The Rise of the Prophesized Luna

*Valeria's POV* "Do you intend making those dishes shine?" Madam Greta asked immediately she enters the kitchen. Not knowing what reply to give, I look at her in confusion. "I asked if you intend to make the dishes shine because you have been at this one task since you came in this morning." She repeated. I become more confused as I’ve been doing more than just washing dishes. I’ve cleaned the Alpha and Luna's room, restocked the pantry, and even served the Luna her favorite tea this morning, before coming to the kitchen to wash the dishes. Before I could explain, I flinched as she suddenly lunged closer. My hand slips and the teacup in my grasp crashes to the floor, shattering into tiny pieces. I suddenly become afraid because I know what is coming next. Before I could react, I felt her palm meeting my face in a resounding slap. "You are just as clumsy as you are stupid. Look at what you've done. I hope you know that is coming out of your month's salary!" She says angrily. "Yes ma'am," I replied her while holding in the tears trying to escape from my eyes. "Good! Make sure you clean this mess up." She said and stomped out of the kitchen. As soon as she was gone, I let out the sob I’d been holding in. I bend down to gather the pieces of the broken teacup on the floor and walk to the trash to dispose of it. My shoulders sagged with the weight of the morning’s events. Why does she always treat me like that? I never gave her a reason to dislike me, yet she found one anyway. Just like my family. Thinking of that made the memory from this morning flash through my mind. I had wolfed out and met my wolf, Gwen, today. This was a moment I had been waiting for my entire life. I had told my foster sister, Tiffany, excitedly, but instead of celebrating with me, she had laughed. She had looked at me with those cold, judgmental eyes and told me that my wolf was weak, breaking my heart. Recalling that scenario made me swallow hard, pushing the tears back. Crying wouldn’t solve anything. It never did. But the question still lingered heavily in my heart: Why does my family treat me this way? I had only ever shown them love, but all I got in return was coldness, disdain, and constant reminders that I didn’t truly belong. After all these years, they never let me forget that I was adopted, that I wasn’t really one of them. I had begged to be trained as a pack warrior alongside Tiffany. I wanted to be strong, to prove that I could stand with the rest of the pack. But my foster parents refused. They registered me to work here, in the Alpha’s home, as a maid. “You’re too weak,” they’d said. “You haven’t even wolfed out yet. You’re not fit to be a warrior.” So here I was, dusting shelves and scrubbing floors, while Tiffany was treated like a princess, training with the best, preparing for a future filled with power and respect. It wasn’t fair, but life rarely was. I had no choice but to comply. At least working here kept me busy, and kept my mind off the things that hurt too much to think about. Now that I have my wolf, I wonder if they will give me a chance to pursue my dream of training to become a pack warrior rather than force me to remain here. Breaking out of my thoughts, I was about to resume washing the dishes when I heard another footstep coming. Thinking to myself that I was about to receive another dosage of hell, I looked up and saw Dennis enter the kitchen. Dennis? Why is he in the kitchen, I ask myself. In my few years of working with the Alpha, he had never stepped a foot into the kitchen. Everything he wanted was brought to him. He stops by the cooking stove, just four feet from where I’m standing. He folds his arms across his chest, then tips his head to the right and looks me up and down, his dark brown eyes seeming to search for something I have no idea of. “Valeria,” he says, my name rolling off his tongue in a way that sends a shiver down my spine. He knows my name? I ask myself, surprised by that. “Ye...Yes?” I answered, stammering. "When you are done for the day, meet me at my private parlor before you leave for your home," Dennis said. That’s it? I thought. No greeting, no preamble, just an order. I nodded in acknowledgment. Seeing that, Dennis turned and left just as quickly as he’d come, leaving me standing there, stunned. I felt a mix of fear and excitement running through me. Gwen stirred within me, her presence stronger than it had been this morning. She had told me earlier that Dennis was our mate, and I had spent the whole day trying to process that information. It didn’t seem real, it couldn’t be real. Dennis is everything I wasn’t. How could someone like him be destined for someone like me? But Gwen was sure. She had felt the bond the moment I wolfed out, and she had shared that feeling with me. I had been filled with happiness, disbelief, and anxiety, all at the same time. I had secretly harbored a crush on Dennis for years, like every other young lady in the pack. He is handsome and charming, and being the Alpha’s only son and heir makes him even more desirable. But I knew he is out of my league. And then there is Tiffany. My foster parents had made it clear that they wanted Tiffany for Dennis. She was perfect for him in every way. Her wolf is stronger, and as a pack warrior trainee, her class is way higher than mine. I am just an omega and a maid. How would they react if they found out that I, the weak and unwanted one, is actually his true mate? No. I couldn’t tell anyone. Not yet. I needed time to figure out what to do, and how to handle this impossible situation. Maybe Dennis didn’t even know yet. Maybe he just wanted to talk to me about something else entirely. But deep down, I knew that wasn’t true. He wouldn’t have asked to see me in private if it wasn’t important. As I continued my work, my mind continued to race with thoughts of what might happen. Would he want to give us a chance? Or would he reject me outright? I felt unsure, and it made my stomach turn in anticipation. After the close of work, it was finally time to meet up with Dennis. I felt nervous as I walked through the hall of the Alpha’s home. My footsteps were echoing as everywhere was silent. I reached the door to his private parlor and hesitated for just a moment before knocking lightly. "The door is open," Dennis said from inside. Unsure if that meant I could go in, I stood staring at the door, imploring it to give me an answer. I raise my hand to knock again when the door opens. "I said the door was open," Dennis said, standing in front of me. "I didn't hear." I lied. Why? I don't know, it just came out of my mouth. He turns back and walks into the room, not waiting for a further invitation, and I follow him. My heart had started beating fast, and I could feel my palms sweating. I was so nervous that I didn't immediately notice the other two people sitting on the opposite couch to where Dennis sat. The two people are Ken and Bennett, Dennis's best friends. I wondered why they were here right now, as I had expected that this would be a private conversation between both of us. The way they were all looking at me didn't feel right. It was like I was some kind of entertainment. “Have a seat,” Dennis said, tapping the empty couch next to him. I moved over and sat down where he had pointed. The fact that he wanted me close made me blush a little. Dennis’s smirk widened as he leaned back in his chair. “So, I hear you wolfed out this morning. Must’ve been exciting, huh?” I nodded, unsure of what to say. “Yes, it was…” He cut me off with a wave of his hand. “Let’s not beat around the bush, Valeria. We both know why I asked you here.” Oh, moon goddess! He knows. Just the thought of it made me more nervous. “You’re my mate,” he said, “But here’s the thing, yeah, you’re not good enough for me. Or for this pack.” His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I felt blood drain from my face as the reality of what he was saying sank in. He didn’t want me. I wasn’t good enough. “Dennis…” I was about to speak, but he cut me off again, this time with a sharp, mocking laugh. "Please don’t tell me that you thought I’d actually consider you as my mate. If you did, then you must be more foolish than I thought." Before I could say anything, he continued. "You can't expect me to want someone with a weak wolf-like yourself. To make matters worse, you are an omega and maid for crying out loud. You should be grateful I’m even speaking to you." He said mockingly, and his friends laughed. Wishing that I was anywhere else but where I am right now, I try to hold the pain that is running through me. Summoning courage, I spoke, “I know I’m not…not what you expected for a mate,” I said, my voice shaking. “But...” "No buts, Valeria. You don't expect me to have someone like you as my future Luna. You are too ordinary, even someone like your sister would be a better choice. You are not good enough for me." After speaking, Dennis sat up and leaned forward. There was suddenly a kind of twisted pleasure in his eyes. “But I’m willing to make you an offer. You won’t be my mate or my Luna, but I could bless you with my body by making you one of my consorts. I’m sure you’d find that to be a privilege, right?” He continued. I stared at him, unable to believe what I was hearing. He was offering to use me, to degrade me, and he thought I would be grateful for it. The shock of his words made me speechless for a moment. He and his friends stirred at me, smiling, waiting for my response. “No,” I finally replied, breaking the silence. My voice had come out stronger than I expected. “I... I am sorry, but I...I won’t do that.” I stammered as I spoke. Dennis’s smirk faltered, and for the first time, I saw an expression of surprise in his eyes. He clearly hadn’t expected me to refuse. “No?” he repeated as if he couldn’t quite believe it. “You’re saying no to me?” Meeting his gaze with all the courage I could muster, I replied “Yes. I’m saying no. I am not interested in being anyone’s consort.” Dennis’s surprise quickly turned to anger. His eyes narrowed, and his friends exchanged looks of disbelief. "Did you just call me 'Anyone'?" Before I could explain myself to Dennis, his hand swinging through the air, landed on my cheeks. The slap sent my head spinning, I held my cheek in pain, surprised at how quickly hot-tempered he was.