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The crowd slowly dispersed, but the whispers refused to die.
"She deserved it."
"A wolfless omega could never become the future Luna."
"Alpha Kael made the right choice."
Every word reached Lyra's ears.
She remained kneeling before the cracked Moon Stone, her head lowered, unable to stop the tears streaming down her face.
The pain in her chest had lessened, but it had left behind an emptiness she couldn't describe.
"Get up."
A cold voice broke through the silence.
Lyra slowly looked up.
It was Alpha Magnus.
His stern gaze held neither anger nor sympathy.
"You have embarrassed the Silver Moon Pack enough."
"My... Alpha..."
"From this day forward, you are no longer permitted to live within the pack house."
A murmur rippled through the few wolves who had stayed behind.
"But Father..." Kael's younger sister began.
"Silence."
The Alpha didn't even spare Lyra another glance.
"You have until sunset to gather your belongings."
"After that, leave the Silver Moon Pack."
"If you return without permission, you will be treated as a trespasser."
Lyra felt as though the ground had disappeared beneath her feet.
She had nowhere to go.
This pack was the only home she had ever known.
Even if that home had never truly accepted her.
"...Yes, Alpha."
She bowed deeply despite the tears in her eyes.
Without another word, she turned and walked away.
No one stopped her.
---
Back in her tiny room, Lyra quietly folded her few clothes into a worn leather bag.
There wasn't much to pack.
Two dresses.
A blanket.
A pair of old boots.
A wooden comb.
And the silver crescent pendant around her neck.
She touched it gently.
For some reason, it felt warmer than before.
A soft knock came at the door.
Grandma Elara stepped inside.
For the first time since Lyra had known her, the old healer looked heartbroken.
Without saying a word, she wrapped Lyra in a tight embrace.
"You don't deserve this, child."
Lyra could no longer hold back her tears.
"I tried so hard..."
"I know."
"I just wanted a family."
Grandma Elara stroked her hair.
"Sometimes, the family we are born into isn't the family destiny has prepared for us."
She reached into her robes and handed Lyra a small leather pouch.
Inside were several silver coins and dried herbs.
"I can't accept this."
"You can."
"You'll need it more than I do."
Lyra hugged the old woman once more.
"Thank you... for always believing in me."
Grandma Elara smiled through her tears.
"I didn't believe in you because of who you were."
"I believed in you because of who you will become."
Lyra frowned.
"What do you mean?"
The old healer looked toward the window, where the full moon was beginning to rise.
"The Moon Goddess never abandons her children."
"Remember those words."
---
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Lyra stood before the enormous gates of the Silver Moon Pack.
No one had come to say goodbye.
No one except Grandma Elara.
The old healer pressed a folded piece of parchment into Lyra's hand.
"Don't open it until you're beyond the Blackwood Forest."
Lyra nodded.
"I promise."
Grandma Elara hesitated before speaking one final sentence.
"No matter what you hear... no matter what you discover..."
"...never remove that pendant."
Lyra instinctively touched the silver crescent around her neck.
"I won't."
The gates slowly opened.
With one last look at the village she had called home for eighteen years, Lyra stepped beyond the pack's borders.
The heavy wooden gates slammed shut behind her.
She was alone.
For the first time in her life...
She was truly homeless.
---
Night quickly swallowed the forest.
The only light came from the full moon hanging high above the trees.
Lyra walked along the narrow path, clutching her small bag.
Every rustle of leaves made her heart race.
Then...
A long, chilling howl echoed through the darkness.
Another answered it.
Then another.
Lyra froze.
Those weren't pack wolves.
They were rogues.
The scent of blood drifted through the air.
Low growls surrounded her from every direction.
Red eyes began appearing between the trees.
One...
Three...
Five...
More than a dozen rogue wolves slowly stepped into the moonlight.
Their mouths dripped with saliva as they circled her like hungry predators.
The largest rogue bared his sharp fangs.
"Well..."
His raspy voice sent a shiver down Lyra's spine.
"It seems fate has delivered us a very interesting meal."
Lyra took a step back.
Her hand instinctively tightened around the silver pendant.
For a brief second...
The crescent moon glowed.
Hidden deep beneath the earth, something ancient stirred.
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