Time Skipped Luna

ALMIRA Something heavy and full of dust smacked against my face. The coarse fabric travelled from my forehead, down to my nose before landing on the floor I just swept. Laughter erupted around me before I had the chance to figure out what the head maid had thrown at me. A rug they were using to clean the windows... "We're here to clean, not dillydally." Her voice rang in my ears. I was cleaning like everyone else, and literally stopped for a moment to take a breather. "We don't have all day, you runt. Pick that up and get back to work!" More laughter followed, but I simply lowered my head. It never mattered if I really did something wrong. I picked up the rug and resumed cleaning. The sooner I finished my chores, the fewer opportunities people had to make my day even worse. Maybe I could even rest a bit before the full moon later- "You're cleaning the west wing toilets today, Almira.” the head maid barked as I passed. "And don't think you can half-ass your work just because it's the full moon. I will be checking later and if I find even a speck of dirt, you'll scrub them all over again even if you have to do it in your wolf form!" “Yes, ma'am.” I bit the inside of my cheek and continued walking, going straight to the bathroom without any other complaints. This had been my life for the past decade. I was ten years old when everything changed in my life. I came from an average family. We weren't important wolves and we weren't wealthy, either. But we had been happy... until my parents were accused of betraying the pack. The trial lasted less than a day. No one questioned the lack of evidence or spoke in their defense. They were executed before sunset. Just like that, I became the daughter of traitors. The pack didn't execute me out of pity, but sometimes I wished they did. I pushed open the first restroom door and set my bucket down, cleaning without another thought. I scrubbed every corner until my fingers hurt. Hours slipped by like that, and by the time I reached the final restroom, my shoulders felt like it would fall off. I paused for a moment, resting one hand against the wall so I wouldn't stumble. I was exhausted earlier than I should. For most werewolves, a full moon would be their strongest. Their wolves rejoiced as they bathe in moonlight. For omegas... It was the opposite. Our wolves weren't strong enough to withstand the moon's influence. Every full moon left me drained long before I even shifted. “Just one more, and you can rest,” I cheered myself before forcing myself to keep moving. Finally, I was done after a moment. I let out a relieved breath and gathered the bucket and mop once more. I only wanted to return the supplies before collapsing onto my space but fate isn't on my side like any other day. As I rounded the hallway corner, a group of she-wolves approached from the opposite direction. My heart immediately jumped in fear, but it was too late to hide now. Those were daughters of influential pack families, all beautiful, confident and well-dressed. Everything I wasn't. I lowered my gaze at once and continued walking, hoping they were too excited about tonight's full moon gathering to notice me. My simple hope didn't last longer when I felt a foot caught my ankle. My balance faltered immediately, making the bucket flew from my hands. Cold, filthy water splashed across the hallway while my face landed directly in the small puddle. “Jeez, you're so clumsy.” I heard one of them spoke, while her friends sneered. “Eww, is that water from the toilet?” “It suits her. How can a traitors' daughter be so thick face to stay here?" I pushed myself up. Some of my hair stuck into my face while the dirty water soaked my clothes. It smelled exactly like the floors I had spent the entire morning scrubbing. One of the girls wrinkled her nose, covering herself mockingly. "Disgusting." "Well, what do you expect? She's already filthy to begin with.” I stared into space, almost dissociating while they mock and insult me. There was no point saying anything. Defending myself would only encourage them even more. The laughter stopped abruptly, making me nervous even more. The girls immediately straightened. "Good afternoon, Alpha Aquil." I scrambled onto my knees after realizing who it was while I kept my head low and trying so hard to stop the trembling of my body. The footsteps stopped directly in front of me. "Lift your head." My mind screamed no, but his overwhelming presence alone was enough for me to obey. Alpha Aquil stood over me. Even in simple training clothes, he looked every bit the future Alpha he was. Tall, broad-shouldered, and a face that makes every she-wolf follow him around with admiration and pray to be chosen as his future Luna. He carried effortless authority that made everyone around him instinctively lower their heads. “A-alpha, I'm so sorry for the mess,” I muttered, visibly shuddering from both cold and fear. His eyes gleamed as his gaze swept over me from head to toe. From the strands of hair sticking on my face, my soaked clothes and the murky water dripping from my sleeves onto the polished floor. The corner of his mouth curled in a mixture of amusement and disgust. "f*****g disgusting." His words made me feel like he had slapped me. "I suppose I shouldn't expect better from the likes of you," Aquil continued, voice dripping with disgust. I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough that I tasted blood and slowly lowered my head once again. This time, I wasn't shaking in fear anymore but anger. "Make sure you clean this mess,” he casually ordered as he walked past me, “and remove yourself in the house after. You're polluting the air.” He turned to the group of she-wolves. "Come." They all eagerly followed him, sparing me one last mocking smile before leaving. A tear slipped down my cheek, mixing with the dirty water already dripping from my face. I stared at the puddle surrounding me, wondering how someone could make another person's life so miserable without ever feeling guilty. I hate this pack. I hate everyone who made my life a living hell. But I hated Aquil the most. He's always, always, finding another way to remind me that I was beneath everyone else, that I was traitors' daughter and a burden to the pack. I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself back to work, picking up the turned bucket and the mop to my side. By the time I finished, my clothes had dried just enough to feel stiff against my skin. I feel beyond disgusted and all I wanted to do was to bathe and disappear from the world. "Almira?" I looked up and froze once again. Sebastian approached me, also wearing training clothes but his sleeves were rolled to his shoulder, freely showing his biceps. His brown hair was damp with sweat, surely just finished their training. Unlike everyone else, he didn't look at me with disgust or hate, but with concern. His brows knitted together . "What happened to you?" His gaze traveled over my stained clothes before settling on my face. "Are you okay?" Heat rushed to my cheeks. I must have smelled horrible. "I'm fine,” I instinctively took a step backward. “Sorry, I... I have to go.” I didn't let him come any closer and dashed away like my life depended on it. Sebastian is a warrior of the pack. He had always been kind to me, the only person who had treated me like a person. I also liked him... but I never expected him to return my feelings. I wasn't delusional that way. He was a respected warrior. I was an omega everyone despised. He doesn't even know about my feelings and I'm sure he only see me as a friend. Still... Whenever he smiled at me, or when he ask if I had eaten, even the times he would carry stuff for me; I would feel a little hope in my heart. It was foolish, but it has been the only source of happiness in my everyday hell. Unfortunately, it wouldn't matter anymore. Because tonight, I planned to leave the pack. I knew becoming a rogue omega wasn't ideal. Most rogues survived by joining rogue groups or hiding among humans. I could barely shift into my wolf. I'd probably struggle, be hungry and lonely. But it still sounded better than staying another day here. -- The full moon celebration had begun. Everyone was in a festive mood like usual. Even I, felt a little happy, but for an entirely different reason. Just the thought of leaving this pack already makes me happy. I would leave this hell, or die trying. It didn't take long till the peak of the full moon arrived. The wolves shifted one after another beneath the moonlight. My wolf form, a gray wolf and smaller than most, appeared after a moment of painful shift. Everyone ran ahead of me, while I was already exhausted just from the shift alone. I quietly strayed from the rest, going back where I shifted, barely making it when my body couldn't hold my wolf form any longer. I pushed myself up, and dressed once again, picking up the small bag I prepared earlier. It contained the few clothes I have, a little food and money I had managed to save. It wasn't much. But it was enough to start over. There was one final path leading toward the outer territory. It was a narrow trail rarely used by people except by patrols. That's where I intend to go and exit the territory. The sudden rustling of the bushes made me froze but the familiar wolf form immediately made me at ease. "Almira.” I heard Sebastian's voice from the mind link. "I've been looking for you. You suddenly left earlier.” He stayed in a distance, probably not to overwhelm me in his current form but I could still feel the concern in his voice. "I... I'm sorry for running away." "You don't have to apologize. Are you okay, though?” I quickly nodded, slightly kicking the bag to hide it better behind the bushes beside me. “I am. There was just a small accident earlier. I'm really sorry for how I acted earlier.” “I'm glad you're okay now.” He bid his goodbye shortly after, turning away and already intending to get back to his post. I bit my lip, suddenly having this courage to confess to him since I was leaving anyway. “Seb,” I called. He quickly turned back and I heard his voice in my mind once again. “Yeah?” I've loved you for years. I forced a small smile. “I just... I hope you have a good full moon tonight, Seb." "You too, Almira." I watched him leave, staying a bit longer and simply cherishing the last moment I'd see him. "Goodbye, Seb.” I whispered, turning away before I could change my mind. The path ahead grew quieter with every step until all I could hear was my heart hammering in both excitement and anxiety. I made it to the narrow trail and went on, already seeing the territory markers in a distance. Beyond it was my freedom. Finally, I could leave this hellhole. "I'll never come back." With a deep breath, I stepped past the territory markers, expecting yet another long walk. Instead, the world suddenly exploded into a blinding light.