Liora's POV:
"Liora," my mother called out, distracting me from what I was doing.
I was texting my boyfriend who is on his way to the house to take me out on a date.
Just reading his text alone made me want to run out and go wait for him outside, but I can't leave this so-called family meeting.
"I called for this meeting because we have something really important to discuss," my mother's voice echoed calmly, her brown eyes piercing through mine.
I just hope this isn't going to be like the last time. I am so tired of emptying my account and savings to clean up my father's mess.
A mess he won't hesitate to create again the moment he walks out of this house.
"Your father got us in trouble again," I almost coughed out at my mother's words.
Not this again!
Is he cursed with this gambling thing? Uh?
Because of him, I have to put up with being abused and double mockery. Being an Omega is one hell of a pain I am finding harder to live through, but having a father who is addicted to gambling?
It was more like I was cursed by the moon goddess. Or maybe I probably did something wrong in my past life!
"Mum—"
"The Alpha wants you as a repayment for the loan your father took from his organization," my mother interrupted me.
Without giving me the chance to count myself out of whatever shit this was, she continued. "He said it is either he gets you or we pay the money in 24 hours. If not," she paused, making my heart race hard. "We would all be dead. Me, you, your father, and Annabelle."
Even though it was eighteen years ago, It felt like yesterday when I begged Annabelle to be adopted alongside me. She was like a little sister to me. A little sister I can't let go, especially since the orphan home was about to close down and hand the children to different homes or even orphan homes outside the pack.
If anything, Annabelle can't be hurt! She just can't…!
"Mom, are you trying to say the Alpha of our pack wants me to work as his servant?" I asked, trying not to conclude.
The Alpha of our pack who I know was older than even my father. He is Alpha Zand, the second strongest Alpha after the rumored Alpha of Reviwolf, Alpha Kane.
My mom and silent dad exchanged glances, the dining room suddenly silent except for the crushing sound of Annabelle who isn't worried about what was going on.
Of course, I won't let any harm come closer to her!
"He wants to take you as his wife. As his Luna," my mother's words were like needles, prickling into me.
Me, his Luna? Why would anyone with such power want an Omega like me to be his Luna?
"Liora, look, this is the only way we can—"
"I am sorry, I can't get married to a stranger! I already have someone I want to spend forever with!" Unable to make sense out of everything, I shouted. "We can pay back the money. I can work—"
"He gave us 24 hours, Liora. Don't you get it?" my father's voice echoed, making my blood boil.
How could he even sound this calm as if this was nothing? Marrying an Alpha all of a sudden was never something I imagined myself doing. Not even in my wildest dream!
The only one I want to spend the rest of my life with is my sweetheart, Caelum!
"If we don't pay him the hundred million dollars I took, including the interests, we would all die. Right now, we have only twenty-four hours to decide," each word was like rocks pressing me down. I thought nothing could break me, not even the countless bullies I have encountered.
But right now, I am breaking.
I am about to lose my mind!
"I promise, I can work—"
"This isn't about working, Liora. This is about saving us. This family who have raised you for eighteen years," my father cut me off, making tears well up in my eyes, the whole situation turning into something scary.
How am I going to live my life without Caelum? The one man my heart beats for in the whole of Mooncircle pack. He is the only reason I haven't gone crazy from the endless responsibility as the eldest daughter of this family.
"We gave you everything. A surname, a place over your head, and even took in another child all because you wanted it," my father continued, his words messing up my brain, taking me back to eighteen years ago. "Now is the time to pay us back for everything we did for eighteen years."
"But have I not been paying back for everything for the past five years? Emptying my account and savings just to clean up after your mess?" I fired, unable to watch him go on with this talk.
I appreciate what they did for me and have been trying to show it in action, but I can't go beyond what I have been doing.
I can't throw away my dreams, my happiness, and everything I cherished all because they raised me when everyone refused to take an Omega like me in.
Call me ungrateful, but I can't do this. I can't get married to Alpha Zand who is way older than me and way more dangerous. He is the devil no one prayed to come across or even offend.
He knows this, yet decided to borrow money from whatever organization he owns!
Maybe it is better to even die than continue living this heck of an indebted life!
"Since you can't get married to him, I would sell Annabelle off to a brothel house and use the money to pay off the debt and save my husband and me," my mother's voice made my mouth drop, my throat suddenly dry.
I tried to speak, but it was as if the right words were gone…
"Honey, this—"
"I will do it," I forced out those words.
The last thing I want is to ruin Annabelle's life. After all, I was the one who dragged her into this. Into this family because of my selfishness.
"Good," the single word was like a slap, waking me up. Making me realize the decision I have made in just a few seconds. "Start preparing for Alpha Zand tomorrow."
Before I could speak, my phone rang next to me. I quickly reached for my phone, then checked the caller ID.
At first, I was hesitant, but I decided to pick up the call. Maybe this is for the best.
"I am already in front of your house," Caelum's calm voice echoed, making me bite down on my lips.
Without uttering a word, I hung up. I walked out of the living room to meet Caelum, who was probably expecting me to be all dressed and prepared for the date…
"My moonshine, I can't wait to mark you, so I would just mind-communicate with you," his voice echoed the moment I walked out to the spot he stood. "Why are you moody? Is everything alright?" His voice echoed, sounding as if he already knew the mess going on in my head.
As much as I want to be selfish like I once was eighteen years ago, I don't want to ruin Annabelle's life… and I can't go ahead and get married without ending things cleanly with Caelum.
"I want us to talk," I finally mustered the courage to speak.
"Are—"
"I am going to say whatever I have to say right here," I interrupted him. "I want us to break up," I forced out those words, each word cutting through my lip like a sharp knife.
"Wait, my moonshine, you are joking, right?" He asked, sounding as if I was joking about this.
Though I wish this was just a joke. That is the cruel part of all of these!
"Caelum, I am tired of you. I don't want to ever see your face, neither do I want to ever cross paths with you," I lied, my voice making it more obvious.
There was silence between us, giving me the chance to think of the next thing to say to make sure I end this beautiful thing we shared without having to hurt Caelum more.
"My moonshine, did I do something wrong? We were cool just a few—"
"This is the end for us, Caelum. I wish you a happy life," I turned to leave, but his voice made me halt.
"I can't let you go. There is no way I would let you go, my moonshine. Please… I can do better, I promise," his pleads were like rocks, settling hard on my shoulder, especially hearing him call me his moonshine with this sad voice.
I had traded everything in the world to be with him but not ruin Annabelle's life.
"Look around you, Caelum, and imagine what future we have together," the words tore out of my lips. "I have no future with you, so it is better we end things now and stop dreaming."
"I don't mind dreaming—"
"This is a goodbye for us, Caelum," I cut him off before this would get any harder for me.
Any second from now, I might break down into tears and ruin my plan to end things between us instead of making him find out I am getting married.
I hurried back inside the house before he could say any word, letting my tears pour down.