Your Luna’s Final Goodbye

I married Emory, my fated mate. But he never loved me. His first love, Ophelia, was stricken with the Lunar Blight. Her dying wish, she said, was to have a mating ceremony with Emory, to become his Luna. I refused. From that day on, to Emory and our son Leo, I was nothing but a selfish, cruel woman. Leo would intentionally feed me things I was allergic to. He’d pretend to get lost during the winter hunt, leaving me to search for him in a blizzard for a day and a night until I nearly died… It was all to keep me from disturbing Emory and Ophelia. So when he started crying and throwing a tantrum, demanding I go catch him a Silver-Frost Rabbit from the dangerous depths of the forest at night, I finally said no. “You don’t have to keep making me sick anymore,” I told him. “I won’t bother your father and Ophelia again.” Because I’m terminally ill. My wolf is fading. I’m going to die soon. Chapter 1 "No! I want Mommy to catch me a Silver-Frost Rabbit!" Five-year-old Leo slammed his cup to the floor and screamed at me. "If you don't, you're a bad mommy!" A Silver-Frost Rabbit. A rare creature that only appears deep in the forest at night. As weak as I am now, hunting one would leave me with a fever for at least three days. But the old me would have gone. Because I loved this child, the only one Emory and I would ever have. But now, I coolly set down my teacup. "I'm not going." Leo froze. "What did you say?" He stared at me in disbelief. "I said, I'm not going," I repeated calmly. "And you don't have to intentionally make me sick anymore. I won't bother your father and Ophelia again." A flicker of joy in his eyes sent a chill down my spine. "Do you really mean it?" he asked, tilting his head with a child's innocence, as if studying a fascinating new toy. "I do." "Yay!" He laughed and ran off. I knew exactly why he hated me so much. It was because Emory's old flame, Ophelia, had the Lunar Blight—a terminal illness that slowly drains a werewolf of their life force. And her only wish before she died was to have a mating ceremony with Emory, to become his Luna. I refused. I even offered to use my healing abilities to help Ophelia, to extend her life. But to Emory and Leo, I was still a selfish, vicious woman. So for the past three months, Leo has done everything he can to torment me. The first time, he fed me food laced with peanuts. The allergic reaction was so severe I was unconscious for three days, forcing me to miss his parent-teacher conference. Ophelia and Emory went in my place. When I woke up, he cried and said he didn't do it on purpose. I forgave him. The second time, he "accidentally" ripped my ceremonial robe for the Moonlight Festival, saying, "Just let Auntie Ophelia go. Everyone likes her better anyway." The worst was just a few days ago, during the winter hunt. Leo deliberately hid, making me think he was lost. I searched for him in a blizzard for a whole day and night, my body frozen stiff. I tried to reach Emory through our mind-link for help, but he never answered. When they finally found me, I was half-dead from the cold. Leo, however, had returned home perfectly safe. "It was just a joke, Mommy," he'd said. The ordeal left a scar on my soul. Now, the mere sight of snow is enough to make me tremble uncontrollably. The main door burst open, and a blast of cold air and snow rushed in. Emory strode in, carrying a sweet scent on him. Not his. Ophelia's. His Alpha scent was erratic, and there was a smear of blood on his left arm. I knew it was from climbing the cliffs to pick healing flowers for Ophelia. In the ten years I’ve been his Luna, he has never once done something like that for me. "Here's your medicine." Emory tossed a vial onto the table without looking at me. "Since you're sick, just rest. Ophelia will attend Leo's birthday banquet in your place tomorrow..." His gaze finally landed on me then, taking in my calm expression. "You're... not sick?" He frowned. I saw the clear surprise and confusion in his eyes. I picked up the invitation from the table. The gilded script read, "Celebrating Young Master Leo's Fifth Birthday." Below, three names were printed. Mine wasn't one of them. There was a photo of the three of them, too. Emory and Ophelia stood side-by-side, looking so close. Not like us. Even on the day of our mating ceremony, he kept his distance. He even replaced the traditional kiss with a brief hug. He never wanted to be close to me. He saw me looking at the invitation, and his tone stiffened. "You've been so weak these past few days, so I... The invitations are already printed. If you want to go, you can enter after us..." Before he could finish, I cut him off. "Then let's leave it at that. Thank Ophelia for me. She's a better fit for the role anyway." After all, she was the ideal Luna in Emory's heart, the mother Leo adored. But Emory didn't look satisfied. He stared at me, incredulous. "That's it? You have nothing else to say?" A bitter smile touched my lips. "What did you want to hear? That I'd beg and cry for you not to replace me? Or that I'd scream and break things like a hysterical madwoman?" Emory's face flushed, then paled, as if I’d read his mind. "What is your problem? Are you still angry that I missed your call for help during the hunt? I already explained—Ophelia was having a bad episode, so I was distracted. I made it up to you afterward. What more do you want?" "Making it up to me" meant the expensive jewelry he'd tossed my way. But he would never understand that no amount of jewels could mend my shattered body and heart. I was too tired to argue with him. Emory's expression grew colder. "Liliana, your Moon-Glow Pack is gone. There's no one left to indulge your whims." His words struck us both silent. That was my deepest wound, one I never wanted anyone to touch. Emory seemed to realize he'd gone too far. He opened his mouth to say something else, but his phone rang. It was Ophelia. "Emory, I feel so sick. Can you come be with me?" His expression softened instantly. "Don't be scared. I'm on my way." He strode towards the door without another glance at me. The door slammed shut, plunging the room back into silence. A sharp, stabbing pain shot through my head. I bit back a cry, my hands trembling as I pulled a vial of medicine from my bag. Forcing down the foul-smelling liquid, I fought the urge to vomit. My own phone rang. I answered. "Lady Liliana, are you certain about this?" an old witch's voice asked from the other end. I steadied my breathing. "I'm certain. I was already dying from my fading wolf," I said, my voice hoarse. "To offer up my wolf spirit before I go... at least it will be worth something." Chapter 2 "There's no one left to indulge your whims." Emory’s words reminded me of something else he’d once spat at me: "You're nothing but a parasite." It was our wedding night. I was dressed in the most beautiful gown, my heart full of hope as I waited for him. The Blackwood Pack had just survived a near-total collapse, and I was the one who proposed the alliance, offering the strength of my Moon-Glow Pack to help them rebuild. I thought he would at least be kind to me for that. I thought we could learn to love each other. After all, we were fated mates, chosen by the Moon Goddess herself. But on our wedding night, I learned how wrong I was. "Even if you are my Luna, I will never love you," Emory had said, his eyes cold as he looked at my ornate gown. "When the Moon-Glow Pack weakens, what will you have left to lean on?" "You're a useless parasite." And his words turned out to be a curse. Three years later, the Sacred Moonstone of my pack began to dim, its power fading. My parents stood vigil by it day and night, pouring their own life force into it to sustain its last glimmer of light. Desperate for Emory’s help, I drugged him. That night, Leo was conceived. Finally, for the sake of his child, Emory agreed to help. But when I rushed back to my pack lands, ecstatic to tell my parents the news, I was met with a sight that would haunt me for the rest of my life. My parents stood hand in hand before the dying Moonstone. They poured the last of their life force into it, their bodies turning translucent until they dissolved into motes of moonlight. "Liliana," my mother's voice whispered on the wind, "you have to live on." I collapsed before the empty altar and sobbed, the baby in my womb kicking as if it could feel my sorrow. The grief nearly broke my mind. I needed intensive treatment, but for the baby's sake, I refused any medication, choosing instead to suppress my own wolf to endure the pain. Ten months later, Leo was born healthy. I held him with a joyful heart, thinking I finally had a family again, someone who was part of me, someone who would finally love me. But the first full sentence he ever learned was a mimicry of Emory's voice: "Mommy is a parasite who lives off Daddy." Then Ophelia appeared, and just like Emory, he always chose her side. He always abandoned me. When I was trapped in the snow, slowly losing consciousness, I finally understood. The child I had fought so hard to bring into this world wasn't my safe harbor. He was another knife in my heart. So I made my decision. Emory and Leo—I was done with them both. "Why don't you tell your family about your illness?" the witch had asked me once. "My family is already dead," I had replied calmly. I started to clear out my things. The gorgeous gowns in my closet, all of them—gone. The pearl necklace in my jewelry box, the first gift Emory ever gave me—tossed out. In my desk drawer was a fox-fur cloak I had woven myself, meant as a gift for our tenth anniversary. It was clear now that anniversary would never come. I threw it all into the fireplace. Last was the painting of our mating ceremony, commissioned from my favorite artist. In it, Emory looked handsome and powerful, while I smiled, my face radiant with happiness. It was all a lie. I had destroyed this painting countless times, tearing it to shreds after every fight, only to secretly piece it back together in the dead of night. The servants were used to it. "Here we go again," I heard one whisper outside the door. "The Luna is destroying the painting to get the Alpha's attention." "Just ignore her. She'll glue it back together herself anyway." I was used to their scorn. I took the canvas from the wall and, without a moment's hesitation, tossed it into the hearth. The flames instantly devoured it, the paint releasing a bitter, acrid smell. "My Goddess!" the servants gasped. "If it burns, it's gone for good!" "What's gone for good?" A familiar voice cut through the air. I turned to see Emory standing in the doorway, his face a thunderous mask. Chapter 3 Behind Emory stood Leo and Ophelia. All three were dressed in matching shades of deep blue, looking for all the world like a real family. Ophelia clung to Emory’s arm, her other hand stroking Leo’s hair. A triumphant smile played on her lips, her eyes full of challenge as she looked at me. "Sister Liliana," she cooed sweetly. "Leo's birthday wish is for me to stay in the main house tonight. You don't mind, do you?" Leo bounced on his feet. "Yeah! I want to sleep with Daddy and Auntie Ophelia! Like a real family!" Emory looked uncomfortable, but he didn't stop them. "I don't mind," I said flatly. Leo clapped his hands in delight. "Great! Our family of three can all sleep together!" Ophelia feigned a shy glance downward. "Oh, Liliana, he's just a child. You can't be mad at him for speaking his mind, can you?" But Emory didn't look pleased. He had expected me to scream and protest, giving him the chance to accuse me of "ruining our son's birthday." I forced a smile. "Of course not. Make yourselves at home." I couldn't stand the sight of their happy little charade any longer and turned to leave. "Aren't you staying with us, Mommy?" Leo’s voice was probing. "Didn't you say a family of three?" I said, looking back at him. "I'd only be in the way." With that, I went upstairs to the guest room. Later that night, I stepped onto the balcony for some air. It was adjacent to the master bedroom's balcony, and I could see inside through the glass doors. Ophelia, dressed in a flimsy silk nightgown, was deliberately parading in front of Emory. Leo played his part, asking for a glass of water. As Ophelia bent over to pour it, the neckline of her gown gaped open. "Leo, go get Auntie Ophelia a blanket," Emory's voice was tight. Leo nodded obediently, then "accidentally" bumped into Ophelia. She stumbled right into Emory's arms, the thin silk strap sliding off her shoulder as her body pressed against his chest. "I'm sorry, I'm so unsteady," she murmured, looking up at him with misty eyes. "It must be a side effect of the medicine." Her hand slid up to his chest, releasing a subtle, inviting scent. Emory’s throat bobbed. His eyes darkened with heat. I had no interest in watching their little show, but as I turned to leave, Emory caught my reflection in the glass door. He shoved Ophelia away and stormed onto the balcony. "Liliana!" He grabbed my arm, his voice thick with shame and anger. "It's not what you think!" "I'm not thinking anything," I said calmly. "What you do is none of my business." "Stop pretending!" he snarled, his embarrassment turning to rage. "You were spying on us!" "Emory, don't blame Sister Liliana," Ophelia cried, following him out with tears in her eyes. "It's all my fault, I shouldn't have..." She grabbed my hand. "I'll do anything, just please forgive me!" "Bad mommy!" Leo rushed out too, shoving me hard. "Why are you bullying Auntie Ophelia? Go away!" I was standing on the edge of the balcony. His push sent me stumbling backward. At that exact moment, Ophelia, who was still clinging to my hand, let her body go limp and fell with me. "Emory, save me!" she shrieked in terror. The second-floor balcony wasn't fatally high, but the fall would still cause serious injury. Without a second of hesitation, Emory bypassed me—the one closer to him—and lunged with an Alpha's speed to grab Ophelia's hand. And I fell. Chapter 4 "Liliana? Liliana!" I woke to the sound of Emory's trembling voice. He was sitting by my bed, his eyes bloodshot as if he hadn't slept all night. "How are you?" he asked, his voice shaking. "The Pack Healer said you're extremely weak. What's going on?" It was the first time in years I had seen him so worried about me. I didn't answer, just looked at him in silence. He immediately started diagnosing me himself. "It must be because you're always so paranoid and stressed. That's why you're so weak. I've already arranged for the high priest to give you a full examination. You need to get rid of this awful temper." "Alpha!" One of Ophelia's guards rushed in. "Miss Ophelia is coughing up blood!" Emory's face went pale. He shot to his feet, ready to leave. He glanced at my ashen face and hesitated. "Go," I said, pressing the call button by the bed. "Ophelia needs you more. A nurse can take care of me." My quiet calm seemed to throw him off, leaving his prepared excuses to die on his tongue. He gave me one last, deep look, then strode out of the room. A middle-aged she-wolf nurse came in shortly after. "Luna, your condition is critical. You'll need a family member with you for the follow-up treatments," she said, flipping through my chart. "Where is the Alpha?" "I don't have a husband," I said quietly. "Just arrange a caregiver for me." I knew how this went. Emory was busy with Ophelia. He had no time for me. The nurse looked startled but nodded. I didn't expect to see Emory again so soon. He kicked the door open and stormed in, his eyes blazing with fury. "Liliana!" he roared. "I was so wrong about you! I never knew you were vicious enough to want Ophelia dead!" "I didn't," I said, meeting his gaze without flinching. "Still lying!" he snarled, grabbing my shoulders. "If you hadn't pushed her—" "The pack house has security cameras," I cut him off, ignoring the pain in my shoulders. "You can check the footage." Emory faltered for a second, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. Just then, Leo ran in, his little face flushed with anger. "Mommy's lying!" he shouted, pointing at me. "I saw her! She grabbed Auntie Ophelia's hand and made her fall on purpose!" His words sealed my fate. "You venomous bitch!" Emory yanked me out of bed. The IV line ripped from my arm, and blood streamed down my hand as tubes clattered to the floor. "Get on your knees outside Ophelia's house and repent!" Seeing the blood and my crumpled state, Leo grabbed his father's sleeve, a flash of panic in his eyes. "Daddy..." But in the end, he said nothing more. Chapter 5 "Get on your knees and repent!" Emory dragged me out to the stone path in front of the main house. It was covered with sharp, jagged rocks, a path reserved for punishing pack members who had committed serious crimes. "Kneel until you admit you were wrong," he commanded coldly, then turned and walked away. Pack members gathered to watch my "penance," staring as if I were some unforgivable criminal. They pointed and whispered. "I heard the Luna is being punished for trying to kill Miss Ophelia. How horrible." "The Alpha is so unlucky, being mated to such a cruel woman." I tried to speak, to defend myself, but the words were stuck in my throat. I couldn't make a sound. A silencing spell. The guard watching me chuckled mockingly. "Don't waste your energy. Miss Ophelia gave the order. You won't be saying anything you're not supposed to." Of course. I knelt all day. The stones dug deep into my knees, but I was long past feeling the pain. By the second day, I couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed. When I woke up, I was in a sickroom again. Emory was staring at my bruised and bloodied legs, his expression unreadable. When he saw I was awake, he let out a long sigh and took my hand, his expression a tangled mess of anger and... was that regret? "Why are you so stubborn?" he chided. "If you had just apologized, you wouldn't have had to suffer like this." I pulled my hand away with all the strength I had left. His face fell. "I know I went too far. I apologize," he said, a rare note of humility in his voice. He even offered a gentle smile. "The full moon ceremony is coming up. I can take you with me." In the past, that would have been a dream come true. To stand by his side, a united front for all to see. "I don't want to go," I said softly. Emory stared, unable to understand why I wasn't falling into his arms with joy like I used to. His tone hardened. "You have to go! It's your duty as Luna!" Just then, Leo burst into the room. "Why does Mommy have to go if she's sick? You said Auntie Ophelia could go!" And just like that, I understood why my son had lied. Once again, my own son had chosen to twist the knife. Emory looked flustered, then snapped at Leo. "That's enough! My decision is final!" Leo fell silent, but his glare remained. I watched it all unfold, saying nothing. Three days later, at the full moon ceremony, my legs hadn't fully healed. I walked with a slight limp, and my face was so pale that even the thickest makeup couldn't hide my haggardness. But Emory didn't notice. His attention was entirely on Ophelia. She looked exceptionally beautiful tonight in a flowing white gown, like an angel in need of protection. Guests flocked to her, asking about her health with concerned voices. "Miss Ophelia is so strong, attending the ceremony even while she's sick." "Yes, not like some people who make a fuss over every little thing." Their words reached me, but I felt nothing. Suddenly, a visiting Alpha approached Ophelia, his hand sliding possessively onto her waist. Ophelia's face paled, and she looked trapped. Beside me, Emory's scent spiked with jealousy and rage. His hand, which had been resting on my shoulder, clenched so tightly that I cried out in pain. "Emory..." He didn't hear me. I took a deep breath. "Go. I'll be fine here." The words were barely out of my mouth before Emory shot to his feet and stormed over to them. He yanked Ophelia behind him and snarled at the other Alpha, "Who gave you permission to touch her?" Then, he threw a punch. The entire hall went silent. "Ophelia is mine!" he declared in front of everyone. "No one touches her!" Chapter 6 "Goddess, the Alpha just hit someone for another woman, in public!" "It seems the Luna really is out of favor. Maybe we'll be getting a new one soon." The whispers of the guests rose around me, but they couldn't hurt me anymore. I sat quietly in my seat, watching Emory shield Ophelia with his body. I was planning my escape when Ophelia slipped over to me, a smug smile on her face. "Sister Liliana." "Did you see that? Do you see how much Emory cares about me?" she whispered, her voice dripping with malice. "How much longer are you going to cling to the Luna title? Have you no shame?" I looked up at her and let out a cold laugh. "Then make him break our mate bond," I said, slowly rising to my feet to look down on her. "If you can't, then stop prancing around me like a desperate clown." Ophelia's face turned beet red. "Who are you calling a clown?" "You know who." She was trembling with rage. Her eyes darted around and landed on the Moon Lake behind us, a wicked gleam entering her gaze. "Fine! Since you're so tough, I'll show you who Emory really cares about!" She suddenly grabbed my hand and threw her weight backward. "Ah! Help me!" she screamed, dragging us both toward the lake. The frigid water swallowed us whole. My already weak body felt like it had been plunged into a tomb of ice. I couldn't move. I couldn't call for help. "Emory! Save me!" Ophelia thrashed in the water. Splash! A figure dove in. It was Emory. He swam straight for Ophelia without a moment's hesitation, pulling her into a tight embrace. "It's okay, I'm here," he soothed her gently. Then he looked over at me, his eyes flickering with indecision. "You... you just wait! I'll come back for you as soon as I get Ophelia to shore!" He started swimming toward the bank, holding Ophelia close. I watched them go, and a bitter laugh escaped my lips. A single tear fell from my eye, vanishing into the lake without a trace. I would never trust him again. I let myself sink, feeling my consciousness slowly fade. Just as I thought I was about to die, hands pulled me from the water. But I wasn't taken to the infirmary. I was carried to the sacred altar deep within the pack lands. "Where are we going?" I asked weakly, grabbing Emory's sleeve. He wouldn't meet my eyes. "Ophelia's Lunar Blight… the shock and the cold water made it flare up violently." "The high priest said only your blood can save her now." I looked at the ceremonial tools laid out on the altar and understood everything. "You owe her this," Emory said, his voice like ice. "Just give a little blood for her, and I promise, I'll forgive everything. After this, we can start over, properly." He stopped at the altar's entrance. "Don't worry," he added. "I've summoned the best healer. I won't let anything happen to you." The heavy doors slammed shut in my face. The last thing I saw was the guilt and conflict in his eyes. How funny, I thought. So he was capable of feeling guilty toward me. The ritual began. As the priest chanted the ancient words, I felt my blood draining away, fast. My heartbeat slowed. My breathing grew shallow. With the last of my strength, I crushed the small token in my hand. It was the signal I had arranged with the witch. When the time came, she would come for my body and my wolf spirit. In my final moment of consciousness, I tried to reach Emory through our mate bond. One last goodbye. He didn't answer. I tried to reach Leo through our mother-son link. Still nothing. I knew then. They had both blocked me. My lips moved, a silent breath shaping their names. Emory... Leo... Farewell. I heard panicked shouts around me. "The Luna isn't breathing!" "Her wolf is gone! How is this possible—" I closed my eyes and let the darkness take me.