Chapter 7

                          Avana POV

I saw Jenny staring condemningly at me,her look covered in disgust. I walked away sadly, losing myself in my miseries as I gave in to my emotions. It's like a new phase where I would be miserable because of someone, just this time it was someone I wanted with everything in me.

After tonight, I doubt I would be able to look at the Alpha in the eyes. I felt like I don't worth what I want, and I wouldn't wait for him to deny whatever it is we shared. I just have to simply stay away from being hurt more.

"Don't be hurt, Avana," I heard Luna say. I turned to her, trying to hide my pain even though I know it's all written all over me. She moved closer and touched my shoulder gently, slowly checking me out. She smiled and returned to the passage leading to her room. I watched, not in awe but in disbelief and disappointment.

"You look a lot like your mother, Avana," she said. Her smile was still visible, and she didn't even bother hiding her contentment.

"But sadly, she died chasing someone who never loved her." That broke me, and I let it show. I felt the warm tears stroll down my cheeks, and she never stopped smiling. Whatever my fate is, I was convinced it's only to make me suffer more,and listen to a lot of people proclaimed my poor mother different names.

"If truly you're a Luna, then act like one, Avana," she uttered, walking away, her dress tongues out at me, like condemning me for dreaming, dreaming of a better world, to have hundreds of dresses and tens of heels, where I would be loved and accepted.

My heart aches not for those harsh comparisons, not the tormenting smiles. It aches for the soul of my mother, whose people she thought she loved are the ones enjoying her fall.

"Oh dearie, don't mind the Luna; she has poor composition for words," Nikia said, and I wished I could disappear into the woods. Her footsteps echoed in my ears until she reached me, facing me.

"A mother would do anything to protect her children, and Avana, I bet your mother gladly died fighting for you." I had enough. I allowed more tears to stream down my cheeks, my eyes weary, and my heart beating faster.

"No one deserves people like y'all as friends." Yes! I love the way it sounds on my tongue. It satisfies me, and I felt more alive until a hand wrapped around me and flung me to the other side. I squirmed and sobbed. It had been a long time, I thought. Who would have thought a place I thought would be my new beginning turned out to be sour just like what I am used to? It wasn't clear enough though how the Luna could switch so soon.

"Throw her into the back room until I ask to release her," the Luna's voice sounded across the stairs. I felt a hand hold on me still, the neutral look from Nikia almost got me puking. And like a flame from a waste burn, I faded out into the dark night, a place that soothed more like home.

"Avana," I was mesmerized by the beautiful lady who seems like a moon. She moved closer to me and stood halfway, her stares aren't condemning nor cursing. I was convinced to call it genuine.

"Who are you and how do you know my name?" I yelled, battling with a strange force dragging me forth. "I am your mother, oh my poor girl," the moon lady said, her voice sounded distant yet familiar, and with a hard speed, I run towards her, her eyes teary. "I am sorry, my poor girl. I am sorry," she apologized.

"Avana!" I opened my heavy eyelids to the slight shake of Alpha Nicholas, his eyes totally different and confusing.

"Prepare her room right now!" he shouted, lifting me up from the hard floor. Not that I wasn't used to it anyway, it just felt different to be in a man's arms, sniffing on his magical scent.

I was fully conscious by the time the Alpha took me to my room. It was a broader space than I was used to, but the room size doesn't even matter if my heart remains lonely and longing.

I nudged closer to him as he laid me down on the bed, his eyes focused on my lip. I shivered, memories of earlier slipping in. Maybe he remembered too, maybe he had felt it too. Our bond seemed to tighten that moment he suckled on my lip. I closed my eyes as I felt his breath closer to my neck, afraid to look up at him. Whatever it is that's happening to me was evident of my submission to him, to his great aura and his undeniable charm.

"Relax now, Avana," he whispered to my ear, and I unconsciously nodded, succumbing to his words. He dropped a deep kiss on my forehead, sending a jolt of warm excitement to my spine.

After what seems like years, he left my room, his all so perfect features extending their awareness and doubt. Even I never thought it to be real. Good things to me only happen in the Dreamland, but perhaps I should take it to be true. But life has taught me lessons, not to believe everything. In my life, I can only hope for better chances and changes.

I stood up from the bed after his footsteps withdrew. I touched my forehead and sniffed his remaining scent lingering on it. I walked out of the room, stepping casually. I was too ashamed and disappointed to face anyone at the moment, and the growl in my stomach seems to be getting louder. I wasn't starving, but it seems my energy craves more food than I recounted. It's like my energy is been fed on, or maybe it was, by those high tooted wolves.

"How can you be so wicked to a girl we are supposed to keep happy and satisfied?" I heard the Alpha say, and I stopped abruptly on my track.

"I needed you to act like you just did, she would fall for your concern and that's what we need," the Luna said back. I crept out of the dim light and stood closer to the stairs, viewing them as they exchanged words.

"This act is becoming too much; a lowly girl like that shouldn't be pressuring me," he uttered and suddenly looked over at me. I bet he must've smelt my scent. His eyes shone with worry, and his hard look softened, like a little child caught in the act.

"No, no, no," I screamed in my head. I couldn't cry. I just watched them with a sad, long stare. His eyes roamed around the house, and the Luna walked away into her room, leaving the Alpha facing me. I wanted to shout, to scream my dissatisfaction to the heavens.

"I care about you, Avana. You may not believe me, but you confuse me. You bring out the best in me," the Alpha said, moving closer to me. I retreated back. He wasn't the confused one; I am. I don't even know what to believe, and things I believed ended up choking my gut. It's better to stop hoping for even the slightest chance for change. Maybe I could continue to survive without being hurt and utterly rejected.

"I don't want this," I said softly, turning back on him and walked into my room. The room space doesn't justify my freedom. It's the complete opposite of my life, coven and lonely.

"I would be here tomorrow,to claim you" The Alpha said from the other side, I heard him but I wasn't moved,I seems to forget how to feel good, it's definitely because of the hate they showed me.

"I will claim you Avana, you will be my real Luna,I can live with that forever" I heard his dark voice boom through the strong door,I simply transformed into my wolf, nudging myself for comfort, tomorrow alone is never going to be enough to sooth my pain.