Lunar Revenge

They would come for me at night. Wait until my family is sleeping, although they didn’t much care. My family was embarrassed by me. My 12th birthday came and no wolf. I was deemed pathetic, useless, an abomination. Those were my father’s favorite names for me. It didn’t help that I had fiery red hair. My family all had black hair and icy blue eyes. My eyes are hazel, looking coppery most of the time. My parents did a DNA test, neither believing I belonged to this family. That’s what attracted my bullies. I was different. I looked like nobody else in the pack. Plus, I was without a wolf. The moon goddess did not favor me. I thought she hated me. She watched as my tormentors would silently sneak into the house. She let them attack me. They always hid the evidence. Make sure nobody could see it. Not like anyone in my family or pack would care. They all hated or feared me. I was the pack’s weakness, the freak. Eventually I was given the chance of a lifetime. I was given a gift so powerful and pure. I was given respect; I was truly feared. A whole new feeling to me. I was always considered weak. I always felt that way. I could never help myself or any of the few people I cared for. I finally learned I actually was in the moon goddesses favor. I just had to be tested, to be reborn in order for it to work. It all started with my death. One week before death. My eyes were heavy, not wanting to let the sunlight in. Jeremy came by last night. He shoved a gag in my mouth and cut me with a silver blade. The taste in my mouth tells me it was a dirty sock. My abdomen was sore. I didn’t want to move. My stomach was covered in bandages. He was getting better at dressing wounds; I’ll give him that. The whack job was getting better at hiding his dark side. Everyone thought him the golden boy. Perfect student, star athlete, the alpha’s son and gorgeous to boot. All the girls swooned. He looks like the perfect boy next door. Chocolate curls, dark blue eyes, 6’4 of lean muscle. Underneath that dream boat surface lives a monster. I was thirteen when he started. He was fourteen. That was my saving grace. He was a year ahead of me in school. We never had classes together it didn’t stop him from making life a living hell. I slowly swing my legs over to the side of the bed. Wincing at the pain. Once my feet touch the floor, I pause. Slowly inhaling and exhaling to dampen the pain. I make my way to my bathroom and get ready for the day. Thinking back to all the times Jeremy bullied me, my brothers are in most of those memories. In fact, so is my sister. They all worshiped the ground Jeremy walked on. My sister especially. Cassidy threw herself at him every chance she got. It was embarrassing really. She’s now 20 and should have found her mate by now. Same with Jeremy. Rumor has it they’ve been doing it for a while. She tells anyone who will listen, that she is our future luna. If that’s the case, the whole pack is screwed. Slowly walking to the closet, I stop and take stock of my hand-me-downs. Dad always makes sure Cassidy has the best of the best. One would think he wouldn’t want me in designer clothes, but he doesn’t deem me worthy to waste money. My sister’s cast offs are good enough in his eyes. Wearing these also keeps up the facade. Dad doesn’t want the pack knowing how badly I am treated at home. That would make him look bad. I dress myself in jeans and an oversized hoodie. Hoping to hide my wounds. Nobody would care anyway. They’d be more upset if I ruined their lunch. I gather my long silky locks into a messy bun atop of my head. Good enough. I put on my converse and grab my book bag. I slowly descend the stairs, griping the railing with all my being. I am getting really tired of living like this. Mom is in the kitchen buzzing around making breakfast. Her long midnight mane in a braid. I grab a piece of fruit on my way to the door. “Good morning, Em.” I instantly freeze. “Morning.” “Sit and eat.” “I don’t want to be late.” “Nonsense. It is an hour before school. It takes you 10 minutes to walk there. You do not have to constantly have your nose in those books Emerald.” I sigh, “I need to be smart so I can contribute to this pack. That is all I really have to offer.” Her eyes look tired. Has she not been sleeping? “I see. Take some of this bacon with you at least.” She loads a Tupperware container and hands it to me. I almost see a sadness in her eyes. She looks almost conflicted. I can see she is talking to her wolf. Something is up. I give her the best fake smile I can muster, “thank you.” She nods slowly before returning to her tasks. I wish I had a wolf. I wish I wasn’t completely and utterly alone in this world. I want to run away to a human town; I want to start over with them. I wish to be free! My ever-consuming thoughts keep me occupied until I realize I’m at school. I’m used to being on autopilot, especially after a night of torture. The next couple of days go by quickly. Nobody bothers me. Even Ms. Smith my English teacher keeps quiet. She usually has questions, I think she figured out I’m being abused, just unsure of who is doing it. She doesn’t even acknowledge me. It’s weird. This whole week has been weird. It makes my nerves kick into overdrive. None of my bullies mess with me. Not even Jeremy. Everyone acts as if I am invisible. If I wasn’t so worried about the other shoe dropping, I would actually enjoy this. I know life is not that easy or fair. Something is up. I need to figure out why. What is going on? The final bell rings, interrupting my thoughts. I start gathering my things, I made sure to have what I needed so I could leave straight away. Stopping at my locker would give them an opportunity to bully me. I rush into the busy hallway, making sure to blend in with the sea of students. I round the first corner safely. I come to a halt. The stairs. Do I chance going down two flights of stairs? I weigh my options. The stairs would potentially get me out faster, but if I take the long sloping hallway, I’d be safer. More students to blend in with, but once I’m out of the building I am a sitting duck. I take a deep breath. The stairs it is. There are a couple of students using the stairs, some tucked in the corner sucking face, others looking to get out right away. I make it down the first flight without issue. I make it down the second flight without issue. I can see the door that leads to the back. If I go out the front, they’ll surly see me. I don’t want to be anywhere near the parking lot. Rushing across the hall once I see the coast is clear, I’m at the exit in no time. I quietly slip out, just incase they happen to be out there waiting. I cautiously look around, it’s quiet. Too quiet if you ask me. What I wouldn’t give to have a wolf right now. I grab a scent masking spray from my bag. They still haven’t figured out how I do it, witches were more than happy to help. Why couldn’t I have been born a witch? Tucking my spray carefully back in my bag, I take off in a half squatted run. I know I must look ridiculous, but caring isn’t a luxury I can afford. I make it to the football field when I suddenly hear a pick up. I freeze in my tracks. It’s a Tacoma with a leaky exhaust. s**t! My brother Alex. I take off in a dead sprint. There’s a glimmer of hope that I can make it to the tree line before he sees me. Running is a chore when you’re a weak human. Ten feet and closing. I might actually pull this off! My lungs burn, my legs burn, I’m beyond exhausted. I have to keep going! If I stop he’ll beat me. Last time I was an inch away from death. I was disappointed to wake up. The moon goddess truly hates me. I’m almost to the tree line! I can pull this off! I see my trail! I hear the honking of his horn. s**t! I’ve been spotted! I dive into the trees, scratches raining down on me in every direction. I hit the ground with an ungrateful thud. Sucking in a sharp breath, I get to my feet and continue on. I have a well hidden fort back here. Nobody knows about it. I turn in that direction and book it. I can hear the truck doors slamming shut. He’s not alone. Probably has my brother Michael with him. My day is getting worse by the second. Those two meat heads are so far up Jeremy’s butt it’s ridiculous. They want to be beta and gamma in the worst possible way. Hurting me earns them favor with our future Alpha. A small branch whips me in the face. I hiss in pain, clutching my cheek. I can see my little fortress marker. To the average person it’s just a small sapling, to me it’s my beacon of hope! I slow my pace and try to steady my breathing. I don’t want to get caught before I make it to my little cave. I’ll be safe once I’m in there, but if I’m caught before, I might actually die. A cold chill runs up my spine. I’m not dying in these woods. Not today not ever. I pause, listening for my brothers. What I would give to have a normal family. I would even be happy to be living with a human family. People who actually cared about me. My fantasies are disrupted by the cheers and yelling of my brothers. “Come out come out wherever you are!” “Don’t make us look long, it’ll only anger us more you wolfless freak!” “We just want to wish you a happy 18th birthday loser!”