FORSAKEN LUNA

The scent of roses and burning candles filled the grand hall as Aria stood by the Alpha’s side, her fingers curled over the armrest of her seat. The pack had gathered for a long-awaited celebration—Killian’s return from the rogue war. He was the love of her life. Her mate. Her Alpha. And tonight, everything was supposed to be perfect. Killian’s deep voice silenced the room as he rose to address the pack. “I have fought for this pack. Bled for this pack. And now, I return not just as your Alpha, but with a gift from the Moon Goddess herself.” A hush fell over the crowd. Aria’s heart pounded. A gift? Then, the doors opened. A woman stepped in—tall, ethereal, and breathtakingly beautiful, with golden curls cascading down her back. The moment her eyes locked onto Killian’s, a painful scent invaded Aria’s senses. Mate. The realization hit like a blade to the chest. “I present to you, my fated mate, Selene.” Killian’s voice was filled with reverence, devotion… and love. Aria felt her world shatter. “Killian…?” Her voice wavered as she took a step toward him. He looked at her—no, through her—as if she had never mattered. “You understand, don’t you, Aria?” he said, his tone lacking the warmth it once held. “The bond we shared was never blessed by the Moon Goddess. This—” He reached for Selene’s hand, fingers lacing with hers. “This is fate.” The room spun. The pack members exchanged whispers, some with pity, others with satisfaction. Aria had been their Luna—loved, respected, but now? She was nothing. “I still love you, Aria,” Killian said, as if that would soften the blow. “Selene will not change what we had, but you must understand—I must be with my true mate.” Aria’s nails dug into her palm. “And what am I supposed to be, Killian?” His hesitation spoke louder than words. Selene, still holding his hand, smiled softly. “We can all find a way to make this work. There’s no need for hostility.” A cold shiver ran through Aria’s spine. This woman was claiming my life, my place, and still pretending to be kind? And then Killian said the words that sealed her fate. “You will step down as Luna.” Aria had spent years building the pack’s strength, healing the wounded, guiding the warriors. She had been their Luna. But now? Stripped of her title. Stripped of her home. Stripped of everything. She stood before the council, her fists clenched at her sides. “I built this pack alongside you all. And now, you discard me like I was never here?” The Beta, once her trusted friend, lowered his gaze. “It’s not personal, Aria. The Alpha must be with his fated mate.” Killian, the man who once vowed to cherish her, nodded solemnly. “You can stay within the pack as a member. You will be given a new rank.” Aria’s breath hitched. “A new rank?” Selene, standing beside Killian, gave her a sweet smile. “An Omega.” The word felt like a slap. Omega. The lowest rank in the pack. A servant. A worker. A nobody. Killian’s voice remained infuriatingly calm. “This is for the best.” The best? Aria let out a bitter laugh. “For you, maybe.” Her gaze burned into him, searching for even the slightest regret, the smallest hesitation. There was none. He had made his choice. And it wasn’t her. Pain curled inside her chest, but she swallowed it down. If they wanted her to fall, she wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing her break. “I refuse.” Murmurs broke out among the council members. Killian frowned. “Refuse?” Aria straightened her shoulders. “I will not lower myself to serve the woman you replaced me with. If I am no longer your Luna, then I am no longer your pack member.” Selene feigned a sad look. “Leaving the pack means renouncing the bond forever. You will be alone, Aria. No home. No protection. Are you sure you want that?” Alone? She had already been abandoned. What difference did it make? Aria lifted her chin. “I’d rather be alone than be a prisoner in my own home.” Killian’s jaw tightened. “Then so be it.” With those words, the decision was final. Aria Carter was no longer part of the Silver Fang Pack. The pack she had once bled for had just thrown her away like she was nothing. And she would never forgive them for it. The cold wind bit against Aria’s skin as she stepped past the pack’s borders. Her exile had been swift—Killian had made sure of that. She had left with nothing but the clothes on her back. No protection. No allies. Just a broken heart and a dangerous world ahead. The moment she crossed the boundary, the sharp pain of severed bonds crashed into her. The pack link—gone. The connection to her people—shattered. She gasped, clutching her chest. This was what true loneliness felt like. The forests beyond Silver Fang territory were treacherous. Rogues lurked in the shadows, waiting for prey. And now, she was fair game. A snap of a branch sent a chill down her spine. Aria turned sharply, her senses heightened. Glowing red eyes peered at her from the darkness. Rogues. Four of them, stepping closer. Their lips curled into snarls, their claws extending. “Well, well,” one of them sneered. “Looks like we found ourselves a lost little Luna.” Aria gritted her teeth. Not a Luna. Not anymore. Another rogue chuckled. “No pack. No Alpha. That means no one will come looking for you.” Her heart pounded. She wasn’t weak—she had trained with warriors, learned to fight. But she was outnumbered. Outmatched. The lead rogue lunged. Aria dodged, barely missing his claws. But another grabbed her from behind, yanking her to the ground. No. I will not die here. She fought, kicking and scratching, but they were too strong. Then— A roar ripped through the night. The rogues froze. Fear flashed in their eyes. Another presence had arrived. And it was far more dangerous than them. A massive figure stepped into the clearing. Tall. Dominating. His dark coat shimmered under the moonlight, his golden eyes burning like fire. The power radiating from him was suffocating. The rogues immediately backed away. “s**t,” one of them whispered. “A Lycan.” Not just any Lycan. Cassian Vale. The exiled Lycan King. He towered over them, his gaze locking onto Aria. There was something unreadable in his expression. Then he spoke, his deep voice sending shivers through her. “This one is mine.”