My dream of becoming a Luna

Chapter 1. Just Do It, Talon. Just pass this stage... Just past this stage, she muttered to herself slowly as she walked on the plain wood that was located across a pool of mud. It has always been this very part that makes Talon Owen fail whenever the Omegas were playing and here she was again praying for the umpteenth time that luck shone upon her and let her pass this stage. The instructions were simple. It said 'If you are being chased by rogue wolves, and you're faced with sinking mud having only a tiny stick with which to cross the mud, how will you cross it?' She had imagined herself crossing the tin stick successfully many times in her head, but each time she is faced with the real challenge to overcome, she does not always make it out. She was holding herself tightly this time, since it was just to walk in the wood without falling or breaking the plain stack itself. The whole thing was going well as she took her mind off everything else and fixed her thoughts on her mating ceremony with the Alpha. She shut out the sounds that were coming from the background and all she could see and think of was the young Alpha. She was doing well with that strategy and almost at the end of the plain where she would step down and be considered an upgraded omega. She stopped walking. She thought she heard something like the Alpha's voice, and she instantly turned around to see him without holding anything to support herself on the plain. "Whoooa...!" A loud noise came from the spectators, who were different-ranking pack warriors and, of course, the members of the Otlanta Pack. In the next seconds, she found herself inside the mud stream. Talon could not believe that she lost again and the Delta of the pack was such a tricky person. He never gave anyone a double chance. Unless the person was not at fault, he'd make sure to punish you for being such a lazy omega. She had received a lot of punishment and imprisonment each time she failed, but here she was, failing again. "Oh girl... This is like your fiftieth trial. How are you going to get out of this situation, Talon? You need help." Gwen said to her as she sat beside the big tree in the middle of the training center. Talon looked up at her and hissed loudly "I'm so useless." She muttered. "No... You're not, you just have not learned and mastered it properly and that's why"Gwen said to her in a low tone. Talon smiled and shook her head in disagreement as she stared with her eyes fixed on Gwen, indicating a no. "What?" Gwen asked in surprise when she got the response from her friend. Talon sniffed and sat up on the floor."Gwen, I took all three weeks practicing for today after I failed terribly the other time and I did master the skill. Actually, Gwen was the one who taught her the steps. She was feeling happy when she watched how Talon was walking without feeling the usual panic she felt. She had already concluded in her mind that Talon was already on that stage until she heard her falling into the mud just before she could take the last step... "Why then did you fall?" Gwen asked in a low voice. "I tried not to concern myself with anything that was happening around me until I heard the alpha's voice", she lamented. Oh my God. So you mean you would have been able to pass the test if it was not that you thought you heard the alpha's voice, and you lost your focus? Talon nodded her head slowly in agreement, and it was at that moment that she realized she could have just walked a step further before turning around to see the alpha. "I'm sorry... I should have done better''she said. Gwen nodded her head and said in a low tone"It's alright, Talon. You can always try again " She replied with a reassuring smile on her face. Talon nodded her head and they both stood up from the grass slowly holding each other's hand as support. " Do you want to crash at my place? We could do some more practicing ", Gwen asked. Talon smiled at the idea and was about to say yes when she remembered that her mother had given her some extra chores to do before leaving for the market. " I would have loved to but... "She paused when she saw the look of disappointment on Gwen's face. " But what? "Gwen asked with a puzzled look on her face. " Let 'me guess, you have a lot of chores to attend to "Gwen added. Talon smiled and replied with laughter, "It's good to know that I have a person who can comfortably write my chronicle", She said. Talon got home that morning and started doing everything that her mother had instructed her to do. She first had to weed the bushes that surrounded their house before washing some clothes that her mother and sister, Nora, had worn for the previous week. Her mother told her about her father. However, she had also heard people whispering that her mother never liked her late father and that she was the one who led him to his death. Now at twenty, two years old, she had barely survived the hard treatment she got from home and people who constantly mocked her outside, comparing her to her younger sister, Nora. Nora had a life that was the exact opposite of what she had and many times she felt jealous of her. "Talon....!!! " She heard her mother's voice calling her name loudly from the frontage of the house and her heart skipped. "What have I done this time?" She asked herself. Chapter 2. Her Lush Greenery. Talon was still some steps away from her mother, when her mother threw a small rock at her. She dodged it and immediately stopped moving closer. She knew without anyone telling her that something was already wrong and her mother could cook her for whatever happened. She curled herself up into a corner as her mother came raging towards her. She could not dare to run because it would be better that she stayed and faced the beating than come back to face something worse. She was squatting beside the wall when her mother approached and pulled her by her hair, dragging her to the spot where she stood before. She pushed her to the ground and Talon could not tell what was going on at that point. She was made to sit on the bare floor of the small garden that she had just finished weeding. Talon was glancing around thinking that she had not cleared the garden properly, but there was no trace of any weeds in the garden anymore. She wanted to ask her mother what the problem was, but she was not allowed to speak when her stepfather suddenly walked into the compound. The man had always looked for ways to punish her, and she could not understand why. Immediately she saw him approaching them, she concluded within herself that nothing could save her from the hand of the two angry lions to whom she was a regular prey. Her mother started shedding crocodile tears when he got to them, and she pointed at the garden saying I had intentionally weeded out some of her crops just to punish her. "How could you do that to your own mother?" He said, coming closer to Talon and her heart started beating faster. "I'm sorry... I... I did not see them." Her tiny voice pleaded with her angry stepfather as she hoped against hope that he would for once believe what she said. She had just said that because it was the only way to gain their pity. Deep down, she knew that she had not killed any crops by mistake and that her mother was just lying to earn her a beating session from her stepfather. "Haahh..!" She screamed loudly when his blow hit her and everything suddenly went blank. She knew that she could not do anything at the moment, but she tried to dodge it when she felt his blow coming to her. She was slow, and he was faster as he hit her with his strong fist on her head. Talon could not endure it so she passed out. She woke up a few hours later lying on the old bench that was kept aside at the back of the house. Her body was wet, and she felt sorry for herself. Her head was pounding as she tried to gain balance. Everything around her looked like they were all spinning. It was getting dark, so she dragged herself into the house and crawled up to the corner of the storeroom where she was made to sleep. It had become her comfort zone because it was quiet and, although not a good resting place, it was all she had. She slept off at that spot, feeling both hunger and pain. The next morning, it was just before dawn, she sat up on the blanket that she slept on and did her usual ritual of praying to the goddess of the moon before stepping outside. This was not a common practice among werewolves, but she had been doing it from her childhood days, and she really could not remember who had taught her that. She stood up and walked out of the house, standing in the compound, when she heard some people going to fetch water at the big Otlanta well. She had heard that the well was not getting its water from the natural source under the earth but was pumped from the Otlan ocean that stood some miles away from the pack. The water was surprisingly neat and good for doing house chores. Since she was the one who did everything in the house while her sister, Nora, just had to go and be with other pack warriors, she knew that the well was a good source of water questions that people had. After filling everything in the house with water, she picked up the big machete and left to cut some sticks with which to use in fencing the open area at the back of the house. She was halfway towards the farm when she started hearing some whispering among the ladies and the jealousy in the voices of the men. She was confused, but just before she could wonder more, she saw the handsome young alpha walking past them and a lot of good wishes were coming from everyone he walked past. Talon was standing in the way he was going to pass by butt she was carried away by her admiration for him that she so failed to realize that she was standing in his way. "Get out of my way" he muttered in a low voice. They stood there staring at each other. Talon was not hearing what he was saying at the moment, all she could see was his mouth moving. His guards suddenly pushed her out of the way, yet she could not take her eyes off him until he was out of sight. To her, he was her lush greenery, a hope for her future. When she was little, there was a prophecy by the great seer before he died. He said that she was going to be the rightful Luna of the pack in years to come. Until now, even though it didn't seem like it, she was still holding on to those words. "Hey... What did you think you were doing?" She flinched when she heard the voice behind her. Chapter 3. The Biggest Ceremony. Talon was startled by Nora's unannounced presence at the farm not very far from their home where she had gone to take sticks for the fencing. "Oh my God, Nora... You scared me" She said when she turned around and found Nora standing behind her with her hands akimbo. Nora hissed loudly and said in a low voice "Ain't you always scared of everything?" She asked with mockery in her voice. Talon's face narrowed into a frown, and she said in a low voice "I beg your pardon?" Nora was not concerned with how her words affected others. She scoffed and said "Oh please, I did not come all the way here to exchange words with a lowlife like you." Nora's words stung Talon very much, and she had to control herself not to lose her anger on her. "Are you here to help? Go over there and get those sticks"Talon said, moving her attention back to work. "How dare you ask me to pick a stick for you" Nora said, with anger in her voice. Talon was already fed up with her noise, so she turned to her and said in a calm voice "If you're not here to work either, then, why are you here?" She asked her in a low voice. Nora blinked her eyes and said in a loud voice "what was the meaning of what you did today? Were you expecting the alpha to notice a low life as you?" She asked, with obvious hate and anger in her tone. Talon smiled and said "On the contrary, I was the one who wanted to notice him. I barely see him and do you remember that there is a prophecy..."She was not done speaking when Nora shut her up instantly. "Oh please, spare me the details. Don't you think that prophecy or whatever is already outdated?"she said. Talon wore a confused expression on her face and asked "What?" "Yes, of course. Else, how do you think that the alpha in his right senses will take you to be his luna? An omega who can not even pass the simplest stage of training. Tell me, what will be the future of the pack if he makes such an unwise decision?"She asked. Talon was taken aback by her words. She scoffed and said,"I never realized that mates are now made by choices and not fate", Talon replied. Nora laughed and said "How backward can you be? Do you need anyone to tell you that one can now make a choice?" She said. Talon was shattered by this reality. She had always thought that the goddess made choices for everyone, and they were all to accept. She recalled how the alpha guards pushed her aside and the truth within Nora's words began to sink in. She was indeed no match for his status and the fact that she was so dull had also made it hard for her to even come close. She raised her head and looked at Nora." That's okay... I'll just keep trying until I am good enough for him",she replied with a blank look on her face. It was no news that Nora was always looking for every opportunity to mock and humiliate her. This explains why she had walked all the way to the farm to remind her of how lowly she was. "Did you say keep trying?" Nora asked her in a low voice. As much as Talon wanted to ignore her younger sister's mockery, she could not help but feel caught by her words. She could not do anything to her and this was the first time in a long time that she had had the opportunity to respond to her mockery without being beaten by her parents. What is it, Nora? You said I'm no good for him and I just said I'll keep trying. Is there something wrong with that?" She asked in her usual calm voice. Nora let out a short laughter and said in a murderous tone "Oh dear... You were not given the information. I'm sure even the silly girl who you call your friend did not also remember to tell you that the mating ceremony where the alpha will be picking a Luna is happening tonight", she said. Talon was shocked to hear that. She had no idea that the alpha was already going to be picking a mate with which to rule the pack. She took some steps backwards as her eyes were fixed on Nora with a surprised expression on them. Nora smiled at the expression on her face. She moved a step closer. "You see...you're not prepared for this, dear", she said, before walking away. Talon could not believe it. She quickly packed the sticks she had been able to gather and hurriedly took them home. She went over to Gwen's house to confirm if the news was true, but Gwen was not home either. She sat down outside the house and when Gwen's mother came around, she asked her to leave and stop coming to look for Gwen. That has been the way most people treat her in the village. They are good to her when she tries not to get close to them, but the moment she tries to be friends with them or comes closer, they push her away outright. She strolled home and, since there was no one else to ask if the mating ceremony was truly going to be held or not, she decided to go there herself and confirm if it was true or not. Talon walked into the ceremony and was surprised to see that almost all the pack members were there at the ceremony. . "I never thought you'd make it here tonight" someone said behind her. Chapter 4. Public Rejection. Talon stood there in her old ball dress feeling very sad when she suddenly heard Gwen's voice behind her. "I never thought you'd make it here tonight" Gwen said when she turned around and saw her standing right behind her. Talon stared at her in silence for a few seconds before muttering a quick "Hi" to her. Gwen smiled and said "I know you're mad at me, Talon. I'm sorry, she said in a low voice. Talon scoffed and said "How could you not mention something as important as this to me all this time? I know I'm a joke to many people, but you should at least say something about it"Talon said in anger. She was always able to express her feelings,if given the opportunity and, for what it was worth, she could not just stand there acting like everything was going well between them and, for the few years they'd been friends, Gwen seemed to have understood that part of her. Gwen moved closer to her and said "I'm sorry that I did not mention it to you yesterday, but I was on my way to your house earlier today to inform you about it when I met your sister by the way. She said you were not home and that she was headed to see you, so I gave her the message to pass to you." Gwen narrated. Talon instantly felt sorry for blaming her. She thought about what Nora had said about her friend being unable to inform her and it all started to make sense. " I also went to your house today to hear from you, but you were not home either", Talon replied. She fought the urge to report what her mother did to her until Gwen asked herself. "I hope no one treated you badly?" Gwen asked. This was not the first time, and it was not news that everyone hated her, including her friends' family. "No...your mom only asked me to leave",she said in a low voice. Gwen gasped and said "I'm so sorry about that." They smiled at each other and just then, the seer walked up before the crowd of werewolves who had gathered under the full moon to celebrate the mating ceremony. He did some rituals to the goddess of the moon and opened the ceremony. Many single werewolves were picking their mates as the fated ones came out to the front of the crowd to get the blessings of the seer. Talon was standing with Gwen when the son of the Delta came to them and took Gwen's hand. They were about to leave when Gwen stopped and started persuading her to go and tell the alpha how she feels about him. "He could be your fated mate, Talon", She said, but Talon was still scared. "I can't do it Gwen, what if he says no?" She asked with fear in her voice. Even if he does say no... It is only right that you tell him how you feel about him", Gwen said. Although Talon understood the point that her friend was trying to make, she still could not just walk up to him. "Fine, let me walk you close to him" Gwen said. Talon was surprised by her offer. She moved her gaze to the guy standing some steps away from them and said "But he's waiting for you", She said. Gwen followed her gaze with her eyes and smiled "Don't worry, he won't mind", she replied. Talon nodded her head as Gwen held her hand, leading her to the place where the alpha was standing. Tonight, he had come out without guards, which was a law of the goddess of the moon. The pack believed that no member needed extra safety from anything on the nights of a full moon, as it's considered that the goddess of the moon herself was watching over them. They got some steps close to him and Gwen whispered into her ears "Good luck" before letting go of her hand. Talon immediately felt a chill all over her body. She stood there for a while before she picked up the courage to walk up to him and tell him about the way she felt. Each step she took closer to him felt like a thousand miles and, for the first time in a long time, she begged that the spirit of her late father should intercede for her. She stood before Alpga Logan, and he noticed her presence immediately. He narrowed his eyebrows as he muttered the word "You?" He asked. Talon swallowed hot saliva down her throat and said to him in a low voice"I... I.. Feel..." She stuttered as she tried to organize her words. Logan scoffed and asked "Are you actually trying to propose to be my mate?" He asked in a clear voice. His words sink into her head and she nodded like a five-year-old child who was presented a gift. "How dare you?" He fired at her. Talon stood with her mouth partly opened. "What?" She asked in a low voice. "What makes you think that an alpha will settle for a low life like you? Is that how lowly you think of me?" He said. His voice was loud and Talon wished that the ground could just open and swallow her up. She glanced around and everyone's attention was on them. " I'm sorry, alpha "She immediately said, falling with her face to the ground. The alpha snapped his fingers and two guards came out of nowhere and started dragging her away. When they raised her up from the group before the alpha, she was surprised to meet the sight of Nora standing with her hand entwined with the alpha as the crowd cheered. "Nora... How could you?" She asked, but the guards dragged her off as Nora's lips curled into a smile. "You must be really depressed, can I join you?" A deep masculine voice said to Talon as she sat at a bar far from the ceremony ground. Chapter 5. Meeting The Stranger. Talon could not bear the shame after the guards threw her out of the scene. The crowd mocked her as she pleaded to be freed. She was thrown to the floor at the back of the ceremony ground. She wept there for over an hour but no one came close to her. She was squatting there hoping that Gwen would show up but she never did. She slowly dragged herself out of the spot and started wandering in the village. The streets were bright as the full moon shined it light on the way but the silence in every corner sent a feeling of fear into her. She wanted to go home, but she could not bear to face the insults that would be rained upon her when her family returned from the ceremony. She kept crying as she staggered her way to an unknown destination. She felt relieved when she entered a bar and sat down on the wooden chair. The owner of the bar kept screaming at her to leave, as he was not open to business at that time but she would not listen. She just needed somewhere to rest and escape her world of torment. She was still sitting there in tears when she heard a deep voice say. "You look depressed. Could I join your table?" He asked. Talon raised her head slowly and stared at him for a few seconds before moving her gaze away without any word to him. "Okay... I'll take that as a yes", he said, pulling out the wooden chair beside her table. Talon ignored him as he sat there, but her attention was his when he said "I know a quick escape route." She turned to him slowly and asked in a low voice "What?" Maverick Kent smiled, knowing that he had been able to get her attention. "Yes... I know how to help you forget everything that happened tonight", he said in a low voice. Talon's eyes lit up as she stared at him with obvious curiosity. "How?" She asked him.. He stayed mute for about five seconds before saying in a low voice "There are actually two ways I can help you get out of the situation for the moment... The first is this." He snapped at the wine seller who instantly brought out a jar of fresh wine and two local cups, placing them in front of them. Maverick Kent nodded at the elderly man before moving his gaze back to Talon." Shall we? "He asked. Talon wobbled her head in disagreement and said" I've not taken alcohol before ", she muttered. " Okay... But there is a first time to everything. Unless you do not want to stop thinking about your problems" He said persuasively. When he first saw her at the ceremony ground being dragged out on his way in, he wondered what she must have done. He ignored her totally and walked towards the crowd. He had come from a far place to witness the mating union of the alpha. As the leader of a rebel pack who were settled on the east side of Otlanta, he came to check on the situation in the pack to know how he'd attack. Every member of his rebel pack was originally from the Otlanta pack, but they had been judged and banished unfairly by the late alpha whose son was just taking over the position. He walked into the ceremony disguised as an elderly man from the pack and after witnessing the union between alpha Logan and Nora, he excused himself to the bar where he would sneak out of the pack and return to his. As he entered the bar, he was puzzled to see a beautiful lady crying all to herself as she sat alone in the whole bar and he decided to approach her. Talon slowly took the cup as he poured her some wine. She waited until he had poured it into his own cup too. He put the cup to his mouth and drank the whole contents just to prove to her that it was okay to drink. Talon also drank the whole content on the first lift just like he did and Maverick was amazed. "I thought you said you'd not drink this?" He asked her in a low voice. She nodded her head and said a quick "Yes..." Maverick narrowed his eyebrows and said "How come you finished all of that at the first sip?" He asked. Talon scoffed, "I was just doing what you did, moron" she said. "I want more.." She said, but he refused to give her anymore. He poured himself another full cup and dropped the jar. As he put his to his mouth drinking, Talon picked up the jar and drank a large amount of the wine directly from it. He quickly finished his and snatched the jar from her. To his surprise, it was almost empty. "Seriously... Are you an alcoholic?"He asked her in a loud voice. Talon smiled broadly and said "It tastes good." Maverick finished the one left in the jar and was about to leave when she held his cloth and said "Are you leaving me here?" He turned to her in surprise and asked "What do you want me to do?" "I don't have anywhere to go to sleep tonight. I can't go home, my stepfather might kill me and... Can't you just take me with you?" She asked. Maverick was surprised at her words, but he felt sorry for her. He paid for a room for her at the bar to spend the night. He helped her up from the chair and led her to the room, which was the first in a wide corridor. When he laid her on the bed, he could not help but admire her beauty. He stared at her for some seconds and wanted to stand up but she held tightly to his clothes and asked "Won't you sleep here with me?" She suddenly threw herself at him, sitting up on the bed, and it felt like time itself stopped as she bit her lower lip seductively while staring at him. "Let go..." He said in a calm tone but she wouldn't listen.