SCORNED LUNA

CHAPTER ONE: A SLICE OF HELL

"We have a deal."

Alpha Keith raised a thick eyebrow. He stared at the man seated across from him, and felt a twist of disgust in his belly. This man - Leon Asher, the Alpha of Blue Flame pack was best described as a lowlife. Keith had no idea how such a man became the alpha of a pack such as Blue Flame.

"Perfect." Keith said, smiling slowly. "I will send my beta to pick her up tomorrow morning."

"Tonight. I can get her ready tonight!" Leon said ecstatically, his beady brown eyes shining with greed.

Keith scowled darkly. "Tomorrow morning." He said sternly. "Unless you want our deal to be off."

Leon laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm sorry, Alpha Keith. Tomorrow morning it shall be."

Keith rose to his feet. "Perfect." He said with a smile.

Everything was starting to fall in place.

***

Sasha flinched as the hot liquid splashed across her chest. Her lip trembled with unshed tears, the pain of the hot tea too much on her skin.

"You stupid b***h!" Her step father's voice thundered through the air followed by a hard slap to her face. She fell to the ground, an outcry leaving her lips. She clutched her pained face and sobbed quietly.

"Better get up and get back to work!" He screamed at her.

Sasha got to her feet instantly and bowed. "Yes sir." She said and rushed off to get her work done.

In her haste, she didn't see the woman up ahead that she bumped into. Her head raised slowly to see her mother.

Octavia Laurent was a beautiful woman who in her prime had been mated to the Alpha of Blue Flame pack. Octavia had long, straight silver hair and bright blue eyes. She was petite and carried herself with grace.

Sasha bowed in apology, "I'm sorry madam! I wasn't watching were I was going!"

Octavia clicked her tongue and walked away, not sparing her a response. Sasha turned, watching her till she disappeared. Fresh tears gathered in her eyes. She turned away bitterly and continued on her way to the kitchen.

It was seven in the morning, and the inhabitants of the house were still asleep. At least most of them were. Sasha walked into the huge kitchen and felt her heart drop into her stomach.

The once pristine kitchen was messy, bits and pieces of food strewn around. Just the previous day, she had scrubbed it from top to bottom, ensuring that it was clean. And in less than twenty hours it was messy again, the smell of rotting food hanging in the air.

She knew she was screwed.

She had just served Leon fresh tea, and he had thrown it on her. She wondered how she was going to get breakfast done and clean the kitchen all in an hour.

Sasha exhaled heavily, biting her lower lip hard till she tasted her blood. She looked around the kitchen and decided to clean up as much as she could before making breakfast.

She began to clean as fast as she could, scrubbing the walls and counter tops. By this time it was like muscle memory to her, she was already used to it.

From time to time she glanced at the huge clock in the kitchen, staying mindful of the time. Before she knew it, it was eight o'clock. And the kitchen wasn't even half clean yet.

Deciding to just wing it, she rushed to the stove top and put water for tea on the fire. Her hands trembled as she brought out tea things and started setting the tray. She just had to hurry before.....

"What are you doing?!" A shrill feminine voice shouted on top of her lungs.

It was too late.

Before Sasha could turn around, a hand grabbed her hair and pulled her roughly.

"Mabel, What is wrong?" A calmer female voice asked.

"It's too early for a ruckus," A tired voice said with a yawn.

Sasha felt her heart drop to her boots. They were all here, all her sisters.

"This little mutt!" Mabel screeched, pulling Sasha's hair tighter. "She's making breakfast for us! In this filthy kitchen!" Mabel flung Sasha forward so roughly she fell to the ground and banged her knee on the tiled floors.

"Look up," The calmer voice said.

Sasha raised her head and looked at her sisters. Three of them, Astrid, Mina and Mabel. Astrid was the eldest, having short silver hair and blue eyes similar to their mother. Mina and Mabel were twins, both having blue eyes and blond hair. Sasha was the only odd one out, with hazel eyes and golden brown hair.

Sasha felt fear fill her heart. Astrid was looking at her with narrowed eyes and a soft smile that promised nothing good. "I swear, I wasn't going to...." She cried out as a kick hit her in her stomach.

"Are you calling Mabel a liar?" Astrid said. "Or are you calling us all blind?"

"Astrid that's not what I was saying..." Sasha said, choking on air. Each breath she took hurt her lungs and ribs. She looked at Astrid, her eyes pleading for mercy.

Astrid raised a silver brow. "Is that so?" She mused, a small smile on her lips. "You truly plan to poison us?"

"No!" Sasha cried out, shaking her head wildly, clasping her hands together. "Astrid please, I would never!"

Astrid kicked her harder in the gut. Sasha screamed out.

"Shut up when she's speaking!" Mabel screamed.

"I could report this to Leon, have him properly punish you." Astrid said softly. "But, it's far too early for that, don't you think so girls?"

"Yes!" Mina and Mabel echoed in agreement.

"So, when you're done with making our breakfast and you had better be snappy about it, make your way to my room."

"Astrid I'm begging you! Please forgive me! It won't happen again I swear!" Sasha cried out, lunging out and grabbing Astrid's legs. Her ribs screamed in protest but she ignored it knowing that if she didn't pacify Astrid, her entire body would suffer it.

"Get off me." Astrid said in a sweet voice. "While I'm still in a pleasant mood."

Mabel grabbed her hair and threw her off. "Don't dare touch her with your filthy body!" She screamed.

"It's alright, Mabel." Astrid said kindly, patting Mabel's head. She turned to Sasha. "You have thirty minutes to clean up this place and get breakfast ready."

"Please!" Sasha cried out, bowing out on the floor. "Astrid please forgive me!"

"I want cereal for breakfast." Mina said with a yawn.

"I want pancakes!" Mabel chirped.

"She'll make them all, don't worry." Astrid said.

Sasha sobbed quietly, raising her head to see her sister talking among themselves, laughing without a care in the world.

Her heart was beating so hard she feared it would burst. Why did everything have to go so poorly?! Having Leon burn her skin with tea this morning was one thing, but Astrid ....

Sasha got to her feet, wincing in pain. She touched her ribs and nearly screamed. Astrid was strong, terribly so. Even though she hadn't used her full force to hit her, her ribs still cried out in pain.

When did it all go wrong?

Sasha started cleaning, her mind wandering and her eyes hazy with tears.

Six years ago, life was perfect. Everything was perfect till her father, the former Alpha died, killed in a brutal pack war with the Black Moon pack. Since then everything had changed.

Her mother remarried, and life became hell for Sasha. Everyday she was tortured at the hands of her step father and older sisters, while her mother paid no heed to her.

Sasha wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She looked up from the island she was cleaning. The kitchen was sufficiently clean by now. She started making breakfast.

As time passed, Sasha held onto the hope of a better life. A life where she would recieve her eternal mate and finally leave this house for good. A life where she wouldn't be ridiculed for being weak, pitiful and unable to wolf out even though she was the daughter of an Alpha.

Those dreams of a better life kept her going, gave her hope that everything will work out in the end.

She finished breakfast and carried it out of the kitchen. She served Leon first, then her mother, then her sisters. No one threw the food in her face, which meant it was okay.

She returned to the kitchen and did the last clean up before returning to Astrid's room. She inhaled deeply and knocked three times on the door.

"Come in." Astrid's voice said.

Sasha wanted to turn and run. She opened the door and walked in. Her eyes instantly fell on the whip on Astrid's bed. Tears filled her eyes and she turned to Astrid.

"Please...."

"Come here Sasha," Astrid said softly. "Take your shirt off, both hands behind your neck, face to wall."

Sasha's hand trembled as she took off her shirt, her eyes pleading. She walked to the wall and put her forehead to it, clasping her hands behind her neck

"I'll teach you about poisons, my darling baby sister." Astrid said, cracking the whip.

No one heard her screams. No one came to help her.

***

The next morning, Leon was at her door.

Sasha hadn't slept a wink the previous night. Her entire back felt on fire, raw and bleeding with the force of Astrid's whips. Sasha had cried till she ran out of tears. Yet the pain hadn't abated.

"Get up." Leon said gruffly.

"I've done all my chores." Sasha said softly, reminding herself not to cry.

"Pack your things." Leon snapped. "You're leaving right now."

Sasha frowned. "Where am I going?"

Leon grinned at her, it was a wicked smile. She felt her heart drop. "Oh you're going to love this, you little bitch." He turned to leave. "You have ten minutes."

Sasha got up from the bed slowly and started to pack her things. As she moved, her clothes rubbed her injuries, making her cry out in pain. She put her things together and went outside.

In the living room was Leon and a strange man. The man took one look at her and disgust painted his face.

"Is this her?" He asked Leon.

"Yes." Leon replied. "Keith requested for her."

"Keith?" Sasha said, a bolt of fear striking her. "You mean Keith Lockwood?"

The strange man turned his attention to her. "My Alpha's reputation precedes him, I'm afraid."

"Your alpha...." Sasha gasped, wide eyed. She turned to Leon. "You're sending me off to Winter Stone pack?!"

"Yes." Leon said with an eye roll. "Now get...."

"I won't go!" Sasha suddenly screamed. "How can you do that! Why?! Why would you.....you just sold me!"

"You didn't tell her?" The strange man spat in annoyance. "And to think she has such a loud mouth."

Leon marched up to Sasha and slapped her across her face. Sasha raised her head up and stared at him defiantly.

"You should be grateful you're going to be of use to THE Alpha Keith, you pathetic mutt." Leon spat in anger, glaring at her hotly.

"I will not go!" Sasha repeated firmly. "You know I won't survive it in that place!"

"Like I care," Leon said. "You're going whether you like it or not."

Sasha saw her mother from the corner of her eye. "Mother!" She cried out. "Please don't...."

"Take her away already." Octavia said with a sigh. "By force if you must."

Sasha gasped, staring at her mother with wide eyes. She suddenly felt numb.

"Let's go." The strange man said and grabbed her arm. Sasha struggled and fought against him. He sighed to himself and hit her on her neck, knocking her out.

The last thing she saw was her mother and Leon walking away from her.