My Bounty

I don’t know

Alina’s P.O.V

With all that had happened I still didn’t know whether or not to trust him. Lylah was telling me I could, but I’m sure you’ll understand where I’m coming from by not being able to trust him. Hey I’ve been kept a slave and slept in an attic crawl space, I’m struggling to figure s**t out right now. We ate our food in an awkward silence, my mind going a bajillion miles an hour at how quickly things had gone. I didn’t like it, my plan was to be alone, possibly travel to the human territory and settle down there. Get a small apartment, a job, and just live peacefully. I knew I had to leave, I’ve told myself for many years I don’t want a mate. Who the hell would want a ratty little slave girl who was all skin and bone? I was better alone, at least then I wouldn’t be in anyone’s way, and I’d be happier, at least that’s what I’d thought. I started poking at the bacon on my plate, the smell making me want to vomit (I’ve always hated bacon), then turned to Christian who was in deep thought. I knew something was bothering him, maybe he only bought me here because he pitied me?

My mind suddenly went back to the events that took place at the ceremony, my blood ran cold as I remembered the lifeless body that hit the ground, the sounds of bones snapping.

“Hey, do you know how that happened...you know.....at the ceremony?” I asked in a shaky voice

Christian looked straight ahead, I know he was thinking of something to say. “No” the way he said it almost sounded like he was lying, but I wasn’t going to pry anymore. I barely knew the guy, so forcing him to speak may get me into trouble. I went back to poking at my food when he spoke again “your old pack, crimson moon, do you remember anything about it other than what I’d told you?”

“No, like I said, I’ve been in the Golden Moon Pack for as long as I can remember, how come?”

“Nothing really, just wondering”

Something didn’t seem right, I finally stopped poking at my food and moved it away from me, I got up and stalked towards the bathroom, my bladder felt as if it was going to explode at any given moment. As I got to the bathroom I looked at myself in the mirror, the reflection of a neglected malnourished girl stared back. Sunken eyes and cheekbones sticking out so much they’d easily cut someone. Her lips dry and cut. I rose my hand and touched my skin, feeling how dry and flaky it felt, i quickly turned away before I did anymore mental damage to myself and quickly used the toilet. After I’d finished my business, I washed my hands and walked back out, I saw some clothes on the bed, Christian had taken the trays of food back down to the kitchen. I grabbed the clothes and a soft towel and headed for the shower, the warm water felt like it burnt my skin, it had been a while since I’d taken a proper shower. I lathered myself with soap and washed my hair, after I’d had my shower and got changed I stood by the bedroom door, hand on handle, contemplating whether or not I should head downstairs. I was still scared to see the rest of the pack, what if they were like everybody at Golden Moon. What if this was a trap, treat me nice then throw me into the dirtiest part of the pack house to complete all the chores. I took a deep breath, swallowing the lump in my throat and opened the door. As I stepped out I bumped into something, I opened my eyes and looked up to find the most gorgeous red headed girl I’d ever seen, I mean I may not swing that way but I could easily swing that way for her! She had luscious long red soft curled hair down to her bum, a fridge/bangs, and big bright green eyes, some freckles that danced around her face, and full pink lips. She was tall too. Honestly I think I had a serious girl crush. She looked at me with wide eyes for a second until she smiled at me, a soft smile that made my heart skip a bit. Damn, how is she so pretty!?

“You must be Christians mate” she spoke so softly, I just stared at her for a moment before gathering my thoughts

“Umm...yes, I’m Alina, it’s lovely to meet you” I smiled back at her, her eyes softened.

“My name is Willow” wow even her name was pretty, so not fair! “How are you finding things here?” She asked softly

“This place is amazing, I’ve met the beta, beta female, and Christians sister, they were all very nice to me” I tried to sounds as confident as I could but I knew I was still worried.

“And now you’ve met me, I hope we can be good friends” she smiled at me again “are you headed downstairs, we can go together?”

“Oh, yes please, I’m still very nervous to be here”

As we got downstairs we heard what sounded like an argument taking place, I froze in my spot, my heart racing I started to shake and the lump in my throat came back. As we walked into the kitchen, we saw a cowering omega being yelled at by a bleach blonde haired girl. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE FOUND A MATE?! IM THE ONLY ONE GOOD ENOUGH FOR HIM!!!” I started shaking violently as I saw the girl throw a cup at the omega, shattering against the wall right next to her head.

“Anabella, you should really watch what you’re saying, you know Christian would never touch you even with a ten foot pole” I heard Willow say in an amused yet cold tone. I watched the bleach blonde spin around, she looked pissed.

“The f**k did you just say? He WILL be mine” she spoke in almost a snobby way, then her eyes darted into my direction. “Who’s the rat?” “She’s Christians mate, Alina” Thanks for throwing me in the deep end!!

I watched the blondes eyes turn black of her wolves. She slowly started to stalk over to me, I froze in fear until she was inches away from my face “he’d never love a runt like you. He simply pities you. Once he realises I’m better, he’ll dump your ass back to the sewers where you belong” I felt as the tears I was holding back started flowing down my cheeks. She was right, I’m not good enough at all. She stormed out of the kitchen muttering to herself. Once she was out of sight we looked back at the omega, she was sobbing and shaking, her cheek looked like a hand print was painted on it. We walked over to her, I bent down to clean up the shards of glass on the floor, Willow took the omega to the table to sit her down. After I threw the glass in the bin I joined them. “Don’t listen to Anabella, she’s got her head so far up her ass she’d think it was a hat. How are you feeling Margot?” Willow spoke softly to her. It was nice to see the omegas get treated with respect by majority of the pack.”A little shaken up Miss Willow, but I’ll be okay.” You could tell the omega was scared shitless, I wanted to find this Anabella physically shove her head up her arse, who does she think she is treating pack members like that!? “She has always gone on about being the only acceptable choice for a Luna, she’s a proper i***t, girl doesn’t even know her 2x tables” Willow mocked her, I giggled a little too, I was coming to like Willow. I thought maybe I could get used to being here, I liked the people I was around (Anabella being one of the first I didn’t like though), we headed out into the garden, teas in hand and headed towards the swinging bench that hung from the cherry blossom tree, we sat there for a while talking and laughing, I actually laughed from my gut for the first time. But all good things must come to an end

“Alina, I finally found you. You need to come with me, and now” Christian stood by the, his face plastered with concern. I thought I stopped breathing for a moment until I got up, I said goodbye to Willow and Margot and headed inside.

“Ummm, is everything okay?” I looked across the room to find an older man standing there, a little shaken up with papers in his hands

“Luna, I’m Elder Rodrick....I think we need to have a talk” I started to panic, the only reasons elders summoned you was if you’d done something wrong, like REALLY wrong, or something bad had happened. I hesitantly nodded as we walked upstairs toward Christians office. I sat on a chair, Elder Rodrick next to me and Christian on the opposite side of the desk.

“Luna, I have done some research on you original pack. This may be hard to take in, so I’ll be sure to take it slow.” I nodded in confusion, what was he talking about.

“Now Luna, have you heard of the ancient beings known as Blood Bearers” I sat there staring at him like a grew another head. “No, sir” “I see, so Golden Moon either never told you about your original pack or they never knew, this may take a while to explain” he started telling me what he’d told Christian and his father, my eyes grew wider as he explained, I didn’t know what to think. Was this all a big joke?

“So......you’re telling me I have these.....weird things?”

“Vectors, yes”

“And that’s how Alpha Grayham got killed?”

“Yes” I sat there taking in what he’d been saying. Then it hit me. I killed someone, the blood of another was on my hands. I started breathing hard and deep, I could feel a panic attack rising in me.

“Luna, please, we’re all here to help you gain control of all this” I didn’t know what to do, Christian walked around the table, lifted me and placed me on his lap, rubbing my back. The panic attack slowly subsiding. I was still breathing heavy though. I didn’t know what to say. I just looked at the diagram again, trying to understand what was going on.

“Also, Luna, it seems these genes were passed down to you”

“By who?” I was anxious to know who else was like me, maybe I could find them and get them to help me better understand.

“Your mother” I stared for a minute, then the realisation hit me. “How can you help me better understand this when the only other person who was like me is.....dead?” I whispered the word dead, I couldn’t say it out loud. Both Christian and the elder looked at minute, I could tell they were worrying, but I needed answers. “We’ll do what we can Alina, for now, try to keep your emotions in check, especially anger” Christian spoke softly to me, I tried to calm my nerves, I was still in a bit of a daze. Why? How? This sounded like some fictional story, or some practical joke. I looked at the diagram again, and noticed something about the person who was drawn. They had the same diamond eyes as me. And I remember seeing a photo of my mother when I was younger, she too had diamond eyes. Maybe it was a genetic mutation given to those with these......vectors? I tried to push everything I’d been told to the back of my mind. I nodded my head at the elder and Christian before getting up “I think I’m going to have a lie down, this is all a bit too much for me” I left the office and headed down the corridor towards the bedroom, I got into the room and closed the door behind me, I slouched down and hurried my head into me knees. I didn’t know what to do. So I got up and went to lay in the bed. I hoped there would be a solution to all this. Before I knew it, I had given in to sleep.