The moonbound Luna's revenge

~Aurella

"Wake up, lazybones!" Selene practically screeched, snatching my blanket away like she actually enjoyed ruining my morning peace. Seriously, she must get some kind of thrill from this-maybe there's a club for people who love dragging others out of bed at ungodly hours.

I let out a noise that was probably supposed to be a groan, but sounded more like the wail of a dying animal. Flopped my arm over my eyes, not ready to face the world or the blinding sunlight pouring in. "Seriously, just five more minutes," I grumbled, my voice buried somewhere in the depths of my pillow. Not that I actually believed she'd let me have them. With Selene, 'five more minutes' was basically code for 'your suffering amuses me, so no dice.'

No luck. Her cold fingers found my wrist and gave it a firm tug. "Nope. No hiding today. The sun's up, and so is your fate. You're not sleeping through your own bonding."

Her voice was bright, teasing, and too cheerful for how fast my heart was thumping.

I peeked at her from under the pillow. "I don't know, Selene. I feel... off."

She tilted her head, her grin faltering just a little. "Of course you do. You're about to be bonded to Alpha Caden. The most powerful alpha in the region. Anyone would be anxious." She squeezed my hand. "But your wolf's humming with happiness. That says everything."

Maybe she was right. Maybe my nerves were normal. Still, I couldn't shake the strange flutter in my stomach. Something felt... out of sync.

But I let her pull me up anyway. My bare feet met the wooden floor - cold, grounding.

Selene reached for the white dress draped over the chair and held it out with a little flourish. "Ta-da."

"I picked this one," I whispered, brushing my fingers along the satin. It was soft and smooth like water, pure as moonlight. "I thought he'd like it."

"He's going to lose his mind when he sees you," Selene said with a grin as she stepped behind me to do my hair. Her fingers moved with familiar ease, twisting my dark strands into a neat bun. "You're going to look like the goddess herself."

Outside, the forest waited, quiet and golden under the sinking sun. Twilight painted the sky in streaks of amber and rose. Everything looked beautiful. Perfect.

But inside me, something twisted. Something I couldn't name.

Tonight, I will become Alpha Caden's mate. Tonight, I will become Luna.

So why did it feel like something was about to shatter?

The bonding ceremony would begin at twilight.

The forest held its breath. The moon hung low and full, casting a silver veil over the earth. The trees stood still, as if they sensed what was coming. The grass beneath my feet was damp with dew, soft and cold against my bare skin.

I stood in silence.

Caden waited ahead, tall and imposing, his dark eyes unreadable. Moonlight caught the angles of his face-his strong jaw, the sharp lines that had once made my heart flutter. Tonight, he looked carved from stone.

I had chosen this spot, thinking it would be romantic. He always said he loved the woods. I thought it meant something.

I wore my best dress. White, flowing, elegant-it shimmered beneath the moon like stardust. My wolf purred, sensing her mate nearby. My heart beat with hope.

Inside the nearby lodge, the pack waited. A tense silence spread through the trees, heavy as fog.

Then-

A deep, guttural roar split the night.

The earth seemed to tremble beneath it.

Caden's voice thundered through the clearing. My heart stopped.

He stepped forward. Slowly. Purposefully. His eyes locked onto mine-and there was nothing in them.

Not warmth.

Not love.

Nothing.

"I, Alpha Caden of MoonStar, reject you, Aurella."

The words cracked through me like a whip.

Gasps filled the air, but they were distant echoes. My wolf howled inside me, a raw, grieving cry. Something burned across my wrist-my mark. Then it vanished. Gone.

My knees buckled. I crumpled to the ground, fingers digging into dirt I couldn't feel.

"No," I whispered. "No, no-this isn't happening. You marked me. You claimed me!"

Tears blurred my vision as I looked up at him.

Caden didn't even blink.

"The moon goddess corrected our path," he said flatly.

My chest heaved. "What does that mean?"

"She is my true mate," he said. He didn't point. He didn't need to.

Selene stepped forward, curls bouncing, lips parted in a mock-sweet smile.

"I didn't ask for this," she said, shrugging like it was out of her hands. "But the goddess always knows."

My voice cracked. "You're my best friend."

Her eyes sparkled. "I was. But maybe the goddess thinks I'm more."

I looked at Caden. "I gave you everything. I stood beside you. I bled for you."

His face remained still. "It was never your place."

I couldn't breathe.

"You want me to accept this?" I said, rising shakily to my feet. "That you've torn out my soul and handed it to her?"

Caden stepped closer. "I did what I had to do."

"You're a coward," I spat, voice trembling with rage.

His aura flared, dark and dangerous. "Watch your tongue."

"I was your Luna," I said. "And you're discarding me for a lie."

Selene folded her arms. "You sound like a rogue. Maybe that's what you are now."

My blood boiled. "You betrayed me, Selene. I hope that mark burns every time he touches you."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. The warriors stiffened. Elders exchanged wary glances.

Then Caden's voice cut through the tension.

"Guards. Take her to the cliff."

Silence.

"To be thrown."

My body froze.

"No..." I whispered, backing away. "No. No, you can't-"

"Do it," Caden growled. "She no longer belongs to this pack."

The guards advanced. I screamed, backing into the trees, heart pounding.

"Stay away from me!" I cried, thrashing as hands grabbed my arms. "This is wrong! You know it's wrong!"

No one helped. Not one soul moved.

I kicked. I fought. I screamed until my voice cracked. They dragged me through the forest, my dress catching on thorns, my hair unraveling, my dignity shredded with every step.

We reached the cliff. The crashing waves echoed from far below.

Once, this was our spot. A sacred place of whispered promises.

Now, it would be my grave.

"Caden!" I screamed. "Please! You don't have to do this."

He didn't flinch. His eyes were cold.

Then he nodded.

The guards pushed me forward. My feet slipped on the wet grass.

The wind roared in my ears. My pulse thundered.

I turned back one last time.

"I will make you regret this," I said. My voice was small-but every word was sharp with fury.

He stayed silent.

Selene stepped beside him, her hand sliding into his.

Smiling.

"You took everything from me," I said to her. "One day, I'll take everything from you."

The guards hesitated.

Then Caden stepped forward.

He didn't speak.

He shoved me.

The world tilted. Wind screamed past my ears. My body spun. My heart stopped.

I clutched the necklace my mother gave me. A final anchor.

And then-

Nothing.

Just the cold.

The pain.

The silence.

"Goodbye, my Luna," I heard him say.