Prologue
Evie
“There she is,” the voice of tiny eight-year-old betas echoed in my ears, and my heart immediately began to pound in my chest; they were at it again. Coming to do what they knew best: beating and torturing me for no just cause. But what could a seven-year-old me do? Absolutely nothing but stay put and take in every whiplash and kick they had to offer.
I ran as fast as my tiny legs could carry me, but like always, I was too slow compared to the speed of betas. Soon, they caught up with me, shoving me to the ground as the loud thud which came from the impact of my body echoed in my ears.
Trapped in a world where everyone sees you as nothing but a weakling is by far the most helpless and heartbreaking situation ever. Being an omega in this part of the world is like a curse to anyone born with this fate.
“She's so weak,” one of the betas said mockingly. Just then, I felt a hard kick to my stomach, making me wince in pain.
“Yay!!! Come on, hit her harder!!” A familiar voice echoed in my ears. I turned my gaze in its direction through the numerous feet blocking my vision as they left several kicks on me accompanied by mocking laughter.
But I was able to get a glance of whose laughter was the loudest; it was Selene, my evil stepsister. She stood there, laughing, her giggle high-pitched and cruel. I scowled, my anger burning as I glared at her; this was all her fault. She and her mother were the reason I ended up here in the first place.
Before the passing of my father, all they did was pretend to love me in his presence and beat the hell out of me when he wasn't around. But Dad didn't listen when I warned against taking another mate after Mom passed. Immediately he brought in Selene’s mom, my gut immediately rebuked her.
I never liked her from the onset, and just like every other time, I was right.
“Enough!!” A firm voice echoed through the hallway, making the boys freeze.
“Ouch,” I growled in pain, turning over on my back as tears began to flow down my cheeks. At seven, I already hated my life. Oh dearest moon goddess, is this my life forever? I cried inwardly, biting down on my lower lip, trying to hold back my tears. I took in a hard gulp down my throat, taking in all the pain that surged through my veins.
I slowly turned my gaze to the person who'd just saved me, and as always, it was the alpha prince.
“Kieran,” I mumbled amidst pain, rolling on the floor.
“Evie!” He called out, rushing to my side, placing my head on his lap.
“Your majesty, she deserves this; she tried to steal from the king,” Selene chimed sharply, accusing me wrongly.
“Wh…” I tried to speak, but I was already too weak to say a word.
“Is that true, Evie?” He asked, but I just shook my head, sobbing silently as I closed my eyes, wincing in pain.
“Guards!!” Kieran yelled, and soon, a pack of young teenage beta soldiers filled the hallway, clothed in their armor.
“Deal with these bullies,” he ordered firmly before picking me up and taking me to our favorite spot in the garden - under the oak tree.
He placed me gently before rushing inside to get a bowl of hot compress to apply to my bruises.
“I'm so sorry I didn't show up on time, Evie,” he apologized, placing the bowl of hot water beside me and taking the towel as he applied it to my bruises.
“Ouch,” I yelped in pain.
“Does it hurt?” He asked, concerned, but I just responded with a nod.
“Kieran?” I called, placing my hands softly on his, stopping him from continuing.
“What?” He asked softly.
“You know I’d get into trouble if someone sees us like this, right?” I said, forgetting about the pain I was feeling.
“I don't care, Evie. I've told you to learn to always stand up for yourself; stop letting those bullies beat you to it every time.” He snarled.
I closed my eyes, adjusting my butt and letting the cool breeze sweep through my skin, sending cold chills down my spine. “You know how that’s going to turn out, Kieran. So it's a good thing I have you. You've been such a good friend to me since I got here,” I replied, making my face curl up in a smile.
He hesitated for a while before applying the towel to the bruises on my face. “I'm sorry, but it's not always going to be like this, Evie,” he blurted out.
“What?! What do you mean?” I asked, still trying to process his words.
“I'll be leaving for my alpha training by tomorrow, Evie,” he said, making my eyes widen in awe.
“What? How? Why?” I stuttered, struggling to find the right words.
“I overheard Dad and Mom talking about it last night,” he replied.
“But you're just ten years old, Kieran; doesn't the alpha training begin at twelve? You still have two years to stay…” I protested.
“I thought so too, but Dad wants me to begin my training early. He said it would make me a great king,” he retorted.
I slumped my shoulders as the wind brushed through my face. Who was going to come save me now? Who would scare away my bullies? Would I have to continue to endure this torture all my life? I wondered.
“Evie?” His calm voice echoed, interrupting my thoughts. “You'll be fine, right?” He asked.
But I just stared at him, speechless, unsure of what to say. He heaved a deep sigh before taking several steps, lifting his hands upwards and taking a piece of the leaves from the oak tree.
“Here,” he said, handing me one of the leaves while he held the other.
“I know you feel sad because I'm leaving, but I promise to take away all that pain as soon as I get back from my alpha training,” he said.
“How would you do that?” I asked with furrowed brows.
“With this,” he replied, stretching the leaf from the tree. “You'll have to promise me that you'll wait for me, Evie,” he began.
“What? Why?” I asked.
“Promise me first using the leaf that you'll wait. Mind you, you'll never have a mate until I come back from my training,” he said.
“But Kieran, your training takes ten years,” I retorted, staring at him with furrowed brows. Would I be able to survive this pack for that long? Would he even be able to remember me? I wondered.
“I know, Evie, that's why you have to promise; you have to promise to keep yourself for me until I get back,” he replied, urging me to swear.
I stared at him with mixed feelings, hesitating for a while, my mind a jumble of different thoughts. But what did I know in this young mind of mine, I wondered.
“Okay, Kieran, I promise.” I blurted out.
“Good, and I promise to also wait for you, not to have any mate and to take you as my mate and the future Luna of the pack when I get back,” he said, raising the leaf to the moon and sealing his words.
My breath hitched a bit as my grip tightened on the leaf. My face curled up in a smile despite the pain that surged through my veins. Just hearing those words gave me hope; I was going to be the Luna of the pack, and finally, everything was going to be okay again, just like it was when my parents were still alive.
I missed them so much; they were the only ones who never saw me as a weakling, and Dad always told me I was stronger than I thought. But suddenly, life happened when the pack was attacked by a rogue, and they had to fight to protect their king.
Mom died on the spot; she was a true soldier, and Dad—he was poisoned, which cost him his life a year later after he took in my stepmother.
My mind darted back to them, reminiscing the pain they'd made me go through, making more tears flow down my cheeks. I was sure I was going to teach Selene and her evil mother some lessons when I become Luna; I just have to pay the price, and ten years is a small price to pay for this, I thought.
We both sat there together, staring into the moon as he watched over me through the night. I'm going to miss you, Kieran, I mumbled.
“I'll miss you too, Evie,” he said before pulling me in for a hug. “Remember your promise,” he whispered in my ears, but I just replied with a nod.
“I'll keep your scent with me; this way, I will never forget you,” he said assuringly as if he heard my thoughts.