MY CAGED LUNA

CHAPTER TWO STU

I woke up, unsure if it was day or night I hadn't seen daylight for over five years now, and the last time I saw daylight was when he forgot to close the windows, he had come downstairs saying I needed no light when I have him that he should be my all, after all, he owns me.

I was weak, and I felt nothing. I stood up and walked towards where the buckets were kept, using the empty bucket to relieve myself and taking small water from the full one to make myself a little bit cleaner; then I took some to moisturize my dry throat, and I bathed and drank from the same bucket.

I went back to where I was lying down, but instead of lying back down, I sat up, looking out to the space, wondering when I would leave this room. In this world, as a whole, a donkey is treated better than me.

A caged bird is better than me, for it received love and care from its owner, but mine is directly the opposite.

Fred POV

I sat at my desk, focused on the task at hand. When my best friend Alex, entered the room, looking concerned.

"Fred, we need to talk about Edward," Alex said. "He's been missing work, coming in late, and his performance has been subpar. We're worried something's wrong."

My ears perked up, and my instincts were on high alert. "What's going on? He's one of our top chairmen."

"I know," Alex replied. "That's why I'm concerned. I think it's related to his wife's disappearance with her lover. He's been struggling since then."

I nodded thoughtfully, remembering the outrage on the internet passed. How many years again, maybe eight or seven?

" I remember. I'll talk to him tomorrow. If he doesn't show up, I'll go to his house myself. We need to know what's going on."

Alex nodded in agreement. "Yes, we can't afford to lose him. He's too important to the company."

My mind was already racing with solutions.

..................

I parked my car at the garage and trudged through the front door of the family's mansion, exhausted from the day's events. My mother and my father, the former alpha, were waiting for me in the living room.

"Fred, we need to talk," Mom said, her voice stern. "You're twenty-seven now, and you still haven't found your mate. It's time to consider other options."

I sighed, knowing where this was going. "Mother, I've told you, I won't settle for just anyone. I want my true mate, my Luna."

father chimed in, "But Fred, you've been searching for years. It's time to face reality. You need to mate with someone, anyone, to secure the future of our pack."

Mom added, "We've arranged for you to meet with a girl from Ice Park. She is the alpha's daughter, she's beautiful, and she's already shown interest in you. Just meet with her, Fred. Please."

I felt a surge of frustration when they gave up on this hopeless mission. I will make the particular day they do so a holiday celebration. I had given up hope of finding my true mate, but a part of me still held on to the dream. "I don't want to meet her. I won't settle for someone who isn't my mate"

My parents exchanged a worried glance.

"And am tired from work, let me rest"

I said while hurrying upstairs

As I trudged upstairs, my mind wandered to my mate, the one I longed to find. I yearned to hold her close, to feel her warmth, to breathe in her scent. My heart ached with a deep-seated desire to be with her, to protect her, to love her. I couldn't help but feel envious when I saw other mated wolves, their bond so strong, their love so palpable. Why, Moon Goddess, had I not found my mate yet? Why did I have to wait so long? The jealousy I felt was like a bitter taste in my mouth, a reminder that I was still alone, still searching.

I've tried to give in to my parents' demands, I have. I attempted to be in a relationship with someone, but everything about her annoyed me. Her smile, her laugh, her voice - it all irritated me. I couldn't understand why I was so angry, but deep down, I knew it was because she wasn't my mate. I felt like I was settling like I was giving up on my true love. And yet, despite the frustration and anger, I still can't shake off the feeling that I need to find her. My mate. My Luna. I feel like I'm missing a part of myself without her. Please, Moon Goddess, hear my plea. Send her to me, or send me to her. I can't live like this, with this emptiness, this longing. I need her to be whole.

As I undressed and prepared for a relaxing bath, my mind drifted back to the events of the day. Edward, one of my most trusted chairmen, had been struggling since his wife left him. It was as if the loss had sucked the life out of him, leaving behind a shell of the confident and capable leader I once knew. I couldn't help but think how fleeting human relationships were. They entered and exited relationships with ease, without the deep-seated commitment that wolves like me knew. In our world, we mate for life, and the bond between us is unbreakable.

But Edward's situation was different. He was a human, and his relationships were governed by different rules. I needed to find a way to help him, not just for the sake of our company, but for his well-being. Tomorrow, I would meet with him and try to get to the bottom of his struggles. Was it grief, anger, or something else that was holding him back? I was determined to support him, to help him find his footing again. Little did I know, our conversation would set off a chain of events that would change everything.