Lavender Moon

1. Luna

Luna

“I know, I’m just waiting for her to finally find a pack and move out.” The words repeat in my head over and over again. How my mom doesn’t want me here anymore, about how she can’t wait till I’m mated and out of her hair.

It’s not like I want to be here either, but hearing your mother say how much she can’t wait for you to be out of her house? It sinks deep, and it hurts. Your mom is supposed to be your biggest cheerleader, not the person who judges you the most.

If she saw me now, she would be judging. Honestly, she would probably have a heart attack if she knew what I was doing.

The stage is bright and lit with purple lights as the two girls ahead of me try out.

There’s only three of us, and according to the woman hosting auditions, it sounds like we could all get hired tonight.

The Omega dancing right now is gorgeous as she walks around the pole, hooking her ankle around the shiny metal and dipping backwards.

Her back is arched showing every curve of her body as her black hair falls behind her.

That. That is what I want. To captivate a stage, to be in front of people and be able to be myself. To have people want me so desperately that they’re willing to empty their wallets for it. Because the Alpha I want to notice me, well, that just isn’t going to happen.

The song set goes on as the Omega on stage shows all her moves, and I feel completely unprepared.

I can dance, but no way in hell am I going to look as elegant as the girl on stage.

Her outfit also looks like it stepped off a super hot slutty Broadway show.

I have on booty shorts and a bralette I bought at Victoria’s Secret before I got here.

I feel so out of my depth as I wait for my turn to audition. But I need this: independence, money, and freedom. While I’m not against finding a pack, I don’t want to be forced into finding one. Especially when I know they would be second best to the pack that I actually want.

The girl on stage finishes her set, and we all clap for her. She has a beaming smile on her face as she walks across the stage in her tall platform shoes—I’m barefoot.

Fuck . I’m so not cut out for this. I think about leaving; maybe it’ll be easier to sell my used panties on the internet instead.

“Luna,” the manager Gina says, and my cheeks heat. It’s now or never. I know how much money I can make in just a few months here. Enough to put a deposit on an apartment and get myself some furniture. I can even get the cat that I’ve always wanted.

I can do this, for me. Without help from anyone or a subpar pack that would never compare.

With soft footsteps, I make my way to the stage.

Gina is kind as she smiles up at me from her chair.

She has wild, curly brown hair and is petite with big brown eyes shielded by wide-brimmed glasses.

Definitely not the type of woman you would imagine running a place like this, but it somehow puts me at ease.

“Hello, dear, aren’t you cute.”

“Uh, thanks,” I say, rubbing my arm.

“You provided ID right?”

“Yes, I’m twenty-one.”

Gina smiles and nods her head. “Do you have any dancing experience?”

“Not much.” I don’t want to lie. And I don’t think dancing alone in your bedroom to “Mr. Brightside” counts, but I need this so badly.

I’m honestly feeling less anxious the longer I stand on stage.

The bright lights warm my skin, and I imagine what it feels like to have all those hungry eyes on you.

Powerful.

It would make me feel powerful, and I smile at the idea. Omegas don’t have many opportunities in this life. But I have one right here and now, to take control and take what I want. And what I want is for Alphas to look but not touch, and then paying me in the process.

“If selected, how soon would you be able to start?” Gina asks.

“Immediately,” I respond, and she smiles.

“You have your song picked out?”

I nod, and she holds up her hand. The music starts, and “Good For You” by Selena Gomez comes on. It’s literally like the Omega national anthem, and I watch as Gina smiles at the song choice.

The soft but sexy song flows through me, and I move my body accordingly.

I imagine a crowd in front of me, and the goal is to tease and entice.

My scent is the luring factor, but the way I move is what will keep them at my stage.

I know I’m not as skilled of a dancer as the girl before me.

But I know that the naivety of my dancing will be an attractive factor for patrons.

I keep my movement sexy, acting like the pole is a tall, brooding Alpha who wears suits and glares.

Should I be picturing myself dancing on my stepbrother? By most societal standards, it would be a no. But right now, acting like I’m putting on a show for Ian, it gets me going. I can smell my perfume wafting off of me in waves. Gina has a wide smile on her face as she watches me dance.

I know I have a similar smile on my face. Picturing Ian behind me, his hands on my hips as I dance for him. His fingers graze over my long hair, wrapping it around his fist and pulling me back to his chest.

I should feel embarrassed with how heavy my scent is right now, but I know more than anything it’s going to get me this job. The girl before me might have the better dance moves, but I can perfume while performing.

The music stops, and Gina claps. “Wonderful. Thank you, ladies. We’ll be in touch.”

I nod my head and step down from the stage. The girl who danced before me gives me a smile. “Oh, sweet flower child, you’re so in.”

My cheeks heat as I grab my drawstring bag. “You think so?”

“After that show? Hell yeah, you’re in. I’m not even into other Omegas, and I was about to cream myself.”

I laugh and shake my head. “I’m Luna.” I hold out my hand, and she shakes it.

“I’m Gabbi, but on stage, I go by Cherry.”

“Oh, should I make up a name?”

“Definitely, unless you want Alphas finding your social media or finding out where you live.”

I click my tongue. “Good point.”

She snaps her fingers together and points at me. “Selene,” she says. “Goddess of the moon.”

I smile back at her. “I love it.”

“So what are you up to for the rest of the afternoon?”

I shrug. “Nothing.”

“Great, let’s go get drinks.”

“Oh, I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” I tell her. Gabbi shakes her head and laughs.

“Oh sweetheart. It’s time to learn about what being an Omega is all about.

” I swear I have stars in my eyes as I speak to Gabbi; she’s everything I want to be.

She’s beautiful with glowing tan skin, dark hair, and soft brown eyes.

But the most captivating thing about Gabbi is her confidence.

That is what I want to bottle up and pour all over myself.

“Do you have a car?”

“Yeah,” I respond by clicking the button to unlock the vehicle. Gabbi just grabs the passenger door and opens it for herself. I shrug my shoulders and get in the driver’s seat and push the button, starting the engine.

“Head to Ocean Drive,” she tells me. I put my sunglasses on and rev the engine.

Gabbi knows how to party, that’s for sure. They didn’t even check our IDs. She just perfumed a little for the bodyguard, and now we’re in this club together.

WAP blasts over the speakers, and Gabbi and I laugh and grind on each other. The gaze of nearly everyone in the small club is on us as we entice.

We dance on each other, while she sings all the lyrics. Her hands tangle in my hair, and my leg is in between hers as we sing the nasty lyrics and dance. We absolutely lose our shit at the Beta who is staring at us with wide eyes and his mouth comically wide open.

I’m already feeling drunk. I’ve drank before but mostly wine with dinner or one cocktail. But these tequila shots are doing something to me that I haven’t experienced before. I feel so fuzzy and light, like I don’t have a single care in the world.

I don’t care that my mom is a fucking bitch.

That my stepdad doesn’t help me. That my stepbrother is so goddamn hot and all I want to do is fuck him and his pack.

Or that his Omega is hotter than me. God, is James hot.

Of course he chose James. I’m just his little sister who he thinks is annoying and naive.

A sweet waitress comes over to us with a smile.

She’s cute and pretty. I tell her this in my drunken state, and she smiles.

“These are from the Alpha across the bar,” she says.

I grin and turn to look at him. He’s attractive, sure, in a beach bum kind of way.

We hold up our shots to the Alpha in thanks and throw them back.

When he makes his way over to me and Gabbi, I panic. “I’m not interested in him, Gabbi.”

“But we are interested in his money,” she says.

That has me tilting my head and raising an eyebrow.

He’s tall, and his Alpha energy is undeniable as he comes up to us. “Ladies, quite the show.”

Gabbi smiles and touches his forearm. Damn, she’s good. “If you want a real show, you should come see us at Lavender Moon sometime.”

“Would you be up for something private?” he asks, looking at Gabbi. Of course he is. Gabbi is a confident goddess.

She smiles at him and looks at me. “Luna, sweetie, are you good to get home?”

“Oh, yeah, totally,” I tell her, waving her off. I am not going to be a cunt block.

Gabbi grabs my phone out of my hand and puts her number in. “I’m guessing I’ll see you at work soon. But if you need anything, just call.”

I nod and smile at her. She walks away with the blond Alpha, and I wonder how much she’s going to charge.

Could I do that? I’m not sure.

Considering my experience, I don’t think so.

I groan and scrub my face, the tequila hitting me harder than it did a few minutes ago.

I leave the club, and I feel like eyes are following me.

I can’t help but walk quickly to my car and sit inside and lock the doors.

Everything seems to spin, and my stomach hurts a little bit.

I’m too scared to use a car service—there’s no way I can call my mom. I pick up my phone and call the only other person I can think of. It rings twice before he answers.

“Luna?” he says, his voice so deep and gravelly and sexy. I know my voice is breathy as I respond.

“Hey.”

“Luna, what’s going on?”

“Um, can you come pick me up?”

“You don’t have your car?” he asks. I wince, seeing as he’s the one who bought me the car.

“Um…so the thing is, I’m in my car right now, but I can’t really drive it.”

“Did the battery die or something?”

“Well, no. See what happened—” I hiccup and can’t control the slight giggle that escapes my lips.

“Luna, have you been drinking?”

“Oh, well, see. Maybe.”

“Where are you?”

“Mmm. Ocean Drive.”

He groans into the phone. “Where on Ocean Drive?”

“Well, I can see the ocean,” I say with a laugh and shake my head as I look at the name of the bar. “I’m by Geek’d”

“Why the fuck are you there?” he growls.

“Don’t get all growly with me. I’m a grown woman.”

“I’m more than fucking aware,” he says quietly before continuing. “Stay in your car. Picking you up in twenty minutes.”

“Oh, so I shouldn’t open my door for this man who wants a cigarette?” I joke ,and Ian growls on the other end of the line. “Chill, I’m just joking.”

“Twenty minutes,” he says and hangs up.