CHAPTER 002
KEISHA'S POV
Warm tears streamed down my cheeks as I stared at my mate frantically trying to salvage the compromising position I just caught him in— his shirt halfway down his arms, his back slick with sweat, standing in between Aurora’s wide spread legs wrapped around him.
“What…What are you doing here Keisha? How…How did you…” His brows creased as he stuttered.
My gaze snapped to Aurora, who only tilted her head and smirked, utterly unashamed. Her lipstick was smudged, her hair tousled, and the smug glint in her eyes told me everything I needed to know.
“Seems your little Luna has perfect timing,” she drawled, running a finger down his chest before slipping off the desk.
“You are not meant to be here. I mean, this is the vip,” His voice cracked as he stumbled over the words, fumbling to yank his shirt back on.
I let out a shaky laugh. Broken, bitter, and trembling with disbelief. “You’re really asking me that right now?” My voice trembled as I took a step back, feeling the weight of my world shatter piece by piece. Tears blurring my vision. "Alan?" I shook my head still in disbelief.
“Look Keisha, I promise. It's not what you think. Aurora and I were just…”
“We were having a good time and you interrupted it!” Aurora cut in with a sneer, hopping down from the desk where she sat.
“Keisha, Keisha, Keisha!” Aurora walked towards me, each step deliberate like a wolf circling its prey. “You know what's funny Keisha? It's the part where you actually thought you were going to be the Luna of Nightbane pack. An Omega maid?" she sneered with a dry laugh. "All hail Luna Keisha," She mocked me with a bow.
My legs trembled. I wished this was a nightmare but sadly, it was my reality. Aurora and I had grown up together. Societal differences never came between us. I remember how she smiled when I told her Alpha Alan was my mate. She hugged me. Damn it, we danced around the fire we made during the cold night.
“Why Aurora? How could you do this to me? We were sisters," I whispered.
“Oh Please!” She rolled her eyes, hissing in disgust. "Grow up Keisha! You were just...convenient. Someone to make me look better by comparison."
Her words knocked air out of my lungs. I bit down on my teeth, my fist clenched so tight my nail dug a half moon in my palm. I turned to Alan, swallowing the bitter bile that grew in my throat. "You said you loved me but it was a lie! I believed you Alan! I gave you my body, my innocence, everything!" I yelled my heart out.
“Enough!” Alan barked.
“And why should I keep shut?" I retorted.
"How dare you talk back to me?" Alan growled, raised his hand. I crouched in fear. His eyes beamed golden yellow. His voice echoed in the room though his hand never came down on me. Slowly, he calmed down. “Look Keisha, the council was never going to accept an Omega as a Luna. You had to know this was temporary."
My eyes shot out of its socket. "Temporary?" My wolf Lumis whimpered inside me. My heart was literally ripped in half. Alan stepped forward, raking through his hair, the muscle around his jaw twitched. I had hoped he had something tangible to say— perhaps, tell me this was a prank.
I lifted my head meeting his gaze. My eyes searching for the same fire that burned in his eyes the night we had our first kiss but it was replaced by a cold, icy stare.
"Now, get out!" Alan voice stiffened.
“What?" I couldn't believe my ears. I clutched my chest, stumbling on my feet. My vision blurred. My chest caved as though something had been ripped from it, blood dripping from the cut on my arm as I walked out.
"You heard me. Leave. Now! And make sure you clean up this bloody mess you made on your way out. It's dripping on my expensive floor," he ordered.
“Uhmm.... I think Alan must have dropped a little semen over there," she sneered, pointing at the table they were making out on.
"Aurora?" Alan called her.
"What? She's a maid isn't she?" she retorted. "Let her do her job."
“I’m sorry ma’am,” I leaned in a bow, my ribs burning from the fall at the party as I knelt over cleaning the bloodstains. Aurora watched every second, that horrible smile never leaving her face.
“Alan honey,” Aurora cooed in a sluttery manner. “I’d be heading back to the party now. I guess I’d see you later tonight when we won’t have to be interrupted by any nuisance,” She sneered, kissing Alan. She made sure it was sloppy—loud and wet enough, making me want to throw up.
My tears became the water I needed to mop the floor clean. When they both left, I sat on the floor, sweeping until my eyes burned.
“Do not tell me you intend to go back to the party after this,” Lumis said weakly.
“So I can be humiliated more than I have been?” I retorted, sobbing. Lumis understood I was hurt and kept quiet.
I threw the bloody rag into the trash can, wrapped my arm with gauze from the first aid kit and slipped out the back door.
“What the hell happened to you?” Dad's voice hit me the moment I walked through the front door. He sat on the couch, still in his janitor uniform from work. His forehead in layers at the sight of the bloodstain on my shirt. Barry, my pet cat meowed, running over the stack of undone dishes I left for a couple of days in the kitchen, because of the Alpha's birthday preparation.
"Nothing," I responded, headed for the stairs.
“Come on honey, talk to me, what happened?” He persisted.
My heart twisted with anger, looking for where to transfer my aggression. I stopped midway up the stairs. My nose flared in rhythm with my heartbeat. My grip tightened around the handrail when I spun around breathing fire like a dragon.
“Leave me the hell alone!” I trembled as I barked, tears gathering in my eyes again.
“Why would I wanna do that honey? You're all I've got and I can't be comfortable seeing you in this much pain,” my dad ran his eyes from my head to my toes. “Please baby, talk to me?”
Since my mother died when I was two, my dad had been my everything— juggling different jobs, just to give me the best. Currently working as a janitor at the Walker's group of companies, my biggest wish was to someday give him the life he deserves and perhaps get him to do a knee surgery after the accident he had at his last factory job he had.
Looking into his eyes, I think I failed. The one thing I held on to had been snatched. My lips trembled as I stared blankly into his face.
“He is cheating on me,” I managed to break the ice. “I just caught Alan cheating on me with my best friend. And that is fucking what happened,” I yelled, storming my way into my room, slamming the door behind me before screaming my heart out.
“I know this is hard Keisha, but you don't have to beat yourself up. Think of it this way, what if he was just drunk and Aurora took advantage of his state? He is your mate. The moon goddess has ordained it. And from the look of things,” Lumis paused for a moment. “You beat Aurora in every aspect— physically and mentally. Sometimes I wonder why fate made her fortunate,” Lumis spat with disdain.
“Yes…but of what use is everything to me now? You saw it! He was happy. He didn't show remorse! He wanted her, Lumis! He fucking chose her!” I yelled, sending the table lamp flying across the room.
“But you are the chosen one! You are his mate! Fight for what you love or have it snatched from you right under your nose,” Lumis barked, freezing my next move.
I collapsed on my bed, tears trailing into my ear. “But… but, he…..”
“No buts!” Lumis hopped onto my bed, staring down at me. “He's your man! Quit being a sorry ass.”
While Lumis spoke, my stomach rumbled, sending the contents of my stomach up to my throat. I retched, rolling over the bed. I didn't hesitate to crash into the toilet. Pulling the lid open, burying my face in it. I began to throw up.
