Luna from Hell

Chapter 5: Fire OF of Vengeance

*Ariel Levine*

The moment I jolted awake, my heart pounding against my ribs, I knew something had shifted within me. The shadows in my shabby omega room felt thicker, heavier, infused with an electricity that hinted at danger and unyielding power. It was the kind of feeling that curled tendrils of excitement around my spine, igniting a fierce spark that hadn't burned in me for years. The dream still clung to my thoughts like a smokescreen—dark and alluring. The devil, with his crooked smile, had extended a hand, and I had taken it without hesitation.

I blinked in the dim morning light filtering through the cracks in the curtains. A glance at the worn-out clock on my wall confirmed my thoughts: it was June 30th again—my eighteenth birthday. It wasn't a dream, I did get back– I was reborn. Today would mark Gage's coronation as our Alpha, the day everyone in Silver Valley Pack would revel in his ascendance, oblivious to the tempest brewing in my heart.

The rage simmering inside was raw and primal. I could almost taste the bitterness of it, like ash on my tongue. Part of me recoiled at this new feeling, but another part—one that burned fiercer than any flame—welcomed it. Everyone had taken so much from me: my dignity, my rank, my future. Gage had apparently always seen me as nothing more than the invisible omega. Well, he would find out just how mistaken he was.

The realization struck me like a bolt of lightning: I might still be wolfless—my pack's disgrace—but that didn't mean I was powerless. No, there was something else inside me, a strength swirling up from deep within as if the devil himself had exhaled fire into my soul. I smirked, a dark thrill coursing through me. Let them think I'm just the lost, pathetic omega. They had no idea what was to come.

Blowing out a shaky breath, I rose from my bed and began plotting my next move. I needed a disguise—a way to slip through the cracks unnoticed. That's when I remembered Mora's red dress, the one that clung to her curves like a second skin. Disguises were for the weak, and I wasn't weak anymore, but I could still play the part of a beautiful stranger even if just for a few moments. For now, the world needed to see me as I had never shown myself—not as their omega, but as someone worthy of their fear.

I crept through the quiet packhouse, each step deliberate, avoiding the creaky floorboards that seemed intent on betraying me. My parents' apartment was only a few yards away, and I could feel the thrum of adrenaline spurring me on. Would they even notice I was gone? I was always in the background, fading into the shadows. Today, I would emerge from those shadows, dressed in the fire of vengeance and cloaked in red.

When I finally slipped inside their apartment, the familiar scent of home surged up, mixing with my simmering anger. Memories of being shunned and overlooked flickered in my mind, but I quickly pushed them aside. There was no time for weakness. I darted toward Mora's closet, the space filled with pretty things I had only ever dreamed of wearing. As I rifled through the silky fabric and glittering accessories, I found the dress—sharp red, a color that rivaled the very fire consuming me from within.

I pulled it on, my heart racing as I fastened the delicate straps, the fabric hugging my body in a way that felt foreign and intoxicating. Admiring my reflection, I hardly recognized myself. The girl who had lived in tattered clothes and bore the burden of being an omega was gone—transformed into something more lethal and alluring.

I quickly took it off and put it in a black bag so I wouldn't be conspicuous while parading through the halls in blood red. I found silver heels and makeup to match my outfit perfectly. It wasn't my only goal to steal the dress Mora wore, flaunting her engagement ring, in my previous life.

I quietly moved towards my parents' room to withdraw my father's savings, hidden in the bank in the bedroom. I found it, tucked away in a small box, the very embodiment of everything they had deprived me of. With trembling fingers, I scooped up the cash, stuffing it into the designer backpack, chuckling. It felt like collecting trophies, reminders of the wrongs I was about to make right.

As I made my escape back to my room, I felt like a ghost slipping through the walls of a world that had never been mine. The celebrations would start soon, and the pack members gathered to honor Gage. They would feast and dance as if today was just another day of his reign—a day that I could only be a shadow in. But tonight, I wouldn't just watch. I would make my presence felt. I would haunt each one of them, a phantom of wrath rising from the ashes of their underestimation.

The sun began its descent, casting an ominous glow across Silver Valley as I plotted my revenge. The scent of meat grilling wafted into my room from the kitchen as the preparations for the ceremony heated up. I steeled myself, imagining Gage's surprise when he realized who had ventured into his world, a force he could never have anticipated.

He thought he had it all—alpha status, power, and unchecked privilege. But he didn't know what I'd become. I was more than just an omega without a wolf; I was a storm ready to unleash hell, and he was right in my crosshairs.

As darkness settled over the valley, I felt that power within me surge once more. I smirked at my reflection in the dim light, the devil's fire flickering in my eyes. Tonight would mark the beginning of my reckoning.

With one last glance at my new persona in the mirror—a girl transformed, emboldened, and reborn—I slipped out into the night, ready to set Silver Valley Pack ablaze. The devil's promise hung in the air; it was my turn to claim what was mine, and there would be no escape for those who had wronged me.

As I stepped into the ballroom, the air thick with the scent of laughter and power, I felt the fabric of my red dress cling to me like a second skin. It was a bold statement, one that screamed defiance and ignited my pulse with a rush of adrenaline. The soft whispering around me grew louder, a chorus of judgment and disbelief befitting my entrance.

"Who does she think she is?" I caught snippets of conversations, the disdain lurking just beneath the surface. But tonight, I was done fading into the shadows. I was here to reclaim what was mine—with a vengeance.

I focused on the piercing scent that filled my nostrils—cedar, rich and intoxicating. Gage. Just the thought of him had me teetering on the edge while the mate bond tugged at my core, a relentless plea for connection. No! Not now. I pushed that craving down hard, focusing instead on the task at hand.

As I walked further into the room, I spotted a server with a tray of champagne flutes. A wicked grin danced on my lips as I snatched one with a decisive flick of my wrist, sending the rest crashing to the ground in a glorious symphony of shattering glass.

All eyes turned to me, including Gage's, and the room fell silent. The way he looked at me, a mix of shock and something else—desire?—disconcerted me. I pushed the thought away, knowing deep down that I needed to stay focused.

"Gage," I muttered under my breath, a mixture of disdain and lost love swirling inside me. He stood across the room, engaged in a heated discussion with his father near the stage. But there was something different about him tonight. His posture was less assured, almost defensive, as though he sensed a storm brewing.

As I walked toward them, the whispers morphed into a low murmur of anticipation. It felt like the whole world had come to a standstill, but I didn't stop; I couldn't. Rage fueled my strides, driving me forward despite the deep-rooted bond that tried to pull me back. The crowd parted before me like the Red Sea, making my approach toward Gage feel almost ceremonious.

When I was just a breath away from him, he looked up, his smile wide—but it was no longer the boyish charm I remembered. There was something deeper, more complex in his eyes. But that spark of warmth wasn't enough to sway me.

I lifted my hand and slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed like a gunshot, and I couldn't help the laugh that escaped my lips as I watched shock morph into confusion on his face. "I like you this way better," I said, delivering a swift punch to his gut. He doubled over, a look of betrayal mingling with pain etched on his features, and for a heartbeat, I felt a pang of regret.

But it dissipated faster than I could grasp it.

"You don't get to destroy me and expect me to bow down to you," I hissed, my voice cutting through the hushed whispers that rippled through the crowd. I grazed my fingers along his cheek, and lightning shot through me—sparks igniting the air between us, drawing me close. I fought against the urge to pull him into an embrace that would have felt so right just days ago.

"No more. I, Beta Ariel Levine, reject you, Gage Sullivan, as my mate, and revoke our bond; you will never be my Alpha." I said defiantly, my voice unwavering as I stepped back. Gage whimpered and clutched his chest while still on his knees, overwhelmed by a wave of excruciating pain.

The energy in the ballroom shifted as my proclamation slammed against the walls like thunder. I swiveled around to face the crowd, the weight of their gazes stifling, but liberating. "I sever my ties with the Silver Valley pack. I am done living as a ghost. You wanted a coward, and I became one. But not anymore."

I laughed ironically as I, the fragile omega in their eyes, stood on my feet despite the pain in my chest while their mighty Alpha writhed in pain on the floor. Their shock fueled my pride. With that, I began to walk out, head held high and an unbreakable resolve coursing through me.

"Ariel!" Mora's voice reached me like nails on a chalkboard, a furious scream that clawed at my insides. I barely had time to turn before she barreled into my path, fists clenched and fury shining in her green eyes as if she were prepared to claim her moment. But I wouldn't let her.

As her hand swung toward me, I swiftly caught her wrist, twisting it until she cried out. With one strong shove, I sent her to the floor, an unexpected twist of power surging through me. I felt the fire blazing in my veins, and smirked as I watched Mora's hand with a large bruise.

"What the hell are you doing?" She screeched, clutching her hand to her chest. She tried to stand up but slipped, and I moved a bit closer, standing over her like a predator, suddenly reversing our roles.

"Get used to this, sister," I spat, staring down at her crumpled form. Her wide eyes held disbelief, and for a fleeting second, I saw fear reflected back at me. "Because I am not finished with any of you."

Striding out of that ballroom, the remnants of my family behind me, I felt unchained, liberated from the bonds that once held me captive. Every step echoed a new beginning. I was no longer concerned with being just an omega; I was a storm ready to crash into the complacent shores of Silver Valley.

And I would make them remember my name. With the pain of severing my ties to Silver Valley Pack and the slowly dying mate bond with Gage, I was finally free. Free and ready to embrace the new life where revenge was my purpose and the anger my weapon.