The Alpha's Powerful Luna

The tile floor of the dining room gleamed under the flickering light of the chandelier. Roseanne's hands shook as she held the heavy pot of soup, her breath quickening with each step. She tried to steady herself, but her nerves overcame her. Just as she reached the table, the pot slipped from her grasp, crashing to the floor and splattering hot soup everywhere.

Iris, her stepmother, jumped back with a yelp. "You useless girl!" she shrieked, her face contorted with fury. "Look at this mess! Can't you do anything right?"Roseanne's heart pounded in her chest. "I'm so sorry, Iris," she whispered, dropping to her knees to clean up the mess. The heat of the soup burned her fingers, but she ignored the pain. Her apology seemed to fuel Iris's anger even more."Sorry? That's all you ever say," Iris spat, her eyes blazing. "You're a disgrace to this family. You can't even manage a simple task without ruining it."As Roseanne frantically scrubbed the floor, Viola, her half-sister, sauntered over, a cruel smirk playing on her lips. "Oh, look at her," Viola said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Always making trouble and then apologizing. That's what you're best at, isn't it?"Roseanne didn't look up, her cheeks burning with shame. She kept her head down, scrubbing the floor as fast as she could, wishing she could disappear. The harsh words and mocking laughter of her family echoed in her ears, each one a dagger to her heart.Footsteps approached, and she saw her father's boots stop beside her. She dared to hope for a moment that he might defend her. But when Alpha Zayn spoke, his voice was cold and distant. "Iris, Viola, that's enough," he said, though there was no warmth or protection in his tone. "Roseanne, clean this up quickly. We don't have time for your clumsiness."Roseanne nodded, tears stinging her eyes. "Yes, Father," she whispered. She wasn't surprised by his reaction. He never defended her, never stood up for her against his new wife and daughter. She was alone in this house, surrounded by people who saw her as a burden.As she continued to clean, her mind drifted back to her early years. Roseanne remembered her mother, Lana, who had died when she was only four. Her mother's gentle smile and loving embrace were distant memories, overshadowed by the harsh reality of her life after Iris and Viola moved in. Iris, her father's childhood sweetheart, had quickly taken over the household, and not long after, Viola was born. Viola, who seemed perfect in every way. She could shift into her wolf form with ease, a talent Roseanne had never been able to master.Her inability to shift was seen as a disgrace, an embarrassment to the family. Her father, Alpha Zayn, who should have been her protector and guide, saw her as a failure. He adored Viola, who was everything Roseanne was not: strong, confident, and a perfect wolf. Roseanne, on the other hand, was treated more like a servant than a daughter. She wasn't allowed to sit at the dining table with the rest of the family or partake in their meals. Instead, she ate alone in the kitchen, a silent reminder of her place in the household.The evening dragged on, each task a reminder of her low status within the pack. After dinner, Roseanne stood at the sink, washing the dishes. The kitchen was quiet, the only sound was the clinking of plates and the rush of water. She worked quickly, hoping to finish before anyone could find another reason to scold her.Just as she was drying the last plate, the kitchen door creaked open. Marvin, her father's beta, stepped inside with an unreadable expression. "Roseanne," he said, his voice firm but not unkind. "Your father wishes to see you in his office."Roseanne's heart skipped a beat. Her father had never summoned her to his office. She wiped her hands on her apron, her mind racing with possibilities. "Did he say why?" she asked, her voice trembling.Marvin shook his head. "No, but you'd best not keep him waiting."Nodding, Roseanne followed Marvin through the dimly lit hallways of the pack house. Her mind was a whirl of questions and fears. What could her father want? Had she done something wrong? She couldn't think of anything, but with her family, it seemed she could never do anything right.When they reached her father's office, Marvin knocked before opening the door. "Alpha Zayn, Roseanne is here," he announced.Zayn looked up from his desk with his usual stern expression. "Come in, Roseanne," he said, waving her inside.Roseanne stepped into the room, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. The office was filled with bookshelves, the scent of leather and old paper filling the air. Her father's desk was neat and organized, a stark contrast to the chaos she felt inside."Sit," Zayn commanded, pointing to a chair in front of his desk.She obeyed, perching on the edge of the seat, her nerves stretched taut. "Father, you wanted to see me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.Zayn didn't waste any time. "Yes, Roseanne. I have an important matter to discuss with you," he said, his tone flat and emotionless. "You will marry Alpha Davian of the Blood Stone Pack."The words hit her like a physical blow. Roseanne stared at her father, her mind struggling to process what he had just said. "Marry... Alpha Davian?" she repeated, her voice shaking."Yes," Zayn confirmed. "This alliance is crucial for our pack. You will do your duty."Her duty. The words echoed in her mind, a cruel reminder of her status. She had always known that her future would be decided by her father, that she would be used as a pawn in whatever way benefited the pack. But to marry a man she had never met, a man rumored to be as cold and ruthless as Alpha Davian... it was more than she had ever imagined."Do you understand?" Zayn asked, his eyes boring into hers.Roseanne nodded slowly, her throat tight with unshed tears. "Yes, Father," she whispered. She didn't have a choice. She never had a choice. All she could do was nod and accept it."Good," Zayn said, his voice devoid of any warmth or comfort. "The arrangements will be made. You are dismissed."Roseanne stood on shaky legs, her mind numb. She walked out of the office in a daze, barely noticing Marvin as he closed the door behind her. Her future had been decided, and there was nothing she could do to change it. She would marry Alpha Davian, and her life would never be the same.As she made her way back to her small room in the attic, Roseanne felt a heavy weight settle over her heart. She had always been a prisoner in her own home, but now it seemed she was being sent to another kind of prison. What kind of life awaited her in the Blood Stone Pack? She couldn't imagine, and the uncertainty filled her with dread.She lay on her thin mattress, staring up at the wooden beams above. The room was dark and cold, a stark contrast to the warmth and light she had once known. But that was a long time ago, in a life that seemed like a distant dream.With a heavy sigh, Roseanne closed her eyes, willing to sleep to take her away from her troubles, if only for a little while. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew that whatever it was, she would face it alone.