Can't Save the Older Luna

"Kill her," the man ordered casually. He smiled brightly, exposing his impeccably aligned teeth. Aphrodite was familiar with the heartwarming smile.

However, the words spread into Aphrodite's system faster than venom. Her insides started scorching. But the tears had dried.

Aphrodite stared blankly at the man's gorgeous face. The pair of hazel-green eyes that Aphrodite once found attractive was icier than a dead fish. Aphrodite discerned that the man's stunning appearance and kind words were merely a facade to mask his hideous nature.

"Why is it that my life is always the one that gets complicated? Why is something simple for others inconceivable to me?" Aphrodite's eyes welled up as she pondered.

Regardless, the man was not liable for Aphrodite's emotional breakdowns. And Aphrodite was well aware of it.

Aphrodite was an omega female in Scarlet Navy, one of the mightiest packs in the East zone. The pack had prohibited mating outside to preserve the bloodline and its ruthless nature.

Aphrodite's pack was at its peak in crudity and bigotry towards the omegas. The omegas would get brutally killed if they failed to find their mates within their coming of age.

Not to mention, there were always exceptions when it came to betas. The Alphas were privileged to choose their mates, apart from the fated ones. Hence, it was a non-issue for everyone except the omegas.

Axill was the man who was always kind to Aphrodite. He was the same age as Aphrodite and well-known among the wolves in her pack. His act of empathy towards Aphrodite earned him her admiration.

Axill had returned from his training not long ago. Axill was sent away from the pack right after birth, so the wolves knew little about him. Additionally, because of him living alone even after his return.

Axill's past remained untouched, even by the alpha guards who obeyed him without the knowledge of his class.

Axill took a break from years of training by temporarily joining the alpha kitchen after rejoining the pack. Aphrodite admired him. But she never revealed that to him. Also, her uncertainty about Axill's partner and her own lack of a mate caused her stress.

Axill treated everyone with kindness, regardless of their status, unlike other alphas and betas. Thus, the entire pack cherished him.

Aphrodite was going to turn eighteen in a few days. However, she had not found her mate yet. Wolves would discover their mates once they turned sixteen.

The pack would permit the mateless wolves to search for their mates till their coming of age. Without exception, any omega who failed to acquire a mate by the age of eighteen would get ruthlessly killed.

And then, when Aphrodite thought it was all over, she met her mate for the first time. Nonetheless, the partner that Aphrodite found was beyond anything she had anticipated.

***

Ethelred was a fledgling alpha and the son of the reigning alpha of Scarlet-Navy. The oracles brought the prophecy of the ancient spirits, blessing the alpha's son as the next alpha to the throne when Ethelred turned fourteen.

To make things worse, Aphrodite found the fourteen-year-old alpha to be her mate. Aphrodite would soon turn into an adult. She was aware that the pack would never accept her as the Luna.

Such a disastrous fate also baffled Aphrodite's parents. Aphrodite's parents were both betas. However, with their innumerable efforts to maintain a lucrative connection with the higher officials, her family succeeded in entering the elite society. But her birth as an omega always unsettled Aphrodite's parents.

Aphrodite joined the alpha kitchen, intending not to rely on her parents forever. However, the idea failed to please her mother at all.

Every time Aphrodite appeared before her mother, contemptuous phrases pierced her heart. For the remaining few days before formally serving in the alpha kitchen, Aphrodite secluded herself within her bed chamber.

"Are you certain about that child being your mate?"

Following Aphrodite's disclosure that she had discovered her mate on the first day in the pack house, her mother questioned. Annoyance was apparent in her tone as she puckered her brows in disbelief.

It was not long since Aphrodite had her first encounter with her long-awaited mate. Indeed, Aphrodite's mother was not wrong about Aphrodite's mate being a child.

It was Aphrodite's first day in the pack house after getting employed in the alpha kitchen. Aphrodite had never entered the pack house before, making her unfamiliar with everything related to the alpha and his family.

Since Aphrodite was an omega, her parents wouldn't take her to elite social gatherings. Consequently, Aphrodite rarely knew anyone from the higher officials.

"I hope you're not creating tales to cover your tracks," Aphrodite's mother scowled upon hearing about Aphrodite's mate.

Refusing to meet her mother's gaze, Aphrodite squeezed the sides of her dress. Aphrodite wondered if her mother really believed she would make up stories to prolong her wretched existence.

Since the instant Aphrodite entered the alpha kitchen, the mellow fragrance permeated the space. However, the maids were clueless when Aphrodite asked them about the source of such an exotic fruity fragrance.

Shortly, Aphrodite became engrossed in her tasks while Axill greeted her with a beaming smile. The experience felt surreal as Axill showered her with the kindness she had yearned for a long time.

Later that day, when Aphrodite prepared to leave, she noticed a boy on the training grounds. The fruity fragrance from earlier almost stifled her breath. However, Aphrodite's world crumpled as her wolf howled, "Mate!"

Ethelred was in his routine afternoon lessons with his master. Aphrodite felt her feet getting rooted to the ground as she watched the tiny body attempting to shift tirelessly.

The royal emblem glistening on the boy's tunic bore evidence of his noble birth. The child was lean, considering the boys of his age. Despite his position as the future alpha lord, he seemed as fragile as a porcelain doll.

Nevertheless, he was a beautiful young boy. The last rays of the afternoon illuminated his soft, caramel-blond hair. The tangerine beams of the setting sun had covered a portion of his face above his peachy-pumped lips, causing his pale purple eyes to glow.

Aphrodite's wolf growled inside, declaring its mate. Aphrodite got embedded in her place, forgetting how to move. However, Ethelred was oblivious to anything his mate went through at that moment, as his wolf was too young to detect its mate.

Aphrodite continued making circles on the floor with her toe, recalling the moment in her mind one last time.

"Oh, Lord!" Her mother fell on the couch, exhausted, ignoring the despair lingering on her daughter's face.

Aphrodite had never desired a young boy as her partner. Neither the idea of becoming the Luna nor being mated with an alpha had ever crossed her mind. Yet, she felt responsible for having a younger mate due to her mother's mortified reaction.

"Are you also going to overlook this, Honey? Since she was born, this girl has been nothing but trouble. Do you not care at all?" her mother asked, scowling at her father.

Aphrodite's father took a sip from his cup and placed it quietly on the table. He was calm, unlike his wife. The man's thoughts and emotions were always a mystery. Yet Aphrodite felt embarrassed to meet her father's eyes.

"We should discuss this with the alpha first," Aphrodite's father answered calmly.

"Have you gone insane!" Aphrodite's mother exclaimed, rising from her sofa, her countenance agitated with alarm. "Would you say that the alpha would entertain such a preposterous claim? Aphrodite is an omega!" her mother bellowed.

"That boy is only fourteen," Aphrodite's father said, leaning back in the chair. Aphrodite's mother scowled again at his response.

"Well, that includes one more reason for us to get annihilated," Aphrodite's mother said with bitterness apparent on her face.

"That boy barely appears he can carry the prophecy. You have seen how fragile he is. Now, the child's mate is an omega. Shouldn't we be the ones to give the alpha a hard time accepting his son?'' Aphrodite's father questioned, twirling the paperweight on the table.

Aphrodite's mother puckered her brows in an attempt to discern whether her husband was serious.

"I am sorry, Honey. But are you joking? Because it's not helping!" Aphrodite's mother stared at her husband incredulously.

"Certainly, I am not. Let's meet the alpha," Aphrodite's father said, getting up from his chair.

Aphrodite's mother slammed her fists on the table and yelled, "Don't even think about it! I won't let our family get shattered because of this girl. Do you not care about our son? The alpha will kill us if we ever reveal this ridiculous fact before the pack."

Aphrodite felt a thousand knots twisting inside her stomach. She gazed at the chandelier and pondered if anyone had ever desired its descent upon them as fervently as she did.

"And what about our daughter? You are her mother as well. It is undeniable that we invested a substantial amount of effort in placing our son where he is today. But we can't just let our daughter die," Aphrodite's father said calmly.

"You do not understand," Aphrodite's mother collapsed on the sofa, exhausted. She clenched her jaw as tears blurred her vision. "Our entire lineage will perish if she reveals her mate. Are you not acquainted with the merciless nature of those royals? The alpha has wiped out anyone questioning his son's competence. He will never allow the rumors to flare up, accepting his son has an omega mate."

"It is not our daughter's fault who her mate is," Aphrodite's father said. "If the alpha wishes not to accept our daughter, we can negotiate by asking him to spare Aphrodite's life after coming of age."

"Aren't you being too ambitious, Dear?" Aphrodite's mother asked. "Why would the alpha bother to negotiate with mere betas?"

"Perhaps you could present to me your plan of escape in that scenario?" Taking a deep breath, Aphrodite's father asked.

Aphrodite gasped as she noticed her mother's eyes glowing up. All Aphrodite ever wished was a quiet life with her mate, away from her family, to let them live peacefully. She didn't care if her mate was an omega. Perhaps she would be delighted if her mate was an omega.

"We can just make a deal with the nobles. There are tons of alpha nobles who are willing to have mistresses. Though Aphrodite is not blessed with unearthly beauty, a few might accept our daughter," Aphrodite's mother said as her eyes beamed. "Besides, it will help us to build further connections in elite society."

"Silence!" Aphrodite's father growled. The disparaging proposition had finally pushed Aphrodite's father over the edge. "Are you implying we should sell our daughter? Aren't you ashamed to say such a thing as her mother?"

"B-But, Honey!" Aphrodite's mother slurred, looking embarrassed as she lowered her gaze. She didn't presume the idea would upset her husband so much.

"Cut it," Aphrodite's father said in an icy tone. "Then it leaves us no choice."

Assuming what was to come next, Aphrodite gasped. Her father's lack of affection never made her feel cared for. However, Aphrodite was curious about how her father could maintain such calmness in any circumstances. Aphrodite wondered if she had received that trait since she would become numb despite the gravity of the situation.

"You will leave the pack," Aphrodite's father said, heaving a deep breath.

Aphrodite's father's words brought her worst nightmare to life. She was aware of the calamity that would befall her family if she were to take that drastic step. However, Aphrodite couldn't wrap her head around the fact that her father would risk it all to protect her honor and safety.

Clenching the sides of her peachy, long skirt, Aphrodite stood. She noticed her brother at the end of the stairs. He was woken up by the heated conversation in the hall.

"We can't do this!" Aphrodite's mother exclaimed, shaking her head in disbelief. "You are telling your daughter to commit treason! You are an official, Honey. Have you forgotten that?"

"I think we are done talking about that," Aphrodite's father answered in an icy tone. "I won't let them kill my daughter."

Aphrodite's mother lost the zeal to oppose her husband. She was aware of the stubborn nature of the man.

Aphrodite's father whirled at Aphrodite and calmly said, "You are leaving the pack tonight. Be prepared to leave and ensure you have everything you need."

"But, Dear," Aphrodite's mother hesitated. "Does it have to be tonight? This girl never even learned to hunt. How will she survive crossing the borders?"

"Carmine," Aphrodite's father called her mother's name calmly. "Please refrain from any attempts to halt our daughter's escape."

Aphrodite's mother's eyes widened as if she had witnessed something horrendous.

"Do you believe I want my daughter to die?" Carmine asked as her eyes welled up. "Am I that worse as a mother in your eyes?"

"I would rather let my daughter die than beg those nasty alphas to accept my daughter. Have you forgotten what they did years ago?" Aphrodite's father asked, rubbing his temples.

Carmine's husband's implication was something she could never forget. Carmine's sister was an omega who had an alpha mate. However, her mate took advantage of her and sold her in the red-light district. After multiple attempts at escaping, she finally gave up on her life.

"You must be considering me as a horrible mother at the moment," Carmine said, rubbing off the tears from her eyes. "But, give me some time to prepare some food for my daughter, at least. It's true that as a mother, I got biased for a while, thinking about the welfare of both. I couldn't let my one child suffer because of another," Carmine said, glancing at her son. "But that doesn't mean I want my daughter to die."

The sudden change in Carmine's demeanor bewildered Aphrodite and her father. But the eerie feeling persisted despite Aphrodite's attempts to shake it off.

"Father," Aphrodite finally broke her silence. She clenched her hands into fists out of helplessness. "I can't do this."

"Staying in this pack and getting killed won't bring us any fortune," Aphrodite's brother chimed in.

For Aphrodite, it was a never-ending series of surprises. Felix never got involved with Aphrodite's affairs in the past, despite being her older brother. With the help of his alpha mate, he attained impressive ranks, though he was a beta like their parents.

Aphrodite held the belief that her brother had a strong dislike for her. Regular sibling conversations were almost non-existent for them.

Aphrodite felt shattered when she discovered that even her brother was willing to risk everything. Gratitude filled Aphrodite as she thought about her family's sacrifice.

Aphrodite got ready to escape that night. It was an unfortunate moment for Aphrodite and her family.

Her eyes welled up with tears as she saw how much food and essential goods her mother had prepared for her escape. How long Aphrodite had been yearning for such warmth was beyond her memory.

Regardless, the concern on Aphrodite's father's face became apparent. Yet, everything seemed to go smoothly as Felix's mate approved of it. Aphrodite did not expect this.

Aphrodite speculated that Felix wouldn't reveal it to his mate, Esty. Esty, like any other alpha, never paid attention to Aphrodite. The fact that she came to help only added to Aphrodite's regret.