The Luna Returns

I couldn't sleep throughout the night; tomorrow is my sixteenth birthday. I stood in front of my dresser, gazing at my birthday dress when I heard a loud and agonizing howl. Then there was a deafening silence; I sensed something was wrong. Suddenly, my Dad, the Alpha, burst through the wall into my bedroom. "Follow me now; there is no time to explain," he said before I could utter a word seeking an explanation. As I hurried through the secret passage in the house, I remembered my Dad's words: "We will never find a reason to use this secret passage." Looking back, my Dad had lost a lot of blood. "You would pass out if blood keeps flowing out of your body at this rate. Let's stop and treat the wound," I protested. "There is no time; your Mum is probably dead by now. There is no time; you have to get away from the pack and go to the Moonlight Pack," my dad said, panting, losing his breath. "There is a secret path here; you fools can't you see his blood traces," I was sure it was my Uncle Timber's voice. "Dad, why is Uncle Timber trying to kill us? What is going on?" By the time we got to the end of the tunnel where the gate was, Uncle Timber caught up with us. My dad hurriedly opened the gate and allowed me to get to the other side. "You know where to go, Zina; please, I and your mum must not die in vain." I could feel the desperation in his voice. He locked himself in, and that was the last word I heard. Then I heard a wailing followed by a last cry; I knew my uncle had killed my Dad. As I hurried through the woods, I had to get to the Moonlight Pack before my uncle's guards caught up with me. I ran through the woods towards the border. As if I swallowed burning charcoal, I could feel pain in my heart down to my tummy, and my legs were thrice heavier. I ran amid the forest; the sun was already coming out. As I got to the outskirts of Moonlight, my head started to feel light, and I passed out. Three years later. I woke up from the same nightmare I'd been having for the past three years. Perspiration covered my body, even though the weather wasn't hot. My life was good the first year I got here until Alpha Hunter became sick. Before that, he cared for me like his own daughter because he was Dad's friend, but now his children hate me because of that and partly because I am stronger and a better fighter than the three of them. "Zina, your food is ready; you should come to eat before it gets cold," Ava, Alpha Hunter's last daughter said. "Just a minute; I'm coming now," I replied, wondering why Ava was acting nice to me; it must be a prank. "Open! Open! Open!" Ava, Olivia, Alpha Hunter's daughters, and the Beta's daughter Riley chanted as I got to the dinner table; they covered something in a plate. As I was about to open it, Olivia said, "No, no, sit down before you open it." "I know you are up to something nasty; I am not opening it," I resisted. "You better be a good girl and open the food we took time and effort to prepare for your birthday before we make your life more pathetic than it has been," Riley said with a mean face. I forgot it was my birthday; I can't believe I can forget something like that. "Alright, I am going to open it to avoid problems," I said. Even though leaving the three of them at my mercy, I would beat them hands down because I am naturally stronger and technically better than them since I trained very hard. As I opened it, I saw slimy and spoiled pasta. Before I could react, Liam ran from the back and forced my head into the plate. But luckily, I quickly closed my eyes and mouth to prevent the food from entering. I quickly rushed into the restroom and started vomiting. As I was washing away the spoiled food from my face, the four of them came in to sing birthday songs to me. "Happy birthday, you worthless, wolfless b***h. You should leave this park and find somewhere else to go because I will make your life miserable," Olivia said. "You know I am going to be the next Alpha when my sick father finally dies. I don't know why he treated you rogue like a daughter in the first place, but when I become the Alpha, you will wish you were killed by the people that killed your parents," Liam said, laughing at my face. I can't understand why they hated me so much, up to the point that Liam would wish his father dead, even though that would make him an orphan. Up until the time Alpha Hunter became sick, I had been treated nicely by everyone because he commanded that I should be treated nicely. Now that his condition worsens every day, I think the Moon goddess just wants to make my life as miserable as it can be. Now I am nineteen years of age; I think it is time I started to seek revenge against my uncle. Moonlight pack would soon name Liam as the Alpha; my uncle in the Dark Hound pack is after my life. I have to choose between staying here, putting my life at the mercy of Liam, or going to face Uncle Timber. I started packing a few things I had. I don't have a plan yet, but I know I will figure everything out; the maltreatment from the Alpha's family is getting too much. "I am going back to my pack tonight; I decided nothing will change my mind," I said to my reflection in the mirror.