GOING UNDER (THE LAST LUNA) S2

BURNING HATRED

Stella couldn't stand it anymore and decided to run from it all instead, if only for a few hours.

Stella ran outside into the forest and the cold fresh air hit her face, as she breathed it in. The wind bit at her cheeks where her tears had fallen, forcing a chill through her body. However, it didn't sting for long as she shifted into her wolf.

Her pads hit the cold ground fast as she sprinted through the woods. She controlled, as she knew she needed it. She needed to feel free and alive. She was trapped by the position, her duty, and as a mate. She had sacrificed everything for the pack, everything for him, and it was all for nothing. Even if it were possible to bear him a child now, Stella knew they would be thrown aside, just as she had been discarded.

It was an impossible situation. Every part of her wanted to run away, but her pack needed her. She knew damn well that Thea would burn this pack to the ground if she became Luna. She had some training and she had yet to witness a single intelligent remark from the girl.

Richard had made a mockery of her love for him and couldn't even respect her on duty anymore.

Stella's wolf continued to run as she continued her internal debate. She hunted rabbits and sniffed at the different scents, taking them all in so she could try and forget everything that had happened. Her white fur kept her warm against the wind, now becoming colder as darkness crept up. For just a little while longer, her wolf wanted her to forget everything, before she headed back to the house.

However, as they went to leave, her wolf noticed something in the trees. A woman with golden hair was standing there, wearing a white dress, watching her intently. Her wolf sent out a warning growl. The most unnerving part was she couldn't smell her scent.

"Who are you..? Stella asked after shifting into human form.

"I'm here to remind you, you tried to kill Abby Jezz. That's why I gave you my punishment." She said

"But Jezz was dead, I killed her.!" Stella insisted.

"No, she's not. I will give her a chance to live in this world again," the woman said.

"Are you the goddess ? Stella asked. But the woman suddenly ran into the woods. Stella's wolf did finally manage to reach the trees. There was no one there.

"Did I dream the whole thing? Stella asked herself. Her mind had been pushed to the brink and she knew it was close to snapping.

But Stella couldn't anticipate what was waiting for her at the pack house. In her walk, Abby Jezz hit her and said

"Is it true? Was Abby Jezz still alive?

"Stella!" The mistress yelled at her.

She stood at the end of the hallway towards the community living room. She didn't stop to talk with her though. Instead, Stella chose to pretend that she didn't hear her, and left towards her room.

"Stella, wait!" she called after her.

The mistress forced herself to reach her. Her hand grasped Stella's wrist, forcing her to turn around and face her. Stella growled out sharply at her touch.

"How dare you touch me? I am still the Luna even if you were carrying the heir."

Stella told her. Her brown eyes went wide in surprise at Stella's reaction and she dropped her hand instantly. She looked at Stella's as if she was about to cry.

"Stella, I'm so sorry!" she whimpered.

"I didn't want it to be like this."

Thea was always like that. Acting as if they were sisters, instead of Luna and her mate's mistress.

"He's the Alpha, how could I deny him?" Thea said, as tears began to fall from her eyes.

"You know I never wanted things to go this far, but I love him too. And I love this pack as much as you do. Please don't hate me or this child." Thea rested a hand on her belly as if to emphasize the point.

Stella could feel her pulse beating loudly, deafening her ears. Everything about her made her want to rip her to shreds. The audacity she had to say that as if she were the victim in this whole situation. Not Stella, the Luna who had suffered and laboured for years, even before they had been mated. Not Stella, who had sacrificed everything to stay with him, and be treated as coldly as he treated her. But Alpha's mistress dares to come to her now, with her tears for sympathy.

Being the Beta's daughter, naturally, everyone had assumed Richard and Stella would be mated. Stella had trained for Luna duties long before they had even discovered her. Unlike Thea, it was nothing. She was a fling everyone said would end once she came of age to feel the mate-bond. But it never ended.

In many ways, Stella would have ignored her. She would have given her a faux smile and uttered a few small words before leaving to keep the peace. But not today. Not today, when she had crawled her way in and diminished any hope she had left to stay with Richard.

"Get a hold of yourself, you pathetic woman," she snapped.

"You are carrying the heir to this pack and yet you conduct yourself like a child. Did you honestly think I would have sympathy for you? Would I console you? What did you hope to achieve by coming to me now? Did you want to rub in my face how you got pregnant by my mate?"

Stella could feel the stares as members of the pack gathered to watch the exchange. They all looked on with mixed expressions ranging from sadness, anger and sympathy. She couldn't tell if it was for her or for Thea though.

Thea broke down in heavy sobs, her legs giving out. She looked down at her in a disgusting way, and did not move even an inch to help her.

"Thea!" one of the onlookers shouted out, running to her aid.Bryan, the Gamma and third in command of the pack, rushed to Thea's side to console her. His eyes looked up at Stella with burning hatred, but she only looked back with selfless eyes.

"She's pregnant, Luna! With the Alpha heir no less. How can you say such horrible things to her when she only wanted to make amends?" Bryan said angrily.

Stella had a higher status than him, but yet he still felt he could talk to her in that way. As a Luna, she wanted to lash out at him as well, but it was enough. She had done enough already.

"I'm retiring for this evening and don't want to be interrupted. See to it that my area of the pack house is not disturbed," Stella said, giving the order to Bryan. She decided to ignore his outburst given the circumstances and the eyes watching. His jaw clenched in anger but he bowed his head nonetheless. That was right, at least someone was forced to show her the respect she deserved, even when they did not want to. She normally conducted herself properly, as a luna should, but Thea deserved no courtesies.

Stella left the stairs, went to her quarters, on the top floor. She had her own private kitchen, dining area and bedroom all to herself, where she would not be disturbed. The only people allowed access to this area were Sophie, her attendant, and Richard if he so wished.

"I'm back!" She called out, removing her shoes at the door.

A sad-looking Sophie appeared at the kitchen doorway, her eyes were full of pity. She had obviously heard the news. Stella turned her face, not wanting to look at her expression, and her own tears welled to the surface.

"Oh, honey," she soothed and rushed to her, embracing her in her warm arms. She began to softly sob in her arms and grabbed on to her as if she was grabbing on to Stella's own life.

Sophie was an older lady with greying dark hair who had acted as a mother for Stella, ever since she had become Luna. Her own mother was killed by humans. The secret she'd been hiding for all of these years was that she knew where Abby Jezz were. That was part of her revenge plan, not long after she had become a Luna and so, Stella never had any presence to help her through all the heartaches she endured. Over the last four years, her Aunt Marie had been so busy and had no time for her. Only Sophie had looked after her as if she were her own daughter and showed her so much love.

"Shh, it's okay, my love," Sophie whispered, stroking her long black hair.

"It's not the end of the world. You will be fine and healthy, and that's all that matters. You were chosen by the previous Alpha to be the next Luna, because you were blessed by the Goddess and they cannot take that away from you." Sophie said.

She was right. Stella felt like her world was ended, but in reality it was just pettiness. She felt about dedicating her life to a man who did not love her.

"I'm thinking about running away, Sophie," Stella mumbled against her chest.

"I can't do this anymore. I have nothing else to give," she added.

For Stella, her interaction with Thea had only solidified in her mind that running seemed like the best option.

"Don't say that!" Sophie scolded.

"You feel terrible now, I know, but the pack still needs you. You are their Luna. They love you." she added.

But Stella wandered, remembering the faces that had surrounded her during my altercation with Thea. She was sure now they were in sympathy towards Thea, not her, especially thinking back about Bryan and his hatred. They had no love for her anymore. She had helped raise this pack to the top, but now? It had changed, she knew their respect for her was dwindling. She was sure it would continue to diminish more as the days of Thea's pregnancy went by.