The Discarded Luna

Stretching, I stood up from the desk. It was close to ten in the morning and I had finished some of the minor work for the day. Papers were scattered on my desk and my computer had so many tabs open I knew a tech person would flipout. I soaked in the sun from the window as I put on my running shoes by the front door. Opening the door, a slight breeze ruffled my hair. It was a great morning to go for a run. Closing the door, I locked it and put the key in my special spot near my favorite plant. Closing my eyes I smelled the air. Other people were out and about, but with my cabin being the furthest from our community not many people came by. Not like they would want to. I was almost an outcast among my pack. Being the daughter of two warrior wolves that were killed by rogues and no other blood family, I was immediately targeted. It was how our kind worked. There was a hierarchy and I just became the lowest of the low. “Werewolves.” I muttered as I rolled my shoulders and started walking into the woods. It wouldn’t have been so bad if one particular group didn’t keep harassing me. They were merciless as well, to the point I haven’t been allowed to shift in almost two years. My wolf really wanted to run and hunt, but if I shifted the retaliation would be ten fold. This group consisted of high ranking wolves and I could not fight them. 'Yeah you can.' My wolf growled, interrupting my thoughts. I rolled my eyes at her. 'And get my ass kicked by the Gamma again for disobeying Luna?' I replied. 'She is no Luna.' My wolf almost howled at me. Rolling my eyes at her again, I let the conversation drop. My wolf always insisted that our Luna was not the true Luna. Well, I don’t know of another way a Luna can be claimed. She was the Alpha’s mate, which made her instantly Luna. Only the mate of an Alpha can be Luna. Starting to jog, I tried to let the tension in my back go. For some reason, everytime my wolf claimed that about our Luna I felt she was right. It bothered me. I know I could take the small group that Luna always brought to torment me with. I was a warrior wolf after all. Even though I did not train or patrol much. The Gamma did not allow me to as much as I would like. Instead, I mostly did paperwork for the third that was related to some of our businesses. “Good morning,” someone yelled out. Startled out of my thoughts, I looked to my right where Jason was. He was walking the opposite direction, heading towards the center of our community. Smiling at him, I waved back. “Good morning Jason.” “Going for your run?” Jason asked. “Yeah, I had to get away from the paperwork at some point.” I laughed. Jason smiled a huge toothy grin. He was not bad to look at, but was not really my type. Shorter than me with bright blond hair and blue eyes, he looked more like a teenager than an adult. He was a year younger than me and I saw him as a kid brother than anything else. I know Jason wants it to be more than that, but there were no romantic feelings from me. “Well, just be careful out there.” Jason said, “See you later.” Raising a hand in farewell I started to jog again. I loved to run and not being able to let my wolf out in so long really made it hard for me. Running further into the woods, I let my breath deepen. Feeling everything around me, the life of the forest, it drove my blood. Soon I was running at inhuman speeds through our forest. Making sure to give the boundaries a mile bearth, I ran for over an hour. As I was heading back, I felt something change. Someone was following me. Not someone, something. A wolf. It was chasing me as I ran. Combat instincts kicked in, and I let the wolf get closer. It did not hide the fact that it was chasing me, it came right up behind me. Grabbing a branch, I swung up into a tree as the wolf tried to lunge for me. A rusty brown wolf flashed underneath me and hit a tree. A loud yelp escaped it, and the wolf sank to the ground. The blood drained from my face as I realized who it was. April, one of Luna’s group, started to shake her head and get up. She turned and growled up at the tree, her yellow eyes glaring at me. 'Get down now.' She commanded through the mind link, and I bowed my head. Jumping down, I landed in a crouch and stayed there. Even though April did not have a title, she was still higher ranked than me. April walked over and growled in my face, daring me to react. My wolf wanted to growl back but I kept her in check. She knew the routine but never liked the fact I did this. “Well that was interesting to watch.” The voice I hated to hear said from behind me. I did not respond as I had not been given permission to speak. A small smirk formed before I could stop it though. 'She laughs at me.' April howled in our minds. s**t, I thought as I was thrown forward from behind. Vanessa, the Luna, pushed a foot into my back and leaned over me. “Are you disrespecting those above you?” She hissed. “No Luna.” I muffled through the dirt, not daring to move. Vanessa digged her claws into my shoulder and growled close to my ear. “Yes, I am your Luna. You on the other hand are a nobody. Just a reject that is only good for small tasks.” I did not even breath out, as Luna might have taken it as a sign of aggression or disrespect. The thing was, I did not fear these wolves. I never have, I just did not like to make my life complicated. The one time I did try to fight back, the Gamma kicked my ass in front of all the warriors. I knew I could take the Gamma, but if I had then it would have been a sign of disrespect to the Alpha. I wanted to stay in the pack, so I allowed myself to be humiliated and beaten to a pulp. From then on, everyone treated me like an outcast, but I was still in the pack I had been born into. The pack my parents died to protect. Vanessa let go of my shoulder and stood up. She was replaced by April with her jaws around my neck. “Do you feel the balance of life and death?” Luna laughed. “How with one word, one bite, death will be tipped in your favor?” Slowing my breathing down, I just waited. April finally removed her jaws from my neck and Vanessa laughed again. “Since you know your place,” Vanessa’s voice dripped with vehinem, “I will allow you to come to the Summer ball.” Internally groaning at the idea of having to go to the ball, I waited. “I will be officially introduced as Luna of the pack there.” Vanessa went on. My breath hitched at that and Vanessa stepped on my back again. “Yes, that is right. Before all of our pack and those of other packs, I will be Luna.” My wolf wanted to tear her apart for that, and I don’t know why but I wanted it as well. It tore me up to think that she will now officially be Luna. Before it was just her claiming to be Luna with the Alpha not really denying it. But, with the Summer Ball admission, she will be forever more be our Luna. Closing my eyes in case they gave me away, I spoke to Vanessa. “I would be honored to attend the ball and recognize you as you finally deserve, Luna.” Laughing, Vanessa took her foot off my back and just left. Not another word to me, as it was not necessary for her. She had won. April left with her, but not before she gave me a nasty bite on the leg. Barely containing a scream, I turned onto my back and watched the blood ooze out of my mangled calf. 'For earlier.' April growled in the link. I averted my eyes from hers, in case she wanted to seek more revenge. Laying my head back down, I let the pain wash over me. Tears came unbeckoned to my eyes, but I was not sure if it was the pain of my leg or the fact that tomorrow night Vanessa would officially be our Luna.