THE REBORN LUNA

While I Was Bleeding Out, He Lit Lanterns For Her

Katie Oettgen

As I lay on the floor of our manor, bleeding out from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, I used my last ounce of strength to call my husband, Cole. I begged him for help, my vision blurring. But the only thing I heard was the clinking of champagne glasses and his mistress's giggle in the background. "Stop the drama, June," Cole snapped, his voice cold. "We're about to go on stage. Don't call again." He hung up, leaving me to die alone on the Persian rug while he accepted an award with another woman on his arm. I woke up in the hospital days later. My baby was gone. They had removed my fallopian tube. Cole finally arrived, smelling of expensive scotch and his mistress's perfume. He didn't hug me. He didn't cry. Instead, he leaned over my hospital bed, pressing his knee into the mattress until my fresh stitches tore open and bled. "You embarrassed me by calling an ambulance," he hissed. "My mistress, Alycia, says you're faking it. Clean yourself up." He left me bleeding again to go announce a $10 million donation to Alycia's "groundbreaking" medical research. I stared at the TV screen, numb. The research Alycia was taking credit for? It was mine. I wrote that patent years ago under a pseudonym. They thought I was just a poor, orphan housewife who needed Cole's money to survive. They had no idea I was actually a billionaire scientist hiding my identity. I pulled the IV needle out of my arm. A drop of blood fell onto the divorce papers I had been hiding. I didn't wipe it off. I signed my name right over it. Then I walked into the bank, reactivated my dormant account with $128 million, and bought the penthouse directly overlooking Cole's house. The mourning widow is dead. The avenger is born.

Romance Crime Revenge Pregnancy Enemies to Lovers Pregnancy Personal Growth

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Ellen furrowed her brows as she walked toward the training area. She truly hated training with the other wolves, as most of them were pure-blooded, and she always felt awkward running in her human form alongside the pure she-wolves.

"Ahhhhh... ah... h..."

The heavy crash of something large hitting the ground snapped her out of her daze, dragging her back to reality.

"What just fell?" she asked, not directing the question to anyone in particular. She turned her head but saw nothing, so she slowly faced forward again and fixed her gaze on the path ahead.

Soon, flames engulfed the entire surroundings, and her breath hitched as she turned sharply behind her and saw that the pack houses were burning.

"Mom! Dad!" she screamed, her voice cracking as she bolted toward her home. Maybe the fire hadn't reached inside yet, maybe her parents were still safe, or perhaps they were even searching for her. All these questions stormed her mind, yet none had answers.

She ran with everything she had until she suddenly halted when she saw two silhouettes standing along the narrow path that led to her house. She couldn't tell if they were men or women, but she was certain they were two in number. Slowly and cautiously, she pressed herself against the wall beside them and crept closer, lowering herself into a squat to catch a glimpse of what they were saying.

To her surprise, the moment she squatted, the two figures split and went in separate directions, as though they had sensed her presence.

Her heart pounded violently, and she was about to stand when she heard the heavy footsteps of running wolves. When she looked at them, they didn't feel like pack warriors to her-they felt like strangers. Dangerous strangers.

She watched them run past and disappear into the distance before slowly rising to her feet again. Fear, unease, and disquiet settled deep within her chest as the anguished wailing of omegas echoed through the air.

She felt that same agony might become hers if she continued heading home, but on second thought, she knew that if she left the pack without knowing whether her parents were alive, she would live forever with guilt, pain, and regret.

"Alpha, I have bad news."

A man's voice cut through the chaos, freezing her in her tracks. She quickly looked around for somewhere to hide and finally spotted a trash can that could conceal her. She slipped behind it and crouched low as she listened.

"What news? Speak," the Alpha said in a sharp, commanding tone that made Ellen shiver.

"I discovered that we don't only have Micheal to deal with. There's someone else," the man replied.

"And who might that be?" the Alpha asked, his voice rising slightly.

"I found out he has a daughter, one he's been hiding from everyone-even his own pack doesn't know about her."

"The girl... where is she?" the Alpha asked, his tone now calm but dangerous.

"I believe she's among the omegas in his pack, or perhaps hidden wherever his son was sent."

"Alpha Damien, I think they've got support," the Beta mind-linked to him.

"Zach, you may leave. I'll call you when we're done," the Alpha said. Without waiting for a reply, the man ran off, shifting into his wolf mid-motion. Moments later, the other followed in a different direction.

Ellen remained still for a few seconds before standing up and running again, faster than before. She had to reach her parents before the fire consumed everything.

Her mom... her dad...

She suddenly halted again as realization struck her-her little brother had gone to the Alpha's mansion that morning. Without hesitation, she turned and sprinted in the opposite direction toward the Alpha's mansion, the only building untouched by flames.

She walked past the gate, surprised to see no guards present. With determination, she approached the house, slowing down when she heard the clear sobbing of a child.

"Where is Micheal?" a man demanded.

"I-I don't know! I'm telling the truth! He just asked me to read some books from his library, then he left! I also-"

A loud slap echoed, cutting him off. The sound was harsh, landing across both cheeks, and Ellen's body trembled. The voice sounded like her brother's, but she refused to believe it.

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