Why Moon Goddess? A Mute for a Mate

"You're useless. Apart from being a worthless mute, do I have to remind you to make breakfast for us every morning? Father yelled as he dragged me out of the room by my hair, leading me to the kitchen. I clung to his wrist crying out in pain, stumbling as I struggled to keep up with his quick pace.

As I struggled to catch my breath, I heard the sound of footsteps behind us. My mother's angry face appeared in my line of sight, her eyes blazing with fury. "You're a complete disappointment!" she spat, her voice venomous. "A useless, good-for-nothing child!" She continued to hurl insults at me as my father dragged me across the kitchen, her words cutting deep into my already battered spirit.

When we got to the kitchen, he released his grip on my hair and I crumpled to the floor, gasping in relief.

The kitchen was a disaster, with dirty plates stacked precariously on the countertops and the sink overflowing with greasy pots and pans. The floor was a sticky mess of crumbs, spills, and splatters, with a faint sheen of grease coating every surface.

"Tidy this up and make us something to eat. We know you're mute but that hasn't affected your hands and ears, so do as I say and at least be useful in this house." He hissed and turned to leave the kitchen.

As I lay on the ground, I remained in shock, my mind reeling from the physical and emotional pain. I couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't even think. All I could do was stare blankly ahead, my eyes fixed on some invisible point. I looked up at my mom, expecting to see some glimmer of concern or compassion. But instead, her face twisted in disgust.

"Get up and start cleaning!" she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "Why are the plates still piled up? Why is the house a mess?"

I stared up at her, unable to respond. I was still trying to process the pain and humiliation I had just endured. My mother's expression turned even uglier. "I don't know why the Moon Goddess gave me a child like you," she sneered. "A mute and a worthless being. A child who's not only a disgrace to our pack, but to the entire werewolf race."

Each word cut deep, like a knife to my heart. I felt a wave of shame and self-loathing wash over me.

"Why did the Moon Goddess even allow me to give birth to you?" my mother continued, her voice dripping with malice. "You should have died at birth. It would have been better for everyone." She snapped and walked away.

I felt a sob rise in my throat, but it got stuck. I couldn't cry, couldn't speak, couldn't even breathe. All I could do was lie there, frozen in pain and humiliation, as my mother's words tore me apart.

I wondered how a mother could utter such words to her child. Being a mute was not my fault. If I had the power to create myself, I would come as a perfect child, with no disabilities at all. I would be able to speak and sing, to laugh and cry out loud. But I was stuck in this silent body, unable to express myself, unable to defend myself against the cruel words of those who were supposed to love me.

If my father was harsh and demanding, I had always expected my mother to be kind and compassionate. She was my mother, after all. Wasn't she supposed to love me unconditionally, to accept me for who I was? But instead, she seemed to resent me, to blame me for my disabilities. It was a painful realization, one that made me feel even more alone and unloved.

I couldn't help but think about the fact that it was my birthday. My 18th birthday, to be exact. An adult, supposedly. But do they care? No. All they care about is yelling at me, and hurting me. Like I'm nothing. Like I don't even exist.

With a heavy sigh, I summoned the strength to tackle the mountain of chores that lay before me. I began cooking and cleaning the kitchen, my movements mechanical as I scrubbed and swept away the remnants of last night's dinner. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I finished the chores and made my way to my small, clustered room.

Today isn't just my birthday, it was a special day and moment for me. It was the day of the mating ceremony where I'd get to meet my fated mate. This is a day I've been anticipating for all my life. I'm certain I'll find my mate who will love me and help me heal from my muteness and I won't have to worry about the harsh treatment from my parents anymore.

All my life, I'd felt alone, like an outsider in my own family. My parents had always made it clear that I was a disappointment, that I didn't measure up to their expectations. Even having a brother hadn't helped. It had only made things worse. My parents were always comparing me to him, holding him up as the perfect example of what a true alpha should be. They praised him for every little thing, no matter how insignificant, while I was constantly criticized and belittled.

It didn't matter how hard I tried, I could never seem to do anything right in their eyes. My brother, on the other hand, could do no wrong. He was the golden child, the one who would inherit the pack and lead it to greatness. I was just a mute, worthless daughter, a constant reminder of their failure.

But today was supposed to be different. Today, I would meet my fated mate, the one person who would love and accept me for who I was. The thought sent a shiver of excitement down my spine, and for the first time in my life, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I would finally find the love and acceptance I had always been denied.

The mating ceremony will be attended by people from various packs today and the ceremony will be taking place at the Oakwood Pack. This is my chance and I'm never going to miss it.

I rushed to the shower and hurried to my closet, scanning through my clothes for the perfect outfit. My eyes landed on a beautiful, flowing dress that I had been saving for a special occasion. I slipped it on with a smile across my face as I twirled in front of the mirror, feeling like a new person.

Today was the day I would meet my fated mate, and I couldn't wait to see what the future holds.

****

"Ignore them, Mary. Just ignore them. I comforted myself as I walked through the large number of people throwing disdainful gazes at me. I was known to be the useless mute who can't do anything right but that is going to end very soon, the moment I find my mate.

I was the only mute wolf in the pack and this had made everyone withdraw from me, no one wanted to have anything to do with me but I didn't care at this point. My story will change right here, right now and that was the only thing that mattered to me.

I get excited watching how the ceremony is taking place and especially how the wolves sniff their mates out but as time went on, I began to feel uncomfortable. I wondered why I hadn't found my mate by now. This is my only hope and escape from the monsters I call family and from this disability of mine.

I decided to be patient, assuring myself that I'd find my mate soon. The ceremony went on and on but still, nothing happened. The mating ceremony came to an end and everyone started leaving. Seeing others with their mate sent shivers down my spine. I was covered in sweat as I stood up and started walking out.

My hopes shattered and tears started rolling down my cheek. Was I really cursed? Would it not have been better if I had died at birth like my mom said rather than witnessing everything happening to me right now? The hostility waiting for me at home will be far more than the ones I've experienced before.

I kept walking and wondering if the moon goddess hated me so much to not even give me a mate. I ignored the glazes pointing at me but the more I walked the more it felt like the glazes increased. The atmosphere shifted abruptly and as I turned to scan my surroundings, I was met with a terrifying sight: the eyes of the surrounding male wolves had turned fierce, red and bloody.

They began to close in on me, their movements eerily synchronized. I stumbled backward, desperate to create some distance, but they kept coming, forming a tightening circle around me. Their hot breath wafted toward me, making my skin crawl.

"What's happening?" I asked myself, my mind racing with fear. "Why are they doing this?"

Dread washed over me as their fangs shot out, and they growled in unison. The air was heavy with their lustful energy, and I could feel their gaze stripping me bare. They echoed the word "mate" like a chilling mantra, their voices low and husky.

"Why do they keep saying that, what do they mean by mate?" I thought, my heart pounding in my chest. "What do they want from me?"

They reached out to grab me, their hands closing around my wrists and ankles like vice grips. I tried to yank free, but they held firm, their grip unyielding. They started dragging me, my feet scraping against the ground as I struggled to break free.

Their growls grew louder, more menacing, as they touched me, their hands roaming over my body. One of them licked my leg, sending shivers down my spine, while another touched my hair, his fingers tangling in the strands. I was trapped, unable to escape the nightmare unfolding around me.

The wolves who passed by, witnessing the scene, didn't even flinch. They walked on, leaving me to my fate, and the realization hit me like a ton of bricks: I was truly alone. No one cared about me, no one would save me.

I pleaded with them, using hand gestures to beg them to stop, but they just laughed, their eyes glinting with cruelty. I wanted to scream, to beg them to stop, but my voice was trapped, silenced by the mute curse that had haunted me my entire life.

As they tore at my clothes, I felt a sense of despair wash over me and tears welled up in my eyes. The world around me dissolved into chaos, and I was left with only one thought: this was the end.

As I struggled and fought with my last strength, I perceived a unique scent, it was a very strong one and as I kept inhaling the scent, I gathered enough strength and sprinted towards the direction of the scent.

I ran straight to the Alpha's arms. The wolves gasped at the sight of the Alpha, their eyes wide with shock and awe. But as I gazed up at the Alpha, I saw something that made my heart skip a beat - a glimmer of familiarity, a spark of possession, and a hint of danger.

His voice rumbled like thunder as he spoke a single, electrifying word.

"Mine."