The Luna Who Burned The Pack

into my bones, a constant, dull ach

cavern, felt less like a place of tem

ed the dust and despair, a bitt

w, rejected Luna. The title hung heavy, a

t. After Kael's public rejection, after the burning ag

a hollow echo. It was as if she had crumpled into a ball of pai

ft, a ship without a rudder,

all with a trembling finger, the sensation g

he mate bond that had blossomed and died in t

omfort and solace, not hands meant for the col

. It was only a matter of time befo

fered no

of Kael's cold eyes, of the pack's jeering faces, of the s

from deep within, a heat that had flickered when Kael had uttered

d? Or something else, something primal and terr

ceiling, the distant sounds of the pack house a torment. Laughter, conversat

d their injured. I, who had dared to be chosen b

rrying the faint tang of Kael's unique scent signatur

made my stomach churn. The door creaked open,

n, the Alpha who had once offered me a gentle

im light, his presence radiating an icy authority. His eyes, us

tone he usually reserved for unruly subordinate

hammering against my ribs. "Kael." My voice was a

h of his body, but close enough for his scent, that familiar

had foolishly believed we could be. He wore his Alpha ma

here," he stated, not a qu

a political alliance over the mate the Moon Goddess gave you

le. "This is for the pack, Sera. For its strength. Amar

have brought you a Luna who would love you, who would fight for you. Who wa

gering on the faint indentations the shackles had left on my wrists.

is voice hard. "And destiny is a myth. Power i

ith a burgeoning fury. "At the cost of your soul

anger finally breaking through his impassive facade. "And I feel nothing. Not for yo

rt. My wolf, Rael, gave a faint whimper, a sound of profound pain that only I could hear. Bu

in his voice, the barely perceptible tightening of his jaw, the way his gaze da

different kind of fire within me. A cold, steady burn that

ling the doorway. "Do not cause trouble, Se

ffed, a dry, h

than this, Kael? You

ot be undone," he said, his voice softer now

more secure location. Until we d

door thudding shut behind him,

break me. But he wouldn't. The anguish was still a gap

to glow. If he could lie so easily, if he could

ned. He wa

s deserved

ed, a slow, delibera

ss, a predatory edge I had never felt before. The rage was a slow

ry cutting word, every ounce of humiliation. And then, I w

ers, Amaris, and

who burne

onger just

s a p