LUNA RISING

One year ago...

I could hear the clock ticking; its tick echoes in this silent and awkward room as another thirty minutes had gone by to the point of boredom.

I was the one to invite him here, and all he could do was say nothing.

As usual.

We don't see eye to eye all the time, and I know he doesn't like being here, especially that I'm present. Being here alone with him makes him very uncomfortable.

Of course, when you hate someone, you want to get the fuck out, and that is what I'm going to do.

I invite him here to end this loveless relationship. I can't believe I had a thing for this fucker. Since we started dating when we were young teens, not once did he takes the initiative to hold my hand or kiss me. I have to demand those requests. On Valentine he never gave me flowers, on our anniversary he doesn't take me on dates, and on my birthday he says happy birthday and leaves.

I mean, am I that repulsive to look at?

Was I born ugly?

No, I considered myself beautiful. But that isn't what makes him hate me. He soon will be next in line of being the new leader, the new alpha of the Blue Moon Pack, and he needs a Luna by his side.

I thought I would be the one, but being born wolfless makes me a less likely candidate for that position. However, I was his Luna until that tragic day happened to me to bring me back to the past. One year before that horrible event. I had to prevent another mishap, and since I've been given another chance. The first thing to do is break up with Dominic Eldings.

I was so blinded by love that I rather lose my sight than fall in love with him again.

Still...

I stared at him, and I couldn't help but study his perfection of a man—my dream guy.

Blonde hair almost color of the warm sun, strong jawline with a shave five-o'clock shadow lingering, and sun-kiss tan skin that you could almost rub oil over his body to see that glow. Dominic flexed his biceps, and I couldn't help licking my lips.

God, he's so hot.

I shook my dirty mind and almost fought with my subconscious. I lean back against the chair as I glare at him.

"Why did you call me here, Calliope?" He asks with boredom in his tone.

I clench my fist under the table, preventing myself from punching the guy. Of course, it wouldn't hurt him since I don't have any wolf abilities, but it's the risk I'm willing to take to punch this fucker out.

I took deep breaths to calm my rage and flash a wry smile. "I call you here - alone - simply because you and I need a talk."

Dominic groan. "What is there to talk about? In two days, you and I will do a Blood Rite to lock the mate bond. What more can you possibly talk about?"

God, he's already annoyed.

Since ancient times, the Blood Rite has been meant for wolves finding their mate and doing a mate bond. It's sort of like getting married, but instead of rings, we exchange with our blood. In other words, he bites me, and I bite in return. And judging by his expression, he isn't too happy to be mated with a wolfless mate like me.

Dominic couldn't get out of this predicament because his parents were the ones who set us up in the first place.

The first day I was found in the forest alone, hungry and scared. It was Alpha Marcus, Dominic's dad, who took me to his home.

Alpha Marcus and his mate, Luna Lisa, raised me as their own. I was happy to be with people who cared. That's when I met 10-year-old Dominic, and I had puppy love with him from that moment.

At first, I followed Dominic everywhere like a puppy; he didn't mind, but as we grew older and I became too clingy, he started to get annoyed. His parents found it cute. I cling to him since then and thus made us an item.

Well, I claimed us as an item; Dominic just found it a nuisance.

Now I turned eighteen, in two days when the moon is full, that is where the Moon Goddess blessed us with this matrimony.

In the past, it was the happiest moment of my life. As for Dominic, he felt as if his life was over.

During our times together, not once did he looks at me. We slept in separate bedrooms, and he's always busy trying to be the best alpha after his father steps down from his position.

Then I remembered that tragic day, during a rogue attack. Because I couldn't fight not having to shift, I was house arrest. But I wouldn't say I liked Dominic fighting alone, and because of my foolishness, the rogues attacked the house and...

I didn't want to remember something that would happen a year later, but the picture of Luna Lisa's lifeless body as she lies there on the floor is shown in my memory.

The rogues had killed Lisa and were going after me, but Dominic and his father came just in time to see the wife and mother on the floor.

I couldn't forget that sad and tragic moment. Watching Alpha Marcus holding his dead mate's body in his arm, Dominic did not move but cried silently. As I try to console him, he angrily pushes me and blames me for the death of his mother.

After the attack, there were casualties, and a few died. I felt glares from the pack members as they heard of what happened to their Luna poking their anger on me.

Later months had passed, Dominic continued to ignore me, and his father started to lost his mind and grown weaker. Since the loss of his mate, he became depressed, making Dominic the new alpha.

I remembered everything. Alpha Marcus didn't look like the man who I admired as a father figure. He looked at his skin and bones, and his eyes were lifeless.

I tried to apologize to him, but he turned away and wished that I was the one that died instead of his mate.

It hurt from his words. I looked at that man like a father, and I understood how he felt. Lisa was like a mother to me, and I know I should've listened and stayed to protect her, but what can a wolfless do?

Few months had passed more, and not letting go of his mate, Alpha Marcus died of depression. I received more hate than I ever got from the pack members. I felt as if I lost my home - again.

I've been bullied, picked on, smack in the face for being a worthless wolf.

Now that the whole pack hates me, they are vetoing me to leave the pack.

I begged Dominic not to listen and agree about their opinion on me. He was debating since I'm his Luna and also one of the Blue Moon Pack leaders. He isn't sure what to do.

Then another moment happened.

Not a happy moment or sad or weird. This is another horrible moment that I don't want to reminisce about the horror. This moment brought me back, and I had to end my relationship with Dominic by preventing the same fate.

Reverting to the present day, I lean forward. "I don't care about the Blood Rite anymore."

Dominic looks at me oddly, confused by my words.

"You don't want to mate with me?" He asks with a anxious tone, and it makes me puzzled as well.

I lean back, cross my leg and arms at the same time. "I mean, who doesn't, but I'm not that person."

His brows furrow.

Good. Make him confuse.

"The reason I called you here is not to talk about the Blood Rite ceremony."

I abruptly stood from my chair and gave Dominic a slight flinch. I slam both my hands on the table. "Dominic Eldings." I paused and said his name grabbing his full attention as his light brown eyes contacted my dark ones. "I, Calliope Carter, hereby end our relationship, and I no longer love you."

His eyes grew wide.

I perk up a grin at the corner of my mouth as I lift myself. "Oh, and another thing, I'm leaving."

He didn't say a word about that either. Dominic is practically speechless.

"Yeah, since originally I'm not born and raised here and considered an outsider. I only love you because you are going to be the future alpha of this pack." That is partly true. I fell for him when he got super hot during his transition of being the man I expected him to be and when he shifted the first time at sixteen. I have never seen such a beautiful wolf. I said to myself I must have him.

But to be really honest, I fell in love with him when we were kids. The first time he smiled at me and held my hand with his warmth. I was a lost child, and he approached me with such kindness.

That is until I became obnoxious and overly obsessed see with him he grown tired of me.

I guess you can say I'm at fault here for how his personality is now because of me.

I blame myself for the outcome.

"I realized I became too clingy and annoying to you. I also know you have seen Leah behind my back." His eyes made a twitch as I said her name.

Leah Larson, she and I had a rivalry going on when it came to Dominic. She had been in love with him since we were thirteen and had been fighting for his love. She pretends to be sweet and kind towards others and Dominic, but when it comes to me, she would send me death glares and acts as if she cares, flashing that fake smile of her. What she really wants is to kick me out of Dominic's life.

"I don't care what you and that fake ass bitch, Leah do in your private times. She can have you since we broke up. Did you know she was the one who put the aphrodisiac in her soup? And blame me."

Leah has been trying to rift Dominic and me apart by using some stupid things and make everything think I did it. That wasn't the first time. Leah has been planting anything she can think of to make Dominic and the whole pack hate me.

"You two are perfect for one another, the fake and the prick," I smirk. "You and her can do the Blood Rite. I'm sure she will be so happy to be mated with you like she always wanted now that I'm out of the picture. Wouldn't that be great?" I scoff a peal of laughter. "And I know everyone doesn't like me being with you and becoming their Luna. That is why to make your lives better is to have me leave. I already got permission from your dad that I can leave the pack."

No words except that his mouth is agape. A fly can pass by and enter it if not closed.

Since he's not saying anything, I'm expecting a happy expression or a celebration with balloons and a banner that says 'GOODBYE, THE WICKED WITCH' I was expecting something like that. Although I'm leaving, that sounds fucked up, to be honest. I know I can be a bitch to some, well, all, but whatever he does don't matter to me anymore.

I scoot my chair back. "Well, I guess that is all I have to say." I paused for a second thought. I heard him said something but that is just the wall clock ticking. I shrug.

"Okay, I'm just going to leave now," starts to walk towards the door and grip the knob. I stop and turn to find Dominic in a mannequin-like state. His expression is blank, and he hasn't said a word after I told him everything. Never seen him like that since the day he saw his mother. But his blank expression had me confused.

I'm going to leave the man I grew up and loved, but if I were to stay, my fate with being in his hands, and I don't know if I will get another chance to be reborn again.

I don't want that life to happen to me again. It's best if I leave him and the pack for good.

"Goodbye, Dominic," I say with a smile on my face, yet the tone of my goodbye sounds off. "Hope you and everyone here will live a better life without me."

I didn't want him to hear me sound pitiful. It was just a heartfelt goodbye to the pack I grew up with. Alpha Marcus wouldn't die because of his mate's death, Luna Lisa would live, and Dominic wouldn't lose both of his parents, and they wouldn't lose a few members. The rogues attacked happened two months after Dominic and I were mated. So, without me, I think they can handle them.

I turn the doorknob and open the door as it leads me to a path to where I can no longer be someone's burden. I'm a free woman now who is planning on her next chapter.