The Omega’s Revenge: No Longer His Luna

“The daughter of Alaric Blackstone. How dare you deceive me?”

Rejected for my bloodline, I faced a harsh truth: the man who once held me tenderly now looked at me with hatred. Marked as the shameful Omega daughter of an Alpha, I thought the mate bond was my salvation—only to find it was my curse.

Forced into marriage by my father as a bargaining chip, I made a decision to escape the torment and leave behind those who betrayed me. Years later, when I finally found peace, my mate returned, begging for forgiveness. However, after enduring all the pain he caused me, can I truly forgive him?

PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

My legs trembled as I stood before him, the mate bond between us shrieking in agony at his next words.

My heart stopped. In that single word, I heard my sentence being passed.

“I reject you! I will never accept you as my Luna!”

The force of his rejection slammed into me like a physical blow, shattering my soul. Just hours ago, these same lips had whispered sweet promises against my skin. These same hands had touched me with reverence. Now, Alpha Finn Foster looked at me as if I were something rotten, something despised. Something he hated with a passion.

“Alaric Blackstone’s daughter,” he spat the words like venom. “You deceived me.”

My mate, the man the Moon Goddess had destined for me, the man who had held me in his arms just a night before, now glared at me as if I were a curse upon his existence. All because I was the daughter of his enemy.

I wanted to tell him I hadn’t known—hadn’t known he was my father’s enemy, hadn’t known anything beyond the overwhelming pull of our mate bond and the desperate hope that I’d finally found someone who would love and cherish me. Someone who could save me from the hell I lived in. But my voice failed me, just as everything else in my life had.

The marks of his passion from last night still burned on my skin, a cruel reminder of how completely I’d given myself to him. My first time. My only time. And now...

“Please,” I whispered, but pride made me swallow the rest. I’d spent enough years begging—begging my stepmother for food, for mercy, for a moment’s peace from her endless torments. Begging my father to see me as more than just his shameful omega daughter.

“I’d rather reject the bond and tear it to shreds than let Blackstone’s daughter stand by my side,” he snarled, his voice dripping with venom. “Last night was a mistake, omega. Nothing more. Imprint that in your skull.”

Days passed, and sorrow became my constant companion. My mate had rejected me all because of my bloodline. When I thought of the look of disgust on his face as he rejected me, it left me shaken, sending waves of fear and dread coursing through me. His cruel words lingered like ghosts in my dreams.

“Marry him for our pack!” My father’s cruel words echoed through his study. “This is your last value!”

“I’m pregnant,” I whispered.

He slammed his hand on his desk. “So?” he said, rising and approaching me. “You will do as I say, or I will kill you myself.”

I blinked back the tears threatening to fall. Why? Why was I so miserable? Why was I always unwanted everywhere I went? My mate—the only man I thought could save me, the one I prayed every day to meet and take me away from here—had just rejected me and left me with his child.

“Dad,” I called, but I was cut off.

“Alpha. It is Alpha to you,” he growled, making my knees go weak. “You will marry Alpha Dickson, whether you like it or not.” His eyes roamed my body and finally landed on my belly. I possessively wrapped my arms around it. “I’m sure he won’t reject you because you’re pregnant.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even better. A slave for his collection, fresh from the womb.”

Before I could say a word, he interrupted, “Now get out. Your new alpha arrives at midnight.”

“D—”

“Get out,” he commanded, his tone cold and leaving no room for argument.

And so I was sold, like property, to a man who saw me only as a hostage—a bargaining chip in the endless games of pack politics. I endured his hatred, his cruelty, all for the tiny spark of life growing inside me—the only pure thing I had left.

Until I lost even that.

The day I lost my baby, something in me shattered. Whatever naive, hopeful part of me that still believed in love and fate and the Moon Goddess’s mercy died along with my child. That was the day I decided to disappear.

Five years passed like a dream. I built a new life far from pack lands, far from mate bonds and alphas and all the pain they brought. I learned to breathe again, to exist without flinching at shadows.

Until today.

He kneels before me now, this proud alpha who once treated me like dirt beneath his feet. His eyes—those same deep ocean-blue eyes that once looked at me with such disgust—now shine with tears.

“Forgive me, mate,” he begged. “I’ve hidden my love with hatred. Come back to me, please…”

I look down at him, this mighty Alpha Finn Foster on his knees, and feel the old wound in my chest throb. Once, I would have given anything to hear those words. Once, I would have forgiven anything just to be loved by him.

But I am no longer that broken girl who thought her only value lay in being someone’s mate, someone’s wife, someone’s Luna.

The Moon Goddess might play cruel jokes, but I’ve learned to write my own destiny.

And this time, I choose myself.

1

Scarlett’s POV

It was a day like any other, and I was buried in chores when the heavy door creaked open. My stepmother, Luna Elena, strode in, her eyes sharp and lips curved into that cruel smile she wore so well.

“We’re going to the ball,” she declared with authority. “And you’re coming with us.”

The words hit me like a slap. “What?” My voice barely escaped my lips. A ball? For people like me? It seemed impossible.

“Are you deaf?” she hissed, taking a step closer. “Or should I carve it into that thick skull of yours?”

“No, Luna— I mean, yes— I mean… why?” I stammered, my thoughts racing. A ball was for nobles and alliances—people who mattered. People like Nina, her perfect daughter. The werewolf kingdom didn’t even know I existed. I was just a secret kept behind closed doors, a stain hidden from the eyes of others.

“You dare question me, b*tch?” Her glare burned into my skin.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, head bowed, hands trembling.

Her voice turned icy. “You think I want to parade you around? If not for your pathetic father’s request…” She cut herself off before she could finish her sentence. “Just find a dress and put it on. And make sure you don’t embarrass us.”

She left without saying another word, leaving me standing there with my heart pounding. Her words felt like shackles tightening around me. I hurried to finish my work before retreating to my small room. After a quick wash, I searched through my limited wardrobe of worn, outdated clothes. It wasn’t ideal, but it would have to do.

“Scarlett!” my stepmother’s voice called. I quickly tied my hair up and left my room.

The drive to the hall felt endless, the suffocating silence broken only by Nina’s perfect reflection smiling at me from the car window. She looked like a vision in her royal gown, while I felt like a mere servant beside her.

“Behave yourself,” Nina hissed as soon as we stepped out of the car.

“What the hell are you wearing?” my dad demanded as he stepped out of the car. His eyes roamed over me with unmistakable contempt. Usually, he ignored my existence, but not this time.

“Honey,” Luna Elena cooed with a sweet tone, “you know how she is. She refused the dress I gave her and insisted on wearing that... thing.”

“Just to embarrass me?” he growled. I stayed silent, knowing it was safer that way.

“She won’t,” she assured him, her eyes drilling into mine with a warning. “No one knows who she is.”

A smile slowly crept across his face, and his eyes lit up with a disturbing satisfaction. I felt something twist painfully inside me.

“You’re right, Elena,” he muttered. “No one knows who she is.” He turned to me, his eyes narrowing. “You will act like Nina’s maid, and you will not utter a single word about being my daughter.”

I stayed silent, fighting back the tears threatening to spill. I knew if I spoke, I’d start crying. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Really, Dad?” Nina chimed in, eager to seize any opportunity to make my life miserable.

“Yes,” he replied with a smile—the same smile I had always longed for, the one I had prayed he’d show me. “She’ll be your maid tonight, given the clothes she’s wearing.”

Even if I had been dressed like a noble lady, I’d still be treated like a maid, because that’s all I ever was to them. But it hurt to hear him say it out loud.

“Thank you, Dad,” Nina said with a smirk that made my skin crawl.

“Do I make myself clear, Scarlett?”

I could only nod, fighting back the tears threatening to spill.

The ballroom sparkled with luxury, yet a heavy sense of despair enveloped me like a suffocating veil. My stepmother had turned tonight into another opportunity to flaunt me like a prized possession—a pawn in her twisted game of control.

“Remember, Scarlett,” Luna Elena’s voice echoed in my mind, a sickly sweet reminder. “Behave like the perfect maid.”

The evening progressed, the laughter and chatter of the guests blending into a dull roar in my ears. After finally escaping Nina and her friends’ taunts, I found a quiet corner, desperate for a moment of peace. That’s when I saw him. And I smelled him.

It was as if time stopped when our eyes met. A magnetic pull so strong it felt like destiny itself was intervening. I had spent months praying silently to the Moon Goddess, begging her to free me from my chains. And now, here he was, standing tall and proud, his gaze holding mine with such intensity that I felt my heart skip a beat.

Could this be my salvation? The escape I had been longing for?

He walked towards me, each step confident and assured. The crowd seemed to part for him, though all I could focus on was the soft smirk playing on his lips. When he reached for my hand, a jolt of electricity surged through me—a promise of something more, something beyond the misery and pain that had defined my existence.

“I knew it was you,” he murmured, his voice low and warm, sending a shiver down my spine. “From the moment I saw you.”

I swallowed, unable to find my voice, overwhelmed by the intensity of the mate bond. Could he sense my desperation? The fragile hope that maybe, just maybe, tonight would be the night everything changed?

2

Scarlett’s POV

His husky voice made me tremble. “What is your name?”

“Scarlett,” I replied softly, and to my surprise, a smile crept across my face. A sudden surge of warmth coursed through me, surprising in its intensity, as if I were reconnecting with a forgotten part of myself.

“Finn,” he said, a matching smile lighting up his eyes. “Call me Finn.”

“Finn,” I repeated, savoring the sound, letting it roll off my tongue as if it were a name I was meant to say.

He stared at me, his deep blue eyes piercing through the walls I had built. They weren’t just beautiful; they were magnetic, drawing me in, making it impossible to look away. I felt my heart flutter, my breath catching as I tried to memorize every detail of his face. It was like he was trying to see beyond my brokenness, searching for the person I could be.

“You look beautiful,” he whispered.

I blushed. “Thank you. You look handsome as well.”

Without saying a word, he reached for my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine. His touch felt like a lifeline in a stormy sea as he led me away from the crowded ballroom, away from judgmental eyes. We didn’t need words. The connection between us was undeniable, an unspoken understanding. I wanted to believe this was fate—that Finn truly saw me beyond the broken girl my stepmother had tried to bury.

The cool night air kissed my skin, but Finn’s hand was warm, igniting a fire within me. We slipped into the shadows, our breaths mingling. His hands cupped my face, and for a moment, the world fell away. All the pain vanished. There was only him and the wild rhythm of my heart.

“Scarlett…” His voice was a whisper, his lips brushing against mine. “I’ve waited for this.”

Our kiss was a slow dance, the kind that made time stand still. Finn was gentle, patient, as if he knew how fragile I felt. I melted into him, my body reacting to the heat of his desire.

I was lost in him—in the taste of his lips, the pressure of his body against mine. Every touch ignited a fire within, a thrilling intensity that made my pulse race.

He pulled away, and we were both breathless.

“Come,” he said, grabbing my hand. “Let’s take this somewhere else.”

I followed him, feeling safe. Finn guided me to a room behind the ballroom, a private space with elegant curtains and soft lighting. He pushed the door open, and we slipped inside, the door clicking shut behind us. He didn’t speak, and neither did I. We didn’t need to.

His breath warmed my skin as he kissed his way down my neck, fingers slipping beneath the delicate fabric of my gown. A gasp escaped me, my heart racing with hope and desire.

As our bodies pressed together, his hands roamed over me, each touch sending sparks of pleasure through me. When he lowered me onto the soft bed, his body covered mine.

“Are you sure?” he asked, voice husky, searching my eyes for any sign of doubt. “I don’t want to rush you.”

I felt my cheeks flush, but I nodded, swallowing hard. “I… I want this,” I whispered, surprised by the steadiness in my voice.

Finn’s gaze softened, and he kissed me again, slower this time, savoring every moment. He undressed me with a gentleness that made me feel truly seen. Each touch and kiss reassured me that I wasn’t just a secret to be hidden.

“Tell me if it’s too much,” he murmured, his fingers trailing softly down my entrance. I shivered at the sensation, nodding in response.

My body arched when he gently slipped his finger inside me. A moan escaped as he started pleasuring me, sucking and caressing.

“Ah,” I moaned, my body burning with pleasure. I felt something building as he picked up the pace, his fingers moving faster inside me. I was on the brink of release when he suddenly pulled away.

“Why?” My voice came out low, filled with confusion.

“Easy, love,” he said, gently kissing my forehead. “I want to pleasure you beyond your imagination.”

I saw it in his eyes—something raw and intense, a hunger that mirrored my own. My wolf growled in recognition.

“Mate.”

He kissed me tenderly before undressing himself. My eyes widened with desire as I took in his body. It was perfect. This perfect man in front of me was my mate. I couldn’t wait to see the look on my stepmother’s face when I introduced him. I couldn’t wait to leave that hell I called home and start a new life with him—someone who could love and cherish me for the rest of my days.

I gasped at his length, so long and hard it seemed to threaten to tear me in two.

“Ha,” I gasped, fear creeping into my voice.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, noticing me tremble.

“Th… That,” I stammered. “Is that yours?”

He looked down and smiled. “You mean this?” he asked, holding his erection.

“Yes. Is that yours alone?”

“Haha.” He let out a chuckle. “It’s mine, and now, it’s yours.”

“Mine,” I repeated.

“Yes. Yours. Touch it.” He grabbed my hand. “It’s harmless.”

“Won’t it kill me?” I asked innocently.

“What the heck is going on in that head of yours, mate? It won’t kill you, but give you pleasure beyond your wildest dreams. Here, feel it.” He guided my hand to touch it. It was warm and soft, harmless despite its intimidating size. I began to explore it, running my fingers over its length.

He moaned, “Scarlett,” my name escaping his lips like a prayer. “Ah.” I became engrossed, touching and playing with his balls.

“I’m about to cum,” he groaned. I was still exploring when he spilled his seed onto my face.

“Ah. I love it, Scarlett.”

“What is that?” I asked, wide-eyed.

“You mean… Wait…” He stared at me in disbelief. “Have you never seen this before?” he asked, gesturing to himself.

I shook my head. “No.”

“Then no one’s ever… done this to you?” he asked, squeezing my breasts gently.

“Yes,” I replied truthfully.

“Ha, I struck gold,” Finn said, pulling me into a tight embrace. “I promise to treat you well, mate.”

The assurance in his voice—it was the first time I’d ever heard such words.

He gently laid me on the bed, positioning himself in front of me. “I’m going in.”

When he finally entered me, it wasn’t like the stories I had imagined. It was raw and real, a mix of pain and pleasure that left me breathless.

And then, slowly, he became my first, and it was everything and nothing like I’d imagined. His movements were gentle, careful not to overwhelm me, yet there was a rawness to it. A need that I could feel in the way he kissed me, in the way he held me so close as if he never wanted to let go. I clung to him, my body responding to his in ways I had never known possible, and for a fleeting moment, I let myself believe that this—this passion, this connection—was real.

3

Scarlett’s POV

The morning sun pierced through my closed eyelids, awakening me with a pleasant ache in my muscles from last night’s passion. A smile crept onto my lips as I reached for his warmth on the silk sheets. I curled closer to him, feeling my heart race in the peaceful afterglow, his alpha presence making my omega instincts purr. The memory of his touch still lingered on my skin. The places he kissed and the fiery trails his touch left across every inch of me still made my wolf purr.

It was real. I had finally found my mate. Someone who could love, cherish, and stand beside me. Someone who could save me from my agony and straighten my omega wolf. I had found that person.

He was mine. My fated mate.

The memory of meeting him last night was still vivid. The way he gazed at me across the ballroom, the instant connection that sparked between us. We didn’t even need formal introductions before our wolves recognized each other. Mate. The attraction was undeniable.

His scent lingered—pine, smoke, and something so purely alpha it made my omega hum. I lay still, afraid to shatter the fragile peace between us.

He stirred. I smiled, watching his perfect, handsome face, feeling incredibly lucky.

“Did I wake you?” I asked softly. My heart fluttered when his deep blue ocean eyes opened, gazing at me as if searching for something.

The warmth in his expression faded as soon as his hand brushed the scar on my collarbone. His muscles tensed, and I felt him stiffen. From the way his arm tensed and his breath hitched, I knew it wasn’t desire he was feeling but regret.

“You’re an omega.” The disbelief in his voice twisted my stomach into knots.

My throat constricted painfully, but I nodded. “Yes.” The word barely left my lips before his expression darkened.

I felt a sudden wave of reality hit me as he stood up and distanced himself from me, as if I were something repulsive, something unworthy. Panic flooded through me, sharp and suffocating. As he turned away, my heart sank, the fleeting warmth we had shared fading away like mist in the morning sun.

“The lowest rank in the pack,” he muttered, his voice laced with venom. “And you think you’re fit to stand beside me?”

Does he truly think of me that way? My thoughts spiraled into a chaotic mess. How can he look at me and only see my rank? What about last night? What about the way our wolves connected?

“Wait,” I whispered, reaching for him. “Please, just listen—”

He shoved my hand aside, the rejection more painful than any physical blow. How did it come to this? I could feel the heat of humiliation creeping up my neck, but I fought to hold it back. I should feel anger, but instead, I feel… small. So small.

“You thought I would make an omega my Luna?” His words cut like a sharp knife, piercing my heart. Each insult dug deeper, reminding me of my place and the shame I had fought so hard to overcome. What did I expect? He’s an alpha, belonging to a world where I don’t belong. “You must be more delusional than I thought.”

His words poisoned the bond, twisting it until it barely held. The fated bond I’d believed sacred, unbreakable, was unraveling before my eyes. Being with an omega was worse than defying the Goddess herself.

“We’re destined. We’re fated,” I whispered, desperate. “That has to mean something. I know it does.”

His cold, empty laugh echoed in the room. “Fate?” he spat. “Do you think fate means anything in this world?” He stood and began to dress, each movement deliberate and dismissive. “Politics, power—that’s what matters. And you, little wolf, have neither.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I pushed them back, resisting the overwhelming emotions. Crying wouldn’t make a difference. It never had. I clung to the faint bond that still lingered between us, desperately hoping it wouldn’t break entirely. Please, don’t let it fall apart.

He stood at the edge of the bed, his sharp gaze locking onto mine. Instead of warmth, all I saw was suspicion and disdain.

“Who are you, really?” he asked, his voice cold, stripping away the last remnants of our shared intimacy.

“Scarlett. I told you last—”

He cut me off. “Your last name.”

The moment I had dreaded had finally arrived. My father’s name hung on my tongue like a curse, one I had tried hard to keep buried until now. Would he hate me for it when he knew my last name? Would he see me as my father’s daughter, and nothing more?

“My father…” My voice trembled as I swallowed hard. How can I explain that I never asked for this? “My father is Alaric Blackstone.”

His whole body tensed up, the name landing between us like a thunderclap. I caught a glimpse of betrayal and disbelief in his eyes for a moment, but it quickly turned into intense anger.

“Blackstone.” He said the name like it was a vile thing, something that had crawled from the depths of hell. His eyes burned with intense hatred.

“You’re his daughter?”

I flinched at the venom in his voice. This is it. This is where it ends. Before I could respond, he grabbed my arm, yanking me close, his breath scorching against my skin.

“You’re the spawn of the man who ruined my family. And you think I’d take you as my Luna?”

His grip tightened, and the anger radiating from him scorched the bond between us. The warmth we shared was gone, replaced with ice. How can this be happening?

I tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened.

“I’d rather reject the bond and tear it to shreds than let Blackstone’s daughter stand by my side,” he snarled, his voice filled with venom. “Last night was a mistake, omega. Nothing more.”

It wasn’t a mistake. I felt it! My heart raced, but my voice betrayed me, cracking under the weight of my despair. “We slept together?”

He scoffed, his eyes filled with loathing. “Save it. Last night was a mistake. One that won’t be repeated. You are not my Luna, and you never will be. I reject the mate bond.”

“You took everything from me. You made me into a woman.”

“So?” he shot back. “Do you think if I’d known you were Blackstone’s daughter, I could touch you?”

“But—” My voice cracked. “We—”

“There is no we.” He let go of me like I was poison, stepping back as if my touch disgusted him. “You were nothing more than a body. That’s all you’ll ever be.”

My heart shattered as his words crashed over me like waves of pain. He’s throwing away everything we could have had. Everything I believed in.

“Please,” I begged, knowing his rejection could kill me—and my wolf. “Don’t do this.”

“I, Finn Foster, reject you, Scarlett Blackstone, as my mate and Luna.”

The bond snapped, leaving me gasping, each breath a struggle against the searing agony. It felt like a piece of my soul had been torn away. Clutching my chest, I fought to breathe, but he was already walking away.

“You can see yourself out,” he said coldly, moving toward the door. “And Scarlett? If I ever see you again, I won’t be so gentle.”

He didn’t look back.

The door slammed shut behind him, shattering the future I had imagined. I sat frozen, clutching the sheets that still smelled of what could have been the beginning of our life together. Instead, it was the end.

Inside me, my wolf howled, lost in the agony of rejection. The bond was gone. He was gone. My fated mate, the one person who was supposed to see past everything else and love me for who I was, had rejected me because of a name. Because of blood I’d never asked for.

I didn’t know how long I cried, but when I finally gathered my senses, the sun was rising. I wiped my tears with trembling hands, forcing myself to stand.

The bond throbbed like an open wound, but I gathered my clothes, erasing every trace that I’d ever been there.

4

Scarlett’s pov

I felt overwhelming fear as I approached my father’s pack. I knew no one would miss me if I disappeared or died. I was unwanted and hated by everyone, even the man I called my father.

I greeted a few people with a “Good morning” as I walked to the pack house, but they responded with a dead glare. I waved it off as I walked inside the pack house.

I carefully opened the door, peeking inside to check if my stepmother was around. I prayed I wouldn’t run into her—if I did, I’d surely be punished. I had to hurry to my room, change, and clean the house before she realized I hadn’t been home last night.

A small smile crept onto my face when I saw the place was empty. I tiptoed inside, making my way to the hellhole I was given as a room—a place with no bed, no pillow, nowhere to truly rest my head.

Yes, I smiled. Just a little bit more, and I could enter my room. But my hope was shattered when I heard her voice—the voice that made my knees go weak. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. My body trembled on its own as I turned around to face her. Anger was written all over her face.

“Where are you coming from?” she demanded, her voice laced with hatred.

My heart raced, and my breath hitched. Her voice was sharp and filled with disdain, echoing in my ears like a haunting melody that promised pain. “Mom,” I called out of fear, making the biggest mistake of my life.

She was seething with anger, her eyes piercing mine as she advanced towards me.

“I... I am sorry,” I stuttered. “P-please.”

“Did I not warn you?” she yelled, grabbing my throat. My throat constricted painfully under her grip, and I struggled to breathe. My vision blurred as spots danced before my eyes, and a sharp, burning sensation spread across my neck, “not to ever call me ‘mom.’”

“I’m so—” Before I could finish my statement, she shoved me to the floor. I lay there, gasping for air.

She moved closer, pressing the heel of her shoe onto my fingers. A searing pain shot through my hand, and I bit back a scream, feeling the bones in my fingers strain under the pressure.

“You’re not feeling it, bitch?” she shouted. “The pain.”

I groaned and screamed as she twisted it harder, wanting to break them. The pain shot through my body, adding to the pain of rejection from earlier.

“Don’t do this. I’m sorry, Luna.” Luna—that was the name she wanted to hear. The name she wanted me to call her.

She finally let me go, but by the time she did, my fingers were bruised.

She walked past me and took her seat on the sofa.

“Now tell me,” she began, crossing her legs, “where did you sleep last night?”

I swallowed hard, not knowing what to say. Her eyes blinked, studying my behavior.

“You’d better think twice before you open your mouth and say a word,” she warned. “Where did you go after the ball?”

“I lost my way,” I replied, lowering my gaze. I dared not look into her eyes.

“And then?”

“I couldn’t find you or my dad, so I slept there. In one of the rooms.”

She marched to where I was, grabbing my hair and nearly pulling it out. I whimpered. “Really? Are you telling the truth?”

“Yes.”

“Yes what?” she asked, tightening her grip on my hair.

“Yes, Luna. I dare not lie to you.”

I could feel her eyes burning into my skin, roaming all over my body.

“I will choose to trust you now,” she said, letting go of my hair. I sighed in relief, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I did something right. I wore a dress that covered all the traces of him on my body. “Stand up and go do your work.”

“Yes, Luna.”

***

I traced my fingers over the cold stone wall, a chill creeping into my bones despite the warmth of the day outside. This is my life—a forgotten corner of the Blackstone pack, hidden away like a shameful secret, where the omega belongs. My life. Scarlett Blackstone, the daughter of the pack’s Alpha, forced into the role of an omega by the woman who wears the title of my stepmother like a badge of honor.

I exhaled slowly, feeling the familiar sting of tears behind my eyes, but I wouldn’t cry. I’d cried enough tears to drown in, and they’ve never done me any good. Crying only made her smile, her lips curling in that cruel way that told me I was exactly what she wanted me to be—nothing.

“Scarlett!” The sharp voice cut through the air, and I flinched, knowing what was coming next. Stepmother. Her voice was like a whip, always lashing at me, reminding me where I belonged. I scrambled to my feet, dirt clinging to my knees from the cold floor. She never let me forget what I was—a disappointment, a burden, a waste of space.

“You lazy girl!” Her voice sliced through the air as she entered the room, her heels clicking on the stone floor. I kept my eyes on the ground, knowing better than to meet her gaze. “Can’t you do anything right?” She spat the words, each one laced with hate.

“I’m sorry, Luna,” I whispered, but it was never enough. It had never been enough. No matter how hard I worked, no matter how obedient I was, it was never enough for her.

“Of course you are,” she sneered, stepping closer. I could feel her looming over me, her presence suffocating me. “You’re always sorry, Scarlett. That’s the only thing you’re good for—apologizing for being a waste of space.”

My hands curled into fists at my sides, but I forced myself to stay silent. I wanted to scream, to tell her she was wrong, but I didn’t. I’d learned that fighting back only made things worse.

She circled me like a predator, and I could feel her eyes on me, waiting for any sign of defiance. “You think you’re something special, don’t you? With your Blackstone blood? But look at you.” She laughed, cold and cruel. “You’re nothing. Less than nothing.”

Her words burned, but they were nothing new. I’d heard them a thousand times, and each time they sank deeper, carving out pieces of me until there was barely anything left.

“And your father?” She laughed again, a sharp, bitter sound. “He doesn’t even care enough to notice. Do you think he’d save you if he knew?”

My heart twisted at the mention of my father. A part of me still clung to the memory of the man who used to tuck me in at night, who used to call me his little warrior. But he’s long gone, replaced by someone who looks at me with indifference, as if I’m just another omega in the pack. His daughter in name only.

“Look at me when I’m speaking to you!” Her hand lashed out, striking me across the face. The slap echoed in the small room, and I tasted blood in my mouth, but I didn’t react. I’d learned how to absorb the pain, how to make myself small enough to disappear.

She stood there for a moment, waiting for a response, but when none came, she huffed and turned on her heel. “Get this place cleaned up. I don’t want to see any sign of you when I return.”

I nodded, my eyes still fixed on the floor, waiting for her to leave. When the door finally slammed shut behind her, I let out a shaky breath, bringing a hand to my stinging cheek.

I’m nothing. I heard her words over and over again in my head, a never-ending loop of hatred that I’d internalized. Maybe she’s right. Maybe I am worthless. I even got rejected by my mate.

But what? What could an omega like me possibly hope for? To be the Luna of an Alpha?

I wiped the blood from my lip and stood, the ache in my body a familiar companion. The truth is, I didn’t know how long I could keep this up. Living like this, with no one to protect me, no one who cared whether I lived or died. Not even my own father. Not even the bastard who rejected me.

I dragged the broom across the floor, the bristles scraping against the stone, creating an echo in the empty room. It’s a lonely existence, but it’s mine. At least for now.

5

Scarlett

I used to think moonlight was beautiful. Stupid, really, how many nights I spent bathing in its glow, whispering prayers like some lovesick fool. Now, I can’t even look at it. I’ve draped black sheets over my windows, but still, that silver light finds ways to creep in, mocking me with its presence.

I had spent so many nights gazing up at that same moon, praying to her. Praying for love. For a mate who would cherish me, who would finally make me feel whole. And yet, what had she given me? Rejection. Pain. Loneliness. The universe seemed to mock me, sending me more suffering when I had thought happiness was finally within reach.

I was naïve to believe it could be different. I had wanted to trust her, the moon goddess. All those stories about her watching over us, guiding us toward our destined mates—lies. She hadn’t been watching over me. If she had, she would have seen the heartbreak I endured. The betrayal. She would have known how much I longed for acceptance and love.

Instead, she left me with a wound that wouldn’t heal.

Every night, I used to close my eyes and imagine my mate. The one meant for me. He’d take my hand and promise me forever, look into my soul and tell me I was enough, that I was loved. But now, I can barely close my eyes without seeing his face twisted in disgust, the sneer he wore as he rejected me.

What kind of goddess blesses us with a mate, only to let us suffer when they throw us away?

Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I was tired of crying. Tired of being the one left broken, while everyone else seemed to find their happiness.

“Some goddess you turned out to be,” I muttered. “I did everything right. Every prayer. Every offering. Was it fun watching me make a fool of myself? Did you enjoy leading me straight to heartbreak?”

I had been foolish to think that the goddess had a plan for me. That I was ever meant for something other than this endless torment. If she had a plan, it wasn’t one of love and joy.

The air in my room felt stifling, heavy with my bitterness. I once believed that meeting my mate would change everything—could save me from this hellish place. But I was wrong. Everything did change, from acceptance to rejection, all because of my blood. The blood I wished I could flush out of my veins.

Everyone knew who my father was. His cruelty was infamous in the werewolf kingdom. But never in my worst nightmares did I think he could make my mate hate me. Because of him, I lost everything. I hated him, and I hated my mate even more.

I closed my eyes and reached out, mind-linking my wolf, Ray. “Are you okay?” I asked. Ray was my omega wolf, always fragile and rarely speaking to me. We had both clung to the hope that our mate would change things, that he would embrace us and make us whole. “Are you there?”

“Scarlett...” Ray’s voice came, barely a whisper. It was faint, so faint it was almost drowned out by my own thoughts. My heart shattered hearing how weak she had become. Ever since the rejection, Ray had been fading with each passing day.

“I’m fine,” she whispered, though we both knew it was a lie. “We’ll get through this.”

A bitter laugh escaped my throat. Even now, she was giving me hope despite her weakening state. I wished I could believe her. “I hope so, Ray. I really do.”

“We will make it,” Ray insisted. “I know that. I still believe in the moon goddess.”

Anger surged through me as soon as I heard that name. That disgusting name.

I knew that the moon goddess wanted me to suffer, fine. She wanted me to suffer, so she mated me to someone my father had hurt. If love wasn’t for me, then I would survive without it. No more dreams. No more hopes.

“I no longer believe in her, Ray,” I whispered. “And don’t ever tell me about her.”

“Scarlett.”

I was about to respond when a sudden bang echoed through the quiet, jarring me from my thoughts. My heart raced as I looked toward the door, my pulse quickening with a familiar sense of dread.

“Open this damn door, bitch,” came the harsh, venomous voice on the other side. I knew that voice. Nina. My sister.

I stood up slowly, preparing myself for what was about to happen. The old floorboards creaked as I walked towards the door.

With a shaking hand, I opened the door. There she stood—Nina, the apple of my father’s eye. Her eyes were blazing, her lips twisted in a sneer. She pushed past me before I even had a chance to speak.

“Are you pretending not to hear me when I was knocking?” She shot at me.

I scoffed internally. Knock? Did she just say knock? I glanced at the dent in the door where she’d clearly been slamming her fists.

“Is that a smile on your lips?” Nina pressed on, moving closer. “Tell me. Are you mocking me?”

“No, I dare not,” I muttered, knowing better than to provoke her further. She was everything I wasn’t. Strong, favored, the golden child in my father’s eyes. And I? I was the family’s shame—the black sheep, the omega, the one who never lived up to expectations.

“Shut your mouth,” she fired back. “Did I ask you to talk?” I shut my mouth, watching her speak rudely to me, even though I was older than her.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, not because I meant it, but because I knew it was what she wanted to hear.

“You should know your place, omega,” she sneered, the title rolling off her tongue like an insult. It was. To her, to my father, to everyone who knew what it meant to be an omega.

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied. I didn’t have enough strength to fight or argue. I wanted to maintain peace. Nina’s smirk widened. My submission only fueled her anger, like offering gasoline to a fire. Before I could react, she grabbed me by the hem of my clothes, dragging me across the room. I stumbled, my legs weak, barely able to keep up. Ray was too weak to help. I was too fragile.

“How dare you mock me?” Nina screeched, flinging me to the floor with brutal force. My body hit the ground hard, and pain shot through me. I could taste blood in my mouth, warm and metallic. My breaths came in shallow gasps.

“What’s going on here?” My father’s voice boomed from the living room, sending a chill down my spine.

Nina didn’t waste a second. She ran to him. “Dad.”

I lay on the floor, beaten and bloodied, barely able to move. The world spun around me as I watched my father open his arms for her. He cradled her like a treasure, while I was left discarded on the floor.

My father, who was once a source of pride and love, now looked at me like I was nothing more than a stain on the floor. His disappointment was evident. I didn’t understand it at first. Was it because I was an omega? I wasn’t born as one. I remembered the smile on his face when I first shifted at twelve. He had called me a warrior back then, proud of my strength.

But that was before. Before I got sick. Before Ray turned into an omega wolf. Before I became worthless.

“She hurt me, Dad,” Nina’s voice whined, her finger pointing directly at me, still lying on the floor like discarded trash.

“I didn’t,” I tried to explain, though I was weak.

My father’s eyes hardened as he stepped toward me. “You didn’t? Or you did?”

“I didn’t,” I responded. “I didn’t hurt her.” I wondered if he was blind. Did he not see the state I was in?

He pulled me up by my clothes before demanding again, “You hurt her?”

“I didn’t,” I repeated, my words trembling on my lips. He wanted to hear that I was guilty. He wanted to hear me say it. But I refused. I had nothing left to lose. No fear. No pride. Just emptiness.

“You...” His hand came down hard on my face, the slap echoing through the room. I didn’t flinch. What was left to flinch from? The rejection had already broken me.

“Please...” My voice came out low.

“You should apologize to your sister, not me,” he spat, his voice full of disgust as he shoved me to the floor once more. “Apologize. Now.”

I was tired. Tired of everything.

I crawled towards my father, leaving a trail of blood behind me.

“What are you doing?" He growled when I touched his feet, and I struggled to maintain eye contact.

“Dad, please kill me.”