Chapter 1 Unwanted
From the top of the tree, I watched the fireworks being launched into the sky. Soon the sky was colorful, provoking shouts of joy from those people. The loving couple smiled at everyone. The perfect moment.
I huddled closer and rested my head against the trunk of the large tree. I felt a tear run down my face and immediately wiped it away. I didn't want to cry. I didn't like the feeling of weakness I always felt when I cried, which in recent days had become part of the routine.
Seeing my destined soul with another person hurt more than I imagined. More than a month ago, Alpha Steven Miller and I had received the call to be mates. At the same moment, as if it were easy, Steven rejected me.
I tried to make him wait and asked for a chance, but I was ignored and reprimanded. I had no other option and accepted his rejection. It didn't seem to hurt him at any point. So why did I feel so much pain?
Why was I watching him leave the small, makeshift chapel where Steven, dressed as a groom, was receiving a shower of rice with his new wife? Why was I in that damned tree, torturing myself?
I should hate him! I had reasons to. But I couldn't. Because I understood him. I wasn't the right person for Steven, not right for an alpha. Who would accept me as Luna? I would be an infamous joke. I was nothing. I was far below in the hierarchy.
Although understandable, it was still cruel. I had always waited for my mate. I eagerly awaited the day I wouldn't feel alone anymore, that I would have someone for me. I could finally have a friend and maybe even a family.
But now, without the mate bond, I was doomed. Who would join me? I was nothing more than a mere caretaker and wasn't even accepted by the other caretakers.
I throw myself from the tree, landing on my feet. I was grateful for my strength, my only ally. I adjusted my hood, which always covered my hair and face. Finally, I stopped torturing myself and resumed walking towards my house. The caretakers' neighborhood was far from the transformers'.
Hierarchies. Gods, royalty, alphas, leaders, transforming creatures, and caretakers. The order of power. I, Maya, am a caretaker. Soon I'm walking along the dirt streets, and the wooden houses surround the entire area. The houses were small and uncomfortable; whoever built them didn't think about safety. They must have built the houses with their feet.
Soon I'm moving away from the houses and heading towards the denser forest. No one had welcomed me in the caretakers' area, so I had to leave and build my own house. I stop and observe from afar the clumsy construction I call home.
It was a little more structured than the caretakers' houses, but still, it was simple and not safe at all. I entered the house and was immediately greeted by the sound of running water. There was a leak on the ceiling that seemed endless. It made a noise I'd come to hate.
I picked up the old piece of mattress and put it on the floor, covering it with an old blanket I'd found in the trash. I grabbed my bag and took out a bottle, checking that it was empty.
I sighed and threw it away. Because of that damn wedding, I hadn't been able to refill my bottle.
"Maybe this way you'll eat real food."
Harper snapped in a reprimanding tone. Harper is my wolf. I won her over a year ago, but our relationship is a bit turbulent. That's because my wolf is demanding and never stops complaining.
"Today is not a good day, and you know it," I replied to Harper with a sigh.
"You shouldn't just stand there, he's our mate!" Harper yelled angrily.
I let out a sarcastic laugh, amused by my she-wolf. How could we be so opposite?
"He rejected us, Harper. You were there and heard everything. Steven is an alpha, why would he accept being with me? Let's not be idiots, we can't do anything! We are nothing and that's not a bad thing. Giving up Steven means safety. Far from everything that could harm us." I say bitterly.
"It hurts." Harper confesses, but this time with a heavy voice.
I sigh again, swallowing hard.
"I know."
I leave the house and feel the cool morning breeze. The sun was still rising and I walked peacefully through the forest. The giant trees around me, the grass covering almost all the ground, and a few flowers made this place my favorite in the world.
Not that I had ever known other places, after all I never left the pack. I had no reason to. Here, in the Red pack, I had everything I needed. Including discretion. It was the pack with the fewest members and was usually kept away from everything. For these reasons, I found it strange to see such a commotion in the caretakers' neighborhood.
Everyone was gathered in front of the notice board in the middle of the neighborhood. That's how the wolves communicated with us. Everyone seemed euphoric and happy, hugging each other. Were they celebrating? I approached quickly, since this wasn't usual.
"Finally, a worthy Alpha King!" I heard a man celebrate loudly, looking at the sky and giving thanks.
"We'll have a much better life now. Soon we'll move to the pack." Some spoke in a celebratory tone.
I raised an eyebrow, confused by those words. I approached the board, and some people moved away from me, as if I had some kind of contagious disease. I ignored them and focused on the large piece of paper that had been pasted up.
"Statement from King Conrad III, new ruler of the supreme kingdoms. I declare that any prejudice based on origin, race, color, age, or sex is strictly prohibited. Any act that deprives any citizen of their dignity or well-being is punishable by imprisonment and/or expulsion. All will be treated equally and will have similar access to housing, food, healthcare, training, and comfort. From this day forward, I declare that every citizen will be treated with respect, will have access to comfort, and will have equal rights. Let everyone in the kingdom cease dividing themselves and form one single group. There is no more division; welcome everyone with joy and hospitality. The law of equality has been established now and forever."
Next to it was another statement: "King Conrad III Alpha will visit everyone in the kingdom to ensure that the changes are made quickly."
I was speechless, my eyes wide. Not in a thousand years could I have imagined that something like this would happen.
"Let's go to the city; I want to see this with my own eyes." Harper spoke excitedly, and I could swear she was doing pirouettes.