THE BROKEN LUNA

CHAPTER 3

NATALIA’S POV

THE storm is still brewing, but unlike the past hours it was getting gentler with only occasional thunder and lightning. Like it is reflecting the part inside of my heart that is a bit calmer, but still in deep wary about everything. In this place, and this particular alleyway that is like deserted, dimly lighted and no trace of life aside for myself, those five men, and the person that is in front of me right now. No, people exist, but perhaps they just didn’t care, as no one did for the likes of me. But right now, someone came, took the lead and for the first time look at me.

“W-Who?” I hardly utter the question and ends up whispering it.

My mouth that is almost ajar with my eyes that is drawn with the surprise and gladness. Is something magical that I never had before. Somewhat like a little child with the emotion of gladness that comes with the fast beat of my heart for the fact that someone came and heard my call for help. I couldn’t help but clench my hands and on the brim of asking if everything is real. But my fear and anxiety knocks, hitting my mind to wonder if this person in front of me is truly a hero or a true devil that is only wearing an angel’s mask. With his peculiar form of a half shifted one, but smells of both blood lust to kill and the other is to protect. My beating heart and wondering mind is in a chaos. Chaos that slowly as the seconds passes is turning into that feeling of assurance, for he is now smells and feels like a powerful Alpha.

“Please spare us, we do not want to die.” The cries of one of those men, then followed by the rest of them begging for their dear life.

“We wouldn’t do it again, we promise!” The biggest one even swears.

Clearly in total fright and all tail down in between their thighs that shifting into their wolf right now will not do them any good nor a bit at all. All while dragging themselves from the pain and oozing blood from their bleeding legs. Each one with a precise area of gun shot that is somewhat meant to make them disabled and enough to carry the price of their mistake for the rest of their life.

“Please!” They all screams and pleading in unison, raising their hands in surrender and cries with the words and tone of like a child in trouble. “We beg of you!” with a snout and turns whimpering dogs, they scream. “We will not do it again! We promise, just please spare our lives!”

“One,” That person, started to count in a deep, threatening and bloodlust demeanor.

Which surprises the five of them for a second and two, then their expression changes in pure horror.

“Two,” he continues, sharpening the gun and still pointing the nuzzle to the men’s direction. “Three.” He pulled the trigger that made the already whimpering men to curl into a fetal position and shiver in fear.

A trick to scare them even more the bullet just went pass through the gap in between that fat man and the skinniest one. But still enough to make themselves wet on their pants. His echoing footsteps continue as he went pass me with the still mysterious like appearance that I can’t hardly see from the dim light that we are currently into. He took something, probably a rope, no, it is a rope. As he tied those five men who are all helpless and sobbing. Just then a phone falls cracking its screen and plays the video that not just slap me hard in the face, but felt like someone poured me with a bucket full of ice. When a lustful and disdainful laughter and words echoes.

‘DON’T WORRY LITTLE PRINCESS YOU WILL HAVE---’

The one that they took from me, which quickly and in a heartbeat flushed the horror straight to my face. My hands are shivering and my breathing is heavy. My anxiety is kicking as I felt and seeing that everything around me is one big dark shadow with thousands of eyes that is slowly eating me alive.

“Noisy!”

I snap out from my entrapment when a hard stump crushes the phones into pieces. I look up seeing only the shadow of his face from the dimly lighted alleyway. But unlike a while ago where I am seeing that seemingly half shifted form of his. This person standing a few steps away from me is now a calm one. With the sense of mystery that he brings. Yet a comforting assurance that I don’t know what, how, and why, a call says.

‘MATE!’

I immediately gasped, felt like I might throw up in that instant. When a banging surge of lust engulfs me, and a debating call ring to myself. For the fact that I shouldn’t be having that kind of urge, not towards someone with the kind of presence that resembles an alpha. No, not even anyone at all. Especially not for someone as good as a rogue and a useless wolf-less one that is me.

With a brush of soft wind, I found myself looking at his knees as he crouches down and whispers in a deep, comforting and warm voice, “Breath.” A bit too late for me to realize that he is now in front of me.

He then reaches his hand and touch my face. Assuring me from those warm hand, but drench from the heavy rain that I am safe.

He then said. “You do not have to worry. I will protect you.”

TO PROTECT SOMEONE LIKE ME? The thought that immediately hits inside my mind, that brings the sudden urge for greed inside of me to have him. Enchanting me to pull him close and make me his. A bit all too much for me to process, but enough for this weak state of mine to give in. Worse when the storm finally stops and the light of the moon paves for me to see his eyes, yes, his eyes that resembles like of autumn. Almost the time for winter, yet still has the warm of summer.

Those reddish-brown eyes that is drawing me close and by which I am more than glad to give everything that I am to him. Unknowingly I reach my hand to touch his and like a skip of strong urge, he took me in his embrace and crash his lips to mine.

It is surprising, but a pleasing one. A bit forceful, but sweet. His lips that is soft and warm is somewhat slowly cradling me into the forbidden area that I am more than willing to give and to dwell as long as it is him. Strange, and un-lady like of me especially that he is a stranger. Someone who happens to save me in time and protected me. But I do not care in that point in time, for all I wanted is to drown into lust from his trailing kisses and secure embrace.

“HE DIDN’T LEFT ANYTHING NOR HIS NAME TO US. HE JUST TOOK YOU HERE TO BE TREATED AND THAT’S ALL. HE IS PROBABLY AN OMEGA AND THAT’S IT. BUT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT HIM.”

Right. I remember the dismayed look of the doctors and nurses for my presence at the hospital. My questions that was all left unanswered and the night with his presence that somehow becomes a fleeting dream that is even too good for me to have. Worse, I felt and claims that fleeting feeling of acceptance and importance. Something that is not mine to have in the first place. Just how could I jump into the glimpse that I am cared for, with the fact that it was only for a moment? I am honestly hopeless, and such a fool. Just remembering the nurse's words and my desperation at that point to know who and where he is right now, clearly shows how pathetic I am.

“Damn it, are you even listening!” A curse and always snaps me back to reality.

Alpha Dimitri with his contempt, gritting teeth and all disappointed look towards me slams both of his hands and hard to the table. That cause to form a crack in the middle of the glass table, and all because of what I have done. Running way from the middle of the stormy night. Almost r**e, and once more dirtied the name of Wynknight. That if it is not for Dionne’s immediate cover up, this family will be in deeper mud because of me.

“Natalia Wynknight!” He shouted my name and only when I did something that is too much to swallow.

I close my eyes for a second and can only clench my hand tight while looking down and shivering in fear. Something that I shouldn’t be showing him or else, I will in trouble worse than this.

The Alpha, my father, slams the table once more and yelled. “What the hell are you even thinking of running away from this house in the middle of the night? It’s a good thing that someone from the military divisions saw what happened and prevented the deeper discrimination that you might have rubbed and more than enough to our family.” The blame that is like a poisonous medicine to me.

But more than the scolding and seems like a concern, a title stole my attention. “T-The m-military division? I-In w-what d-division?” I ask for a clarification as my heart skips a beat.

Now hopeful that I could meet that person once more and this time to know his name. A soldier and an omega. Two things that I now know and by which I can use to find out who he is. An omega soldier that goes under either the sixth and the seventh division.

“What’s with the expression?” The Alpha asks, with his sharp gaze which is penetrating me deep with a cut from deep within my soul.

I immediately look down, as anxiety and fear succumb to me and once more. Now wishing for this conversation to end while clenching my hands and preventing my knees to not give up. As he then firmly warns me.

“You better straighten your mind and act like a grown-up. Do not disgrace me and the family more than your existence. You very know that keeping you here in this family is torture enough for everyone.” He slaps me with that fact and my reality.

I immediately look down and apologize. “I a-am s-sorry.”

Yet, he stayed firm and unaffectionate by reminding me with the words. “I do not need your apology but your obedience. Behave yourself and do not even think of stepping your foot outside of this house. Do you understand?”

I quickly nods and said, “I u-understand.”

“You are dismissed.” His firm rejection.

“As you wish.” And my obligatory reply.

All use to the cold treatment, yet it still hurts me nonetheless. I open the door and quietly exits the Alpha’s office and closes the door without any much noise. As I can finally have a deep breath and calm my nerves. Yet, I have something worth to have and a first. The information about him, and the fact that it will be easy for me to find him and to thank him of what he did of saving me upon knowing his division. All that I need to do right now is stay in the good side with my behavior to the Alpha and eventually will be given a permission to find him.

“Nali! Natalia!” A sudden worried tone calls me.

I quickly look back, draws a smile and all delighted calling back. “Sarah, Sarah!” I wave my hand as Sarah runs and immediately hugs me tight.

“You are here, you are alright! Thanks to the moon goddess!” her trembling voice and worry-wart face.

All while didn’t care nor paying any attention to the servants that started to gossip and asks why would someone like her. The future Luna of the pack, the only daughter of the Alpha’s Beta and the most powerful one next to the Alpha. Someone with the position in the pack’s council and the most cherish fiancée of the future Alpha and my older brother Dionne, is befriending someone like me.

The only person in the pack who genuinely cares about me and the only one who stayed to be my friend even after I lost my wolf and I become a disgrace.

“What are you thinking of running away?” her dismay and disbelief, but more than those is her worry for me. “What if something worst happened to you? Just what are you thinking? You know how worried I am upon knowing that you were in danger last night. You should have stayed at the hospital.” That following questions and fast that is making me dizzy, nonetheless it makes me smile knowing that I have a true friend that is her.

I smile, holds her hand and said. “I a-am a-alright Sarah. N-now, stop c-crying.” I assure her and at the same time is consoling her disappointment towards me.

Sarah’s existence is a breath of fresh air to me, and the only remaining true person who didn’t treat me badly and stayed. The one who does not care about the disgrace and taint that I can give her and from everyone’s words. Someone that I cherish and wanted to protect, honestly and all from myself.

“If you are sorry enough then have some tea with me.” She suddenly demanded, but more like she just wanted to spend time with me.

“B-but you k-know that I---” I hesitated, after being scolded and typically grounded from what happened.

Still Sarah who knows everything and this pack’s promising future Luna assures me. “In the garden. That place is perfect for a little chat and two.” As she holds my hand and expects nothing but a positive response from me.

“A-alright.” I give in and immediately followed her to the garden.

“Miss. Sarah is truly a good-hearted person. Suited and more for being the pack's future Luna. Just imagine being near a wolfless one and a disappointment to the alpha. Miss. Sarah truly is amazing.” The scorn, and belittling from her voice and words that points of me for being a useless one.

The servant’s gossips. Loud and clear enough that is more than for me to know that they meant to do it. Not that new to me at all. Worse with my history and position in this household and the entire pack. I couldn’t scold them and let alone even look at them in a contemptuous way. For how could I reprimand anyone, if I am even lower in status than them?

“You!” Sarah suddenly marches and faces the maids with her death stare. “Position or not. Just who are you to gossip about the daughter of the Alpha?” she’s scolding them, arms cross and with the deep and reprimanding tone.

Taken aback the maids quickly apologize. “We didn’t mean to. We apologize Miss. Sarah.”

But Sarah is not having it. “If you are sorry enough then you should be asking for an apology to the person that you just hurt.” she demanded and strictly.

The maid immediately complies, and apologizes. “Yes, Miss Sarah. We sincerely apologize, Miss Natalia.” Their shaking voices and on the brim of crying.

Much thinking of the possibility of being fired than their genuine intention of being sorry for what they have done. I accepted their apology and to appease Sarah and to just drop it, as I am more than use to it. We then continue and heads to the garden for our little chatting tea time.

“Nali, Nali. Natalia!”

Startled back to reality and from my wandering thoughts. Sarah’s expression is on the different side of worry. Looking at me intently with a wondering gaze that she couldn’t hide from anyone.

“What are you thinking about being immersed in your deep thought for a while?” she quickly asks in a puzzled and worry tone. “I’ve been calling your name, but you didn’t even blink and just stared at the tea in front of you. Are you unwell? Now thinking about it, maybe I shouldn’t have come and invited you.” Guilty and concern from her.

“NO!” I quickly protested, shaking my head and assures her. “N-no, I w-wasn’t t-thinking l-like t-that Sarah.”

She then looks at me puzzled for a few seconds, then suddenly draws a cunning and knowing smile that scares me in a different way and reason. “Perhaps you are thinking about the person who saved you that night?” She teases.

Sarah just nailed the coffin that was evident to my face which put her into an intriguing mood and almost shouted from excitement. “I nailed it.” She then giggles and continue. “But you do not need to ponder about that sort of thing Nali, for right now Dionne might be back and talking with the Alpha. You see, Dionne is been looking for that person who saves you, and right about now, he must already be in front of the presence of the Alpha.”

My heart skips a beat. I could hardly breathe and I could feel that my face is turning red. Sarah is teasingly laughing and exactly knows what I am thinking. But more than anything else.

“Shall we meet him, the person that is making you blush right now?”