The Rejected Luna’s Secret

Chapter Three: The Alpha’s Regret

The packhouse was silent, the usual hum of activity replaced by an eerie stillness. Kael Blackthorn stood at the window of his study, staring out at the dark forest beyond the pack’s borders. The rejection had been two days ago, and the weight of it pressed down on him like a physical force. He had expected to feel relief, to feel the burden of a failed mate bond lift from his shoulders. Instead, all he felt was a gnawing, hollow ache in his chest.

He had done what was necessary. A Luna who couldn’t bear an heir was a liability, and Blackthorn needed strength, not weakness. But the way Elara had looked at him, the way her voice had trembled as she accepted his rejection—it haunted him. He had seen the flash of pain in her eyes, the way her hands had clenched at her sides as if she were holding herself together. And then she had walked away, her back straight, her head high, as if she were the one dismissing him.

Kael turned away from the window, his jaw tight. The pack was suffering without a Luna. The elders were restless, the warriors were on edge, and the omens were growing darker by the day. He had thought rejecting Elara would solve their problems, would prove his strength as an Alpha. Instead, it had only made things worse.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. "Enter," he growled, his voice rough with irritation.

The door opened, and his beta, Riven, stepped inside. Riven was a broad-shouldered man with dark hair and a permanent scowl, his loyalty to Kael unwavering. But even he looked uneasy now, his usual confidence replaced by something closer to concern.

"Alpha," Riven said, his voice low. "We have a problem."

Kael didn’t look at him. "We have many problems, Riven. Be specific."

Riven hesitated, then stepped forward, placing a folded piece of parchment on Kael’s desk. "Another she-wolf has gone missing. This time from the eastern border."

Kael’s fingers twitched, but he didn’t reach for the parchment. Missing she-wolves were not uncommon, especially near the borders. Rogues, rival packs, even human hunters could be to blame. But the timing was suspicious.

"How many does that make?" Kael asked, his voice carefully neutral.

"Five in the last month," Riven said. "All of them young, all of them unaccounted for."

Kael finally looked at his beta, his crimson eyes narrowing. "And the elders say nothing?"

Riven’s jaw tightened. "They’re too busy whispering about your rejection of Elara. They think it’s a sign of weakness."

Kael’s hands clenched into fists. He had expected this, had known the elders would question his decision. But he hadn’t expected the missing she-wolves, hadn’t expected the way the pack seemed to be unraveling at the seams.

"What do you think?" Kael asked, his voice a low growl.

Riven met his gaze steadily. "I think we need to find out who’s taking them. And I think you need to decide what you’re going to do about Elara."

Kael’s chest tightened at the mention of her name. He had tried to push her from his mind, had tried to convince himself that she was no longer his concern. But the mate bond, though severed, still left a phantom ache in his chest, a constant reminder of what he had lost.

"Why?" Kael asked, though he already knew the answer.

Riven didn’t flinch. "Because the pack is falling apart without a Luna. And because you’re not the same without her."

Kael turned away, his gaze fixed on the fire burning in the hearth. He didn’t want to admit it, didn’t want to acknowledge the truth in Riven’s words. But he could feel it, the way his wolf paced restlessly inside him, the way his thoughts kept drifting back to Elara, to the way she had looked at him before she walked away.

He had made his choice. He had done what was necessary for the pack. But the cost was higher than he had expected.

Another knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Before he could answer, the door swung open, and Elder Corvin stepped inside. The old man’s white hair was braided back from his lined face, his milky eye giving him a permanent air of severity. He had been the one to push for Elara’s rejection, the one who had insisted that a Luna who couldn’t bear an heir was a weakness the pack couldn’t afford.

"Alpha," Corvin said, his voice grave. "We need to discuss the missing she-wolves."

Kael turned to face him, his expression carefully neutral. "We were just doing that."

Corvin’s gaze flicked to Riven, then back to Kael. "This is not just a border skirmish. There is something darker at work."

Kael crossed his arms. "Explain."

Corvin stepped forward, his voice dropping to a low, urgent tone. "There are rumors, Alpha. Rumors of a rival pack taking she-wolves for breeding. Forcing them to bear heirs against their will."

Kael’s stomach twisted. He had heard the whispers, the same ones Mara had mentioned to Elara. But he had dismissed them as fearmongering, as the kind of tales told to scare she-wolves into obedience.

"And you believe these rumors?" Kael asked, his voice skeptical.

Corvin’s expression was grim. "I believe we cannot afford to ignore them. Not when our own pack is weakened."

Kael’s fingers dug into his arms. He could feel the weight of Corvin’s words, the implication that his decision to reject Elara had left Blackthorn vulnerable.

"What do you suggest?" Kael asked, his voice tight.

Corvin’s gaze was steady. "Find out who is taking them. And consider finding a new Luna. Quickly."

Kael’s chest tightened. The thought of another Luna, of another mate, made his wolf snarl in protest. But he pushed the feeling down. He had made his choice. He would live with it.

"Fine," Kael said, his voice cold. "Investigate the missing she-wolves. And send word to the neighboring packs. If there’s a threat, I want to know about it."

Corvin nodded, then turned and left the room, leaving Kael alone with Riven.

Riven studied him for a long moment. "You’re making a mistake," he said finally.

Kael didn’t look at him. "I’ve made my decision."

Riven’s voice was quiet but firm. "This isn’t about the pack, Kael. This is about you. And you’re letting your pride blind you."

Kael’s hands clenched into fists. He didn’t want to hear it, didn’t want to face the truth in Riven’s words. But the ache in his chest, the restlessness of his wolf, told him that Riven was right.

He had rejected Elara for the good of the pack. But the pack was suffering, and so was he. And if the rumors were true, if there was a real threat out there, then he needed to be stronger than ever.

He needed to fix this.

But first, he needed to find Elara.

Because if the rumors were true, if there was someone out there taking she-wolves, then she was in danger. And no matter how much he tried to deny it, he couldn’t let that happen.

Not to her.

Not to the woman who still haunted his dreams.