The Alpha's Eternal Luna

EPISODE #2( The Royal Mating ball Invite )

Before I could finish my sentence, to my surprise, Hailey interrupted me and said, "Madam Chrissy, if I may…"

Madam Chrissy turned to Hailey. "What is it, Hailey?"

"I take full responsibility for their delay," Hailey said. "I asked Annessa to help me with something earlier this morning. They were assisting me."

I stared at her in shock. Mallory’s jaw nearly hit the floor.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Madam. I apologize for any disruption this may have caused. It won’t happen again."

There was a pause before Madam Chrissy finally said, "Fine. I’ll hold you accountable, Hailey. But remember, any further mistakes from them will reflect on you." She shot a glare at me.

"Thanks," I mouthed to Hailey, but she didn’t respond. She turned back to her place in line, as poised as ever, leaving me wondering why she’d helped at all.

Mallory whispered, "I didn’t think she’d stick her neck out for you."

"Me neither," I whispered back.

Madam Chrissy walked up to the stage, she clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Everyone, attention! I have an important announcement to make.”

The room quieted immediately as she took out a letter and unfolded it, and she put on her reading glasses to read and she cleared her throat.

" From the Royal Family, in its wisdom and generosity, has decreed that this year’s Mating Ball will be open to all pack members, regardless of rank. Every wolf, from the omegas to the highest betas, is invited to attend the ball. It is a great honor to be extended to the entire pack for this historic event."

The room burst into more whispers of disbelief and excitement. Madam Chrissy raised her hand to silence everyone and she continued, “In honor of the Crown Prince’s return, this year, at the 101st Royal Mating Ball, His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Eylon Canberlgne, will be choosing his mate.”

The possibility of being seen by the prince himself, was more than any omega, delta, or lower-ranked wolf could have ever dreamed of. And I looked at the front where the betas i exchanged looks of confidence, clearly believing their rank made them the prime candidates for the prince’s attention. The deltas seemed equally eager as they all imagined the possibility of catching the eye of royalty.

Everyone in the hall seemed to be buzzing with excitement. Everyone except me.

I stood frozen, the words barely sinking in. The crown prince, choosing his mate? And inviting the whole pack? It felt like a dream, something so far removed from my reality. How could I even think about attending the mating ball when I could barely fit into this world?

Mallory nudged my arm with an excited grin. “Annessa! Did you hear that? We’re going to the ball!”

I forced a smile, but my heart wasn’t in it. While everyone else was imagining the glamour and possibilities, all I could feel was the weight of my place in the pack. The prince wouldn’t be interested in someone like me. I wasn’t a beta or an elite. I was barely noticed by my own sise let alone by royalty.

Madam Chrissy’s voice rang out once more, bringing the room back to order. “The ball will be held on the full moon and I expect every single one of you to represent our school with pride and dignity. Preparations will begin immediately, and you will each be assigned roles and tasks to ensure everything runs smoothly. This is a momentous occasion for us all, and I will not tolerate any form of misconduct.”

Her eyes swept the room, landing on me for a brief second, the warning in her gaze clear. I swallowed hard, trying to shake off the heavy feeling that settled in my chest.

"Dismissed," Madam Chrissy said, and she stepped down from the stage.

Mallory turned to me, practically bouncing with energy. “This is huge, Annessa! Can you imagine? We’ll get to see the prince up close. And who knows? Maybe we’ll even find our mates there.”

I nodded absently, but my mind was somewhere else. The idea of a royal ball felt distant, like a dream that wasn’t meant for someone like me. While everyone else seemed thrilled at the chance, I felt more out of place than ever.

Mallory was so excited, she could barely contain herself. “I can’t believe it! A royal mating ball, and we’re invited! This is our chance, Annessa. Imagine showing up and...” She gasped. “What if the prince actually looks at us?”

I gave her a sidelong glance, wondering how she still had room for hope. "You know what this really means, right?" I muttered.

She blinked, and looked confused for a moment. "What do you mean?"

"It means we’ll be working extra for them," I said, nodding toward the betas at the front of the room. "Someone has to make sure they’re ready. They won’t lift a finger, and guess who’ll be running around behind the scenes?"

Mallory’s smile vanish when she realized. "Oh. Yeah..."

"Yeah," I said, "We’ll be fetching their outfits, polishing everything until it gleams. And they’ll just waltz in, looking perfect, while we’re probably still carrying trays or running errands."

Mallory excitement dimmed for a moment, because of the bitter reality. But then, almost as quickly, she brightened hers again, as if she was refusing to let the truth ruin her fantasy. "Still," she said, nudging me, "it’s the prince, I mean, it’s not like something like this happens every year. We can dream a little, right?"

I gave a noncommittal hum, as my thoughts were drifting.

" I wanted to feel excited maybe a part of me even did but the weight of who we were and where we stood kept crushing that spark before it could grow."

As we walked back toward the hallway with the rest of the omegas, I heard a couple of betas laughing loudly, already bragging about who would catch the prince’s eye first. "He’ll probably pick from one of us," one of them said. "Royalty doesn’t bother with the lower ranks."

Mallory glared at them, but I pulled her arm before she could say anything reckless. "Let it go," I whispered. "It’s not worth it."

She huffed, but she followed me, "They’re so smug," she muttered. "I swear, one day..."

I didn’t have the heart to remind her that ‘one day’ might never come for us. At least, not in the way we imagined. We were omegas, born to serve. That’s just the way it was, and no ball or prince could change that.

As we slipped back into our room and Mallory started daydreaming aloud about gowns and music, I let her have this moment. Maybe dreaming was all we’d get but sometimes, even a dream couldn't make the world feel a little lighter for us.

knock...knock...knock

I heard knock on the door and thought already someone needs us to help them it's so quick and I went to open the door and Madam Chrissy was standing right in front of me. And before I could utter a word... she spoke...

"Annessa, Mallory, follow me."

Mallory gave me a worried glance but said nothing as we trailed behind Madam Chrissy, who led us down towards her office.

As we stepped inside, Madam Chrissy slammed the door behind us. She marched to her desk, and sat down, and stared at us like we were dirt beneath her shoes.

"I need to talk to you both," she said.

I swallowed hard, "What happened? Are we in trouble?"

"When are you 'not' in trouble, Annessa? And now you dare question me?" She leaned forward, and her fingers drumming on the desk. "Honestly, I wonder how you’ve lasted this long here."

" Madam Chrissy, I apologize for coming late but Hailey..." she didn't let me finish my sentence.

"Your sister Hailey was kind enough to save your worthless hide today. Do you even realize that?Hailey, who has always been leagues ahead of you in every way. She excels in her studies, her training, her leadership. And you? You run around like a mindless, untamed animal! When are you going to start acting like a proper young lady?"

Madam Chrissy words pierce through my chest.

"Look at you!" She gestured at me with disgust. "You’re almost 18, Annessa! Eighteen! And you still behave like a reckless child! How do you ever expect to find a mate? Who would want you? No one wants a wild, uncontrollable wolf. You’re an embarrassment."

I clenched my fists, struggling to hold back my tears but she kept going.

"If it weren’t for your mother," she spat, "the promise I made to her on her deathbed to keep both of you safe, you’d have been thrown out long ago. You’re only here because of her, understand that. And believe me, this is your last chance. If you screw this up, I’ll personally see to it that you’re out of here faster than you can blink."

I felt like the ground had dropped out from beneath me, my heart pounding in my chest.

She leaned back in her chair. "The Royal Maid of Honor has requested extra hands for the preparations at the palace for the grand annual mating ball. Lucky for you, I’ve volunteered the both of you. Maybe a little hard work will knock some sense into that thick skull of yours. You'll be staying there until the Mating Ball."

Mallory, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, "But Madam Chrissy, we..."

"Silence!" Madam Chrissy snapped, cutting her off. "You’re in no position to argue! and I don’t want to hear a single complaint from either of you." she glared at us both.

Mallory looked down, but I could tell she was just as crushed as I was.

Madam Chrissy waved us off with a flick of her hand. "Now, go and pack your clothes because you'll be leaving tomorrow morning and Don’t you dare be late, or you’ll wish you’d never been born."

The room felt suffocating, the weight of her words pressing down on me. I could barely breathe, my chest tight with the effort of holding back my tears.

As we turned to leave, she added one last remark, "And Annessa, try not to embarrass your sister any more than you already have. Hailey deserves better than being associated with someone like you."

Her final words hit me like a slap to the face, and I had to fight back the sob that threatened to escape. We stepped out into the hallway, the door closing behind us.

Mallory glanced at me, "Annessa, are you okay?"

" I just need a minute," I whispered and didn't wait for her response. I just hurried to the bathroom, and locked myself inside. I slid down against the cold tile wall, pulling my knees to my chest. The tears came fast, my chest heaving as I tried to muffle my sobs.

Madam Chrissy words kept echoing in my mind. "Untamed animal… embarrassment… no one wants you."

Each one stung deeper, and I couldn’t stop the flood of emotions. The weight of it all the constant pressure to be like Hailey.

I buried my face in my hands, letting the sobs rack through me. The cold floor pressed against my legs but the ache inside only grew. I cried until my throat felt raw, until my face was wet with tears. Eventually, the sobs slowed, leaving only the sound of my shaky breaths.

I sat there, staring at the tile, and I was feeling emptier than before.