The Luna Game

Chapter 2

Melissa‘s POV

I have always just heard stories about the competition that leads to the selection of the Luna to the alpha surpreme, I have not lived it. The last time it happened was when I was about eight years old.

It is said that every ten years, a selection will be held by the Alpha supreme, for his long-life partner. This routine has been carried out for as long as my forefathers were alive. That's what the information that been all about. I'm not too sure about it but it has been happening for so many years.

But I didn’t want to be the alpha supreme’s Luna. And I didn’t want to be the One. I didn’t even want to try. I wonder why that had to happen to me. I just wonder why my name happens to be on the list of girls who qualified for the Luna’s competition.

I have always stayed in my room, the only place to avoid the chattering of our full house and the endless Visitations and hosting of parties or just having guests for tea.

I looked over at her for a couple of minutes, trying to come up with an opinion that would sway her. So far, I had a solid compilation of my honest opinions... I didn’t think there was a single one she would listen to. So far for my rehearsals.

I couldn’t avoid her much longer. It was approaching dinnertime, and as the only child in the house, there was no way I would miss dinner without a tangible reason as to why I did.

I got a glare from Mom but no words.

We did a silent dance through the kitchen and dining room as we prepared to eat dinner.

If I glanced up from the food, she would fix me with a vicious look as if she could shame me into wanting the same things she did. She tried that every so often. As she always gets what she wants. Only this time, I am not going to go down without a fight.

“Mother please, I can't leave now. Please I think you should reconsider” I pleaded to my mother again for the tenth time while I waited for my father to come back from the meeting he had gone to. But now, It was a sure thing that he won't be joining us for dinner either.

“Elisa, you will drop this” she warned “There is nothing we can do about it. You should be glad you were picked” she replied.

“I am sure Tamara would like to go in my stead, mother. She would not shut up about the whole competition” I sassed.

“Nonsense! You are the one who was picked. If your cousin was going to apply she would have. And even if she did, she was not among the lucky ones. Don’t worry your head about this my dear, you are going to be alright” she replied, carrying a teacup from the table to place on her lips, looking quite harmless. I should have known that I came into the wrong family!

“No! I stand to oppose you, mama! I am not going. We don't need the Alpha Supreme or whatever stupid competition he has set in place. We are good on our own. What disaster can happen if I pretend to be sick or even dead!” I was getting really frustrated at this point.

“We need him, Clarissa! You have no idea how much we need that stupid competition of his, as you called it !” My mother snapped at me, she was no more trying to convince me now, she was getting really serious and all of a sudden, it seemed like there was something else she was not saying.

“How, mama?” I asked while trying to keep my raised voice low, even though I was still not thinking about accepting the stupid invitation, I wanted to know what was happening.

“Your father. . . “ she hesitated and then continued “. . . This pack is going bankrupt,” she said, looking at me guiltily.

There is no way what I just heard was true. We have everything we could have. At least, I do. And since my father had taken on the role of Luna and Alpha, I have never heard of any of them complaining about money.

“What? What are you saying?” I asked, not because I had not heard what she said but because I wanted her to explain further.

She could see that I was being grumpy. She didn't like when I am being stubborn, but then I got it from her. I dropped my cutlery and focused on her.

We have been hosting balls, inviting guests from everywhere, and making a show out of nothing.

“We are on the verge of dying out. And only if you become the Luna to the Alpha supreme would save us from this debt that we have managed to accumulate. We can only hold for a little time. We need to save face” She proceeded to explain

“You need to save face but you are willing to throw your daughter out to save yourselves the first chance you get?” I snapped.

“But we didn’t apply for you, did we?” she snapped back, and then cooled her tone the next minute “You are going on a path of success, Elisa. . . We are not throwing you out there to save ourselves. You will easily win. There can only be one Luna and that is you” Talk about talking like a cultured lady. There is nothing cultured about my mother right now, not ever. If she was not married to my father, she would be among her childhood boyfriends trying to cause all the trouble there is in this world. Thank goodness, she and my father found each other.

“You seem to be forgetting that I won't be the only one there. And once I leave, you might not see me again. I will be lucky if I made it through the first round” I warned, hoping to put some fear into her.

“You are a princess, they will be lenient with you. You have all the schooling you need, instilled inside your head. They will be useful for you”

There was no way around it. There was no need for convincing, it was taking a long time to convince my mother. And if I don't agree with this, I would be the worst child.

My parents have given me everything that I have ever wanted and knowing that I could do this for them is a chance but at the same time, it is a chance that might take me away from them totally.

If they don't see this as losing me, then I will go for the stupid competition. I will gladly become a slave to the Alpha Supreme as the rules say. Let's see if they won't be bothered then.

I counted my steps as I dreaded the information I was going to tell Luka, he would be devastated, just like I am right now.

The only thing I can do now is to sacrifice my beautiful love for my family, for them to see what wrong decision it is they are making with this.

Luka has to be cut off from me, I have to make sure he does not keep longing for me even after I am gone. I want to know that he would be able to move on but at least in a light mood.

I have to reject my one and only love. . . For a stupid competition.