The Lycan King And The Witch Luna

Chapter 6: Banished

Luna

The world spun as they dragged me, kicking and screaming, through the gilded halls of the palace. The guards' hands were rough, gripping my arms like iron shackles, and every step felt heavier than the last. My heart raced in my chest, a drumbeat of fear and confusion, but I couldn’t give up now. Not after everything.

The throne room was a place I never imagined I’d see like this, bruised, humiliated, and barely able to stand. The grand doors creaked open, revealing a council chamber filled with people whose eyes burned with judgment. High, vaulted ceilings framed tapestries depicting victories of the past, yet my own battle felt utterly lost. I bit my lip to keep it from trembling.

At the far end of the room sat the council, an assembly of stern faces twisted into masks of righteous condemnation. The Lycan King, Blade was there too, his throne towering above the others, though his expression was unreadable. His presence pulled at something deep inside me, but I forced myself to look away. Whatever connection we had—if we had any at all—was nothing but a painful, unspoken thread.

“Luna Cross,” the eldest council member, Lord Sorin, intoned, his voice echoing through the chamber. His gaze was a cold blade slicing through any remaining hope I had left. “You stand accused of hexing the Lycan King, attempting to force a mate bond through witchcraft, and defiling sacred traditions.”

I lifted my chin, even though my body ached to bow under the weight of their hatred. My voice came out hoarse. “I’m innocent. I’ve done nothing but serve this pack, even when you treated me as less than dirt.”

Murmurs rippled through the gathered audience, but Lord Sorin didn’t so much as flinch. “Lies will not save you now, girl,” he sneered. “We have proof—damning evidence found in your room. Artifacts of dark magic, undeniable signs of your witch blood at work.”

My stomach twisted. I knew those artifacts were planted, but it didn’t matter. The truth held no power here, not when the council had already made up their minds. I glanced at Blade, searching his face for any sign of doubt or compassion, but he remained silent. His jaw was clenched, his eyes shadowed with something I couldn’t decipher.

A younger council member, Lady Isolde, leaned forward, her voice dripping with contempt. “Given your crime, execution would be the rightful punishment,” she said, and a shiver ran down my spine. “But as you are not formally recognized as the Lycan King’s mate, yet share a bond that could impact him, we have decided on an alternative.”

I swallowed hard, dread pooling in my stomach. What could be worse than death?

“You are given a choice,” Lord Sorin announced. “You may serve the Lycan King as his concubine, bound to him in submission and servitude, or face banishment into the wilderness, where rogues and certain death await. Should you ever attempt to return, the penalty will be swift execution.”

A horrified gasp slipped from my lips, and I clamped a hand over my mouth. The room fell deathly silent, every eye trained on me, waiting for my answer. My knees wobbled, but I forced myself to stay upright, even as tears threatened to spill. *Serve him as a concubine?* The mere thought made me feel sick, my skin crawling with revulsion.

Moon, my wolf, stirred inside me, her fury palpable even through the wolfsbane’s haze. "We will not bow to them," she snarled. "We are not slaves!"

“Choose wisely,” Lady Isolde added, a cruel smile curving her lips. “For the wilderness is not kind to rogues, especially not one as weak as you.”

"Be my concubine." Came Blade's voice earning a glare from Crystal.

I took a shuddering breath, trying to gather my strength. The wilderness was a death sentence, true, but the idea of living as Blade’s concubine, stripped of all dignity, was a fate I couldn’t bear. I would not let them break me. I would not let them take my freedom, even if it meant facing death on my own terms.

“Go on, girl,” Lord Sorin pressed, impatience leaking into his voice. “What will it be?”

I straightened my spine, meeting his gaze with every ounce of defiance I had left. “I choose banishment,” I declared, my voice unwavering. “I’d rather die a free wolf than live as a slave.”

A ripple of shock swept through the room, followed by a murmur of disbelief. Blade’s eyes widened, a flicker of something breaking through his cold mask, but I refused to let myself dwell on it. I had made my choice, and I would face the consequences.

“Very well,” Lord Sorin said, a hint of disappointment in his tone, as if he had hoped I would grovel. “Guards, escort her to the border. Strip her of her pack mark and send her on her way.”

My heart lurched at the mention of stripping my mark. The pack mark was more than a brand, it was a connection to the life force of the territory, a tether to the pack’s strength. Losing it would make me weaker, more vulnerable. But I clenched my fists, determined not to show fear.

Two guards seized my arms, dragging me toward the exit. My gaze found Blade’s once more, and for a heartbeat, our eyes locked.

Something unspoken passed between us, something that made my chest ache. But he did nothing to stop them. He let them take me away.

"Wait," Blade spoke making the guards halt in their spot.

"Since the bond is still here," I started walking towards me. "I think I should do the needed."

"I, The Lycan King, Blade Sterling hereby Reject you Luna Cross as my mate." He said looking into my eyes.

"No." Moon wailed.

They say rejection feels like stabbing knife. Damn that was underrated.

Already exhausted, Blade's words, his rejection makes me dizzy. My heart ache as my breathing sieze.

I caught a glimpse of Crystal above with a smirk on her lips. And the next thing I fainted.

Banished. Rejected and stripe of pack mark.

Now I'm a rogue.