Rejected by My Mate, Protected by a Secret Alpha

“It is good that you arrived when you did,” the pack healer said, her fingers working gently over the burned flesh on my arm. “This is a second-rank degree wound and truthfully, Luna Liora, you also require binding stitches.” I did not reply. I only nodded, my eyes fixed on the pale stone ceiling of the Healer Sanctum, wide and endless. I remained within the healing chambers for two full days. Not a single mindlink reached me. Not even sending a word. No “Are you healed, Luna?” No, “Forgive us for the fire.” Nothing. Not even false concern from those who once swore loyalty. By the second night, I found myself holding my crystal communicator without purpose. Some part of my wolf still believed the Alpha or the Beta would reach out. Instead, what appeared were images. Selene. She stood smiling in a new crimson gown, glowing beneath lantern light, pressed between Alden and Draven. Moonwine cups were lifted high. Her smile carried that same satisfied curve she always wore when she knew she had won. “Grateful to Alden and Draven for the greatest nameday under the moon! I will treasure this always! Look at our new bond cords!!!” I stared at the three identical woven cords that circled their wrists. And then I noticed that they no longer wore the old bond cords we once shared. I turned the crystal communicator down and placed it beside the stone bed. Silence returned to the healing chamber. My heart beat slowly, but there was no pain now. Only a hollow space where it used to live. Two days later, I returned to the manor, the same stone dwelling we had all entered after leaving the Lunar Academy. It was meant to be a den for a bonded pack. Instead, it became proof of betrayal. I crossed the empty main hall and went straight to my private chamber. I opened the closet and began to pack my belongings. When I bent to collect my boots, I stopped. Beneath the shelf rested the memory coffer. That foolish little box I once called my moon-treasure. I lowered myself to the floor and drew it closer, dust clinging to my fingers. Inside lay parchments, old, worn letters written by Alden and Draven when we were pups. Simple drawings. Awkward poems. Healing notes they sent when I was ill. And a single image crystal. The three of us, me, Alden and Draven, kneeling beside a half-built tree platform, dirt smeared on our clothes, smiling widely. The memory rose clearly. The summer when I was nearly mauled by a Moon Beast. I had always feared them and one had broken free near the outer dens. I froze in terror. Alden and Draven stepped in front of me without thought. Alden was bitten protecting me, his arm bleeding, so I could escape. After that, everything changed. They became my shadows. My guards. And over time, I fell for Alden, while Draven treated me as his she-wolf sister. Until Selene entered the pack and shattered it all. I sat there, clutching a bond cord with my name etched into its metal clasp. I had been blind. My Alpha parents had warned me when I begged them to adopt Selene. “Are you certain, Liora? Not every she-wolf desires sisterhood. And what if she harms you? Trust is not given freely.” I refused to listen. I believed pack love would be enough. But now? Now I understand. She never wanted to be my sister. She wanted my place as Luna. I packed the last of my belongings, then carried the memory coffer into the rear courtyard of the manor. I struck a flint. The fire took hold quickly. Parchments curled and darkened. Bond cords twisted as their shine faded. Image crystals cracked and turned to ash. “Liora!” I looked up to see Alden running toward me from the hall, panic clear on his face. “What are you doing?!” he yelled. “Those are our records! The bond cords!” “Yes,” I answered calmly. “I am severing our shared past, ending our bond.” He stepped closer, but I moved before the flames, blocking him. “It is finished. All of it.” Moments later, Draven arrived, his face stiff with disbelief. “Is this another outburst, Luna?” he asked, folding his arms. “We know you are upset, but this is too much, even for you.” “This is not an outburst,” I said evenly. “This is to end the bond.” “You would let one terrible night erase our bond for years?” Alden pleaded. “Liora, please… we can speak….” I met both their gazes, then looked only at Alden. “I, Luna Liora, no longer wish to share any bond with either of you.” I turned away and walked back into the manor, leaving the smoke behind me like the final trace of a life I would never reclaim.

I had wished that after I burned the past bond items, the Alpha and Beta would finally leave their Luna in peace. But they did not. Several days passed within the pack territory and slowly, Alden began to act as though nothing had occurred. Fresh flowers were delivered to my chamber again. Messages came through my crystal communicator, gentle and light, asking how my day as Luna had been, sharing small jokes, even trying to press a brief greeting kiss when we crossed paths near the manor gates. It felt as if the recent moons of pain had never existed. Draven followed the same path, stepping back into his role as the elder brother. Warm drinks delivered, shared memories when we were a pup and easy laughter. Each time they said, “We regret it, Luna. Let us fix this,” it sounded less like remorse for betrayal and neglect and more like an excuse for a minor scrape during training. Then came the sudden invitation to dine. “Our offering,” Alpha sent. “The old gathering den. You remember it.” Part of me wanted to erase the message and pretend it never reached my mindlink. But another quieter part, the tired, worn part of my wolf, wondered if perhaps we could close this bond without anger. Without bitterness. So I came. The moonbrew den had not changed. Wooden tables worn smooth by time, low lantern light, soft music humming through rune charms. The scent of herbs and roasted meat filled the air, mixed with memories I was unsure I wanted to reclaim. I watched Alden and Draven laugh, as we once had and for a brief moment, it almost felt… bearable. Then Alden’s crystal communicator glowed. He glanced at it and froze. “It is Selene,” he said under his breath, frowning. “What? Speak clearly… attacked? By the rogues? Where are you?” His voice sharpened as he rose abruptly. In moments, both Alden and Draven were standing. “She is crying,” Alden explained, tension tight in his voice. “She was harmed. We must go to her.” There were no farewells. No glance toward me. They rushed out, as though the Moon Goddess herself had called them. I remained seated, staring at untouched food, the small lantern flame slowly fading. I paid the moon-credits myself. Outside, the sky broke open. Thunder rolled across the land and rain fell heavily upon the stone paths. The streets were empty, no moonchariots, no passing pack warriors. The den keeper offered a cloak, but the doors were already sealed for the storm. I had no choice but to walk. Each step felt heavy. My arm throbbed beneath its healing wraps. My body ached. Yet worse than the pain was the storm itself. Thunder had always terrified me since I was a pup. Lightning and roaring skies made it feel as though the world would be torn apart. I pulled my cloak tighter and kept moving, the territory blurred by rain and shadow. Then, a flash of light. A loud horn call. A moonchariot rushing fast. There was no time. Darkness claimed me. When I woke, everything felt unnaturally soft. I blinked beneath dim lantern light, pale stone walls surrounding me. My body hurt, but the pain felt distant, dull. I turned toward the movement near the wall. “Alden…?” I whispered. It was not him. A man sat quietly nearby. Tall, dressed in dark cloth, his eyes unreadable. He did not move until I tried to rise. “You are awake, my Luna,” he said calmly. “Do not strain yourself.” “Who… are you?” I asked. “Kaegan,” he replied. “I found you after the accident and brought you to the Healer Sanctum. You were unconscious.” I wished to ask more, but the room spun and darkness returned. When I woke again, Kaegan was gone. No message. No mark. No trace through the mindlink. Only one message remained on my crystal communicator. From my mother. [Mindlink me when you begin your journey. Everything is prepared. Go back to our pack, my darling.] I did not tell her what had happened. I could not. I would not burden her heart. The healer told me I was fortunate. The moonchariot struck from the side. No bones were broken. Still, I needed several more days to rest. So I stayed. Alone. When the day of release arrived, I returned to the manor only to gather the final remnants of my belongings before leaving the Stormfang pack lands. That was when Alden appeared in the chamber doorway. “Good, Luna, you returned,” he said lightly. “We needed to tell you… We sold your moonchariot. And some of your belongings. Selene required emergency moon-credits and….” “What?” I froze. “You sold my things?” “Calm yourself,” Draven said, entering. “We will repay you. Selene has suffered since the attack. She needs care. Could you prepare meals for her? She has not eaten well.” I stared at them. “Are you truly saying this to your Luna?” Draven frowned. “Where were you anyway? Selene said you attended a gathering after the den meal. You were absent when she needed you. That was selfish.” I laughed, empty and bitter. “A gathering. Of course.” Then I threw the parchment toward them. “There. That is where I was. The Healer Sanctum. You left me in the storm. I walked through thunder and rain. I was struck by a moonchariot.” “What…?” Alden whispered. “You were injured?” “I thought you were safe with others,” Draven murmured. “Selene said….” “Of course she did,” I interrupted. “It is always Selene.” Before they could respond, a sharp cry echoed through the stone passageway. “Help! Alden, Draven, it hurts! Please!” Selene. Always Selene. I did not wait. I turned away, crossed the threshold and walked on, leaving them behind.

My wolf body ached from head to toe, every bone and muscle begging for rest. Instead of leaving the healing chamber as I had planned, I remained pressed into the bed, letting the dull pain keep me still. I did not weep. There were no tears left with me. When I opened my eyes again, pale sunlight slipped through the cloth curtains, warm against my skin. And there, standing at the foot of the bed, were Alden and Draven. “Good moon, Luna,” Alden said, a nervous smile pulling at his lips as he held a wooden tray. “We brought you morning food.” Draven carefully placed the tray on my lap. Toasted bread, soft eggs, sliced fruit and a cup of pressed citrus drink. All of it was slightly cool, without care. “We thought you should eat, Luna Liora,” Draven added, sitting at the edge of the bed. I looked at them. Their wolves were calm, relaxed. Almost content. As if the last few painful moons had never happened. Alden rubbed the back of his neck. “Listen, Luna… we regret what happened. Selene told us she saw a crystal image from that night. She thought you were at a gathering while she was wounded. Robbed by rogues, attacked and wounded. She believed you ignored her on purpose.” Draven nodded. “She truly believed that, Luna. So… perhaps you should apologize to her. Just to smooth things over in the pack.” I stared at them, stunned, before letting out a short laugh. “Perhaps you should apologize to your Luna.” They both blinked. Alden frowned. “Why would we? I am the Alpha! And we did nothing wrong. You never told us what happened. If you had spoken, we would have gone to you.” I laughed again, empty and sharp. “Must I beg to be seen now? I vanished for several days and not once did either of you reach out through the mindlink.” “Do not speak that way,” Draven said firmly. “Selene was attacked. She needed us.” “And I did not?” I asked. “So if I am not bleeding in front of you, I hold no value as Luna?” Before either Alpha or Beta could answer, the chamber door creaked open. She entered. Selene wore a loose wool sweater, her steps slow, a slight limp to her walk. Her face was pale, lips trembling, eyes filled with tears. “Are you arguing again, Luna Liora?” she whispered, her voice weak. “I am sorry. I never wished to be hurt. None of this was what I wanted.” I watched her closely. The shaking of hands. The lowered gaze. The careful tone. Every word was shaped to make her the wounded one. Tears slid down her cheeks. “I only wish we were not enemies. We were sisters of the pack once. I want that again.” At once, the males reacted. “Stop making her cry, Liora,” Alden snapped. “Come, Selene,” Draven said gently. “You should not be walking. Let us return you to your chamber.” Their care for her struck like a blade. Immediate. Protective. Undeserved. “I will feed you,” Alden said, taking her hand. “You must eat properly.” “Yes,” Draven added. “We will bring you seafood. Your favorite. You need strength.” Then they turned toward me. “You eat what we brought, Liora,” Alden said. “You have been released from healing. Do not be difficult.” And with that, they guided Selene out of the chamber, leaving me alone once more. I stared at the tray. Dry bread. Bland eggs. Hard fruit. From the stone passageway beyond, laughter echoed. Selene’s voice carried clearly. “Mmm, I love crab legs! You remembered I dislike bread, yes? Seafood is my favorite!” Of course it was. I was given leftovers. She was given a feast. I did not cry. Not now. I was simply finished. My crystal communicator vibrated softly. A message from my mother. [The ceremony grounds are chosen. Garments attached. Tell me which you favor, my dear.]. “Mother,” I said calmly through mindlink. “Liora! Did you see the garments? What do you think of the flowers and the bindings?” “I like them all. It was difficult to choose. I will decide today. But the older design feels right to me.” “Good! We will prepare it. How many days until you return to Obsidian Fang Pack? Your mate waits; he is eager.” “Only a few days more. Something delayed me, but I will come soon. I look forward to wearing the garments… for the Moonbond Ceremony.” She laughed softly. “That is my girl. We will wait for you.” The connection closed. I looked down at the untouched food. Then I felt it. The shift in the air. Alden and Draven stood in the chamber doorway. I had not heard them return. Their eyes were fixed on me, their wolves alert. Draven spoke first, his voice low. “Garments… for a Moonbond Ceremony?” Alden stepped forward, confusion darkening his face. “Moonbond Ceremony? Luna Liora… what ceremony?”

“What Moonbond Ceremony are you talking about?” Alden asked, his brow drawn tight, confusion clear on his face. I smiled slowly, with care, letting the words rest between us like a quiet threat. “The Moonbond Ceremony you will not attend.” He blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Whose ceremony? Not… not ours, right, Liora?” I tilted my head, releasing a soft, mocking breath as I stepped closer to the Alpha. “Of course not ours. You have not even marked me yet, Alden. I am still only your chosen Luna, am I not?” I brushed my fingers lightly over his arm, just enough to unsettle his wolf. He pulled back at once, shaking my hand away. “Liora… do not act this way. You are still recovering. Just… rest.” I swallowed the pain that cut deep into my chest. He did not even pretend to care now. How foolish I had been to believe in his bond. Draven leaned against the stone doorway, folding his arms. “Wait. Why are we not invited, Luna? We have shared cycles together.” “She is of a distant bloodline,” I said evenly. “You would not know her. My mother wishes me there to stand for our pack.” “And Selene?” Draven pressed. “Will she go with you, Luna?” I lifted one shoulder. “No. She has no tie to that bloodline. She is only my adopted she-wolf. There is no reason.” Alden laughed, clearly pleased. “Good. Then, while you are away, we can travel to Bloodmoon Territory.” Bloodmoon Territory. My breath caught. That land had been my dream territory for cycles, yet they always claimed it was wasteful. “Yes,” Draven added casually. “The healer has cleared Selene to travel next moon. We will make the journey.” “Without me?” I asked, though my wolf already knew. Alden smiled and I did not return it. “Do not worry, Luna. We will send you a gift for the ceremony. Perhaps garments. Now rest. We must escort Selene to her next healer visit.” And just like that, the Alpha and Beta turned away again. I said nothing. I only nodded and closed the chamber door behind them. So this was my place now, a silent presence in another wolf’s life. Fine. Let them believe I remained. I would leave quietly, vanish without sound. No one would notice and when they did… regret would follow. I only needed time. Later that afternoon, I finally left my chamber and entered the manor’s hearth room, craving warmth. Soup, perhaps. Something real, not prepared for show. As I opened the cold storage and began slicing roots, I heard it, a soft step behind me. I turned slowly. Selene stood there, wrapped in a pale wool garment, her hair braided neatly. The picture of a fragile, harmless she-wolf. “I did not know you were awake,” she said sweetly, leaning against the stone counter. “I thought you were still injured… or perhaps pretending?” I ignored her, cutting steadily. “I mean,” she continued with a light laugh, “did you truly go to the Healer Sanctum? Or were you lying because I was there, taking attention?” I set the blade down and met her gaze. “I am not like you.” Her face hardened. “What do you mean by that?” “You hunger for attention,” I said calmly. “You always play the wounded one.” She scoffed, her voice turning sharp. “You are jealous. How does it feel, Luna, knowing Alden and Draven choose me now? Your mate, your protector, both mine. And you? You are nothing.” My wolf flinched, just enough for her to notice. She smiled. “You should leave this manor and Crownfang Pack,” she said softly. “You no longer belong.” I turned back to the pot, stirring slowly, refusing to give her more. “Still pretending you are above this?” she mocked. “Very well. I will help cook. They will enjoy it.” I spun toward her. “No, Selene. I do not need help.” “I will prepare something anyway,” she said cheerfully, taking a blade. “Let us see whose they prefer.” She stepped closer, cutting fast and carelessly, clearly on purpose. I moved aside, letting her continue. Then…. “Ah!” Selene cried, dropping the blade. Blood welled on her finger. “You must be joking,” I whispered. Too late. “Alden! Draven!” she cried out. “Help! I am hurt! Luna Liora did nothing!” Heavy footsteps thundered down the stone passageway. The Alpha and Beta burst into the hearth room, alarmed. Alden rushed to her side. “What happened? Are you wounded?” “She ignored me,” Selene sobbed, clinging to him. “I was bleeding and she just watched!” I stood frozen, ladle in hand. “You did not help her?” Draven barked. “What is wrong with you, Luna?” Selene held Alden tightly. “I tried,” she whispered. “But she pushed me away.” “I did not touch you,” I said quietly. But no one listened.

“I did not touch you,” I said softly, but no one in the pack listened. Their attention was fixed on Selene, the adopted she-wolf, who held her hand as if it had been torn apart instead of lightly cut. Her act was perfect, wide watery eyes, shaking lips, hunched shoulders. Every movement was shaped to gain pity from the Alpha and the Beta. “You should have stopped her!” Alden shouted at me. “She is still weak from healing! Why did you allow her near the hearth room?” “I told her no,” I said quietly. “She ignored me. Why am I the one blamed?” Draven’s stare was cold, filled with anger. “You should have forced the issue. You know she is unwell. You are supposed to be the sensible one, Liora!” “And what about me?” I whispered under my breath. “I am not healed either.” Once again, my words vanished into nothing. Or perhaps they heard them and chose to ignore them. “Next time, Liora, you will prepare all the meals yourself,” Alden ordered. “Selene should not lift a finger in her condition. Show some care for her. You are pack sisters and we are one pack.” Pack? The word turned my stomach. I tried to speak again, but the words died before they reached my lips. What use was explaining when my Alpha and Beta never listened? “She should not need to ask for anything,” Draven added sharply. “Just handle it. You are fine now, are you not? Act like it. Prepare food for us. We want something proper to eat.” They guided Selene, still sobbing, toward her chamber. Alden held her close, as if she were made of fragile glass. Draven followed, saying he would bring her ice herbs. And once again, they left their Luna behind. Alone. I stood before the hearth, the soup long since cooled. Without thought, I warmed it again, added salt and cracked an egg into the pot. My body moved on its own, stirring, pouring, working as I had done countless times for the pack. But this time… I did not cook for everyone. Why should I? They had already planned to travel to Bloodmoon Territory without me. I was not wanted. They did not deserve my care, not even once. So this meal was for me. Only for me. I sat at the table and began to eat. The broth was warm, gentle on my tongue. It did not heal my heart, but it belonged to me. Halfway through the bowl, heavy footsteps entered the hearth room. Alden. Draven. “There you are,” Alden said, scanning the table. “Where is our food, Liora?” Draven frowned. “Is it not finished yet? What did you prepare?” I did not look up. “Nothing for you. This meal is mine.” Alden stared. “You only cooked for yourself? Did you not hear me? I told you to prepare food for Selene and us. Where is it?” “I am not a pack servant,” I said simply, lifting another spoonful. “I never agreed.” Silence followed. Then a sharp scoff. “This is about Selene again, is it not?” Draven asked. “By the Moon Goddess, Luna Liora, when will you stop this?” I said nothing. “She is wounded,” Alden added. “She is in pain. Why must you always be so bitter? Do you expect us to abandon her just so you feel important?” I continued eating. Spoon after spoon, the silence thickened. “You are selfish,” Draven growled. “Everything is always about you. Do you believe the pack owes you something just because you were here first?” I stared at my bowl. My hands shook slightly, not from fear, only exhaustion. “She did not choose to be hurt,” Alden continued. “You have been cold since she returned. She is trying and you sulk like a jealous pup. Admit it.” Jealous. That word again. The word they always used to silence me. I slowly set my spoon down. “I am not jealous,” I whispered. “I am simply… finished.” They did not respond. Perhaps they heard me. Perhaps they did not care. Suddenly, Draven slammed his palm against the table. The bowl rattled. I flinched. “You know what?” he snarled. “You are nothing compared to her.” Without warning, he grabbed my bowl and hurled it against the stone wall. The clay shattered. Warm broth splashed down the surface like blood. I stared at the mess. Alden did nothing. Neither of them stopped it. “Useless,” Draven muttered, shaking his head. “You are completely useless.” The words hung heavy in the air, sinking deep. They left the hearth room again, their footsteps fading down the stone passageway. I remained standing, staring at the broken bowl, at the food wasted, at the mess they did not bother to clean. And strangely, I did not cry. Not this time. Not anymore. Because I had already passed that point.

By dawn, most of my travel packs were prepared. Leather bags stood against the stone wall beside my bed, tied and marked with runes. Garments, parchments and crystal records I had not yet burned. I folded the final tunics with slow care, not from affection, but because there was a strange calm in working quietly. They all believed I was only packing for the Moonbond Ceremony. No one questioned when their Luna would be back. No one asked if I would go back at all. That silence answered everything. I walked to the back of my chamber, where I kept a small velvet-lined case hidden within my chest. My adornments. Simple things collected through cycles, nameday gifts, clan tokens, small keepsakes I once treasured. I opened the case. The necklace. A moon-diamond pendant set in pale silver, shaped in an old clan design. It once belonged to my grandmother, then my mother and then me. I was meant to wear it on my mating night, whenever that fate arrived. But when I looked inside, it was gone. The necklace was missing. My body went cold. I searched the drawers. The shelves. The locked box is beneath my bed. I tore through my travel packs. Nothing. My heart struck hard against my ribs. I left my chamber and went straight into the main den. Alden was there, resting on the couch, his crystal communicator in hand. “Alden,” I said, my voice sharp, “where is my moon-diamond necklace?” He barely lifted his gaze. “Ah. That.” “What do you mean by that?” “I gave it to Selene,” he replied easily. “She will wear it on our Bloodmoon Territory journey. It suits her.” My breath stopped. “You did what?” He finally looked at me, irritation clear. “She admired it. It fit her. You were not using it, so I allowed it.” I stepped closer, hands tight. “That pendant is not a decoration. It is a blood heirloom. It belongs to my mother’s pack. It was given to me. It is mine.” Alden shook his shoulders. “She is family, too. Why are you acting this way? She only borrowed it.” “No,” I said through clenched teeth. “She was never a pack blood. I brought her into our lives. I begged my Alpha parents to shelter her. I gave her a den. And she took everything.” His face darkened. “You are speaking poorly, Liora. I cannot believe you were truly envious of her, just as she said.” “I am speaking truth,” I said bitterly. “I regret bringing her into my pack. And I am not jealous. Never. She is nothing but poison.” The sound came without warning. A sharp strike. My head snapped to the side. Heat burned across my cheek. I blinked, stunned. Alden’s hand remained lifted between us. “She is your sister by bond,” he said harshly. “She is packed. Never speak of her that way again.” Before I could respond, Selene stepped from her chamber. She wore a silk robe, bare feet silent on stone, her face shaped in false concern. “What is happening?” she asked softly. “Why are voices raised?” I pointed at her chest. “Where is my necklace?” She glanced down, as if surprised to see it resting there. The moon-diamond shone at her throat. “Oh… this?” she said lightly, touching it. “I borrowed it. I did not think you would mind. Alden said it was fine. I am a pack member too, am I not?” “Remove it,” I ordered. “Now.” Her face tightened. “Luna….” “Remove. It.” I stepped forward. She stepped back, clutching the pendant. “What is happening with you?” she cried. “Why are you like this? I only wanted to feel beautiful. I love this piece…” I reached for it. She pulled away. We struggled. She resisted harder than expected. The chain snapped. The pendant fell, striking stone, rolling beneath the low table. “You broke it!” I shouted. “It is not serious,” she said, breathless. “It is only jewelry.” “You had no right to touch it!” Alden rushed between us, blocking my path. “Enough!” Draven came from the hall, moving straight to Selene. “Are you harmed?” “She has gone mad,” Selene sobbed, holding his arm. “She is cruel. I did not mean to damage it…” “She attacked me,” she added quietly. “I think she pushed me.” I felt numb. “You are shameless.” Draven turned on me, eyes cold. “What is wrong with you? She did not mean it. You always seek conflict.” Then Alden shoved me back, not hard, but enough to unbalance me. “Stop this,” he mumbled, guiding Selene away. And again, they left me. Alone. I stood in the center of the den, breathing unevenly, staring at the broken chain on the floor. I knelt and gathered the pieces with shaking fingers. That was it. The final boundary crossed. I returned to my chamber, took my crystal communicator and activated a call rune. A sleepy voice answered. “Hello?” “It is Luna Liora,” I said plainly. “I wish to sell the manor dwelling in Mooncrown.” “Sell?” the voice echoed. “Immediately?” “Yes,” I replied. “List it. Open it to buyers.”

“Yes,” I replied. “List it. Place it before buyers.” There was a brief pause through the crystal communicator. Then the pack steward cleared her throat. “Understood, Luna Liora. To confirm, you are releasing the manor fully? Are there wolves residing there who must be informed?” I breathed out slowly. “Yes. Three of them, Alden, Draven and Selene. They have shared the den with me for many cycles. I want formal notice delivered after I leave the territory and must go back to the pack.” She hesitated. “Are there any binding agreements?” “No,” I replied without emotion. “They stayed without offering moon-credits. It was never meant to be lasting.” The manor had been gifted by my Alpha parents when I first entered the Lunar Academy. A quiet stone dwelling meant for one wolf became a shared den when Alden and Draven followed me into Mooncrown. Selene joined one cycle later, after my parents took her into our bloodline. I had begged for independence, for the chance to live freely, away from the shadow of Obsidian Fang Pack duties and clan power. They warned me. They feared I would be hurt. But I had been blinded by love for Alden, by loyalty to Draven, by the dream of a chosen pack that would never break. Back then, nothing mattered more than being together beneath the same roof. Now, everything I built had fallen apart. “I want an account prepared,” I added to the pack steward. “All unpaid shelter dues for the last four cycles. Written clearly. If they cannot pay, begin removal rites.” “Understood,” she answered. “The parchments will be handled quietly and the manor will be opened to buyers.” I nodded. “Thank you.” I ended our conversation and activated another rune on my crystal communicator, contacting my pack steward. “I want all my belongings traded,” I said. “Furnishings. Tools. Everything is still inside.” “Everything on it?” he asked. “Yes. I will take nothing.” The connection ended, yet I remained standing. I looked around the manor, my manor, for the final time. The air felt still, heavy, as if the walls themselves knew I was leaving. The place that once echoed with laughter now held only quiet. I walked through the common hall slowly, my fingers brushing the stone bench where we once gathered during feast nights. The worn mark where Selene always sat was still there. So was the cracked table edge Draven caused when he stumbled after training. Even the crystal image on the wall, our first cycle together after the Academy, still reflected smiling wolves I no longer recognized. I remembered cooking late at night with Alden, burning the first loaf and laughing as we ate it anyway. I remembered card games at the table, wagers over who would patrol next. I remembered believing this den was more than stone; it was home. I had built my small world here. Now it was only a resting place for ghosts. For a moment, I wished it could have been saved. That perhaps, if I had endured longer, things would have changed. But no. I had endured long enough. With a steady breath, I whispered farewell to the den and to the Luna who once believed love alone could bind a pack. I lifted my travel case, left the manor and did not turn back. I took shelter at a Moonrest Inn beyond the inner territory, only until my skybound griffin departed. No goodbyes. No explanations. Only silence. It was not peace yet, but it was closer than I had felt in many cycles. I was sipping warm herb brew in the Moonrest chamber when my crystal communicator pulsed. Alden: [What is happening? Why are pack workers taking our things?] I waited before answering, letting confusion settle. Then I sent back a simple message. I answered, [That would be the removal notice.] Moments later, Alden mindlinked me. I answered. “What madness is this?” Alden demanded. “Removal? Why are they here? Is this some trick?” “I am selling the manor,” I replied calmly. “The parchments were sealed this morning.” “You cannot do that! I am your Alpha, your mate!” he roared. “We never agreed!” “I do not require your approval,” I said coldly. “It belongs to me, not under Stormfang Pack territory, but in Mooncrown. You have never given moon-credits. Not for shelter. Not for light runes. Not even for shared meals.” Silence followed, thick and sharp. Then he growled, “You are overreacting again. Come back, Liora. We can fix this.” “There is nothing left to fix,” I said, standing by the window as rain washed the lantern lights below. “I am finished. With all of you.” “You do not mean that.” “I have meant it for many moons.” I ended the call. No shouting. No pleading. Only the quiet hum of the crystal was fading. I looked at the communicator once more, then stared to the single name that still mattered.

I was not leaving the Mooncrown without a farewell, just not the kind they expected. Before taking the skybound griffin that would carry me away, I had one final place to visit. One last knot to sever, clean and without mercy. Ending a bond did not always come with kindness. Sometimes it came like a blade, cold, sharp and silent. That was the severing bond I chose. Selene. She was still staying inside the Healer Sanctum of the Mooncrown, said to be “recovering.” I doubted most of it. With her, pain was often exaggerated, shaped to draw pity. She had always known how to twist truth until it cried. I walked through the stone passageway of the sanctum, the sound of my boots echoing with each step. It felt like a countdown. Every pace brought me closer to freedom. My hand tightened around what I carried, a bundle wrapped in dark cloth, the flowers inside as black as night. Black roses. They fit perfectly. Flowers of parting. Of endings. Not death of flesh, but death of bonds, lies and the past I once believed in. When I reached her chamber, the door was slightly open. I looked inside and everything became clear. Selene was not resting in bed as the Alpha and Beta claimed. She was not bound by healing charms or lying weak. She stood before a mirror, humming softly, swaying as if listening to her own tune. Her healer’s robe slipped from one shoulder. Bare feet touched the floor lightly. She was dancing. I allowed myself a small smile before knocking once and pushing the door open. She turned, startled, her face twisting when she saw me. “What are you here?” she demanded, her voice cold and uneasy. I stepped inside calmly. “I came to leave something behind.” I held out the black roses. Under the lantern glow, they looked almost unreal. “I heard you were in pain. Yet you seem quite well.” Her eyes dropped to the flowers, narrowing. “Black roses? Are you mocking me?” “I thought they suited the moment,” I replied lightly. “And your act.” She scoffed. “You’ve lost your mind.” “No,” I said, moving closer. “I finally opened my eyes. I used to think I was the one seeking attention. But it was never me. It was always you.” She crossed her arms, the robe slipping lower. “So what? They chose me. You can’t accept that.” There it was. Her truth. Simple and cruel. “You envy me,” she said. “Once, perhaps,” I answered without flinching. “Not now. I didn’t come to argue. I came to say farewell.” Her brow twitched. “Farewell?” “You can keep them,” I said plainly. “Alden. Draven. All of it. I’ve already moved forward. I have another bond waiting.” She burst into laughter, sharp and mocking, the kind that once tore at my confidence. “Don’t tell me you’re truly entering a Moonbond Ceremony,” she sneered. “You?” Her words dripped poison. “Who would claim you as a mate? You are cold. Hard. Demanding. You are not Luna material. You are wearing around the neck.” I smiled. Small. Controlled. Burning. “Maybe,” I said. “But I remain a she-wolf with an Alpha blood of Obsidian Fang Pack. I still carry a bloodline. A name. A pack that wanted me, not one that took me out of pity.” Her color drained. “And let this be clear,” I continued, stepping close enough for her to smell my scent, “everything you have, the sanctum, their care, your place, exists because I brought you in. I shielded you. Fed you. Gave you a den. And you repaid me by trying to replace me as Luna.” She opened her mouth, but I was finished listening. I dropped the roses onto her lap. “Recover well,” I said calmly and turned away. Right on cue, the sobbing began. Loud. Broken. Crafted for sympathy. She had always been skilled at that, using tears like armor. I did not look back. I left her chamber and walked into the passageway, ready to leave all of it behind. Ready to breathe air free of betrayal. But fate was predictable. Heavy footsteps rushed toward me. Draven. Alden. “Liora!” Draven growled, gripping my arm. “What did you say to her?” “Why is she sobbing like that?” Alden demanded, breath tight, eyes darting to the room, then to the flowers. “Black roses? Are you provoking us?” I looked at them. Their faces, angry, defensive, blind. Always ready to guard her. Always ready to turn me into the enemy. Again. I slowly removed Draven’s hand from my arm. “No,” I said quietly. Then I smiled. Not the smile they knew. The smile of a Luna who had already walked away. “I wish death upon you all.”

“I am wishing death upon you all.” Alden’s face turned cold. “You do not mean do such things.” “I do,” I replied without warmth. “Everything I said.” “You have lost yourself,” he growled. “Do you think this is right? Calling for death because your heart is cold?” I turned away. I had said what I came to say. There was nothing more left between us. “Apologize to her,” Alden ordered suddenly. “Now.” I stopped. A short laugh slipped from me. “For what? For speaking what is true?” “You made her weep again. You always do this, making things into chaos just to feel powerful.” I did not answer. I walked on, each step heavy. Then his hand closed around my arm. Rough. Tight. “Release me,” I said, pulling back. “No. We are not finished.” His grip hardened, dragging me toward him. My heart raced, my wolf stirring in warning. “Alden, let go.” He did not. He never did when he believed he ruled me. I twisted, trying to break free, but with his Alpha strength, I could not. So I ran. I tore myself from his grasp using the Alpha blood running in me, shoved past him and fled down with my wolf speed the stone passageway. I did not care where my feet carried me. I only needed distance. Then my boot caught the edge of the stairs. The world spun. The fall came fast. Darkness swallowed me whole. I woke to a clean scent and low rune-humming. White stone above. My body ached, but it was whole. A healer entered, her face calm. “You have awakened,” she said gently. “You are fortunate you have an Alpha blood. No broken bones, only heavy bruises. You must rest.” I blinked. “Was… anyone here with me?” She tilted her head. “You do not recall?” “I thought there was… a man. Perhaps I dreamed it.” “You did not. A man named Kaegan brought you to the Mooncrown Healer Sanctum. Paid most of the healing cost. Stayed beside you through the night.” My chest tightened. “Kaegan…” “Yes,” she nodded. “And he nearly fought two wolves who tried to enter. One with brown eyes, one taller. He ordered them away. They obeyed.” My breath caught. “Did he leave word?” “No,” she said softly. “He departed at dawn. Said you would understand.” I did not. And yet… I did. Kaegan. Appearing when no one else did. Watching from the shadows. Protecting without asking. Who was he? Why hide? The healer left and I remained alone. As always. Cycles ago, the two wolves would have run to me for the smallest wound. I remembered the cycle in which I twisted my ankle during a clan trek. Alden had reached me first, lifted me without question and carried me down the mountain. “You are not just anyone,” he had said that night, pressing cold herbs to my ankle. “You are my mate. I will always come first.” He kissed my brow. I believed him. Draven, too, once crept into my chamber when fever took me. He stayed until moonfall, feeding me broth, distracting me with old tales. “Luna,” he whispered, brushing my hair back, “even if the pack turns on you, I will not.” They brought me sunflowers. Alden said they matched my smile. Draven once carved a rune-charm for me, swearing to add to it every cycle we stayed close. “You will never be alone,” he promised, looping his finger with mine. But now, they ran to Selene. She coughed and they wrapped her in furs. She sneezed and they brewed herbs. I lay bruised in the sanctum, heartbroken, bond torn. No flowers. No charms. No comfort. Only silence. I was once their center. Now I was nothing. No mindlink calls. No crystal messages. Not even a knock. I was a closed tale to them. By late light, I decided. I signed my release parchments myself, ignoring the healer’s concern. I would not wait in another chamber for wolves who would never come. My travel pack waited at the Moonrest Inn. I left without ceremony, secured passage on the next skybound griffin, even if rushed. I could not stay. Not another breath. My crystal communicator pulsed. Draven: [Where are you? Why did you leave? You are still hurt. If harm comes to you, do not blame us.] I did not answer. Another pulse. Not to another third mindlinked. Then Alden's name showed. Alden: [Where are you? Who is the wolf that stayed beside you all night? Is he your mate? Have you betrayed me? You are filth. How long have you been cheating on our bond? You’re shameless. You’ll regret this.] I read every word calmly. Then I sent one reply. [Do not worry. You will receive notice of our Moonbond Ceremony soon.] Without pause, I severed the connection. The call to gather sounded through the travel grounds. I stood and tightened my grip on my travel seal. As I stepped onto the skybound griffin, I did not look back. Because at last, I was bound to begin with my new life.