Chapter 5: My Promise

“These linens must be pressed! Everything must be perfectly crisp and clean!” The Luna was storming around the dining room. Her hair was in curlers and she was dressed in a dressing robe. 

“Y-yes ma’am!” Maristela stammered. 

Mari quickly pulled the linens from the table to steam and press them in the laundry. 

The Luna began to sort through the various flowers. Dahlias, hellebores, hydrangeas, snapdragons, foxgloves, English roses, peonies. Greenery like different varieties of eucalyptus and belles of Ireland. 

As a young girl I used to run through the gardens on the estate finding the most beautiful blooms for my mother. My father and I would take long walks around the vast estate feeding the chickens, fishing the ponds, and picking bouquets of flowers for my mother. 

“Not a single bloom is as beautiful as you, my love,” he would croon. 

My mothers face would light up like the sun was shining from within her. She gazed at my father like he hung the moon. She was so beautiful then. 

“Make yourself useful girl!” The Luna snapped. 

I hadn’t realized that I had allowed myself to reminisce, I was standing staring blankly at the flowers being gathered into arrangements. 

“I—“ 

“If you are coming into the dining room, make yourself useful! I swear I have to do everything around here,” she grumbled. 

“I’m sorry.” I’m not sorry. “I came to grab the soup tureen for the consommé.” I cannot wait to leave this house. 

“My little rose,” Osiris purred when he walked into the room. “Don’t fuss with this work, we have slaves for these menial tasks.” He pulled my mother towards him and kissed her. I wondered how she could stand to have his body pressed against her and allow his hands to freely roam her body. 

“I want everything to be perfect for our son. He’s such a charming boy, I know the princess will love him.” She continued to arrange the bouquets. 

“They are only children, my rose. Creating a strong bond between our houses is ideal. There has been unrest in the lands, and the King must know our house aligns with the King. Just looking at you I cannot imagine anyone not being charmed by you.” 

My mother was beautiful. She had slender delicate features like a porcelain doll. Her skin perfectly cream colored. Her eyes were large pools of aquamarine. Stunningly clear and deep with flecks of gold. Her hair was a silky blonde with small angelic curls that framed her face. You could get lost in her eyes staring at her. She was petite but had a striking figure, perfectly proportioned even though it was small. 

“Let the servants finish this. I need a little snack to hold me over until dinner,” he teased. With that he scooped her up bridal style to carry her upstairs. 

“Babe!” She squealed like a lovesick teen. He buried his face in her neck and she sighed, adjusting herself in his arms to give him full access to her slender neck.

I felt disgusted by her. How could she just pretend her mate never meant anything to her? How could she just move on? 

As they left, Maristela returned with the pressed linens. Her and I have worked together so long, we no longer need to talk to understand each other. Without a word we began to set the table. I left the flower arranging to Mari, I was never good at seeing the beauty in those things. I was too concerned how I would feed Dmitry and myself and pay his school fees to bother with the art of flower arrangements. 

“Word is the crown prince's oldest son has still not found his mate. I hear he is ruggedly handsome,” Mari swoons. She’s convinced that she will be mated to one of the noble houses in the realm. 

The realm has six noble houses.

 The Shadow Mountain pack lives in the shadows of the great mountain . They earn their wealth from mining and quarries. They occupy the most northern area of the kingdom. I have never met anyone from that pack, as they mostly stay within their own territory. 

The Crescent Moon Pack occupies the forest, just south of the mountain. They harvest timber,  fish, and large game. They trade in furs and natural medicines. It is said there is a spring on the alpha Estate that is ancient and has powerful magic. I don’t know what’s truth or tall tale. 

Directly south is the King’s Palace. He has an elite pack filled with warriors and intellectuals. Membership in Kingdom of the Moon pack is by mating and invitation only. Even the children born to the pack aren’t guaranteed acceptance after their moon ceremony. Only during the moon ceremonies do we ever get a glimpse of the pack, and only of age eligible members and the royal alpha family. Most young wolves hope to only attend one moon ceremony in their whole lives. Just their own, where they find their mate and live happily ever after. 

To the west of the Kingdom of the Moon is the Lunar Storm Pack. The pack occupies the Great Plains and desserts of the west. Their pack borders a vast desert where packs of rogues caravan. They largely mine silver and gold and herd sheep and goats. The cheese from this kingdom is divine; especially paired with their honey and date molasses. 

To the east of the Kingdom of the Moon is the Celestial Waters Pack. The pack occupies the beaches and cliffs on the coastline. They are expert fishermen and pearl divers. Maristela is from this pack. Her name means “Star of the Sea”. She says children of the pack start swimming as babies. She says the salt water runs in their veins. As an orphan, the Crown dictates that all children who are not of Alpha birth, like me, are taken to the central market in the Kingdom of the Moon. There, the children are sold to be slaves, children of childless couples, and child brides. Mari was bought by Osiris to be a slave. 

To the South of the Kingdom of the Moon was our pack, the Harvest Moon Pack. This is the pack I was born into and never dreamed of leaving. Our pack is the bread basket of the kingdom. We grow the food, raise the cattle, milk the cows, raise the chickens. We grow the cotton for clothing. Anything having to do with the earth is our legacy. That’s why my father chose my name Ceres. She is the Goddess of Agriculture. She is Mother Earth. 

“Well I hope you mate him at your moon ceremony, your highness,” I mock as I give an exaggerated courtsy. 

“Blessings be upon you, my child,” Mari jokes as she holds the posture of a queen. 

We both collapse in a fit of giggles at the thought of it all. 

“Could you imagine the face of Osiris if such a thing were to happen?!” Mari squealed. 

“I would pay to see him and the Luna grovel at your feet!” I cackled. 

After a fit of laughs, calm settled between us. 

“Less than 60 days before your birthday and moon ceremony. What will I do without you here?” Mari whispered. “I have always had you here.” 

“Your ceremony will come before you know it, and you will find your perfect mate.” I assured. 

“What if he is an omega slave like me? What if I’m destined to spend my life serving an Alpha house? What if he never comes?” Her voice quivered. 

“Your destiny is what you make it. You don’t have to accept anything. There is always a choice.” I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince her or myself. 

“I wish I was born with your determination, CC. I’m not an alpha born, I’m just an omega. I don’t have that fearlessness you have,” she softly reminded. 

I will choose my destiny. I will save my brother. I will reclaim my father’s estate. This is my promise to myself. I don’t dare speak it out loud, not even to Mari.