The Luna's Return, The Alpha's Regret

Ella stood at the edge of the grand estate, her heart pounding in her chest. The air was thick with tension. This was her chance. She had nothing left to lose.

The once-proud Duval pack was a shadow of its former self. Her parents were gone, taken in a brutal war with a rival pack, leaving Ella to pick up the broken pieces. She had tried everything, strategizing, seeking alliances, and relying on old bonds, but nothing seemed to work. Her pack had no Alpha, no strength to defend itself, and she was left with a choice: find a powerful ally, or watch everything her parents had built crumble away.

She had spent days, weeks even, hearing whispers of Desmond, the strongest Alpha in history. His wealth, his strength, his power. Everything she needed.

Tonight, at his grand mate-selection party, she would make herself known. She would find a way to get close to him and secure an alliance. Ella was determined, even if it meant swallowing her pride and doing something she never thought she would: marry a stranger, a man she knew nothing about, for the sake of her pack.

But as she approached the towering gates, her heart sank. Her clothes were far from the extravagant gowns the other Lunas wore, her hair tangled from the long journey, her face shows exhaustion of too many sleepless nights. She was rough but not ragged and was without the wealth that the other Lunas flaunted.

Despite all this, Ella was still determined. She could already feel the cold stares of the guards as she neared the entrance.

"Halt" one of the guards barked.

"I'm here for the mate-selection," she said, trying to sound confident.

The guard looked her up and down, his eyes narrowing with disdain. "You? Do you even know where you are?"

Ella's stomach churned, but she stood her ground. "I do. I'm here to meet Alpha Desmond."

"Name and pack?" he asked.

"I'm Ella of the Crescent Vale Pack," she said, lifting her chin. Her voice was steady, but her heart pounded.

The guards exchanged looks, then laughed. The sound was sharp and cruel.

"Crescent Vale? The ruined pack?" one sneered. "What business does a Luna from a dead pack have here?"

Ella's face burned. "I'm here to speak with Alpha Desmond," she said, forcing her voice to remain calm.

The guard smirked. "Alpha Desmond doesn't waste time on beggars." He stepped closer, his tone sharp and commanding. "Turn around before you embarrass yourself further."

But she refused to back down. "I have just as much right to be here as anyone else."

Another guard snorted. "With that shabby dress? This party is for Lunas and Alphas of value. Go back to wherever you crawled out from."

Ella felt a tingling sensation, in her eyes as tears threatened to surface. She quickly brushed them aside with a blink; she was determined not to show her vulnerability to others, around her as she pivoted on her foot and walked away with her chin held up proudly even though she carried the burden of shame on her shoulders.

But she didn't leave. Instead, she circled the estate, her determination growing with each step. She found a side entrance. Slipping inside, she kept to the shadows, careful not to draw attention.

The party was more opulent than she'd imagined. Lunas in shimmering gowns danced under chandeliers, their laughter echoing across the grand hall. Alphas in tailored suits stood in clusters, their conversations charged with power and ambition. Ella felt like an intruder in a world that wasn't hers.

She moved through the crowd, her goal clear: find someone willing to listen, someone who could help her pack. But every time she tried to speak, she was brushed aside, ignored, or met with disdainful glances.

As she wandered, she overheard people's conversation. Whispers about Desmond's wealth, his ferocity in battle, and his cold demeanor. He was a king among Alphas, revered and feared in equal measure.

Then, she saw him.

Desmond stood at the center of the room, his presence commanding. His sharp features were illuminated by the glow of the chandeliers, and his dark eyes scanned the crowd with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. He was surrounded by sycophants, their laughter grating and insincere.

Hours passed, and Ella failed to make meaningful connections. She felt like an outcast, invisible and insignificant among the wealthy and influential attendees. As she prepared to leave, Desmond's Beta announced the full moon's arrival. The guests gathered around Desmond, who revealed himself under the moonlight.

"As y'all know, the light would flash on my mate. Whoever the light picks would be my mate!" He said as the crowed cheered.

Suddenly, the moonlight flashes, casting a glowing beam over the chosen mate , and everyone turned as the light focused on a single figure, Ella.

Gasps echoed through the crowd. Ella, standing at the edge of the gathering, was illuminated in the moon's glow. Her faded dress and modest appearance made the crowd whisper.

"She's the one," the Beta announced, his voice trembling with shock. "The moon has chosen her."

Desmond's expression darkened, disbelief and anger flickering across his face. "Impossible," he growled. "This must be a mistake" he said as me moved closer to Ella.

"So cinderella story actually exist?" Ella asked herself.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Ella," she said, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "Luna of the Crescent Vale Pack."

His lips curled into a smirk. "Crescent Vale? That pack of paupers?" He chuckled ."What makes you think you belong here?"

"I came to secure a future for my pack." she said, her voice steady.

Desmond stepped closer. "And you thought sneaking into my party was the way to do it?"

Before she could respond, he turned to his Beta. "Teach her what happens to those who trespass."

The crowd gasped, and Ella's heart sank as two guards grabbed her arms, dragging her toward the courtyard.

She was flogged 50 times.

Everyone watched has she endured the punishment Desmond decreed.

By the time they let her go, her body was battered, her dress soaked in blood. As she stumbled away from the estate, her vision blurred by pain and tears, one thought burned in her mind: she would never forget the way Desmond had treated her tonight. And when the time came, she would make him pay.