The Omega Healer

KEY TO RECLAIM THE PACK'S HONOR

CHELSIE

A werewolf wedding is often one of the most glorious celebrations a pack could throw, apart from the moon festival held every month for the full moon. It’s often very colorful, festive, and people are very excited for the bride and groom.

Except that none of us were happy about this wedding.

After everyone in the pack learned that we were fated mates, the celebration turned into dread. No one spoke a word, looking at Rain with a mixture of worry and pity. I remembered trembling in fear. He was looking at me like he wanted to kill me on sight, not caring that it would harm his soul as the Goddess tied our souls together now.

But then, one of the elders stepped forward and said something that shattered every hope I had of leaving this place.

“Alpha, the Goddess has blessed you with a mate. You cannot deny this, please. We’ve just got you officially as our alpha. If you reject the Goddess’ blessing, misfortune might follow.”

And so, here I am four days later for a rushed wedding that usually took at least a month to prepare. There were barely any preparations made aside from the required ones, and three out of four days were spent convincing Alpha Rain to agree to the wedding.

Four days where all I saw were people throwing me rage-filled looks as they couldn’t lay a hand on me anymore. Still, many of them openly wished Rain would just reject me. Their words cut deep, but I was hoping the same thing. It would be painful, but I’d rather him rejecting me and carrying that pain when I leave than be stuck here forever.

To my surprise, he suddenly folded and agreed on the fourth day, and now they’re rushing the preparations.

“This is insanity.” I heard Axena exclaimed from a corner while they prepare the veil they’ll put on me.

I flinched when she suddenly glared at me. I want to scream. To say that none of this was my fault and that I wanted nothing to do with it, but what choice do I have? The elders managed to force the alpha. They’ll do worse to me if I act out, and I’ve also lost the one chance I could escape without looking back.

“Can you stay still?” Carmela’s irritated voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I lowered my gaze and stayed still like she asked. “I’m sorry.”

She didn’t say anything and promptly fixed the thin veil placed on my head. Her hold was tight, and obviously trying to hurt me more while she had the chance, but I remained still, or I’ll get badly scolded again.

“That’ll do.” She said after a moment, “Let’s go already.”

I had a chance to glance at myself in the mirror briefly. At least, they didn’t let me get married in tattered clothes. It’s a plain dress, unlike the usual vibrant, colorful wedding dresses. But still, the most decent clothing I’ve had in a while.

Before I could get out of the room, Axena said something that sent chills down my spine.

“We will call you our Luna because it will be your title, but we will never, ever, treat you as one.”

We walked in complete silence until we reached the aisle. Everyone was watching us, but the longer it went on, the more it looked like a funeral than a wedding, thanks to the awkwardness and silence around us.

The elder officiating the wedding took a good look at us and heaved a sigh. He commenced the ceremony, but I barely understood what he was saying. My eyes kept darting at Rain, partly expecting him to stop the wedding, but another part of me, the small part that had been awakened when the bond took place, still wishes things would change somehow.

I wished the bond would open his eyes with the realization that I am not my parents, that I have nothing to do with their actions and choices in the past, if the accusation was true at all. But seeing his reaction now… I knew it didn’t matter. He feels the bond for sure, but years' worth of hate easily overrode it.

The elder took our attention as neither of us was listening. He gave us a warning glare and proceeded with reading what I think should be our vows. I just agreed with everything he said when he asked me, then Raid did the same with a straight face. He didn’t bother holding me or even lifting my veil.

And when the formalities were over, Rain just walked away without a second glance. I was left at the ceremony with everyone just staring at me with disdain in their eyes.

I am now their Luna… and they hate every second of it.

--

Almost a week has passed. I stayed in one of the rooms of the Luna wing in the pack house, but not in the main room. I’m sure Rain didn’t allow it. After all, it was his mother’s old room. I wasn’t allowed near it when I was still a servant, but I heard it was preserved, and nothing had changed in it.

I was served by the same people who beat me up almost every day for the last seven years, then ignored the rest of the day. That has been my life for days, and I haven’t seen Rain since then. It should have been some poetic revenge. Now, they couldn’t touch me. At least not physically, but I don’t feel any satisfaction from it. If anything, I feel more miserable. At least, in the past, I could still get out and clear my head when things got bad.

But now… I’m just stuck in this room. The only difference between me and a prisoner now is that I have a good room. I thought that if I just endured a little bit longer, I could finally be free. Instead, I was thrown deeper into something I couldn’t easily escape from. Maybe never.

Later would be the full moon. I’m sure I’ll be seeing Rain. Not that I’m so thrilled about it, but my wolf says otherwise.

“He’ll never change his mind about us. Stop hoping.” I talked to my wolf.

I could barely feel my wolf, but ever since the bond took place, it has become more active, and now that it’s the night of the full moon, I could feel it closer and a tad stronger.

My wolf whimpered with my words but couldn’t retaliate, knowing that it's true. I could hear my wolf howling during the wedding. It was calling for his wolf, but with her whimpers, I figured it wasn’t responding to her calls. His wolf probably harbors the same anger Rain has toward me.

Hours passed painfully slowly, being stuck in a room. Night came, and I was instructed to stay within the inner woods where only a few are allowed to roam during the full moon. My heart skipped a beat, sensing Rain near the woods. I could feel him through the bond, and everything in me wanted to run and approach him.

To my surprise, I felt his presence approaching my direction. Not even a few seconds, I found him nearby, already back to his original form and dressed… well, at least his pants are on, but he didn’t bother wearing a shirt.

I gathered my courage and spoke up when he got nearer. “Alpha I-”

Rain passed by me without a word and not even eye contact. My heart dropped as I watched him act like he didn’t see me at all.

I smiled bitterly and walked further into the woods, and sat leaning against one of the older trees around. “See? He doesn’t even see us.” I said, laughing bitterly while talking to my wolf, already whimpering.

My eyes darted to the sky. The full moon illuminated the sky beautifully. It looked even better and closer in the inner woods, but despite everything… I’m still alone.

“I get it now. I can’t escape and meant to rot alone to pay for my parents’ sins.” I muttered, talking to the Goddess of the Moon while wiping my tears away. Why else would I be mated to Alpha Rain if it wasn’t the reason?

“But you didn’t have to make him suffer him, too… haven’t we had enough?”

We both lost our parents over something that didn’t have anything to do with us. I understand his anger towards me, but I would never wish the same thing for him if given a choice.

I stayed there and quietly waited for the full moon to reach its peak. I doubt Rain will come back, and would probably be like this for a while. I should probably shift to the same place I did in the past, next full moon. They wouldn’t really care anyway. That way, I wouldn’t bother anyone.

The quiet night was ruined when I heard a commotion from a distance. I exited the inner woods and was surprised to see a man thrown right before me. I lifted my head and saw Rain already busy fighting the rogues rushing toward him.

My blood ran cold in fear. We’re under attack again.

I backed away and was about to hide when I heard soft whimpers from a short distance. Instead of backing away and hiding, I found myself running towards the direction of the cries.

A pup was hiding in the bushes, trembling in fear. Without hesitation, I scooped him up on my arms and rushed back to the inner woods for safety.

Only then did I realize that the child was bleeding. I checked on his body and realized he was bleeding profusely from one of his front legs, likely from claw marks.

“It hurts…” He whimpered, crying through mindlink.

“It’s going to be okay, it won’t hurt anymore.” I cooed the child, trying to draw his attention to keep him awake while I used my abilities to heal and absorb his pain.

I winced as I started to feel the pain in my arm, but I didn’t falter until I saw his wounds close up. The pup’s breathing grew easier and finally fell asleep on my arms.

“You healed the child.”

My shoulders jolted after hearing Rain’s voice. I turned to him in horror. I was so caught up in saving the child that I didn’t even notice him.

“You’re also the one who healed me when I was poisoned with wolfsbane.” He added in realization.

For a moment, I thought I’d see gratitude and understanding. That finally, he’d see more than my parents’ mistake, but it wasn’t what I saw. The slight surprise in his eyes was replaced with a smile I knew all too well.

It’s the same sadistic smile he wears whenever he is about to do something to make my life more miserable than it already is.

I promptly backed away. Everything in me wanted to run away, but he grabbed my hand before I could even escape.

“You will be the key for me to reclaim my pack’s honor. Finally, you’ll be able to pay for your sins.”