The last of the Lunaris

ELIRA’S POV “I, Alpha Kael Varryn…” The butterflies in my stomach did silly dances that made me want to throw up. The smoke from the fire burning in the middle of the courtyard rose and evaporated high into the night. Its orange light danced over all our faces. It was the mating ceremony night. The whole pack stood in a wide circle around us, watching and waiting. I stood in the center. My fingers pressed into my dress. It was the best dress I had kept for special moments like this. I smoothed it again, even though I had already done it too many times. My palms were warm. I was breathing fast from excitement. Kael stood tall across from me. The firelight touched his face. His jaw was tight as usual, his shoulders straight, and his eyes were focused on me. “...reject you, Elira Vale, as my mate.” It took a minute before my brain could process what he said. The smile on my face froze and my eyes widened in realization. Shocked, is an understatement because I was beyond shocked. I felt like a sharp dagger was poking my heart, clawing at it with so much intensity that I almost collapsed. I took one foot out to keep myself steady. A gasp erupted from the crowd. At that moment, I just wished that the ground would open and swallow me or that a great earthquake would happen and scatter the gathering. I would gladly embrace whatever catastrophe that'll happen except this. This…this has to be the biggest embarrassment of my life. I watched as Kael looked at me with confidence in his eyes, like he was proud of what he had said, as if he'd say it again if given the opportunity. Earlier on, Elder Magnus had stepped into the ring, his robes catching the fire light. He was old enough that his voice had a permanent rasp, but it still carried. He had raised his wooden staff and had hit it on the ground with a sharp crack. “Tonight, he had announced. “We witness the union blessed by the Moon Goddess, a union of two souls to be bonded into one. Everywhere had been silent that a knife could cut through the silence. Elder Magnus gestured for I and Kael to step forward. My feet obeyed before I could tell them to. We stood close facing each other. We were so close that I caught a whiff of his usual clean and sharp smell of pine after rain. I opened my mouth. “Kael," I whispered and gave a little smile. He said nothing. I didn't give it much thought. Elder Magnus extended his hands toward us. "Alpha Kael Varryn. Do you stand before the Moon Goddess, your pack, and your destined mate, prepared to seal the sacred bond?” I waited eagerly for Kael to respond. But the silence stretched and he still didn't reply. “Kael," I called. At once I saw his body stiffened. It happened so fast that I almost missed it. He stepped back. I froze. “Kael,” I called. He didn't answer. He didn't even spare me any glance. “What is it?" I asked softly. At this point, the crowd murmured. They had noticed it too. I couldn't hear what they were saying. I didn't care. I was more worried about Kael and wanted him to talk to me. Elder Magnus cleared his throat. "Alpha?” "Kael," I called again, the smile still plastered on my face. I blinked to fight back the tears threatening to fall. He opened his mouth. That was when he dropped the heartbreaking words. I, Alpha Kael Varryn, reject you, Elira Vale, as my mate. The words still echoed in my head. The murmurings in the crowd became clearer now. "What did he say…?” “Did the Alpha just…?” “He can't…” “No way…” My ears rang. My lips parted, but no sound came out. I just stood there and stared at Kael. I finally summoned courage and took a step towards him. “You… what?” My voice cracked. He didn't move nor look away. " I reject you,” he repeated. My chest tightened so much that I found it difficult to breathe. “Why? Did I do anything wrong?” My voice shook as I tried to calm myself. Kael’s gaze flickered over me from my face… down to my hands… then back up. He narrowed his eyes on me. I looked back at him, confused. Elder Magnus moved forward. “Alpha, please explain yourself.” Kael kept his eyes on me. "There is nothing to explain.” My throat went dry. I swallowed. “Surely, there is," I said, trying so hard to keep my voice from breaking there and then. “There has to be…" “She's sick." A firm voice stated. Suddenly, there was an uproar in the crowd. My head snapped towards the direction of the voice. It was Lyra. I stared in disbelief. She came out from where she was and stood near the elders. She smirked at me and gave a small smile. Lyra has been my physician since the illness started. How could she? No wonder… My eyes widened as everything started to make sense. The puzzle began to click. So she was behind this the whole time? No wonder the cold attitude from Kael. My heart shattered. I turned to Kael to explain. “That girl? Is she supposed to be our Luna?" Someone in the crowd asked in disbelief. My stomach dropped. All the while, Kael dared me with his eyes to deny it. The corner of his lips curved slightly into a bitter smile. He looked hurt. Or was I mistaken? It appeared to be more like irritation and disgust. N-n-no… please don't listen to them. I pleaded with Kael with my eyes. “I said it. She is weak." The words didn't come from him. It came from the crowd. “I heard she collapses sometimes too," another person said, louder this time. “She can barely shift." “Silence!” Elder Magnus slammed his staff on the ground again. Kael gnashed his teeth. He looked annoyed now, not at them, at me. "She cannot stand beside me as my Luna," he announced, his voice void of any emotion. “Not someone who can lie to me and hide such secrets from me. Not someone who is selfish and doesn't care how her decisions affect others. She doesn't deserve to be my Luna." “I wanted,” I said quickly. "I will…I just need…” “You think I won't find out?" He spat. “That you are sick? When were you planning to tell me about it?" "I was going to tell you but you're getting it all wrong. Please listen to me. Don't leave me.” I begged him as I looked up, tears gleaming in my eyes. Elder Magnus turned towards Lyra. He tries to be careful with his words. "Speak clearly, healer." Lyra bit her lips and pressed them together as if she doesn't want to say anything but has no choice but to obey. “Don't. Please, Lyra don't do this.” I begged her with my eyes and at the same time mouthed the words to her. Her eyes moved past me to Kael. He nodded at her. Her face settled. “She has a condition… a contagious one if not taken care of," Lyra says. "Her body is not strong. It has been... failing, for some time." The word lands inside me like a blow to my face. The crowd gasps. "N-n-no it's not like that. It's not…” “She hid it from the Alpha but I had to tell him. I couldn't bear to see the good Alpha being deceived by someone like her who claims to love him." "Such a shameless girl!” Someone spat. My chest squeezed so hard that I struggled to breathe in. I turned back to Kael and my eyes found his. From the look on his face, his mind was already made up. Nothing I say would change his mind. I decided to try anyway. "Please listen to me. I was going to tell you." I said quickly. “It's not what you think…" He glared at me the way one looked at something one had already trashed. "A weak and selfish Luna like you will destroy this pack," "I am not weak." I cried. The tears in my eyes blurs my vision as I tried hard to explain to him. "I can learn. I can get stronger. Just give me a chance…" I lift my hands up, reaching towards him. "Kael…” He turned his face away. Like he didn’t even want to hear the rest of whatever I wanted to say. The bond between us pulls one last time. Then it snapped. A sharp cry escaped my mouth as the pain tore through me at once. It wasn't like a string, it was like a living thing being ripped out of my body, from its roots and all. I grinded my teeth together as I jerked from the pain and fell to my knees before I could stop myself. I pressed my hands against my chest, the place where it burned and made me unable to breathe. The crowd moved back. No one came close to me. None touched me. "She's breaking…" “Pathetic." “This is what happens when…" These were different murmurs from the crowd. I forced my head up to see Kael standing there unmoved as if none of this bothered him. The council of Elders put their heads together then nodded. Elder Zevran walked to the middle of the crowd, straightened and raised his staff. "By Alpha's decree and the breaking of the sacred bond," he announced, "Elira Vale is hereby exiled from Ashwood pack and all its territories, effective immediately.” He declared. My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. How many more surprises are left to render me speechless tonight? Two of the pack warriors came forward while I was still trying to process things. They grabbed my arms and pulled me upright. My legs wobble and my knees buckle immediately. “Wait…" I finally found my voice. “Please…" My voice breaks apart. I glanced at Kael one last time. They dragged me backward making my feet scrape against the ground. I glanced at Kael one last time as I was being dragged farther away. He didn't speak nor did he make any move to stop them. I stopped fighting and succumbed as they dragged me until the darkness enveloped me and I couldn't see the fire light anymore.