Diara
“Members of the Day Moon Pack, we have unexpected news.” Alpha Martin’s voice boomed through the packed hall. He stood with a hint of a smirk playing on his lips, as if relishing what he was about to unveil. The younger females of our pack sat in attention, nerves buzzing in the air. “The legendary lycan Alpha, Kennis Blackwell, is coming to our territory. He’s seeking a young woman between the ages of 20 and 24 to become his Luna.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd, and I felt the flicker of dread take root in my chest. Kennis Blackwell, his name alone, stirred dark thoughts and fear in every soul present. An ancient beast who had survived centuries, he was infamous for his ruthless nature and refusal to take another mate after losing his. Why, then, was he interested in a Luna now?
“Remember, as females of this pack, you carry a responsibility,” Martin continued, his gaze sweeping over us. “If the lycan Alpha chooses any of you, it will secure a powerful alliance, granting us unmatched protection.” Silence fell as we pondered the gravity of his words. Every pack coveted an alliance with such an imposing figure, but what would be the cost?
Just a month ago, the thought of being a contender for such a role was the last thing on my mind. I was happily dating Matt, the Alpha's charming son, whom I had been in love with since I was thirteen. Yet that blissful illusion was shattered the day I walked in on him and my sister, Daphne, having sex, it felt like a dagger to my heart.
Flashback
Returning from university, I had baked Matt his favorite pie. I could hear soft sounds drifting from his room, innocent at first. I peeked through the bedroom door, my world tilted as I stumbled upon a sight that would haunt me for the rest of my wolf life. There was Matt, my Matt, naked and thrusting into my elder sister.
“Oh, Matt! Yes!” Daphne’s moans echoed, delightful and desperate. My stomach knotted. I could see them, Matt's hand wrapped around her throat as he fucked her.
“Please, make me Luna!” she cried.
“Of course I will,” he whispered, sealing my fate in that very moment.
Tears blurred my vision as my heart shattered; the pie slipped from my shaking hands, splattering across the floor. I retreated and ran into the woods, desperate to remove the memory from my mind. I didn't care where I was going; I just needed to escape reality.
“Hello, little wolf,” came a deep, mesmerizing voice as I stumbled deeper into the shadows. I turned, the impact of those words hitting me hard.
End of Flashback.
Despite the betrayal, nobody seemed to care about my agony. Instead, my parents pushed me aside, insisting I accept that Matt and Daphne were the perfect couple. When I told them what had happened, they merely rolled their eyes, dismissing me.
“Daphne is more suited to be Luna,” my mother spat, her preference for my sister clear. “She’s strong, loved by everyone. We can’t risk her being chosen by that merciless Alpha.” A visible shiver ran down her body at the thought of Daphne being chosen.
It wasn’t shocking. My parents didn't like me, especially my mother. She had always neglected me and preferred Daphne, her golden child. I was the unwanted. As for Daphne, she viewed me as a mere convenience, only acknowledging my existence when she needed something. I had learned to bear their disdain silently.
I sat alone in my favorite gazebo, a place forgotten by the whole pack, and never maintained. I found solace in its mess, a reflection of my own heart. The sound of stiletto heels piercing the gravel broke my peace, and I looked up to see Daphne making her way toward me. She radiated confidence. She was tall, with light brown hair and blue eyes, and she wore yet another short pink dress. Meanwhile, I was dressed in my usual cargo pants and shirts.
“What do you want?” I snapped, anger bubbling over at her presence. She merely studied me, and as I attempted to walk past, her voice stopped me.
“Aren’t you over Matt yet? It’s getting embarrassing,” she scoffed, examining her manicured nails. I felt the urge to hit her, rage coursing through my veins, something I had never felt before.
“Why did you do it? I’m your sister!” I screamed, my hands trembling with pent-up emotion. Her expression shifted, surprise flickering across her face at my outburst.
“You’re being hysterical. You need to calm down.” Her dismissive tone ignited my fury, and I lunged for her, the world around me blurring. The fight was more than just with my sister; it was a battle against her dismissal and the jabs she threw at me for not being like her or my mom.
"I'm going to kill you, Di!" she screamed, her voice furious.
"And I'm going to kill you if you dare," a chilling voice retorted, oozing with deadly calmness.