In one of the buildings that served as a shelter for single she-wolves…
Marcy was in the common room with a number of other people and watching on the television the live stream from Tatiana's Luna ceremony.
Other than two volunteers from the Blue River pack, the rest were females that had nowhere to go. They were abandoned and abused by family, lovers, friends, strangers, people they trusted, and people they never met before… everyone in that room had a different story to tell, and the common point was that they all came to the Blue River pack in the search for a place to stay. Some of them had a plan and some sought guidance, but they all needed time to prepare for whatever life threw at them next.
At that moment, everyone was focused on what was on the screen. Luna's ceremonies don't happen every day, and this was impacting the Blue River pack, so it was important.
The lively chatter covered commentaries related to people and their outfits, couples recognized, and what they were eating and drinking. It was like a competition who would recognize it first.
Marcy sat in the back and watched scenes on the television with an unreadable expression.
That could be her. That should be her. That WOULD be her if things didn't take the wrong turn.
As the only daughter of the Alpha of the Red Moon pack, Marcy would have a fantastic Luna ceremony, maybe even more glamorous than this one. She was set to be Damon's Luna, the Luna of the largest pack in North America, but then everything collapsed, and she was left with nothing.
Since she came to the Blue River pack, Marcy attended courses for online marketing. She was not interested in it, but everyone who came here had to show a desire to heal and improve.
After experiencing her family using her, Damon discarding her, and James betraying her, Marcy's goal was to become self-sufficient, leave this world of packs and live in a human town.
The courses she took were not challenging, but Marcy was not motivated to keep going. She was lost in depression, and no one could understand what she went through because she didn't dare to reveal her real identity. Marcy cut her hair in a bob and dyed it black, and she became a different person. Here, people knew her as Kim Dorsey, a woman who was abandoned by her family and her lover because she lost her wolf. Well, that was close to the truth.
Other females here were learning how to clean, cook, manage bills, set up the table, and do other things that an Omega could do. Since George accepted her rejection, Marcy lost her wolf, and she couldn't plan her future that included a pack.
Without her wolf, Marcy was no more than a human, and the only reference she had to how a wolf-less she-wolf could live in a pack was that scrawny female that used to stay in the attic of the Red Moon pack. There was no way Marcy would allow such a fate to befall her. Marcy spent a decade in Europe learning various skills, but those were useful for a housekeeper or a maid or a Luna, and she was too old for dancing, so she decided to learn something new, something with the potential to earn her a lot of money, so here she is.
Damn it! None of this would be needed if Damon cooperated and made her his Luna!
Marcy wondered, when did her life start going downhill?
She didn't have many memories of her early childhood, but her teen years in Europe were comfortable. She was the princess of the second largest pack in North America, and money was never lacking. She was wearing branded clothes and was surrounded by friends, and she couldn't understand how quickly it all collapsed.
Did it start when she returned from Europe? How would her life be now if she stayed there? How would her life unfold if, at that time, she told her parents that she didn't want to be Alpha Damon's Luna?
Or did things take the wrong turn when she rejected George? What would happen if she embraced him and faced her parents with, 'This is my mate'? It couldn't be worse than this.
Or was this all Talia's fault? Indeed, without Talia's presence, Damon wouldn't be so adamant about pushing Marcy away. Marcy remembered those brief moments when Damon treated her as his future Luna. It was not super lovey-dovey, but he was not ignoring her either. She remembered that when he visited the Red Moon pack, Damon was quite eager to get into her panties. Ah, if she knew that things would end like this, she wouldn't push him away, their engagement would be set, and she would be Luna of the Dark Howlers pack now. Unfortunately, that boat sailed away without Marcy on it.
And there was Damon, on that television screen, dashing in a royal-blue suit that matched his eyes which were focused on a female next to him. People called her Alpha Natalia Moonrider, and even though Marcy had never heard of that woman, she looked familiar. Was that Talia's twin sister or Talia herself? It didn't matter. Even if that was Talia, Damon's mate, and Marcy said it, people will ask how she knew and demand proof, and Marcy was not in a position to stir waves.
She even saw her parents sitting there, enjoying food, and chatting, like Marcy never existed. Even that slut, Nora, was there. Marcy wondered if her mother knew that Nora was sleeping with Alpha Edward.
As a reminder of her delicate situation, Marcy was warned that her family would be in attendance, and if she could stay in her room, that would be perfect, especially on the next day when delegations from other packs will do the tour of the facilities.
Marcy narrowed her eyes when the camera moved over the tables, and she spotted James sitting next to Cornelia. She thought they were just part of the wedding party, but those three seconds were enough for her to notice how James looked at Cornelia. It was different. And why did that woman look familiar? Where did Marcy see her before? Did their father approve of James socializing with that woman?
Marcy released a dejected sigh. It didn't matter. Her parents, Nora, Damon, Talia, James… none of those mattered.
The only thing Marcy could do was sit and watch her family enjoying the good life.
Marcy thought how her life was pathetic. She lost not one but two Alphas and the position as the princess of the Red Moon pack. That must be some major misfortune. Was there any point in continuing to live?
A slight tug on the sleeve made Marcy snap into a reality where she was Kim Dorsey.
Marcy blinked to focus on the ten years-old orphaned girl who was brought in last week.
The girl was covered in cuts and bruises, and she was malnourished. The girl didn't say a word, so they assumed she was mute. There was nothing wrong with her physically, and the diagnosis was that she didn't speak due to trauma.
The doctors and psychologists working there said that the girl was neglected and abused and that she will communicate when she was ready. Without knowing the girl's name, they called her Jane.
For a reason Marcy couldn't explain, the girl that didn't want to get close to anyone, was sticking to her.
"Yes, Jane?" Marcy asked.
The girl extended her arms toward Marcy, silently asking for a hug.
Marcy released a long breath and pulled the girl to sit on her lap.
Silly girl, Marcy thought. Marcy was unable to fix herself, yet here was this girl, asking Marcy to take care of her. Or maybe the girl sensed Marcy's low mood and came here to comfort her? Anything was possible.
Jane pointed at the television, and Marcy understood that she wanted to understand what was happening there.
"Alpha of the Blue River pack crowned his Luna," Marcy started explaining. "That makes her the queen of this pack, so people are celebrating. There was a ceremony for everyone to see they are mates, and now they are about to serve dinner…"
Jane hopped from Marcy's lap and went to the side table to fetch two meat buns. They were never lacking food here, but today was special, for everyone to celebrate their new Luna.
Marcy accepted the meat bun and let Jane sit back on her lap. They both munched on the dough filled with spiced meat, and Marcy continued her explanations.
