The Runaway Luna

CHAPTER 3

Anna

“Hah, you want to act clueless, huh? I saw you and Damon in bed; you were already planning on sleeping with him! Too bad you'll never become the Luna!”

Sophie yelled, and I felt a striking migraine come in. The air suddenly grew tight, almost suffocating, the cream walls closing in on me. I clutched my chest, barely able to breath.

“I will never bear his children,” I said firmly, holding on for life. She only laughed, picking at her nails.

“We will see about that. Your child will be mine either way, so you better get prepared.”

With that, Sophie walked away, her red hair cascading down her back.

I looked back at her, feeling my world crash down. How could this be? No, I couldn’t carry his children.

“I need to find Stella,” I quickly went to the main pack house as she had mentioned going there, and as I ran, I felt a wave of fear mixed with anger. The thought of Damon's dirty hands on me made my blood boil, even making me nauseous.

“Stella?” I walked into the pack house, my heart racing. Only Stella could help me gather my thoughts.

“Where's Stella?” I asked Josh, one of our pack members.

He pointed to the courtroom, and I knew something was ominously wrong.

I slowly walked towards the courtroom, my mind spinning with different thoughts. What was hidden behind those walls? Could Damon have done the unthinkable?

The guard opened the door, and as I walked in, a cold dread settled in my stomach. Stella knelt before Damon on his throne, and the elders were seated along with Damon's parents, each wolf having a stern expression. Only Stella was crying.

“Why offer yourself when Anna is Damon's rightful mate?” Damon's father said in an upset voice.

“Because the Alpha rejected her two years ago. Surely he wouldn't want to mate with her. I am offering myself on her behalf.” Stella replied, and I immediately rushed to her side, confused.

“What are you doing, Stella? Offering yourself for me? Why?” I asked in a heartbroken whisper, and she looked away, tears sliding down her cheeks.

“This friend of yours wants to sacrifice herself for you, Anna. What do you have to say about this? As you know, we want you to give birth to the next heir, but this wolf here is objecting!”

An elder roared, and I glared at Damon who had a smug expression on his face. “I don't want to bear his child, and neither will Stella. Alpha Damon rejected our bond two years ago, he made it clear he didn't want me. So why should I give birth to his child?”

“You seem to not understand the depth of this matter, pup.” Damon stood up, and I awaited him, my rage boiling deep inside me. He stood in front of me, and grasped my chin, his claws digging into my jaw.

“I said, I need an heir. And you better give me an answer, or your little friend and your entire pack will die before sunrise. I promise you, Anna.”

My eyes glistened with tears, my lips trembling. He wasn't joking; he had that wicked glint in his eyes, the same one of five years ago when he beheaded my father right before my eyes.

Everyone was waiting for a response, but I stayed silent. I couldn't betray my pack, but how could I lie with the one person I hated in this world? Damon let go of my jaw, and I felt a cool liquid drop down my face.

I wiped the blood away and embraced Stella, who didn't stop crying. “Don't do it, Anna. Don't sleep with that monster. Let me do it.”

I shook my head, my tears pouring like a river. “No, l can't let you get defiled by him. It's my responsibility, he was once my mate. Don't worry, Stella.” I wiped her tears away and forced a smile. She shook her head, begging me to not do it, but this wasn't up to me.

“I'll do it.” I said in a small voice, and all the elders stood immediately.

“Well then, now that this matter is settled, we await good news, Alpha Damon.”

They said before leaving, and I slowly brought Stella to her feet.

“On the next full moon, we will get mated. You better not do anything stupid, Anna. Your entire pack is in my hands, and I can do as I please.”

Damon whispered wickedly before dismissing us, and as we left, the weight of my actions settled on my shoulders.

“You should never have agreed, Anna.” Stella said in an upset voice as we arrived at our room, and I let out a sigh.

“I'm sorry, Stella. But you haven't found your mate. I couldn't let Damon rob you of that gift. I chose this path, and I'll walk on it. Don't worry, okay?”

“I hope you don't get pregnant,” she muttered angrily, and I hugged her.

“Me too, Stella. Me too. I can't even imagine being under that jerk.”

“Maybe hold a pair of scissors just in case?”

I widened my eyes. “Stella! What are you thinking?”

She smiled through her tears. “Nothing much, let's go to bed.”

It was five days to the full moon, and all my pack members expressed their anger at the mating with Damon. I explained that there was no other way, and despite their initial rage, they all supported my decision. I knew my father would be happy that I put the pack's safety first.

Sophie swore to leave the pack house if Damon and I mated in the bedroom, so we would be spending the night at his quarters instead.

My walk there felt too painful, my legs feeling extremely heavy beneath me. There was no going back after today, and I was ready to face it with a strong face.

Somewhere in between the journey, I prayed to the goddess to not let me get pregnant, but I didn't know if what I was wishing for was the right thing.

I sat on the bed, dressed in a white nightgown, and waited for him with a pounding heart. This was it, I was giving myself to my parents’ murderer, the very villain in my life.

Would my parents be disappointed in me? The thought made tears rise up, but I blinked them away as soon as Damon came into the room wearing nothing but black sweatpants that hung dangerously low on his waist.

“Take off your dress, now.”