Rise Of The Forgotten Luna

Solène

Sixth Grade

I walked behind my brother and Owen, his inseparable best friend. They strode forward with purpose, not even noticing I was there.

If they allowed me to trail after them, it was only because Myreille had demanded it.

Myreille, my nanny, had watched over me for as long as I could remember.

My father, too preoccupied with his duties as Beta, had tasked her with teaching me to "behave like a refined young lady"-which really meant keeping quiet and knowing my place.

In truth, Myreille forced none of that upon me, but in front of my father, I played the part.

My brother spent his time with the future leaders of the pack: Caleb and Daley, the future Alphas; Soren, the future Delta; and Owen, the future Gamma. Together, they formed an arrogant little pack, even louder than the most superficial girls in school.

Myreille had asked him to make sure I got to school and back safely-especially after the day I came home covered in bruises, sporting a mark under my eye and scrapes down my arm.

I had claimed I'd fallen, but Myreille wasn't fooled. She knew I had problems with some of the other students.

Our pack operated strictly on rank and dominance. Even at our age, everyone was constantly trying to assert their place. The weaker ones sought the proximity of higher-ranking members, hoping to climb the social ladder. Being friends with the Alphas' children was the absolute pinnacle of prestige. As a future Beta, my brother naturally belonged to that inner circle.

I, on the other hand, shared the same blood, yet to most, I was nothing.

My mother had died giving birth to me, and to my father, that was a mistake I was still paying for. In his eyes, I was worth no more than an Omega.

Myreille knew it. She saw how the other kids treated me. No adult ever intervened. Not even him.

"Hurry up, snail, you're blocking the whole path!" Kaïa snickered behind me. Instinctively, I stepped aside to make room for her, but she stuck her foot out. I stumbled, slamming my head against a locker as my books went flying across the floor.

The hallway froze. All eyes turned to me. I saw my brother look back.

For a split second, our eyes met-but he just shook his head in annoyance and kept walking with Owen and Kaïa, acting like I didn't exist.

Laughter broke out around me. No one offered a hand.

Seventh Grade

"Don't you dare talk back to me in front of the others, got it?!" Kaïa snarled, pinning me against the heavy doors leading to the schoolyard.

"I didn't talk back. I just said holding you up is no reason to hit the younger kids."

My voice barely trembled. I knew I should stay quiet, but her casual cruelty disgusted me.

She had been late once again because she'd skipped class to grab coffee. Now she was just looking for a punching bag to take her frustration out on.

I broke free and tried to walk away, but Marnie, her loyal shadow, tripped me. I hit the ground hard, and an icy liquid immediately soaked through my hair. Laughter rang out. A circle formed around me.

I lifted my head. My brother and his friends were laughing right along with the rest of them. Kaïa looked down at me, a satisfied smirk on her face.

"Maybe you'd fall less if you actually moved and lost some of that baby fat." Then she immediately turned her attention to my brother.

"So, boys, bonfire tonight?"

And I, sitting there amidst their laughter, wondered if someday someone would see more in me than just the Beta's daughter who was better off forgotten.

The Fall of Eighth Grade

"Get back here, you dirty slut!" A brunette sprinted past me, her heels clicking sharply against the floor as Jessa-the school's second-string Barbie-chased after her.

Jessa stumbled, struggling in her platform shoes. She tried to run in a skirt that was far too short, desperately trying not to flash anyone. Her face was contorted with rage.

Two other girls followed them on impossibly high heels, clearly more concerned with looking good than moving fast.

I didn't know exactly what had started this. They had just returned from a trip abroad and acted like they were above the rules. The three of them formed the court of favorites: not exactly nice, but not openly relentless bullies either. They wielded their power with a smile.

As the Beta's daughter, it had always been my duty to watch over the pack-even if that meant protecting the people I despised. My father might not have loved me, and my older brother was the true future Beta, but I had been taught to view my rank as a duty. At home, image counted more than anything else.

I stepped between Jessa and the girl they were chasing, raising my hands to mediate. "Why are you chasing her? What did she do?" I asked.

Jessa swayed, her heels betraying her balance. "She gave me a D on the paper!" she hissed. "She was supposed to cover for me-give me a good grade so I wouldn't embarrass myself in front of the new teacher. She sabotaged me on purpose."

Kaïa-the one who never missed a chance to insult me-shoved me aside as if I were an insignificant obstacle. "This is my business, Solène." Contempt laced her voice as she tried to elbow me out of the way.

"You're threatening a kid over this?" I countered.

Kaïa let out a mocking laugh. "You're so naive. I'm a warrior. She's an Omega. Inferior. I owe her zero respect."

Her mindset made her far more dangerous than her muscles ever could. She preferred destruction over discussion.

"Rank doesn't override basic justice," I said, forcing her to look at me. "It's not your job to punish her."

I stood firmly in front of her, holding myself as upright as possible-not particularly tall, but fiercely determined. She tried to push past me, but I blocked her path. For someone who called herself a warrior, she lacked a surprising amount of actual skill.

"Watch how you talk to your superior," Kaïa hissed icily. "Your father doesn't want you. Neither does your brother. No one wants you. Get lost."

She shoved me hard and walked away, Marnie following close behind her. Their usual triangle of intimidation-polished for the rest of the world, but vicious underneath.

Her words hit me harder than any physical blow could have. They believed that anyone who couldn't endure their attacks was weak. But every insult left a burn.

I blinked, tears stinging my eyes. I took a deep breath and headed home, hoping the Omega girl had managed to escape. Maybe I'd helped her. Or maybe I'd only delayed the inevitable.

It was going to be a long year. My plan remained the same: stay under the radar, keep my grades up, and get the hell out of here in a few years.

Autumn of Ninth Grade

Slam!

The pain was sharper than usual. I groaned involuntarily and slid down the metal lockers, teeth clenched, bracing myself to endure whatever came next.

"Happy Monday, huh?" I muttered under my breath.

"Move, you fat slob," Kaïa hissed, delivering a sharp slap to my face. Blood beaded at the corner of my mouth.

It wasn't a particularly hard blow, but her acrylic nails tore at my skin like claws. Laughter rang out all around me, and the dull thud of a heavy shove against the locker explained the sheer force of the impact.

This time, she'd gotten one of the boys to hurl me against it.