The Luna He Rejected

Run Before dawn

I could hear whispers even before I reached the hallway.

They were soft.

Low.

Dangerous.

I kept walking trying to keep my steps steady even though my heart was beating so fast

The floor beneath my feet felt too open, too exposed.

Every time I passed someone or a group of people they looked at me for a little longer than usual as if I am strange.

The servants stopped talking when I walked by.

The warriors looked at me with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

I could feel it spreading already.

Ravenna had planted a seed .Now the whole pack was waiting for it to bloom

I lowered my head. “Keep moving”. I said to myself.

I heard people talking.

“Did you see the way Ravenna looked at her?"

“I heard there’s going to be an examination tonight."

“Why would the Alpha allow that unless something was wrong?"

My stomach was hurting me .

I walked faster.

The hallway seemed endless, the walls closing in on me with every step.

My breathing felt weird and hot.

By the time I turned the corner near the quarters my hands were shaking.

Then I heard it.

“…If it’s true the Alpha has a right to know before midnight."

I stopped moving.

The two maids standing near the room went silent when they saw me.

One of them looked down. The other avoided my eyes completely

It was too late.

I had already heard.

Before midnight.

The words kept repeating in my head.

Not tomorrow.

Not next week.

Tonight.

They wanted answers tonight.

Fear crept into my chest, cold and sharp.

I continued walking but I quickened my pace

The moment I reached my room I shut the door. Locked it.

The sound of the lock made everything feel more real. For a second, I couldn’t move.

I just stood there staring ahead while my breathing filled the silence, too loud, too uneven. My chest tightened with every breath and my fingers curled slightly at my sides as panic slowly crept in.

I swallowed hard and glanced around quickly, my heart pounding harder at every little sound.

Something felt wrong. And my body knew it before my mind did

Then panic hit me.

I moved fast, grabbing the bag hidden under my bed and throwing clothes into it.

A shirt.

Money.

Water.

My fingers shook badly and I dropped the coins on the floor.

The sound made me jump.

I picked them up quickly and my breathing was uneven.

“Calm down”, I told myself.

I couldn’t.

All I could think about was Ravenna’s eyes looking at my stomach.

She. At least she suspected.

If Ravenna suspected then Aaron would too.

My chest hurt at the thought of Aaron.

His face flashed through my mind.

“ You look exhausted”

I squeezed my eyes shut hard

Why did those words affect me much?

Maybe because they sounded real.

Maybe because after everything some stupid part of me still remembered the man he used to be.

The man who touched me like I mattered .

The man whose voice used to calm me instead of terrify me

I almost laughed.

Look at me now.

Running from the pack I once led with him.

My hand moved to my stomach without thinking.

The movement made me freeze.

Silence filled the room.

Slowly my fingers pressed against myself.

Fear came first.

Then something else: protectiveness.

Suddenly and fiercely it almost took my breath away.

If they found out…

If Ravenna found out…

My stomach twisted violently.

No, I couldn't stay here.

A sharp knock hit the door.

I jumped back.

Another knock.

Urgent.

“Cassidy, " a low voice said. "Open the door."

It was the doctor.

I rushed to the door. Unlocked it before pulling him inside.

The moment the door shut he looked at me seriously.

“You started packing "

“I heard the servants talking, " I whispered. "They want answers before midnight."

His jaw tightened.

“It changed."

Fear gripped my throat.

““What?”

“She’s pressuring the Alpha council now. She claims pack laws are involved.” His eyes darkened. “She wants confirmation before the entire pack gathers tonight.”

My hands curled tightly around the bag strap.

“No…”

“You don’t have much time left.”

Panic crawled up my spine.

“How long?”

He glanced toward the window.

“Maybe an hour before the medical wing is secured.”

A cold chill spread through me.

An hour.

Only an hour before everything shattered.

The doctor stepped closer.

“Listen carefully.” His voice dropped lower. “Once they realize you’re missing, they won’t search for you as a servant.”

His eyes flickered briefly toward my stomach.

“They’ll hunt you like a stolen heir.”

The words slammed into me

My throat tightened painfully.

The doctor gave me a folded paper with a map.

He told me about an old servant tunnel behind the west storage hall that led beyond the patrol line.

I grabbed the paper quickly.

“The western gate?"

He nodded.

He warned me that if the Alpha discovered why I ran it would be bad.

Aaron was dangerous enough without feeling betrayed.

If he found out I was carrying his child...

That could destroy everything.

The doctor moved toward the door.

“You need to leave "

I swallowed hard.

“What if they catch me?"

For a moment he hesitated.

Then he said quietly "Then pray Ravenna reaches you before the council does."

Fear took my breath away.

He opened the door before pausing.

“Don’t trust anyone tonight."

Then he disappeared.

The silence felt unbearable.

I stood there for a second before forcing myself to move.

“ Run, “ I told myself.

Run now.

I grabbed the cloak hanging beside the door. Wrapped it around myself before pulling the hood low.

Then I slipped outside.

The hallways were busier now.

Wolves moved through the corridors carrying trays, weapons, and messages.

Beneath the movement tension crawled through the pack like something alive.

Everyone could feel it.

Something was coming.

I kept my head down. I walked quickly.

The farther I moved through the pack house the harder it became to breathe.

Memories followed me everywhere.

That staircase. I once stood there beside Aaron while the entire pack bowed before us.

That hallway. He once cornered me there just to kiss me because he .” Couldn't wait until nightfall”

My chest tightened painfully

Everything here used to belong to me.

Now I was sneaking through shadows like a criminal.

A voice suddenly echoed from nearby.

“Search the halls too."

I froze.

Warriors.

My pulse exploded.

I turned sharply down another corridor walking now.

Not fast I told myself.

Don’t attract attention.

Fear was rising too quickly inside me.

The west storage hall finally came into view.

Relief almost hit me soon.

Almost there.

Almost.

“Cassidy."

My entire body locked.

That voice.

I turned slowly.

Aaron stood at the end of the corridor, dressed in black his eyes fixed on me.

My heartbeat stopped.

For one second neither of us moved.

Then his eyes narrowed.

“You’re shaking."

The softness in his voice made it worse.

I tightened my grip on the bag hidden beneath my cloak.

“I’m fine."

His gaze dropped to the bag back to my face.

Something dark shifted in his expression.

“Where are you going?

I thought to myself

Panic was already flooding my veins too fast.

“I was told to clean the wing."

Silence.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

Aaron took one step toward me.

“You’re lying."

Fear crawled into my throat.

The corridor felt small, too hot, too suffocating.

Then distant footsteps echoed, followed by voices.

“A search order from Lady Ravenna -"

Aaron glanced toward the sound.

That single second saved me

Immediately I ran.

Gasps echoed behind me.

“Cassidy!"

I heard Aaron’s voice behind me but I didn’t stop.

I couldn’t.

My legs burned as I sprinted through the corridor, the bag slamming against my side.

Shouts exploded behind me.

“Stop her!"

Panic crashed through the pack house.

I pushed through the storage hall doors. Ran toward the hidden tunnel entrance.

Behind me wolves were yelling.

Footsteps thundered across the halls.

They knew.

I reached the hidden passage. Shoved the old wooden panel open, before slipping inside.

Darkness swallowed me.

The tunnel smelled like dust and damp stone.

I kept running, tears forming in my eyes

My vision was becoming blurry

My lungs were on fire.

Everything hurt a lot.

There was one thing that I could think about and that was to protect the child.

I had to protect the child.

My goal was to protect the child.

The tunnel was finally open. I could see beyond the western borders near the trees.

The cold air hit me hard.

I felt free for a moment.

For a second I just looked at the woods in front of me.

Then I heard wolves howling in the distance. It scared me.

My blood felt cold.

They found out where I was hiding.

Now they were coming for me.

I could see torches being lit up behind the walls of our home one by one.

I could hear people shouting everywhere.

The warriors and trackers were coming.

I could hear them giving orders.

Behind all of this noise I thought about Aaron.

I did not know if Aaron was really angry with me.

I did not know if Aaron was hurt because of what I did.

I did not know if Aaron already understood why I had to run

I knew one thing for sure.

If they caught me before the sun came up everything would be over for me.

I looked at the forest. I had tears in my eyes.

Then I started running.

Far behind me the pack I once ruled began hunting me like a prey