The Beast's Blind Serenity

Part 1 - Alpha Summit, Chapter 2 - Crescent Moon

Ila’s POV

The Crescent Moon pack house and grand hall were buzzing with Omegas and pack members preparing for the Alpha Summit that was being held for the first time. Female Omegas clean every nook and cranny while they gossip about who will be at the ball tonight. Everywhere except for one place. Tucked away near the back of the two-story pack house is a small room with the grand concert piano. If you listen carefully, you can hear someone playing Pachelbel’s Canon in D.

“I can’t believe Alpha gave her a piano. She isn’t even a family member.” An Omega cleaning whispers while she leans into the door to listen. “I wonder what Luna Elisabeth thinks about their relationship.”

“I bet she is sleeping with the Alpha. Because of her disability, I heard she sucks men off for money. Have you seen her clothes and house? Such a country bumkin.” Both women giggle. “But I must admit, the songbird is really beautiful. I secretly love her music.”

“Oh! I know! And her voice! To sing like that!”

Their voices faded away from my hearing, and I let out an exasperated sigh. Such lies. Just because I am blind doesn’t mean I’m hearing impaired.

I continue to practice my music that I will perform tonight at the opening Moon Ball for the Alpha Summit. Alpha Dean promised the council a small concert before the dinner to show how special our pack is. Luckily, I could convince some of my college friends from the school of music to perform with me.

“Ila! It’s me. May I come in?” A deep voice came through the closed double doors.

Shivers run up my neck into my hairline, making me cringe when his all-too-familiar scent hits my nose. My wolf, Juniper, instantly wakes up in my mind and growls at his scent. “Of course, Alpha.” I call out in my best neutral voice. I can’t deny him entrance or else he may do something I will regret later.

The creaking door opens, making my stomach turn. I closed my eyes, waiting for this encounter to be over. A single thick finger slides up the side of my arm, sending goosebumps over my skin in a not-so-pleasant way. I try not to move, even though his presence gives me the creeps. I want to escape from his touch, but any movement could lead to pain. The memory of his claws digging into my upper arm from our last encounter is still fresh in my mind.

“So beautiful.” Alpha Dean whispers close to my ear. The smell of alcohol makes bile burn in my throat. “I love your piano playing; I just had to come see you.” The back of his finger traces over my collarbone, and I instinctively flinch. “Yes, just a beautiful Songbird.” I hate the nickname Songbird; it makes me feel like I am trapped in a cage.

This isn’t the first encounter I have had to endure with Alpha Dean. Since I legally became an adult, he has made a pass at me every chance he gets. At first, it was small and barely noticeable. He would brush up against me during pack events, calling it an accident. But over time, his advances became bolder. Telling me to sit next to him during pack dinners so he could touch me or request private meetings in my music room so I could play for him. His wandering hands finding their way to potentially intimate spots like my thigh. I hate his touch, but I can’t do anything to stop him. He is an Alpha, and I am just a disabled, blind werewolf. All I can do is attempt to evade him as best as I can.

“Thank you, Alpha. I appreciate the opportunity to perform tonight. It’s truly an honor.” I quickly mind link my caregiver, Serena, for help. One good thing about being blind is that no one can see your mind-linking. The cloudy gloss of my gray eyes masks the signs of an SOS.

I try to think of something to distract him until Serena gets here. She doesn’t move as fast as she used to in her old age. Juniper says a name, and I internally smile. She is such a quick thinker.

“How is your son, Carter, doing at the royal palace? You must be excited about his Alpha training in such a prestigious pack. You must be very proud.”

Alpha Dean’s hand moves against my shoulder and down my upper arm before tracing back up again. “My son is doing fine.”

“Is he coming back for the Alpha Summit?” I asked with fake enthusiasm.

“No.”

I try to lean away from his touch, but it makes no difference. The piano bench creaks with his weight when he sits next to me. The warmth of his body is radiating unwanted heat.

“So, I heard Luna Elisabeth put a lot of work into the preparations. I hope her efforts paid off.” I try to smile. “My brother says the weather will be nice for the running of the wolves.”

He doesn’t respond, just continues caressing my upper arm. The roughness of his calloused aged hands catches on the fabric of my long-sleeved shirt. I am thankful for the thin material barrier, but it doesn’t last for long. My entire body freezes when his hand roams under my shirt to the lower part of my back. The skin-on-skin contact sends warning bells off in my mind. I must get out of here and now! He has never been this bold before, and it scared me.

“Alpha, I think I should go now so I can get ready for my performance tonight. Please excuse me.” As I moved off to the other side of the bench, I tried to feel for my folded walking stick on top of the piano, but Alpha Dean stopped me. He moves my hand to his crotch. My eyes widen; his member is hard. Nothing but fear consumes me. Oh Goddess, someone help me!

“Alpha, please stop…” I stuttered out in protest, trying to pry my hand out of his grip, but his hand under my shirt holds me in place, formidably stopping any attempt to separate our bodies. Alpha Dean pushes my hand harder on to his crotch, forcing my trembling palm to rub up and down on the outside of his trousers. He moans in my ear. His lips on my marking spot triggered tears I have been holding back. NO! I don’t want this! I don’t want this at all!

“I want you, Ila. See what you do to my c**k? Just one word and I will make you Luna. I will reject my worthless drunk mate for you. All you have to say is yes.” His raspy voice is dripping with desire, but I feel nothing but fear. I try pulling away from him again, but he just tightens his already painful grip around my wrist. The pain is now almost unbearable as I close my eyes. I want to scream for help, but I just can’t find my voice.

Without warning, Alpha Dean steps away, releasing me. I lose my balance and fall back onto the bench with a thud, hitting my wrist on the side of the piano. Pain radiates up my arm, making me cry out.

“Are we ready to go? We need to get you ready for your concert tonight! Oh, Hello Alpha Dean. Will you please excuse me? I need to help Miss Ila.” Serena places a hand over mine and helps me stand. She guides me away from the piano and away from danger. “Do you have your cane, child?”

I smile. I am 23 years old, but this little old lady still calls me a child. “They were on the piano stand.” I point to where my stuff might be at.

“Dean! Dean! Where are you?!” another female voice echoes from the hallway. Her scratchy voice rings through the hall like nails on a chalkboard. “Dean! You better not be with that blind, worthless… Oh, Ila, Serena… Why are you here?” Luna’s voice sounds angry and irritated… again.

I gave her a small bow toward her voice. “Good afternoon, Luna Elisabeth. I was just finishing my practice for tonight. Serena came to escort me home so I could get ready.”

She huffs out an unrecognizable slur of drunken noise. There is a strong smell of alcohol on her words. “Why is MY mate with you?”

Before I could respond, Alpha Dean barked out from the corner. “I was checking on the preparations for tonight’s concert. Ila, you’re dismissed.”

I nodded, not wanting to press my luck any further. Serena leads me away and down the long hall towards the front door, leaving the arguing drunken pair far behind me.

As we walked down the sidewalk, it didn’t take Serena long to express her complaints about the Alpha and Luna. “Goddess child, that felt way too close. If she caught you with him alone, who knows what that woman would have done to you? She was giving you many evil, accusatory looks just now. Did you smell the alcohol on her breath? Did he do anything to you? Why are you holding your wrist like that? Let me look.”

Serena took my hand before I could finish my protest, making her usual clicking noise with her tongue. “That’s going to leave a nasty bruise. Why haven’t you said anything to anyone? What that man does to you is wrong!”

We entwined our arms again and continued our walk slowly down the road towards the residential area.

I sigh, “No one in this pack would believe me, anyway. I can’t escape the rumors, so just let them go.” I know Luna spreads rumors about me since she can’t physically harm me herself. Everyone thinking I sleep around for money is her way of punishing me.

Serena clicks her tongue again. “Your uncle would roll in his grave if he knew. Oh! Your Uncle Radcliffe.” She sniffled. “Goddess, rest his wolf!”

My parents passed away when my brother Maxwell and I were kids. They listed Uncle Radcliffe, our father’s brother, as our legal guardian. He said we came into his life just at the right time.

He passed away six months ago, leaving an inheritance that rivaled only the Royal Pack’s wealth. Maxwell inherited Uncle Radcliffe’s businesses and became CEO of Cliffe Enterprises and owner of all the subsidiary companies. I became a silent shareholder. Our uncle wanted me to focus on my music and become a concert pianist and vocalist.

But the money never mattered to me. I have my small, wonderful family. The inheritance was just money. However, I made one selfish purchase. My custom-made Baldwin Grand was my one and only purchase. Then, with the help of Uncle’s private attorney, I invested the rest. Since then, I have lived modestly and have devoted my free time to supporting different charities and studying music at the local college.

Serena clicked her tongue. “You should make a big fuss! And let me tell you what Sarah from down the street said about the Luna…”