The Rejected Divine Luna

kidn*pped

Aria’s POV

I didn’t know for how long I was unconscious, but it was enough to make my family pissed off.

I woke up to the feeling of something nudging me and licking my face. I slowly opened my eyes and saw that it was my dog

"Buddy." My voice came out as a croak, and I tried to sit up, but the sharp ache in my side made me wince.

Buddy let out a low whine, his tail wagging hesitantly, as if he was both relieved and worried, and he pawed at me gently as though urging me to get up.

I got up, began to be aware of my surrounding. I was still at the lake behind the pack house.

“How did you find me?” I asked my dog

Buddy tilted his head, his brown eyes full of concern, as if he understood my words. His tail thumped against the ground once, and he barked softly, nudging me again. It was then I noticed the faint paw prints in the dirt leading to where I lay. He must have followed my scent all the way here.

I felt so touched. At least I know there is someone that cares about me in this world. Memories of what happened last night ached me.

“Let’s go buddy” I said wearily. Alpha Caleb was my mate, and he doesn’t like me. Because I have no wolf and no inhuman abilities. I am just ordinary, no special talent whatsoever.

Buddy walked beside me, his head low as if sensing the heaviness in my heart. My legs felt heavier, and the familiar path back to the house felt longer than usual. Each step brought me closer to the place I wanted to run away from, but where else could I go? It was still my home—even if it didn’t feel like it anymore.

Alpha Caleb’s words from last night replayed in my mind, its words still fresh and aching me.

“How am I supposed to take someone like you seriously? A mate who can’t even stand without falling apart?”

It wasn’t like I chose to be born without a wolf. I didn’t choose to have this disorder. It wasn’t like I asked to be mated to someone like him—someone who saw me as nothing more than a burden.

“Maybe he’s right,” I muttered under my breath. The thought stung, but it wasn’t new.

Buddy nudged my hand with his nose, breaking me out of my thoughts. I looked down at him, his warm eyes filled with unconditional love. “You don’t think I’m useless, do you?” I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

He let out a soft bark, his tail wagging slightly, as if to say, Never.

A faint smile appeared at my lips despite the ache in my chest. “At least I have you,” I said, stroking his fur. I wonder how I would have lived without buddy by my side. Even with all the disappointment, I know I can always count on him. He was also a gift my mom gave to me when I was a child.

As the house came into view, my steps faltered. Any stranger will think this house is homely, so serene from here, but I knew what waited inside. Suffering, pain and rejection.

Part of me wanted to turn around, to disappear and never look back. But where would I go? I had no family outside the pack, no resources, no plan. The thought of running away felt both freeing and terrifying.

I sighed, shaking my head. “Come on, Buddy. Let’s just get this over with.” My voice sounded hollow, even to my own ears. Buddy stayed close to my side as we made our way toward the house, his presence the only comfort I had left.

As I stepped inside, I saw they sitting at the living room. They looked like the perfect family, enjoying their company. They didn’t care if I live or die.

None of them noticed me at first, and for a moment, so I thought of slipping upstairs quietly. But then my dad’s gaze shifted ant noticed my presence, and his eyes locked onto mine. The laughter stopped, and their stares felt heavy on me.

“Where have you been?” my dad, Tom, demanded, his voice sharp and cutting through the silence.

I froze, my heart sinking. “I fainted by the lake.”

His eyes narrowed, and he scoffed, a bitter smile curling on his lips. “Fainted, huh? Must be that episode of yours again. Always making excuses for your weaknesses.”

The words hit me like a slap, but I forced myself to stand tall, even as my insides crumbled. “It’s not an excuse,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“What did you say?” he snapped, his tone mocking. “Speak up, or are you going to faint again right here?”

Before I could respond, Karen stood abruptly, her face twisted with anger. “You’ve been out all night, and you think you can just waltz in here and play the victim? Do you realize the house chores haven’t been done? Do you think I’m going to clean up after you?”

“I—I was going to do them,” I stammered, backing away slightly. “I just needed—"

A sharp sting exploded across my cheek as her hand connected with my face. I gasped, stumbling back a step, my hand flying to my burning skin. Buddy stepped in front of me, his teeth exposed, and growled wildly.

I silently looked at my father, hoping for him to step in, to do anything to protect me. But he simply shrugged and turned his attention back to the TV, muttering, “Just don’t break anything.”

Tears pricked my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

“That’s right, cry about it,” my stepsister, Bella said with a smirk, her voice dripping with mockery. “Oh no, the world’s too hard for me! Let me faint and hope someone feels sorry for me.” She mimicked a faint, falling back dramatically onto the couch, and the room erupted in laughter.

I stood there, trembling, feeling the anxiety coming in. They knew that doing that will trigger my disorder. Buddy growled lowly, and I placed a hand on his head, trying to calm him. “Come on, Buddy,” I whispered, turning toward the stairs. “Let’s go.”

As I climbed the steps, the laughter followed me. By the time I reached my room, I felt like I was suffocating. I closed the door behind me, slid down against it, and buried my face in Buddy’s fur.

“You’re all I have,” I whispered to him, my voice breaking. “You’re the only one who cares.”

---

It’s already dark. Hours has passed as I was washing my stepmom’s room again.

“That’s your punishment. You will clean everywhere three times. If I ever see you slack of or start with your stupid episode, you will start all over”

Buddy lay quietly in the corner, his eyes never leaving me. He’d stayed by my side the whole time, giving me comfort in a house that has none. His presence was the only thing keeping me from collapsing under the weight of it all.

I finished scrubbing the last corner of the room, my arms shaking as I leaned back to assess my work. No matter how hard I worked, they will always find a reason to say it’s not enough.

A sudden sound broke the silence. I turned, but before I could understand what was happening, something hard hit the back of my head. Pain exploded in my skull, and the my eyes became blurry.

I collapsed to the floor. My vision dimmed, and I struggled to keep my eyes open. A shadowy figure loomed above me, but everything was spinning too fast to make out any details.

“Buddy…” I croaked weakly, reaching for him.

He barked furiously, a sound filled with rage and protectiveness, and I heard the scuffle of paws and feet. Then came a sickening thud, followed by another. Buddy yelped—a sound so pained and terrified it cut through the haze in my mind.

“No…” I whispered, tears pooling in my eyes as darkness crept closer. “Leave him alone…”

The last thing I heard was another yelp, followed by a cruel, mocking laugh. And then, there was nothing but silence.