"Mark my words, Elsa Thatcher will be the next Moon's Chosen Luna." Brittany, who was also a maid like me, thundered with certainty to Miranda, her friend.
I wished to the gods to quit listening to their Moon Chosen's obsession talks, but I was stuck here, hanging a balloon on one of the pack house's golden pillars.
Miranda readily supported Brittany's notion. "Of course! Elsa Thatcher is the wealthiest female in the pack, hailing from the most influential family in the country even! No one comes close!"
Oh, please! I rolled my eyes. At this point, I'd throw up if I heard any more talks about those privileged, rude, and selfish brats. Everyone knew how cruel the nobles in the pack could get. In Alpha Kaene's pack, power was everything.
You're literally doomed if you were wretched and unfortunate like myself. We were also restricted as werewolves to working for any other supernatural beings or humans because of the ongoing hunters epidemic, making the power dynamic even fiercer than ever.
I despised Alpha Kaene's reign.
As I secured the balloon, my mind wandered to my family's struggles. My mother's illness, my father's injuries from the last hunter attack, and my younger brother's steady hunger.
I tuned out the gossip monger's conversation, focusing on my chore. Hanging these balloons was a small job, but it paid.
Just as I finished with the balloons, the much anticipated noise erupted outside. The pack's guards rushed in, surrounding a regal woman with green eyes.
"Elsa Thatcher," Brittany whispered, awestruck.
Elsa's gaze swept the room, her eyes scanning us up like a pack of used rags before moving on. The rage that thrilled over me was boundless. How on earth could Miranda and Britany find anything remotely respectable about this arrogant bag of flesh?!
Every mannerless rich bitch in the pack, I, Phoebe Skywalker, hated them to my core.
"Alpha Kaene requests your presence," a guard announced, bowing to Elsa.
As Elsa followed the guard, Miranda turned to Brittany. "Mark my words, she'll be the Moon's Chosen."
.
Soon enough, the other Moon Chosen candidates a.k.a, spoiled rich brats arrived.
As the pack guards escorted the remaining Moon's Chosen candidates inside, we maids finished decorating the grand hall. Our high and mighty female butler, Mrs. Quinn, arrived and surveyed the room with precision before addressing us.
Usually, she would look for every excuse to roast us and have us do it all over again, but from the look on her face, I think it was safe to say that she was impressed.
"Ladies, your tasks are clear. Ensure the guests are comfortable and the ceremony proceeds smoothly. Take your posts." She barked.
We all scurried about, assuming our posts diligently because none of us wanted to incur the arrogant Alpha Kaene's wrath on his big day.
Next, the pack members flooded in, dividing into distinct groups. Nobles like the Delta, and Gamma amongst others, received warm greetings from the pack's elite and were assigned the high tables.
In contrast, lower-ranking members were ushered to a designated section, forced to stand behind velvet ropes.
I shook my head. "Let the power plays begin."
Just then, I spotted my brother, Caleb, among the crowd and waved. He returned the gesture with a lot more enthusiasm. Unlike me, Caleb loved getting involved in pack matters.
The pack's spiritual elder, Elder Gita, emerged from a side door in her flowing white dress as usual. Sometimes, I'd wonder if she didn't know that this was the twenty-first century.
"Brothers and sisters, we gather tonight to witness a sacred union. The Moon Goddess has revealed to me... this time, the Alpha's Moon Chosen will be one like no other. She is destined for greatness and would bring about a big change in this pack."
Elder Gita's words flared murmurs among the pack.
"I'm starting to think it'll be Heidi instead of Elsa." Britany whispered from behind me.
And of course, there were various kinds of opinions flying around, but I could really care less right now. All I wanted was to return home to my parents and take care of them.
Alpha Kaene's mother, former Luna Catherine, walked into the room in a blue mermaid gown, her elegance turning heads. The woman was probably the strictest in the entire multiverse. She took a seat at the high table, flanked by Alpha Kaene's beta, Negan Lockwood.
Now, need I say that as much as Alpha Kaene wasn't my type, his Beta, however, made my heart flutter?
The pack had a few diligent men—Negan was one of them.
The doors opened again, and Alpha Kaene strode out, surrounded by the Moon's Chosen candidates.
Elsa Thatcher stood closest to him, and I swear, she would have merged with the man with the way she barely put any distance between them.
"Gosh.. she's shameless." I muttered under my breath.
Well, looking at Alpha Kaene's arrogantly stoic face, Elsa was a perfect fit for him.
His dashing and rugged good looks left many breathless. His broad shoulders said enough about the time this man had dedicated to the gym.
Yet, there was this allure about his aura every time I set my eyes on him. I bet he didn't give a bat shit about me—not that I wanted him to.
However, my Wolf seemed to awaken each time his scent flew to my nose. I blame it on his Alpha aura.
As he moved toward the high table, the candidates took their places beside Elder Gita. Since the lower class were already on their feet, the nobles also got up as Alpha Kaene joined his mother to receive him.
The insolent Alpha merely nodded before everyone returned to their previous sitting positions. Everyone apart from… well, you know…
After the whole miscellaneous preparations, Elder Gita raised her hands towards the window so that it could point at the full moon hanging high in the sky, beginning the consultation.
"By the light of the full moon, we seek the Moon Goddess's guidance..."
The room fell silent as the full moon burst through the skylight.
YES!
It was time…
Everyone, including me surprisingly, was on our ten toes, wondering which one of those brats would receive the mighty title. Our eyes were all on them, waiting for the Moon to do its job—and it did.
However, what happened next was the greatest shock of all time. No one expected this—not even me!
Instead of illuminating one of the noble candidates, its beam landed on ME!
What in the world was happening?! How could this be?!
Gasps echoed through the hall. My own mouth refused to close. I could feel my legs wobbling and my knees getting weak.
I was… the Moon's Chosen? How?!
"What in the world...?" Mrs. Quinn whispered, stunned.
Even she wouldn't have imagined, not in a million lifetimes, that the moon could have chosen the wretched girl she had just employed a month ago.
It was just so impossible.
Elsa's face scrunched up in disgust. "This can't be right."
Oh, these girls wouldn't let me go scot-free for stealing their shine. I would be devoured. This was danger—everyone would soon point fingers at my family.
Caleb's eyes locked onto me amidst the crowd. Oh, how grateful I suddenly felt that he had chosen to attend the ceremony tonight. Seeing the familiar face of my brother returned my motion and I could suddenly move.
However, when I saw the delight and pride flashing in Caleb's eyes, I shook my head. He didn't understand. This was not an opportunity, it was a downfall.
It was doom.
Alpha Kaene was a man of dignity. Being fated to a maid was something that would hurt his pride.
Hold on a second… he was my mate?!
The darn Alpha was my bloody mate!
Out of impulse, my gaze trailed to him and I saw the way his eyes appeared cold. I saw the whiteness over his features and how he gripped the poor edge of his seat, which looked like it might break into two anytime soon.
Oh, shit. My mate hated me.