Luna’s Last Laugh

Chapter Two: Thrown to the Wolves

Lila’s POV

“What’s your name, klutz?” Kael Draven’s voice hits me like a punch, low and dangerous, as he stalks closer. I’m scrambling backward, my sandals slipping on the polished floor of the Gala hall. Dude’s towering over me like a freaking skyscraper, and I’ve never felt so damn short.

His vibe? Pure menace, like the air’s choking on his intensity. My skin’s buzzing, though, and it’s not just fear. There’s this weird spark when he’s this close mate bond or me losing my mind? No clue, but it’s messing with my head. His dark eyes are practically carving me up, one eyebrow jacked up when I don’t answer fast enough.

“Hey, I asked you something,” he snaps, all cold and unbothered, like I’m a bug he’s deciding whether to squash.

“Lila Thorn,” I mumble, taking another step back. I nearly crash into a waitress juggling a tray of drinks. She yelps, and I’m about to eat the floor when Kael’s hand shoots out, yanking me by the wrist.

“Watch it!” he hisses, his grip like iron. ZAP! That spark hits again like I stuck a fork in a socket. I breathe, breaking free my hand. My heart was pounding heavily. His eyes popped out for some seconds, as if he felt what I felt, however, his face twisted into an unknown like he was all out for my throat.

“Kael Draven,” he says, out of nowhere, like I asked.

I am still trying to figure out why he is actually telling me his name. He grabs my hand again, this time harder. But before I could say jack, his thick voice pierced through the thin air.

“I, Kael Draven, reject you, Lila Thorn, as my mate and Luna.”

Everything instantly stopped for a split second. My brain’s buffering, like, what in the actual Grok world?! Gasps rippled through the crowd. Every eye in the hall is on me, pity dripping from their stares. I’m frozen, my chest caving in. Did I just meet my mate… and get dumped in front of the whole damn pack?

No, no, no. This ain’t just a meeting. It’s a rejection. My mate the one I’ve been dreaming about, the one who’s supposed to love me, fight for me, see me, just yeeted me like I’m trash. Tears burn my eyes, spilling over before I can stop them.

“Why?” I choke out, my voice is all shaky and pathetic. “Why’re you doing this?”

This can’t be real. I’ve been waiting my whole life for a mate to fix everything, love me, wake my wolf, and make me whole. And now this? Moon Goddess, are you kidding me? This better be some twisted prank before the real deal shows up, ‘cause I can’t be the sad-sack rejected mate forever.

Kael’s grip tightens, his eyes blazing like I’m an i***t for even asking. “You serious right now?” he snarls. “Look at you, Lila. You’re a damn breeze—one puff, and you’re gone. The Moon Goddess must’ve been drunk when she paired me with a weak-ass wolf like you.”

His words stab me, each one a jagged knife to the heart. I’m sobbing now, ugly-crying in front of everyone, but I can’t stop.

“What’s a pathetic she-wolf like you gonna bring to my pack?” he keeps going, venom dripping. “You as my Luna? My legacy’d be a freaking joke. You’d tank everything I’ve built. So do us both a favor accept the rejection, and we pretend this dumpster fire never happened.”

I want the floor to swallow me whole. My heart’s in pieces, and the crowd’s whispers are like salt in the wound. Accept the rejection? But how the goodness am I supposed to do it when I am wolfless, how can I seal the deal?

“Uhm…I can't.” I whimper, looking at my scuffed shoes. I could barely look at him, his eyes were too intimidating for me.

“What can't you?” He yells, walking closer to me. “Spit it out, Lila.”

“I…I can't accept your rejection.” I barely spoke. “I don't even have a Wolf. Not yet actually.” I added.

He freezes, then lets out this harsh, “You’ve gotta be shitting me.” He drops my hand like it’s diseased, raking his fingers through his hair. “A girl with no wolf? What the hell am I supposed to do with that? The Moon Goddess screwed me over.”

“I thought…” I stammer, my voice cracking. “I thought our mate bond might, like, kickstart my wolf. That’s what I was hoping.”

Keal laughed so hard, cold and like shards of broken glasses. “You what, wow, that's the dumbest thing I have ever heard in my entire life. You’re useless, Lila. Always will be. So listen up, ‘cause I’m only saying this once: stay the hell out of my sight. Forever. Got it?”

I’m shaking, tears streaming, my whole body screaming from the pain. This isn’t just rejection it’s humiliation. My mate’s tearing me apart in front of the entire pack, and I don’t know what I did to deserve this. Why’s the universe so damn cruel?

Out of nowhere, Mom storms through the crowd, her emerald dress swishing like she’s ready to throw hands. Her eyes are blazing, and she plants herself between me and Kael, like a mama bear ready to maul.

“Alpha or not, how dare you talk to my daughter like that?” she snaps, not giving a single crap about his rep. “You think you can make my Lila cry and walk away? Think again!”

Kael’s lip curls, all smug and pissed. “And who the hell are you?”

“Her mother,” Mom fires back, chin high. “And I’m not standing here while you drag my girl through the mud.”

He snorts, looking her up and down like she’s dirt. “You’re proud of this? Raising a weakling like her? That’s just sad.”

A growl rumbles through the hall, low and deadly. For a hot second, I think it’s Kael, but nope—it’s Dad. My heart leaps. Is he finally, finally sticking up for me? I hold my breath, daring to hope, until he opens his mouth.

“Alpha,” Dad roars, stomping forward, “I don’t give a damn if you reject my daughter. She’s weak fine. But you don’t get to insult my mate.”

My hope shatters, crashing into a million pieces. Stupid, stupid Lila. Of course, Dad’s not here for me. He’s defending Mom, not his “disappointment” of a daughter. Tears flood my eyes again, and I’m drowning in them.

Kael smirks, all cocky. “No offense, Beta, but how’d a guy like you strong, badass end up with a kid this pathetic? Doesn’t add up.”

Dad’s jaw tightens, and his words gut me. “Trust me, I’d reject her as my daughter if I could. She’s a curse I can’t shake.”

That’s it. I can’t take another second of this. My mate hates me. My dad wishes I didn’t exist. The whole pack’s watching me break, and I’m done. I spin on my heel, ignoring Mom yelling my name, and bolt out of the hall. My sandals slap the floor, tears blurring everything as I shove through the crowd.

I’ve gotta get out away from Kael, away from Dad, away from this nightmare. But as I hit the cool night air, a shadow moves in the trees beyond the hall. Red eyes glow in the dark and a snarl that snarl from before rips through the silence. It’s closer now, and it’s coming for me.