Luna's POV
The sharp corner of the wooden ruler slammed into my knuckles for the third time today.
"Pay attention, omega!" Mrs. Blackwood screeched, her spit flying onto my already-stained workbook. "If you can't learn basic math, you'll be useless even for cleaning toilets!"
I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste blood. The pain in my hand was nothing compared to what waited for me after class. Through the classroom window, I could see three figures standing by the oak tree—Kael with his arms crossed, Ryland leaning casually against the trunk, and Dante cracking his knuckles.
They were waiting for me.
They were always waiting for me.
"Sorry, ma'am," I whispered, keeping my eyes down. Rule number one of surviving Shadowpeak Pack: never look anyone directly in the eyes. Especially not the teacher who got paid extra to make my life miserable.
The bell rang, and my stomach dropped to my feet.
I gathered my torn books slowly, stalling. Maybe if I waited long enough, they'd get bored and leave. Maybe today would be different.
It never was.
"Luna Ashford, stop wasting my time and get out!" Mrs. Blackwood snapped, actually pushing me toward the door.
I stumbled into the hallway, clutching my books to my chest like a shield. The other students parted around me like I had a disease. In a way, I did—I had the disease of being an orphan omega in a pack that valued power above everything else.
My best friend Sage grabbed my arm as I passed. "Don't go out the front," she whispered urgently. "I heard them planning something. Use the back exit by the kitchen."
Hope flickered in my chest. "Thanks, Sage."
I turned down the side corridor, walking fast but not running. Running made them chase you, and the chase always ended worse. My heart pounded as I reached the kitchen door. So close. Just a few more steps and—
"Going somewhere, Little Luna?"
Ryland's voice froze me in place.
He appeared from behind the supply closet, blocking my escape route. His handsome face wore that smile—the one that looked friendly but promised pain. "We've been waiting for you. It's not nice to keep people waiting."
"I... I have to clean the pack house," I stammered, hating how small my voice sounded. "Alpha's orders."
"Oh, the pack house can wait." Ryland grabbed my arm, his grip tight enough to bruise. "Kael wants to talk to you about your attitude problem."
He dragged me out the back door anyway, right to where his brothers waited in the shadow of the oak tree. My books fell, scattering in the dirt. I didn't bother picking them up. They'd just destroy them anyway.
Kael stood with his arms crossed, his amber eyes cold as winter. He was the oldest at twenty-two and would be Alpha soon. Everyone feared him. I feared him most of all because unlike his brothers who seemed to enjoy tormenting me, Kael just looked at me like I was an insect he wanted to crush.
"You're late," he said flatly.
"I'm sorry, I—"
"Did I say you could speak?" His voice could cut glass.
I snapped my mouth shut, trembling. Dante circled behind me, silent as always. He never spoke—just communicated with shoves, trips, and "accidental" hits during training. His grey eyes watched me like a wolf watching prey.
"My father says we've been too easy on you," Kael continued, stepping closer. "He says omegas need to know their place, or they get ideas above their station. Do you have ideas, Luna?"
"No," I whispered.
"No, what?"
"No, Alpha." The title tasted like poison, but I said it anyway.
"Good. Then you won't mind doing extra duties tonight. The entire training facility needs scrubbing—floors, windows, equipment. By yourself. Before dawn."
My eyes burned with unshed tears. That was impossible. The training facility was huge. I'd have to work all night without sleep, and I already hadn't slept properly in three days.
"And if it's not perfect," Ryland added cheerfully, "we'll make sure you regret it during tomorrow's training session."
Dante's hand suddenly gripped my shoulder from behind, spinning me around. His grey eyes bored into mine for just a second—and I could have sworn I saw something flicker there. Guilt? Regret?
Then he shoved me hard into the dirt.
I landed on my hands and knees, scraping my palms bloody. Laughter echoed around me—not from the brothers, but from the other pack members who'd gathered to watch. They always watched. No one ever helped.
"Get moving, omega," Kael said dismissively, already turning away. "And Luna? Happy early birthday. Eighteen tomorrow, right? Maybe your wolf will finally show up and you'll be slightly less pathetic."
They walked away, leaving me kneeling in the dirt.
I waited until they were gone before letting the tears fall. Not many—I'd learned to cry silently and quickly. Wasted tears were wasted time, and I had work to do.
Tomorrow. Just survive until tomorrow.
I'd been counting down the days for seven years—since I was eleven and they'd placed me with a foster family who only wanted the monthly check. Tomorrow I'd turn eighteen. Tomorrow my wolf would finally emerge. And tomorrow, I could finally leave this nightmare.
I pulled myself up, wiping the blood from my palms onto my already-dirty jeans. My secret calendar was hidden under a loose floorboard in the basement where I slept. Tonight, I'd make the last mark.
Day 2,547.
One more day.
I gathered my ruined books and started toward the pack house, my body aching and my heart numb. I'd survived 2,547 days of this. I could survive one more.
The training facility loomed ahead—a massive building that would take all night to clean. I pushed open the door, breathing in the smell of sweat and metal. At least I'd be alone here. Alone was better than being their target.
I was filling my first bucket of soapy water when I felt it.
A strange warmth spreading through my chest, like someone had lit a candle inside my ribcage. My hands started shaking so badly I dropped the bucket. Water splashed everywhere, but I barely noticed.
What was happening?
The warmth grew hotter, spreading through my whole body. My skin felt too tight. My heart raced faster and faster. Was I dying? Was this it? Had Vivienne finally succeeded in poisoning me?
Then I heard it—a voice in my head that wasn't mine.
"Finally," the voice whispered, feminine and strong. "I've been waiting for you, Luna."
I gasped, stumbling backward against the wall. "Who... who's there?"
"I'm Selene. I'm your wolf. And Luna... we need to talk. Something's very, very wrong."
My vision blurred. The room spun. And as I slid down the wall, one thought screamed through my mind:
My wolf wasn't supposed to come until tomorrow.
Why was she here early?
And why did she sound so afraid?