The Rejected Luna's Return

Lyra's POV "I, Alpha Kade Thorn, reject you, Lyra Blackwood, as my mate and Luna." The words shattered something deep inside me into pieces. The bond we shared for long, the sacred bond which I thought was unbreakable due to the connection between fated mates which we are but then he is tearing it apart like a thread snapping in a storm right before me without any remorse for it. My chest was pierced badly, and the excruciating ache in me was so intense and unforgiving that I had to stumble back to process these words. The entire Thorn Pack watched in silence. Some pitied me while I could hear murmurs from others. The smirks on their faces could tell. And then there was her, Sienna Blackwood, my own sister standing beside Kade, my lover and mate. I could see the victorious smile playing on her lips as she looked around waving to the people. I gasped for air, I was suffocating. Inside of me, my wolf, Astra, moaned and clawed frantically at the space where Kade had been like I should tear him apart. But he was no longer mine, In fact, he never was mine. I forced myself to meet Kade’s eyes; maybe I could see the emotions that had always been there, but guess what? They were gone! His expression was cold, unreadable. I wanted to scream, to demand an answer, but my pride refused to let me beg him. He made his choice. “Why?” My voice barely came out as a whisper but I held it back as further would attract tears. Kade’s lips pressed into a thin line as he stared at me. For a brief moment, something flickered in his gaze hesitation? Guilt? No. Kade Thorn didn’t feel guilt. "You’re weak, Lyra. I need a Luna who can stand beside me," he said flatly, turning towards my sister. A cruel laugh slipped from Sienna’s lips. "Face it, sister. You were never meant to be an Alpha’s mate. But don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Kade for you." The crowd erupted into murmurs and other laughter; I could see their piercing glance at me. Some whispered that I should fight for my position. Others murmured that Kade’s decision was final. But none of them truly cared which I knew. I clenched my fists, and I could see I was burning. Weak? No. I had survived too much to be weak. A bitter truth settled in my bones. This wasn’t about love. This was about power. And if I knew Kade, he wouldn’t have thrown me away unless he had something to fear. He couldn't say I wasn't fit for him while for the past 2 years, he never said so; why suddenly? I barely managed to stand right after experiencing a severe nausea attack, a sharp pain twisted in my stomach as my hand instinctively went to my lower abdomen, holding it tightly. No. Not now. Not here. I swallowed hard, trying to pretend to be okay, but realizing it was slamming into me like a tidal wave. The rejection bond had masked it, but now, the truth was undeniable for me. I was carrying his child; I wanted to announce that today to him after the mate bond, but not any longer. From where I stood, I could feel the world blurring before me. My wolf howled in despair. If Kade knew, he would never let me leave. Not out of love, but because he would never give up control over his heir and I won't stay because of that. I had to go. I turned away from the hallway and ran. No one stopped me. No one called after me; I could hear laughter from both my sister and the pack members who were taunting me, but I refused to turn back. The cool darkness enveloped me as I dashed into the woods, my breath breathless. Where would I go? Who could I trust? I knew no one here. A strong rustle in the woods caused me to freeze; I heard a deep snarl that echoed across the darkness. I turned slowly and right before me. I saw glowing red eyes staring back at me. It was the rogues I barely had time to shift before they launched over me. Teeth tore at my shoulder as the pain seared through me, making me groan in pain. I had to fight back, with my claws slashing any of them, but I was outnumbered. I had already been weakened by the rejection My strength was fading faster than expected A growl echoed across the air. A swirl of motion. A scent, dark, smoky, lethal, wrapped around me. The rogues fell one by one, each killed by a warrior more ruthless than any I would have seen before. I gasped for breath as I lay down there, blood dripping down my arm, as the stranger stepped forward towards me. Moonlight illuminated his face, and my breath caught in my throat on seeing his face. He had piercing silver eyes that stared at me like a predator assessing its prey, and he was tall and unnaturally powerful. Despite the fact that his arms were scarred from innumerable injuries, it was his aura that chilled me. I knew who he was. Darius Nightbane. The exiled prince of the Shadowfang Pack. The Alpha who had disappeared years ago, presumed dead. I heard the story then. And now, he was standing before me as my savior. He was kneeling next to me, his fingertips grazing my cheek with blood, and his lips curled into a slow sneer. "You’re a long way from home, little Luna," he murmured. Terror and exhaustion threatened to pull me under, but before I could react, darkness swallowed me whole as I was suffocating pleading for help. The last thing I felt was Darius’s strong arms lifting me from the ground as I wrapped my hands around his neck. I wasn’t safe nor even in his hands as I felt some unwanted bond between us.