of my pack, I walked to the wardrobe and began packing my clothes into a suitcase. I didn't want to leave, but I know staying back would be a foolish attempt to cling onto false hope, besides the terms of the contract were clear— Leave the pack after giving the Alpha an heir.
A feeling of claustrophobia suddenly washed over me, causing me to open the windows, and the resplendent sight greeted me once again—the lush colorful flowers that sprawled along the wide expanse of the palace compound. I inhaled deeply as the enticing scent of lavender breezed past, but suddenly, something caught my attention. It was a muscular human frame that stood in the garden, his hand carefully picking some flowers in the garden.
His scent was strangely sweet, despite the fact that I've seen him before. Unease settled in my stomach as a wave of nostalgia hit me— it's happening again.
“No, it can't be,” I murmured as I took two steps backwards. “There's no way…”
“Mate!” Bianca leaped excitedly.
It was impossible. A second chance mate for an omega?
My heartbeat began a frantic dance as the mate pull took over my senses. Looking over the garden again, my eyes caught sight of him staring back at me— he knows that I'm his mate.
Our gaze locked for a minute before I peeled my eyes away from the enchanting gaze of his hazelnut eyes. Something about him made me weak in the knees and a throbbing sensation settled in between my legs. I've never felt this way for anyone else, except Alpha Derrick, but this was different—he is my predestined mate, while Alpha Derrick was just a contracted mate.
“My lady,” a familiar female voice drew me out of my thoughts. “The Alpha is requesting your presence.”
“Uhm..” I cleared my throat. “I'll be with you shortly.”
The maidservant curtsied and left the room. I walked over to the crib where my baby laid and made sure he was fast asleep before taking deep breaths and stepping out of my room.
With each step I took, the sweet fragrance grew stronger and the pull, almost irresistible. How do I reconcile having a child for Alpha Derrick, and finding my mate almost immediately?
“Ah… here she is,” the stranger gleamed with pride as I walked into the Alpha's court. “Isn't fate so mysterious?”
A wide smile plastered across his face as he watched me with intense eyes that could strip me naked. His ogling expression gained him a deathly glare from Alpha Derrick. I stifled a smirk— I've never seen Derrick react in such an envious manner before.
“She is the Luna of Whitlleburg pack, so choose your words carefully,” Alpha Derrick said with a subtle threat laced in his voice.
“Good day, my lord,” I bowed, and raised my head, while avoiding the glare of the stranger.
“Are his words true?” Alpha Derrick said.
“Yes, my lord,” I bowed again. The words tasted like bile in my mouth. “He's my mate.”
All my life, I've wanted to be accepted by my mate, but now that the goddess is giving me a chance at having that life, I suddenly didn't want it anymore. I couldn't place my hands on the reason why I didn't want my mate. I could use my son as an excuse, but I knew it was beyond just my child, it was because of something else— it was because of…
“Hello, my name is Gareth, the alpha of the Hythress pack,” he said, stretching out his hand for a handshake. His smile was as enchanting as his face, but there was a tiny bit of insincerity lurking in his orbs.
“Hi,” I responded robotically, shaking his clammy palms. His palms were unbelievably soft for an Alpha. “I am April Gortham.”
A wider smile spread across his lips, exposing jagged incisors. I could feel Alpha Derrick's stare bore a hole at the back of George's head.
Why was he acting all protective all of a sudden?
