The Disgraced Luna

Freya “Freya. Get up.” Mom’s voice cut through the fog of my sleep. I groaned and pulled the blanket tighter around myself. “Just five more minutes.” “There are no five more minutes.” The blanket was yanked from my body, and cold air immediately replaced the warmth I had been enjoying. I opened one eye. Mom stood beside my bed, already dressed for work, her expression hard. “You’re still in bed while everyone else has been working for hours?” I sat up with a sigh. “I’m awake.” “You’d better be. If we’re late again, your supervisor will have another excuse to punish you.” That was enough to get me moving. I dragged myself toward the bathroom while Mom continued talking behind me. “Sara is staying at the pack house this weekend. She specifically requested that you attend to her.” I stopped. “Me?” “Yes, you.” “Why me? There are plenty of servants here.” Mom gave me a warning look. “Freya.” I knew that tone. Don't argue. So I swallowed my protest and stepped into the bathroom. Of all people, Sara. Once upon a time, I wouldn't have minded spending an entire day with her. We had been born on the same day and practically raised together. She had been my closest friend. We used to sneak into the forest, whisper about boys, and make ridiculous plans about what our lives would look like when we grew up. That friendship had died years ago. Everything changed after my father's arrest. He had been one of the pack's respected warriors. Our family wasn't wealthy, but we had status. My mother worked at the pack hospital, and my father had earned the trust of many warriors. Then someone accused him of stealing from Alpha Kim. The evidence was supposedly overwhelming. My father insisted that he had been framed. Nobody listened. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, and everything our family owned was taken from us. My mother lost her position and was reduced to the lowest rank in the pack. So was I. An omega. I stared at my reflection while those memories passed through my mind. Sara had witnessed everything. She could have spoken but she didn't. Instead, She simply stood there while everyone watched my family fall. And now, years later, our lives couldn't have been more different. Her father had become the new Beta after the previous Beta died from an incurable illness. Sara had gone from being my childhood friend to the Beta's daughter. And I had become one of the servants. Worse still, the Alpha's three sons adored her. They were constantly around her, fighting for her attention and treating her as though she were the most precious woman in the pack. Everyone expected one of them to be her mate when she turned eighteen. Her birthday was only days away. I hated how much that bothered me. Maybe it was jealousy. Maybe it was resentment. Or maybe I simply hated watching someone who had once stood beside me enjoy everything I had lost. I finished getting ready and changed into my plain servant's uniform. When I entered the kitchen, Mom was already preparing breakfast. She glanced at me before handing me a tray. “She asked for coffee.” I looked down at the steaming cup. “Of course she did.” Mom's expression softened slightly. “Freya, I know you're angry.” I said nothing. “We've already lost enough,” she continued quietly. “Please don't give them another reason to hurt us.” I knew she was right. That didn't make it easier. I picked up the tray. As I walked toward Sara's room, I whispered to myself, “Maybe I'll find my mate soon. Maybe then things will change.” A bitter laugh escaped me. What were the chances? I was an omega. My mate would probably be another nobody struggling to survive. Still, some tiny part of me refused to give up hope. I reached Sara's door and knocked. “Come in.” I pushed the door open. “Your coffee.” I stepped inside with my eyes lowered. Then I heard it. A woman's laughter. A man's quiet voice. I looked up. My stomach dropped. Sara was sitting on the bed with Kane, his arm wrapped around her waist. They were far too comfortable with each other. I immediately looked away. “Your coffee is here.” I placed the cup on the nearby table and turned toward the door. “Freya.” I stopped. Sara's voice carried a smug amusement that immediately made my shoulders tense. “Come here.” I slowly turned around. She reached for the coffee. “This is what you brought me?” “Yes.” She studied the cup, then looked at me. “You know exactly how I take my coffee.” “I prepared it the usual way.” She took a sip. Her expression changed instantly. “This is awful.” I frowned. “I can make another one.” “No.” She stood. Before I could understand what she intended to do, the cup tilted. Hot coffee splashed across my uniform. I gasped and stumbled backward. The heat burned through the fabric. Sara's eyes remained cold. “Maybe next time you'll pay attention.” I clenched my hands. My wolf snarled inside me. She wanted me to fight back. But I couldn't. Not here. Not with Kane watching. “I apologize,” I whispered. “I'll clean myself up.” Sara smiled. “Good.” Then she turned back toward Kane as though I had already ceased to exist. “Get out.” I didn't need to be told twice. I walked out and closed the door behind me. Only then did I allow myself to breathe. My skin still burned. But somehow, the humiliation hurt more. I returned to the kitchen, trying to pretend nothing had happened. I had barely taken two steps when someone called my name. “Freya.” I turned. Bala stood nearby. He was Lenny's personal guard. “Lenny wants you.” My stomach tightened. “Why?” “He didn't say.” Bala's expression became slightly uncomfortable. “But he's angry.” Of course he was. I wiped my damp hands against my uniform and headed toward Lenny's room. The closer I got, the heavier my footsteps became. Lenny rarely summoned me. And whenever he did, nothing good ever came from it. I stopped outside his door. I took a breath. Then I knocked. Silence. I knocked again. “Come in.” His voice was low and commanding. I pushed the door open. And stepped inside.