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Emily

Running through the dense woods of the Blood Moon pack lands during a rainstorm is one of my favorite things to do.

The forest, slippery and deserted, becomes my sanctuary.

The damp, earthy scent of wet soil and the steady slap of my paws against moss-slick earth soothes my usually racing mind as I speed in wolf form.

Weaving between pines and vaulting over soggy underbrush, I race towards the rapidly moving river that marks the pack border.

Thunder rumbles overhead as I streak toward the churning water.

My wolf form is pure white and tiny, but she is also nimble and fast. My small stature allows me to race through gaps in trees, lunge under branches, and squeeze between gaps in the rock formations.

It’s oppressively hot this time of year and I’m grateful for the relief brought by the thunderstorm.

The temporary coolness lets me push my wolf faster than normally possible.

Only my paws hitting the earth, the natural sounds of the forest, and my pounding heart breaks the silence.

A suspicious bunch; wolves here tremble at lightning’s crack and fear mudslides—but precisely because they avoid these woods in storms, I get this fleeting freedom all to myself.

I know there’s a risk with this kind of weather, but I’m willing to take any chance I get to run.

Running allows me to experience the idea of freedom, even though it couldn’t be further from my reality.

But I need to pretend I could leave this pack.

To dream that I’m more than a glorified prisoner.

Blood Moon is a harsh and cruel place to live.

It’s worse because I have been completely isolated despite living here my entire life.

I’ve played my part in my segregation, helped to earn my isolation.

But knowing it’s your own fault doesn’t make acceptance or loneliness easier.

The knowledge only adds shame and guilt to the melting pot that is my emotions.

In Blood Moon, physical strength is valued more by the pack than anything else.

As an omega, my strength doesn’t lie in my physicality.

Both my wolf and I are tiny and weak. And who am I kidding?

I don’t have strength in any other shape either.

I’m not allowed to participate in warrior training or patrols.

Aidan, the Alpha and my soon-to-be bonded mate says that’s not my role.

As an omega, I am only good for two things. Breeding and keeping my Alpha happy.

And I'm not even good at that.

That thought hits me as I arrive home to the cabin we share.

I look around to make sure no one is nearby before shifting back into my human form and quickly slipping through the back door.

The alpha cabin we share is impeccable, as always.

Other than the timber walls, everything is pristine white.

Not a drop of color to soften its austerity.

Nothing comfortable or homely, but it’s how Aidan likes it.

And obviously, what he wants is what is important. I dash into the bathroom to remove any trace of my wolf’s run in the rain, knowing he is due home in an hour or so. Turning the water as hot as possible, I step into the steamy shower and wash away the evidence of being outside.

The familiar emptiness of loneliness and the oppressive weight of confinement engulfs me.

I don’t want anyone to find out about my runs.

It’s the only spark of enjoyment left in my life, and I can’t lose it.

I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t hear Aidan come in until he opens the shower door.

His silhouette fills the frame, and the scalding hot shower turns ice cold.

“What the fuck is this?” he snarls, pointing to the tiny remnants of mud on the tiles that I haven’t cleaned yet.

“Why can’t you even keep a tidy home? What the fuck is wrong with you?

Go. Clean. It. Up,” he berates, spittle flying as his eyes narrow in suspicion.

I comply at once, rushing to clean before I have even dried or dressed myself.

I never want to give him another reason to be mad.

It’s something I know well to avoid and I’m usually better at making sure everything is perfect all the time.

I curse myself for being so careless, even if it is only three or four small droplets of mud.

“I… I’m so s… sorry. I thought I had enough time to clean up before you would be home.” I never used to stammer, but the fear I feel around Aidan has changed a lot about how I act.

He stands back with his arms crossed, watching me scrub the floors on my hands and knees.

Completing tasks nude is something I’m used to, but it still leaves me utterly humiliated.

I won’t complain or try to change it though.

If I’m honest with myself, I’ll do anything to avoid a beating at this stage.

Instead, I stay bent, silent, waiting with bated breath because I know what awaits me if I don’t .

He walks to me as I finish scrubbing the floors.

Without a moment’s hesitation, his heavy boot connects with my stomach, the impact knocking the wind from my lungs.

Searing pain explodes in my abdomen as I’m thrown against the wall, the impact knocking the air from my lungs and leaving me crumpled on the hard ground.

I curl into myself, a harsh cough tearing from my throat, a rattling sound in the silence.

I won’t beg him to stop, though. There’s no point.

“You’re lucky we have visitors tonight and I want you looking the part,” he snarls as he wraps his hand in my long blonde hair, pulling me upright.

My scalp screams as I scramble to keep up with him before he rips the hair out.

It takes so much energy not to fight back or even try to shield myself.

But I’ve learned over the past three years that Aidan only stops when he is satisfied that he has adequately hurt and humiliated me enough.

“Go get ready. Wear the tight red dress tonight. We have a visiting Alpha for dinner, and I need you looking good.”

Goddess, I hate the red dress. It’s skintight and low-cut, exposing every curve.

My breasts aren’t exactly big, but I can’t wear a bra with that dress.

I sigh internally, resigned to an uncomfortable night, and nod my agreement.

But that obviously isn’t the right thing to do.

Aidan’s expression morphs and I swallow, realizing that I’m in trouble.

He grabs my hair again, wrenching it as he angles my head to face him.

“You respond ‘Yes, Alpha’ when I give you an order.”

He’s forcing me to look at him now where usually I’m not allowed to make eye contact.

We’ve been together for three years and the rules keep changing.

At first, when he got angry, I blamed myself.

I believed him when he told me I forced him into these moods.

That he was teaching me how to be a better mate and Luna.

I know better now, but it’s too late. He’s broken me down to the point I can’t imagine ever having the strength to leave him.

“Yes, Alpha,” I whisper. He shoves me away, barely contained rage visible on his perfect face as he sneers at me.

His good looks are a perfect mask for the ugliness beneath.

His piercing green eyes, towering height, and black hair make him the very definition of tall, dark, and handsome.

He might be conventionally attractive, but when I look at him, all I feel is fear.

His defined muscles only serve as a reminder of how much stronger than me he is.

He storms away, and I wrap my arms around myself.

I wish it was possible for me to protect myself.

He’s at the door when he turns back to say, “You better fix your attitude; you’re twenty-one in two months, and if you’re not a better mate by the time I can finally claim you, well, let’s just say I’m going to be forced to increase your training. ”

My hands shake violently as a bone-chilling shiver races down my spine.

I sink to the floor as soon as the door clicks closed, leaving me alone again.

My heart pounds, and my breathing comes in rapid gasps because I remember exactly what he means.

I don’t think I can survive any more of his training .

I won’t allow myself to wallow for long. I can’t. I need to be at the pack house to welcome our guests and I need to look pretty while I do it. Looking good and being the alpha’s glorified slave is all I’m suited for, after all.

I stand behind Aidan inside the door of the main pack building, awaiting our guests.

We always greet guests here because it's the most ornate and well-appointed building in the pack. Aidan never misses a chance to impress, and it’s vital that everything—including me—looks the part.

Our visitors tonight are Alpha John Anderson and Beta Caleb Cooper from one of our allied packs, Iron Fang.

“John, Caleb, so wonderful to see you again,” Aidan beams at them. “You remember my future Luna, Emily?” His jovial tone is so contradictory to the man who kicked and threatened me mere hours earlier. But I smile softly, and I don’t flinch when Aidan places his hand on my back.

“Oh yes, hard to forget when she looks like that,” laughs John as his gaze travels down my body.

He licks his lips as his eyes lock on my chest. My skin crawls and I have to remind myself that this is a positive thing.

Aidan will be happy that another alpha sees me as attractive.

John is a pale blond shifter who is tall but less muscular than most alphas.

Although he has a darkness to him, that makes him seem just as intimidating.

He has always made me uneasy. He’s one of only three others whom Aidan seems to like spending time with. Everyone else simply fills a role.

“How long until your mating ceremony?” John asks.