The Rouge's Message.

“Why is Aurora not here preparing the food for the full moon sacrifice? The grains to be cooked are not yet ready! What has she been doing since I woke her from her disgusting sleep?”

A woman with black hair flying wildly around her face shouted angrily. She was furious because nothing had been done that morning. As the omega of the pack, Aurora was expected to help the servants prepare meals, but it was her job to wake up first—even before the other servants. Breakfast was a significant and sacred meal in the Red Moon Pack, and delays were unacceptable.

Just as Delilah, the woman, was about to unleash more of her frustration, two young girls—almost identical in appearance to Aurora—entered the kitchen. Their resemblance to her made it obvious they were her sisters, but the glaring difference was that they weren’t omegas or wolf-less. Aurora seemed cursed to be different—not just from her sisters but from the entire Red Moon Pack.

“I saw a body lying down in the storeroom. I don’t know if the owner of the body is dead or alive,” Elizabeth said nonchalantly as she walked toward the counter, sketching something on a piece of paper.

“What do you mean you don’t know who the body belongs to?” Mrs. Smith Delilah asked, striding toward her daughter with a frown.

“You saw a body, and you can’t confirm if it was Aurora? What if it’s her lying there—dead or in danger? We may hate her, but no one wishes her dead,” Mrs. Smith added, a maternal instinct sharpening her voice.

Aurora might have been an omega, but Mrs. Smith still felt the faint tug of a mother’s love deep within her. Panicked, she rushed to the storeroom. When she entered, her heart sank at the sight of a crumpled figure on the floor. Aurora’s torn clothes and bruised body told a painful story. Cautiously, Mrs. Delilah Smith nudged her daughter’s leg with her foot. When Aurora didn’t move, she kicked her harder.

With a low groan, Aurora stirred, her body wracked with pain. She opened her eyes slowly, her vision clouded with darkness. For a moment, she thought she had been dragged into the land of the dead by Kael. But as her sight cleared, she realized it wasn’t a nightmare—it was her reality.

Standing over her was Delilah Smith, her mother, glaring with fury. Aurora wished she had never woken up; facing her mother’s wrath was worse than the pain she already endured.

“What are you doing here, Aurora? Hiding to escape your chores? You useless child!” Delilah spat, her voice full of venom.

Delilah glanced over Aurora’s disheveled appearance and torn clothes with disgust. “I see now—you probably threw yourself at some werewolf. How shameless. Did you think mating with someone would earn you favor?”

Aurora’s heart clenched, and tears brimmed in her eyes as her mother berated her. She attempted to explain, but Delilah cut her off, saying, “Get up and go to the kitchen! Change your clothes first—you’ve humiliated me enough for one morning.”

Aurora bit her lip to suppress her sobs as Delilah stormed out of the storeroom, slamming the door behind her. Slowly, Aurora picked herself up, leaning against the wall for support. Her body ached with every step as she made her way to her dingy room.

Just as she approached the hallway leading to her quarters, she noticed two men leaving her room. Panicking, she hid behind a pillar, her small frame concealed by the shadows.

“Alpha Kael won’t be happy if we don’t find the omega,” one of the men said, his voice gruff.

“He already thinks she’s dead, so why bother? Besides, what kind of omega tries to force herself on the soon-to-be alpha?” the second man replied with disdain.

Aurora’s blood ran cold. She listened in disbelief as they accused her of attempting to seduce Kael. She clenched her fists as anger and humiliation surged through her. Kael was building his reputation on lies, and if the pack believed him, her life would spiral further into misery.

Once the men were gone, Aurora slipped into her room, locking the door behind her. Exhausted, she collapsed onto her bed, her mind racing. A soft squeak caught her attention, and she looked toward the corner of the room. A rat stared back at her, unafraid.

Aurora chuckled bitterly. “Well, it seems I finally have a companion who doesn’t judge me. Thank you for being here, little one.” She tossed the rat a piece of bread, which it eagerly nibbled.

Her moment of peace was interrupted by a sharp, piercing voice in her mind: “Wasting one more minute in that room, and I’ll feed you to the dogs for breakfast! Get to the kitchen NOW!”

Aurora shivered. It was her mother’s voice, and she knew better than to disobey.

When she arrived at the kitchen, Mrs. Flora, the pack’s chef, handed her a sack of grains to grind. “Breakfast is already served, but your mother insists you finish your chores before eating,” Mrs. Flora said kindly. She is the only one that has being kind to Aurora.

Aurora nodded, taking the sack. But as she turned, her heart dropped. Kael stood at the doorway, flanked by two of his lackeys. His dark gaze locked onto her, and a sinister smile curled his lips.

“Well, well,” Kael said, his voice dripping with mockery. “Look who survived. I was preparing your casket, Aurora. I didn’t expect you to still be alive.”

The room fell silent as everyone turned to watch the exchange. Kael stepped closer, relishing the fear in Aurora’s eyes.

“Alpha Kael, what are you doing here?” Delilah asked as she entered with Aurora’s sisters.

Kael smirked. “Just addressing a... troubling matter.”

Turning to the crowd, he declared, “This omega tried to seduce me this morning. Imagine—an omega like her, wolf-less and pathetic, thinking she could tie me down by force!”

Gasps and whispers filled the kitchen as Kael played the victim. Aurora’s sisters exchanged smug glances, while Delilah’s face twisted with embarrassment. Aurora’s fists trembled, but she remained silent, knowing any defense would only worsen her plight.

Kael’s smirk deepened. This was just the beginning of Aurora’s torment, and he intended to enjoy every moment of it.

---

Aurora kept her head bowed, her knuckles white as she gripped the sack of grains. She couldn’t bring herself to meet Kael’s gaze, not when his lies were turning her into a villain in front of the entire pack. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her breathing became shallow as whispers filled the room.

“What nerve,” someone muttered.

“An omega trying to seduce the alpha’s son? Disgraceful,” another servant whispered.

Kael raised a hand, silencing the murmurs. “I don’t want this to escalate,” he said, feigning concern. “I’m willing to overlook this... mistake. But let it be a lesson to everyone: boundaries must be respected, no matter your rank.”

Delilah, standing nearby, scowled at Aurora. “Did you hear that? How dare you humiliate this family further?” she hissed. “Get out of my sight before I lose my temper!”

Aurora nodded meekly and hurried out of the kitchen, clutching the sack tightly. Her vision blurred with unshed tears as she made her way to the mill. Once she was alone, the tears finally spilled over. She sank to her knees, letting the sack fall beside her.

“Why me?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Why am I always the one to suffer?”

The sound of approaching footsteps made her stiffen. Wiping her tears hastily, she turned to see Mrs. Flora standing behind her. The older woman’s kind eyes softened as she knelt beside Aurora.

“You don’t deserve this, child,” Mrs. Flora said gently. “But you must be strong. The moon watches over those who endure.”

Aurora sniffled, nodding. “Thank you, Mrs. Flora. You’re the only one who’s ever shown me kindness.”

The chef gave her a small smile. “Kindness costs nothing, my dear. Now, let’s get this work done before anyone else decides to make trouble for you.”

With Mrs. Flora’s help, Aurora managed to grind the grains quickly. She returned to the kitchen just as the sun reached its peak, her body aching from the morning’s ordeals. As she walked in, the servants avoided her gaze, some smirking while others whispered behind her back.

Her mother’s sharp voice cut through the room. “Aurora! You’re late again. Don’t think you’ll get away without punishment.”

Before Aurora could respond, a loud commotion erupted from outside. The pack’s warriors stormed into the kitchen, their faces grim. One of them, Kane, stepped forward and addressed Delilah.

“Mrs. Smith, we’ve captured a rogue near the border,” Kane announced. “The alpha has requested your presence. He wants all family heads to weigh in on the situation.”

Delilah’s eyes widened. “A rogue? In our territory?”

“Yes,” Kane confirmed. “Alpha Rowan wants this dealt with immediately.”

Delilah turned to her daughters, excluding Aurora. “Elizabeth, Tanya, come with me. We’ll leave this omega to finish the rest of her chores.”

Aurora watched her family leave without a second glance at her. She let out a shaky breath, grateful for the brief reprieve from their torment. But the mention of a rogue stirred something within her—a flicker of curiosity and unease.

---

Alpha Rowan, the Alpha of the Red moon pack, stood at the pack’s main hall, his presence commanding as he observed the rogue being dragged in by two warriors. The rogue’s head hung low, blood trickling from a gash on his forehead. Despite his disheveled appearance, there was an air of defiance in his posture.

“State your name,” Alpha Rowan ordered, his voice firm.

The rogue lifted his head slowly, his piercing green eyes locking with Rowan’s. “My name is Corbin,” he said, his tone calm despite his circumstances.

“And what brings you to Red Moon Pack territory, Corbin?” Rowan demanded.

“I came seeking refuge,” Corbin replied. “I’ve been hunted by those who wish to silence me. I carry information that could change the fate of all packs.”

The room fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. Rowan narrowed his eyes, stepping closer. “What kind of information?”

Corbin hesitated, glancing around the room. “I will speak only to those I trust.”

The alpha’s jaw tightened. “You don’t have the luxury to make demands here, rogue.”

Corbin met his gaze with unwavering determination. “This isn’t a demand—it’s a warning. The safety of your pack depends on what I know.”

---

Back in her room, Aurora couldn’t shake the feeling that something monumental was about to happen. She stared out the small window, watching as warriors moved about with urgency.

Her mind drifted back to the rogue mentioned earlier. What kind of person would dare to enter Red Moon Pack territory uninvited? And why now, of all times?

Before she could ponder further, a soft knock startled her. She turned to see Mrs. Flora standing in the doorway.

“Aurora,” the older woman said, her expression serious. “The alpha has requested everyone’s presence at the main hall. He wants the entire pack to hear what the rogue has to say.”

Aurora’s heart skipped a beat. She had never been summoned to such an event before. Omegas were usually excluded from pack matters.

“Me?” Aurora asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mrs. Flora nodded. “Yes, you. Now hurry—it’s not wise to keep the alpha waiting.”

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