Alpha Ryker’s Cursed Luna

“Slow, fragile, dumb Roxanne.”

***ROXANNE***

MORNING LIGHT FILTERED IN through the drapes and sunlight danced on my face. I slammed my hand on my alarm clock that wouldn't stop ringing, before stretching in bed.

I groggily dragged myself off the bed— still half asleep and went to stand before my mirror. I glanced at my clumsy reflection; half-unbuttoned clothes like I had fought taekwondo with the demons in my sleep and my hair was a wild, disheveled mess. I wanted to go back to bed but I had zero idea why I was up early.

The morning bell rang and my eyes snapped open! Shit! It was morning.

I hastily stepped out of my nightwear and slipped into my duty clothes. Finally, I tied back my hair, washed my face and dashed out of my room. I dreaded waking up here. Every day was a tiresome cycle, a relentless gush of burdensome tasks that clung to the same predictable routine. As an Alpha’s daughter, one might assume a life of privilege, but within these walls, my existence is bound to servitude.

I was late for my duties today and I didn't know what to expect. I busted into the kitchen and my heart skipped a beat when I saw Chloe and a few other members of the pack in the kitchen. I hung my head down as Chloe neared me.

“Well well, look who we have here. If it isn't slow Roxanne,” Chloe, my brother’s mate, drawled in her irritating voice, dragging the “slow” to make more emphasis.

“Good morning,” I greeted.

“Nothing is good about the morning, you're late! Save your greetings and get to work,” She ordered, “Or did you forget what the kitchen is for? This should have been done before now!”

“I'm sorry, I overslept,” I apologized in a low voice.

Sidewalks began buzzing from one pack member to the other and I knew I had made the best mistake of my life saying that.

Chloe lunged forward and grabbed my hair, “Overslept you say? Have you forgotten your position here, Roxanne? You're no more than an omega. There's no meal for you today. That is your punishment for oversleeping,” she yelled and pushed me to the wall.

I groaned out in pain as my head came in contact with the wall and I fell to the ground like a bag of beads. Laughter erupted from the members and echoed in the kitchen. I whimpered as I buried my face in shame.

“You dare lay there? Get up and get to work Roxanne or I will have you kicked out from this territory,” she yelled.

I picked myself up and hastily grabbed the brushes, soaps, and buckets and rolled up the sleeves of my clothes. I surveyed the kitchen and drew in a sharp breath as I began my daily toil of scrubbing, sweeping, and cleaning. I hated waking up late to clean, for at that time the whole kitchen was always a mess. Usually, before the morning sun glazes the horizon, that's when my day begins with the tedious chore of cleaning.

Chloe’s piercing laughter echoed through the kitchen, cutting through the morning air like a bitter wind. “Look at her everyone. The mighty Alpha’s daughter, more like the pack’s burden,” she jeered, her eyes narrowing as she fixated them on me.

With my head down, I continued my work as I tried to drop out the spiteful words. I focused on the clinking of dishes and the sizzling of the fire.

“You know, I heard being an Alpha's daughter meant something. But look at her — fragile as a leaf in the wind,” Chloe taunted, her venomous words aimed at my fragile spirit.

The pack members in the kitchen seemed intrigued and eager to partake in the torment. They snickered and exchanged smirks and I couldn't stop the tears from rolling down my cheek.

“Slow, fragile, dumb Roxanne. I bet even the Omega has more spine than her,” Chloe continued, the cruelty in her voice spreading like wildfire.

My hands trembled as I scrubbed the pots, trying to erase not only the grime but the remnants of last night’s communal feast, a feast where my presence was mandatory, but not appreciated.

“Alpha Zane must be so proud of his sister— the embarrassment of the pack,” Chloe declared, her words wounding more deeply than a stab of a dagger. My shoulders slumped, carrying not just the weight of the dishes but also the weight of her relentless mockery.

“Why don't you just leave, Roxanne? You're slowing us down as usual,” Chloe spat, her tone dripping with disgust.

“What's the matter, Roxanne? Can't keep up with the real pack members?” a young werewolf sneered, his eyes filled with a twisted delight in tormenting me.

Someday, I knew it was going to be over.

My heart pounded, each word striking me like a blow. I wanted to disappear, to fade into the background.

Chloe, reveling in the power she held over me, circled me like a predator closing in on its prey. “You think you belong here? Look around, Roxanne. Real Alphas don't raise weak pups like you. You're a stain on this pack. You're a constant reminder of what an Alpha’s daughter shouldn't be.”

My hands tightened into my fists, nails digging into my palms as I fought back tears. My spirit crumbled beneath the scorn but I refused to show weakness.

Chloe smirked triumphantly at me, “Did I make you cry, sweetie? You see, Roxanne, I feel sorry for your brother. Having a sister like you must be the greatest disappointment.”

With thorough care, I arranged the utensils, wiped the counters and aligned the chairs in immaculate order. Yet, despite my efforts, the oppressive air remained— the constant reminder of my insufficiency. I ignored the heavy feeling in my chest and tried to concentrate.

I closed the runny tap and took a fleeting moment to appreciate my accomplishment. The kitchen gleamed under the light as it was all spick and span, now.

Her eyes ever critical, Chloe scanned the kitchen for the slightest error — her usual routine of finding faults in everything I did.

“After staying here the whole eternity, this is your best effort?” she inquired, a disapproving furrow forming on her forehead, “Specks of dirt here and there. You might want to start again,” She said, her words dripping with venom.

My mouth gaped open, but just as quickly as it opened I closed it back, unable to mutter a word. There wasn't even any dirt! None that I could see.

“What? Do you think I'm lying?” she demanded, as if on cue.

I shook my head vigorously.

I stared around, lost. I had tidied the kitchen. I couldn't find the slightest dirt. How was I to start over when there wasn't any?

Suddenly before I could react, Chloe pushed down the porcelain dishware and they came crashing to the ground, bits of them scattered everywhere.

I fell on my knees, buried my face in my palms, and bawled my eyes out. My body quivered with every indrawn sob.

I couldn’t believe it. Why would she do this to me? I’ve cleaned everything and she deliberately added more work for me. Did she not know how much effort I have put into cleaning everything by myself...

My tears started pouring harder and my trembling hands reached out to start picking on the shards, my whole body shook from my silent sob.

But of course I knew why she did all this... Why everyone did this. Because I was weak... I was a wolfless, weak Alpha daughter whose existence was seen as nothing but a shameful streak for the pack.

“Ooou,” she gasped, “Sorry. Mistake. I'm guessing you're going to have to clean up,” she said and prodded me in the knees with her red bottom.

The pack members engaged in their hushed conversations, not caring to help. Their words cut through me like blades.

“Did you see her fumble with the dishes? Can't even handle basic chores.”

“I heard she couldn't shift properly during the last moon. Laughable.”

“Who cares about her anyway? She's just dead weight.”

“She’s an embarrassment. Alpha’s daughter, my foot.”

I hated that I had to live this way but what I hated more was that I was helpless. I couldn't do anything about the weight of my Alpha Lineage.

With blurry vision, I stared at the mess made— all my efforts destroyed with contempt.

Yes, in this place, my contributions were insignificant, all they did was exploit my vulnerability. Behind the whole facade of family ties, I was relegated to the duty of the obedient servant, because I was weak.

“A girl with a sword doesn't need a man to save her. She's a warrior not a princess in distress.”

***ROXANNE***

I FELT THE WEIGHT of my brother’s disappointment like a heavy cloth as I slogged through the White Moon pack’s training camp. All eyes were on me and my steps seemed to falter. If there was somewhere I'd rather be, I wouldn't be here but Alpha Zane, my brother, had asked me to join the camp. It was a week-long training held annually during the Lunar Week to rank the wolves based on their abilities.

My brother grabbed me by my wrist before I walked past him.

“Don’t let me down today,” my brother whispered in my ear. My throat tightened so I nodded before making my way to the front.

It was the last day of the camp. The air was thick with tension as the pack gathered to witness the final challenge. I sighed deeply. Everyone around me was ready but I wasn't. I didn't do well these past few days. No matter how I tried, I always lagged behind others. My movements were feeble and my every effort was mocked. I endured the constant bullying— it was a reminder that I didn't belong here and I couldn't flee from the tag as the Pack’s weakest tie.

“Look who is bringing up the rear again,” one wolf sneered, their eyes full of disdain and amusement.”

“Well, she does give us a chance to laugh,” Chloe muttered, “Always turning the battleground into some circus.”

“I thought she was kicked out of the training.”

“Alpha Zane thinks something good will come out of her if only he knows she's a waste of time.”

“Oh he knows, he just doesn't want her to feel left out,” another wolf muttered.

I tried to block out the taunts and focus on each task but their words cut deep. The training Pack was meant to foster unity but it had become a stage for humiliation.

“She’s a curse, she's not one of us,” someone else said loudly, “I mean, none of us have red hair.”

“She may even be adopted. No one in her lineage was weak,” someone else whispered.

Aside from being weak, I was like an outcast, which was one of the reasons I was treated unfairly. Unlike the members of my pack, I had auburn hair. Every White Moon member had white hair. In the world I lived in— Lunar Peak, there were only three packs; Red Moon, Blue Moon, and White Moon. The Red Moon Pack were the warriors, and the Blue Moon Pack were the seers— the highly favored ones with the power of the goddess. White moon made everything that was bad, good, be it an illness or curse.

The three packs were meant to help each other but rivalry was inevitable and war happened between my pack, Blue Moon and that of Red Moon. Ever since, there has been malice.

The whistle went off and the training began. The pack members watched— their eyes reflecting pity and scorn, while their whispers surrounded me like a suffocating mist.

The first few obstacles went by in a blur and I pushed myself to my limit. Yet, with each hurdle, I fell further behind everyone else. The pack’s jeers heightened and echoed in my head like a merciless chant. I stumbled through the ropes and struggled through the mud pit and when it was time for climbing walls I was exhausted.

Chloe's mocking voice cut through the crowd, “Look at her! Can't even overthrow a simple course. How unfortunate.”

“You've seven minutes more Roxanne Colton, or it's over and that's a fail,” the coach yelled.

“It's nothing new,” someone said from the crowd, “She never wins. Just does nothing and still sweats. It's not tough yet she's battling with it like a fish caught in a net.”

My breaths came in ragged gasps as I started at the final obstruction— a high wall to climb over. The pack’s gaze bore down on me, the atmosphere heavy with judgment. I was the only one left and my time was running out.

I glanced back and saw my brother watching from a distance. He couldn't conceal his frustration and my heart sank. My defeat wasn't just mine; it reflected on him too. He glared at me. I turned back to look at the wall. I wiped the sweat that broke out from my forehead on the back of my hand and took in a sharp breath.

Moon goddess, please. Even if it's just this once.

I placed my hands and feet in the holes and struggled with the wall.

“Four minutes more.”

I was worn out and my arms were beginning to feel sore. I couldn't shake off the feeling of failure. It weighed on me and I became lost in thoughts. I looked downwards and saw the distance I had come up to.

I can do this.

I could feel their eyes on my back as they waited for my downfall. And it happened.

My fingers slipped from the wall's edge and I tumbled backward into the mud, defeated.

“You lost, Roxanne Colton.”

The pack erupted into laughter, their mockery echoing through the clearing. Covered in mud and humiliation I felt the tears sting my eyes. I had lost in the final training. Again. My hopes were shattered. I was a failure.

As my brother approached me I cowered. His anger was discernible and disappointment edged on his face like a permanent scar. I could feel his anger simmer as he towered over me. He hauled me to my feet, from the mud by my collar.

Before I could speak, his hand came in contact with my left cheek and a burning sensation crept up my cheek. The tears I had been holding tumbled out effortlessly as I stared into my brother’s eyes.

There was a deafening silence. Yes, my brother didn't like me, he had never hit me.

“Roxanne, do you have any idea how embarrassing this is for me?” he yelled, frustration ringing through each word.

“I'm trying Zane, I am,” I sobbed, searching his eyes for the slightest understanding.

His grip on my collar tightened as he shook me violently, “Is this your definition of Trying? Trying is not enough Roxy. Why are you such an embarrassment?”

More tears slipped down my cheek.

“I'm sorry,” I whispered.

“Get out you vessel of disgrace,” he yelled as he let go of me.

I broke down as I picked my steps, falling in and out of the mud. The pack erupted in laughter and I ran. I didn't look back. All I wanted was to be away from these people. To be far away from this shame