Three days after that rejection, Luna thought her life was already at its worst.
Luna was wrong.
A knock on the servant room door woke Luna at 3 AM.
“Luna!
The Alpha is calling you.
Now!” The voice belonged to one of the guards, and his tone was sharp.
Luna hurriedly put on her gray dress.
Luna tied her hair up carelessly.
Her face was still swollen from crying for three days.
Blackmoon Palace was cold.
The marble floor was like ice that pierced all the way to the bone.
Luna walked barefoot.
The other servants bowed as Luna passed.
Some whispered, and some looked at her with pity.
The throne room.
The big doors opened.
Someone was sitting there, Alpha Kael.
He was leaning back on the black throne.
One leg crossed over the other.
His fingers tapped the armrest casually, as if he had never humiliated Luna in front of 500 people three days ago.
The whole room was silent.
Only Elder Alden and two Betas stood at the side.
“Kneel,” Kael said.
His voice was flat.
Luna obeyed.
Luna’s knees hit the marble floor, and it hurt.
Kael looked down at Luna.
His golden eyes swept over Luna from head to toe.
Like he was appraising dirt.
“Do you know why I called you?” Kael asked.
“No, Lord Alpha,” Luna answered with a trembling voice.
Kael chuckled softly.
“Because the Elder said I can’t kill you.
Not can’t.
Just not yet.” Luna’s blood ran cold.
“According to the law, a rejected omega has a one-month deadline,” Kael continued.
“If you’re not pregnant by then, only then can you be banished.
What a shame.” Luna lowered her head.
Tears almost fell again, but Luna held them back.
“So until that day comes,” Kael stood.
He walked down from the throne, his steps slow.
“You’ll be useful for something.” Kael stopped right in front of Luna.
His scent was strong.
The scent of an Alpha wolf and wood.
“Starting today, you’re my personal servant,” Kael said.
“24 hours.
Go wherever I go.
Do whatever I tell you to.” Luna looked up.
“Sir?” “Problem?” Kael raised a brow.
“Protesting?” “No, Sir,” Luna answered quickly.
“Good,” Kael smiled.
But the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“Because I can’t wait to see how strong a defective omega like you is.” From that day, Luna’s hell began.
*_ 4 AM.
Luna had to knock on Kael’s door.
Bringing a basin of cold water.
If Luna was even one second late, that water would be dumped over Luna’s head.
“You’re slow,” Kael snapped on the first day.
The basin of water slammed onto Luna’s head and Luna’s clothes were soaked.
“Do it again!” Kael ordered.
7 AM was breakfast time.
Luna had to feed Kael.
When Luna’s hand trembled and hot soup spilled onto Kael’s hand, the plate was immediately thrown at Luna’s face.
“Learn,” Kael said coldly.
“A good servant isn’t clumsy.” Luna’s hands blistered, but Luna wasn’t allowed to scream.
Afternoon.
Combat training.
Luna had to stand under the sun for 3 hours.
Luna brought Kael a towel, water, and his weapons.
When Kael took a break, he deliberately kicked Luna’s leg.
“Don’t block my way, trash.” At night.
Luna had to massage Kael’s shoulders for 2 hours.
Her hands cramped, and her back hurt.
But if Luna stopped, Kael would grip Luna’s wrist until it turned blue.
“Weak,” Kael whispered in Luna’s ear.
“Just like your mother.” Every word was like a knife, but that wasn’t even the worst part, because the most torturous was at night.
Kael deliberately brought other women to his room.
And made Luna wait outside, right in front of the door.
“Harder, Alpha,” the woman’s voice came from inside.
Luna closed her eyes.
Holding back the ache in her chest.
Even though Kael had already rejected Luna.
Why did it still hurt?
“Why are you quiet?” Luna jolted.
Kael was already standing behind Luna.
He was only wearing sleep pants and his chest was still wet.
“No, Lord Alpha,” Luna said.
“I’m waiting for orders.” Kael stepped closer.
The distance between them was only an inch.
Luna could feel the heat of his body.
“Are you jealous?” Kael whispered.
His breath hit Luna’s ear.
“No, Sir,” Luna answered.
“I have no right.” Kael lifted Luna’s chin with one finger.
He forced Luna to look into his eyes.
“Right.
You have no right,” Kael said.
“Remember that.” Then Kael went back in, and slammed the door shut, very hard.
Luna leaned against the wall, and her body shook.
_* The first week passed like that.
Physical torture, and mental torture.
Luna’s hands were full of wounds.
Luna’s back was full of bruises, but Luna wasn’t allowed to complain.
One night, while Luna was washing Kael’s clothes at the well behind the palace, someone approached.
“Stop.” Beta Riven.
He was the only Beta who had never mocked Luna.
He was Kael’s best friend since childhood.
Riven crouched and handed over ointment.
“For your hands.” “Thank you, Lord Beta,” Luna said softly.
Riven looked at the wounds on Luna’s hands and his jaw clenched.
“Why don’t you fight back?
He’s treating you like an animal.” Luna gave a bitter smile.
“Fight back?
Then what would happen, Sir?
I die tomorrow?” Riven stayed silent.
“27 days left,” Luna said.
“If I’m not pregnant, I’ll be banished to the Forbidden Forest.
So I have to endure.” “He won’t touch you,” Riven said suddenly.
“Kael swore he’d rather die.” Luna nodded.
“I know.” “Be careful,” Riven whispered.
“Kael has a plan.
He won’t let you get pregnant, but he also won’t let you go.” Before Luna could ask, a thunderous voice sounded from inside the palace.
“LUNA!” Kael’s voice, and he sounded furious.
Luna immediately stood and forgot the laundry.
She ran into the palace.
When she got to Kael’s room, Luna saw an expensive vase shattered on the floor.
“Where did you go?” Kael snapped, his eyes red.
“To the well, Sir.
Washing your clothes,” Luna answered.
Kael walked closer and grabbed Luna’s arm.
Hard.
“I didn’t give you permission to leave the palace.” “I’m sorry, Sir,” Luna said, feeling the pain.
Kael stared at Luna for a long time.
His chest rose and fell.
He was still angry.
“You think you can play behind my back with Riven?” Kael accused.
“No, Sir,” Luna said.
Luna’s tears fell.
“I didn’t.” Kael got closer.
Their faces were almost touching.
Luna could see the veins in Kael’s neck tense.
“Remember this well, Luna,” Kael whispered.
His voice was low and dangerous.
“You’re mine.
Even though I hate you.
Even though you’re trash.
No one else is allowed to touch you.
Understand?” “Understood, Sir,” Luna whispered.
Kael stared at Luna’s lips.
One second…
Two seconds…
Then Kael shoved Luna against the wall.
And Kael kissed Luna.
The kiss was rough.
Full of anger.
Full of hatred.
His teeth bit Luna’s lower lip until it bled.
His hand held the back of Luna’s head so she couldn’t get away.
Luna tried to push him away, but couldn’t.
Luna tried to scream, but couldn’t either.
When Kael finally broke the kiss, Luna was gasping and her lips hurt terribly.
Kael licked the blood off his thumb.
He looked at Luna with disgust.
“It feels like kissing a corpse,” Kael said.
“So enjoyable.” Then Kael left.
He left Luna alone with bleeding lips and weak knees.
That night Luna didn’t sleep.
Luna sat in the corner of the room hugging herself.
26 days left.
If this is what they call punishment…
Then what will happen on day 30?