EX-LUNA’S SHADOW REVENGE: TWICE REJECTED, ETERNALLY BOUND

Nova’s POV I remember that night like it was yesterday, even though it’s been years now. The moon was hanging high over the Silverclaw Pack’s clearing, big and bright, lighting up everything in this silvery glow. The air smelled fresh, mixed with the excitement of the whole pack gathered there. It was my eighteenth birthday, the day every wolf waits for—the day you shift for the first time and maybe find your mate. I, Nova Hale, stood there in the middle of it all, my heart racing so fast I thought it might burst out of my chest. I wasn’t anyone special, at least not in the eyes of the pack. My family had fallen on hard times after my dad, a beta, died in a rogue attack years ago. My mom worked hard to keep us going, but we ended up as omegas, the lowest rank. We cleaned, cooked, served—basically did whatever the higher-ups needed. I kept my head down, avoided trouble, and dreamed of something better. But deep down, I hoped the Moon Goddess had a plan for me. Maybe tonight would change everything. The elders started the ceremony, chanting old words that echoed through the trees. My skin tingled, like electricity running through my veins. Then, it happened—my wolf stirred inside me, pushing to come out. But before I could shift, a strong pull hit me, yanking my attention across the clearing. There he was: Alpha Ronan Voss, striding forward like he owned the world, which he pretty much did in our pack. Ronan was everything you imagined an alpha to be—tall, broad-shouldered, with messy dark hair and those intense golden eyes that could make anyone submit. He’d led us through tough times, fighting off enemies and keeping the pack strong. Girls whispered about him, dreamed of being his luna. And now, as our eyes locked, I felt the mate bond snapping into place. It was like a warm rush, filling me up, making me feel whole for the first time. “You’re her,” he muttered, his voice low and rough, like gravel. He stepped closer, his scent hitting my nose. My wolf howled inside, recognizing him. But then his expression changed. Shock turned to anger, his brows furrowing. “An omega? You?” The words stung, but I didn’t back down. “Ronan the bond, it’s real. The Moon Goddess chose us.” He laughed, but it wasn’t kind. It was bitter, echoing around the clearing. The pack went silent, watching. “The goddess must be joking. I need a strong Luna, not some servant girl who’s barely shifted.” He grabbed my arm, not gently, pulling me close enough that I could feel his heat. “I reject you, Nova Hale, as my mate and luna.” Pain ripped through me, like my heart was being torn in half. The bond shattered, leaving this empty ache. I gasped, falling to my knees in the dirt. My wolf finally emerged, but she was weak, her silver fur matted with tears I couldn’t hold back. The pack murmured, some laughing, others looking away in pity. But the worst was my sister, Liora, standing right beside him. She had that smug smile, her hand resting on his shoulder as if she belonged there. Liora had always been the pretty one, the one everyone liked: golden blonde hair, bright eyes, and a way of twisting words to get what she wanted. I’d caught her flirting with Ronan before, but I never thought… “She’s not right for you, Alpha,” Liora said sweetly, her voice like poison. “Nova’s too weak. She’d drag the pack down.” Betrayal hit harder than the rejection. We’d grown up together, shared secrets, but now she was stabbing me in the back. I looked up at Ronan, hoping for some sign of regret, but his face was stone-cold. “Get out of my sight,” he growled. “You’re nothing to me now.” I stumbled away, the pack parting like I was diseased. Tears blurred my vision as I ran into the forest, the branches whipping my face. The storm came then, rain pouring down, soaking me to the bone. I didn’t stop until my legs gave out, collapsing by a stream. My wolf whimpered, the pain of the broken bond making everything hurt. Days turned into weeks out there as a rogue. I scavenged for food, hid from patrols, and tried to heal. But something felt off—nausea in the mornings, a strange tiredness. I found an old witch in the woods, living in a hut made of vines. She took pity on me and sheltered me. “Drink this,” she said, handing me a bitter potion. “It’ll show what’s hidden.” I swallowed it, and visions flashed—a tiny heartbeat, growing inside me. “You’re with child,” the witch said, her eyes wide. “The alpha’s heir.” Shock froze me. How? It must have been from that night before the ceremony, when the bond first pulled us together. But Ronan had rejected me, us. “He can’t know,” I whispered, hand on my belly. “He’d take the baby, or worse.” The witch nodded. “Then disappear. Fake your death, and start over.” That’s what I did. I left my torn cloak by a deep ravine, smeared it with deer blood from a hunt. The word spread fast—Nova Hale, the rejected omega, had fallen to her death. It hurt to think of Mom grieving, but it was the only way. Years went by in hiding. I gave birth to Elara in a hidden cave, her cries were the sweetest sound. She had Ronan’s eyes, golden and fierce, but my silver fur when she shifted young. I trained hard, unlocking powers I didn’t know I had—alpha blood from Mom’s side, hidden to protect us. Rogues taught me to fight, witches showed me magic to control shadows. Then rumors trickled in: Silverclaw was struggling. Attacks from rivals, no heir for Ronan and Liora. She’d become his luna, but they were childless, cursed maybe. It fueled my anger, my need for revenge. Then, one night, crossing into Nightshade territory, it happened again. Two wolves approached, massive and dark-furred. They shifted; they were twins, Kai and Zane Blackthorn, exiled alphas with a grudge against Ronan. Kai was brooding, scarred, with eyes like storms. Zane was fiery, protective, his smile dangerous. The bond hit twice, pulling me to both. “Ours,” Kai growled, stepping close. “Why?” I asked, ready to fight. Zane touched my arm and sent sparks flying. “Fate is giving you a second chance. And us, revenge.” Their scents wrapped around me, it was intoxicating. But I had secrets—Elara, my faked death. As Kai kissed me under the stars, Zane’s hands on my waist, power surged. I’d go back, expose Liora, make Ronan pay. With Elara safe, and my new mates by my side, revenge was coming. But Ronan? He was still searching, haunted by his decision. Our paths would cross, and blood would spill.