Rejected, Broken, and Reborn: The Luna's Revenge

Three nights before the Luna Ceremony, I was run down by a rogue. My spine was shattered. Damien Blackwood, my mate—the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack—ensured the rogue was executed. But as I lay there in the healer’s den, unable to move, none of it mattered. I didn’t want to wake up. I didn’t want to face the reality of never running with my pack again. Somewhere between the agony and the numbing fog, I heard Damien speaking to the pack healer. “We still have time for an advanced healing ritual. But if we wait a few more days, Selene’s paralysis will be permanent. If you truly want Lilah as your Luna, fine, but why put Selene through this?” Damien sighed, as if my life was nothing more than a burden to him. “If she’s permanently injured, she’ll have no choice but to stay in the packhouse. If she recovers, she’ll fight back.” My breath caught in my throat. “I swore to Lilah that I’d make her my Luna,” Damien continued, his voice eerily calm. “If Selene is disabled, she’ll have no choice but to accept my child as her own. She won’t have the strength to oppose me.” A single tear slipped down my cheek. So that was it. The ceremony, the bond I had cherished, the future I had believed in—it had all been a lie. I was nothing more than a stepping stone for Damien’s ambitions. Fine. If this was what he wanted, I would give it to him. “Just follow the plan,” Damien ordered. “Make sure the suppressant is given at the right dose. She can’t find out.” The healer hesitated, his voice uneasy. “Are you certain? Selene is already paralyzed. If you strip away her ability to shift, if you sever her wolf from her entirely… What will be left of her? She’s your fated mate, Alpha. The Moon Goddess chose her for you.” Silence. Then, Damien spoke, his voice like ice. “She won’t find out. As long as she remains weak, she’ll have no choice but to stay here. She won’t be able to leave, let alone challenge me.” The healer exhaled slowly, a sound filled with unspoken words. “And what about your child with Lilah? The girl is three. She has your eyes, your scent. If Selene ever discovers the truth—” “She won’t.” Damien’s tone hardened. “Make sure the suppressant is clean. No mistakes. Do it while she’s still unconscious.” The healer lingered for a moment, then turned away. Damien pulled out his communicator crystal and sent a quick message. “Did the rogue cover his tracks? Ensure his family is relocated to another pack. Selene can’t ever find out.” A fresh wave of tears slid down my temples, disappearing into my hair. My wolf whimpered weakly inside me, caged and helpless. Damien dipped a cloth into warm water and wiped my skin. His touch was steady, his movements almost tender. But no matter how much warmth he pressed into my body, I couldn’t stop shivering. The Luna Ceremony I had dreamed of for years had never been mine. It had always belonged to Lilah. And that rogue attack… it wasn’t an accident at all. My mate had planned it all. He had set me up, broken me, caged me. I was nothing more than an obstacle in his way. The love, the bond, the promises… they had all been a lie. I tried to open my eyes, to fight back, but before I could, a sharp sting spread through my veins. The suppressant. As they wheeled me toward the ritual chamber, Damien leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. His voice was gentle, almost affectionate. “Just rest, Selene. It’ll be over soon.” The cold magic seeped into my bones, and my wolf’s cries faded into silence. The pain barely registered. My heart had already gone numb.