True Luna

 

*Selena*

 

My heart pounded loudly in my chest throughout the entire taxi ride, and as soon as we pulled up in front of the pack house, panic gripped me. The thought of seeing that devil again sent shivers down my spine. I never thought I had to face my ex-mate ever again. Stepping out of the taxi, I cautiously observed my surroundings. Everything looked the same, as if time had stood still since the day I left.

Without wasting any time, I headed straight to the bank to inquire about my loan.

"Hello! How may I assist you?" a lady at the customer assistance desk greeted me with a humble smile.

"Umm... Hello! I have some queries," I said hesitantly.

"Yes, please tell me. I will try my best to help you," the lady replied softly.

"I want to know the status of my education loan. I thought it was paid off, but lately, I learned that some amount is still pending," I inquired, my voice revealing my vulnerability.

"Can I know your name and account details, please?" the lady asked politely.

I hesitated for a moment, grappling with the memories of a past I had tried so hard to bury. "My name is Selena. Selena Ardolf. I... don't remember my account details, but I used to serve as their Luna," I explained, my voice tinged with a mix of uncertainty and pain.

"Luna Selena?! I am sorry I couldn't recognize you. I am new here, but I had heard a lot about you," She gasped, her eyes gleaming with joy.

However, I winced at the recognition in her voice. It had been so long since I had heard that title.

"I am not your Luna anymore," I whispered gloomily, unable to escape the feelings of loss and regret that surged within me.

"Uh... huh! Yeah, right. You are right, Miss Ardolf," she stammered nervously. "Please hold on for a second. I will take you to my boss. She can help you better with your problem," she suggested.

 

"Okay," I agreed, trying to steady my emotions despite the sudden rush of memories.

"Thank you. Just give me a few minutes," she said before picking up the phone from her table.

I watched her as she spoke to someone in a very hushed tone.

"Miss Ardolf, Luna Avery wants to see you," she announced in a flat tone.

Luna Avery?

The name struck my brain like a bolt of lightning. As far as I knew from the news, Zander still hadn't officially marked and mated with her. Nonetheless, she liked to refer to herself with Luna's title. The desperation in her pursuit of becoming his Luna had always baffled me. Two whole years had passed, and yet they seemed to wait. However, I reminded myself that it was their life and not my concern.

"Okay," I replied, attempting to maintain composure despite the tumultuous emotions that surged within me.

A staff member directed me to the office of the bank's finance head, and as I approached the door, I noticed the name "Avery" written on it. I took a deep breath and knocked before entering.

"Selena, oh my, my! I am so happy you came," Avery greeted me with an unexpected grin. It was strange because, as far as I could remember, she had never shown any warmth towards me before. The ambiance of her office exuded an air of confidence, tastefully and subtly furnished.

"Good to see you too, Avery," I responded with a tight-lipped smile.

"Please have a seat," she gestured, settling on a plush leather couch beside the window, her half-empty coffee cup in hand.

A tense silence hung in the air, making me feel uneasy. I decided to cut to the chase.

"Avery, I don't believe in beating around the bush. Let's get straight to the main topic," I suggested, challenging her directly.

 

"Of course," she replied in a clipped tone, placing the cup onto the table.

I took a deep breath and proceeded to share everything about my loan predicament. "I have an outstanding loan that I wasn't aware of. I thought I had repaid it already, but my bank manager informed me otherwise," I explained, trying to keep my emotions in check.

"Oh... I see," Avery responded, seemingly taking a moment to comprehend the situation. She then walked over to her desk, facing the computer resting on it.

"Yes, Selena! The account shows you still have an unpaid loan. As you know, the interest on the principal amount was high back then, and now you have a huge amount to repay," she informed me.

"Avery, I don't have the money to pay this huge amount. I have served as Luna in that pack. Please check the balance in my account and pay the loan," I pleaded with desperation in my voice.

"Selena, I understand your situation. But it has been more than two years, and your account will no longer be active. So, we need your signature to reactivate it. You'll have to stay here and complete the formalities. It will take some time, but I will try to help you in every possible way," she assured, sounding sincere and concerned.

I fell silent for a moment, weighing my options and contemplating my next move. "Can you please check if I have any balance left in my bank account?" I asked hesitantly, realizing that I had never bothered to monitor my account while living in the Moonglow pack. My Beta had taken care of all financial matters, and I had never needed to worry about them. Despite this, Zander had never let me feel the need to think about my expenses. He made sure I got everything I desired even before the wish left my lips.

"Wait a minute," she said, typing something on the computer. "Selena, I can see your dormant account, but the balance is zero," she told me, and I was shocked. I furrowed my brow in disbelief. Where was all my hard-earned money? I had worked tirelessly to accumulate those savings.

"How... how is that possible?" I gasped, feeling a mixture of anger and anxiety rise within me.

 

"I don't know, Selena. I'm just relaying what I see on the bank's computer," she replied coldly. Her lack of empathy only added to my frustration.

I rubbed my forehead, trying to alleviate the stress building up inside me. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I attempted to process the situation.

"Avery, I need to settle this loan as soon as possible, but I don't have any money. I can't understand how all the money from my account could just disappear like that," I said, my tone growing more accusatory.

"Are you implying that our bank's administration is responsible for this, Selena?" she responded, her annoyance visible on her expression. "I was trying to help you, and all I get is accusations. Great!"

"It seems your loan amount has been deducted because you haven't submitted anything," she added coldly.

"So my loan amount should have been reduced, and I only had to pay a small sum, right?" I questioned, desperately searching for a glimmer of hope.

"Selena, I can see your loan agreement on my computer. According to it, if you work in the pack, you won't have to pay interest. But if you leave the pack, the interest increases tenfold until the entire amount is paid off," she announced, her gaze never leaving me. "Now the amount is as huge as a mountain."

What?!

Was it clearly stated in the agreement when I signed it? I hadn't paid much attention back then, believing I would remain in the pack as their Luna forever.

"But I still can't believe it and demand an inquiry. I need to settle the loan amount as soon as possible. But I don't have the money," I unconsciously mumbled.

"I understand. I will initiate an inquiry, but it may take a few days or even months. I have a suggestion," she offered. I lifted my eyes to meet hers, desperate for a solution.

"Stay in the pack house. This way, everything will unfold before your eyes, and you won't be left with any doubts," she suggested.

“But I… I can't stay here. I can't afford to face the Alpha…,” I muttered meekly.

“Oh yes! Zander will indeed be a problem for you, as he still holds a grudge against you,” she shrugged innocently, as if stating an undeniable fact.

"But, Selena!" Avery stood up from her seat and slowly circled me. Her scrutinizing gaze made me feel exposed and vulnerable. “You have an even bigger problem looming ahead. According to the Moonglow pack's law, if you fail to repay the loan within three years, the bank will take legal action against you. Considering you haven't made any payments for the past three years, you're on the brink of significant trouble. Luckily, you've learned about this before it's too late," she explained, her words hitting me like a ton of bricks.

Legal action?!

"I wish there was a way I could assist you," she sighed, looking at me with genuine pity.

Feeling utterly helpless, I rubbed my forehead, bowing my head in defeat. I didn't need any more complications in my life, but it appeared that fate had other plans.

"By the way, I have a potential solution," she said abruptly, capturing my attention.

I looked up at her, listening carefully.

"Actually, I'm in need of a personal butler, and I'm prepared to compensate generously, offering ten times more than the position typically pays. If you're interested in applying for the role of my personal butler, I'll appoint you immediately. This way, you can earn money quickly, repay your educational loan sooner, and stay in this pack until all your debts are settled," she suggested, her expression innocent. However, her offer didn't bring the relief I had hoped for.

"I cannot remain here," I replied sternly, holding onto my determination.

 

"If you are worried about Zander, I will convince him. He has gone for a week for the annual conference. You know how much he loves me. He does whatever I say,” she assured, smirking smugly. "Why do you want to help me?" I asked suspiciously, unable to shake off my doubts.

"Look, I have plenty of options to choose from for a personal butler, and they are all professionally trained omegas. But I offered this position to you because I genuinely want to help you. After all, you are Zander's ex-mate," she replied, her smile softening as she regarded me with concern.

With no other viable option and time rapidly slipping away, I reluctantly agreed, "Okay! I'll do this job, but only for a month." With my education loan hanging over me like a sword, I had no other choice but to seize this opportunity.

"Good decision, Selena. So, your job starts today. You'll be with me all the time and take care of my personal stuff, schedule, and diet. In fact, you'll be in charge of everything in my daily routine except for my mate," she smirked, her words cutting through me like shards of ice.

Who would want your mate? I mentally scowled at the thought, trying to suppress any feelings of disdain that threatened to surface.

"You'll stay in the omega quarters. So, starting today, please check the diet schedule and maintain the regular routine," she ordered coldly. With a forced nod, I replied, "Alright."

"Luna Avery!" She pronounced, emphasizing her title with a sense of entitlement.

"Huh?!" I looked at her dumbfounded, taken aback by the request.

"You should call me Luna Avery, just like everyone else in this pack," she clarified with a hint of smug satisfaction.

"Yes, Luna Avery!" I managed to bow slightly before leaving, not wanting to give her any more satisfaction. Avery simpered, clearly pleased with her new title, and she immediately made a call to the pack house to inform them of my arrival as an omega.

Reluctantly, I left for the pack house, my emotions in turmoil as I stepped inside the familiar grounds that held both bad and good memories. The pack house of the Moonglow pack stood majestic and lavishly built, resembling a grand palace. In the past, when I was new here, I would sometimes get lost within its vastness.

 

After settling my belongings in the Omega Quarter, I made my way to the kitchen where omegas were diligently preparing dinner for the whole pack, comprising over a hundred werewolves. The responsibility of feeding so many hungry mouths required an early start to the evening's preparations.

As I carefully inspected the omegas, I recognized some familiar faces, while others were new additions since I had left. "Luna!" I heard a girl's voice squeal with excitement, causing me to turn my head in surprise. A girl with big, curious eyes was looking at me. I glanced around, half-expecting Avery to be standing there, but it was clear that she was addressing me.

"Queen Selena?! You are... Luna Queen Selena," she gasped, her eyes sparkling with realization. If Avery or someone else overheard her, she could be in significant trouble. I hurriedly approached the girl named Lola, making sure nobody was eavesdropping.

"Listen, umm... Lola," I recalled her name, trying to ease her excitement. Her face lit up with joy and surprise. "Oh, my goddess! Luna, you know my name?!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm.

I smiled, gently taking her hand and leading her to a more secluded corner where we could talk privately. "Of course, I know you, Lola. Just as you know me," I replied with a warm smile. "But I'm not your Queen anymore. Your Alpha King rejected me, and you will soon have a new Luna. Please, just call me Selena. I'm also working as an omega here."

Her eyes widened in disbelief and sadness. "No! Why do you have to do this, Luna?" she blurted out, then blushed, correcting herself, "I mean... Selena!" I held her hand reassuringly. "Oh, Lola, I am not your Queen. It was just a title. I am a normal person like you, and you know, I can't even shift," I coaxed gently, trying to ease her sorrow.

Traditionally, omegas were considered the lowest rank and were not allowed to shift or receive training on the ground. They were confined to the pack house, performing household chores and cooking for other pack members. However, when I became Luna and joined this pack after marrying Zander, I introduced new laws, giving omegas the opportunity to receive training in self-defense and war. I firmly believed that not being able to shift didn't make them weak, and I had even organized championships and fighting competitions for omegas throughout the year to prove their strength and worth.

"That's why I am calling you my Luna, my Queen, because it wasn't just a title for you. We have all accepted you with our whole hearts. You are a true Queen in every way," Lola declared, her voice thick with pride and genuine emotion, causing my own emotions to swell.

Her words seemed to have reached the ears of others as I heard more voices joining in. Several other omegas had gathered around us, their faces filled with admiration and respect.

"We have never seen such a great Queen who cooks with omegas and feeds her pack members with her hand. You made such amendments to the system that benefited everyone. You never discriminate against anyone based on their rank," Rina, another omega, added, and they all bowed before me in a gesture of utmost reverence.

Touched by their overwhelming love and support, my eyes welled up with tears, despite the pain of rejection from their Alpha King, Zander Blake.

"Hey, what's going on?" A harsh voice interrupted, jolting me from the emotional moment. Startled, I turned to find the source of the voice, my eyes taking in the scene before me.