The Reborn Scorned Luna

Chapter 4

Elena’s POV

“A pathetic mutt, Ryker?" I blared, my voice shaking as I stared at him, tears blurring my vision.

Their bodies trembled as they realized I had overheard everything.

Just moments ago, I had noticed the tense, guilty glances they exchanged, wondering silently how long I had been standing there, how long they had known I was there, frozen in uncertainty.

“Elena… it’s not what you think," Ryker stammered, letting go of Kattie’s hands as he reached toward me. But before his touch could even graze my skin, I flinched, recoiling as if contact with him physically repelled me. And that was exactly what I felt.

I couldn’t believe it. Minutes ago, I had been willing to forgive them. I had told myself it was a mistake, a lapse in judgment caused by stress or drunken weakness. I had believed they could be redeemed. But now I realized this wasn’t a mistake. This wasn’t a one-time thing. This was calculated.

I had been nothing but a pawn in their cruel, tangled game. A pawn they had manipulated to get everything I had inherited from my late parents. A pawn they had used while pretending friendship, pretending love. And to think they had known each other all along. From the start. For five long years, I had loved them both with everything I had, sacrificed my own happiness, given myself wholly and they had been plotting behind my back.

“Come on, Elena. Stop acting all mighty, like it isn’t true! You’re past twenty-four and you’re still wolfless. How many wolfless Lunas have you heard of? You need to take a chill pill and step down because you’re unworthy and undeserving! No pack would want a weak, wolfless, pathetic orphan like you as their Luna!” Kattie snapped, her voice venomous, shedding all pretense of calm and remorse the moment she realized I had overheard.

I swallowed hard, my mind paralyzed. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t do anything other than look around me, speechless, unable to grasp that Kattie, my own cousin, my last living family could say something so cruel.

I turned to Ryker, searching for anything. Guilt or perhaps remorse. Perhaps a shred of humanity. But I met only averted eyes. He couldn’t even look at me. I had always noticed this. Even while we were dating, he had struggled to meet my gaze. I had excused it back then, telling myself it was his insecurity, the hierarchy of being a beta before the alpha’s daughter. But now I saw it for what it was.

I turned to go, my legs heavy, my chest aching, the room spinning with rage and heartbreak. I couldn’t bear their presence a second longer. Every glance and breath reminded me of what I had seen, flashes of Ryker with Kattie, of him pounding into her while she moaned and whimpers in his ears, their laughter, their whispered plans to use me.

Every memory of betrayal, humiliation and false affection crashed over me like a storm I couldn’t escape. All these years had been wasted. All my trust shattered just like that. And it had been for people who weren’t even worth the smallest fraction of my love.

“Prepare, Ryker. Our bond will be dissolved soon, once I meet the Alpha’s council. Nothing will keep me bound to someone like you for even a second more,” I said, my voice trembling yet laced with steel, as I turned to walk away, my vision still blurred with tears.

“Wait, Elena…” Ryker called after me, but I didn’t stop.

“What do we do? She’s going to involve the Alpha’s council in this! It’s going to ruin all our plans!” I heard Kattie hiss from behind, but I didn’t falter, didn’t glance back as I didn’t care.

Footsteps echoed behind me, but I ignored them. My mind was consumed with the stairs ahead leading out of Ryker’s chambers and the path beyond to the Alpha’s council building. All I could think of was submitting my case, airing my grievances and protecting SilverFang Pack, the treasure my father had left behind even before his death years ago.

I hadn’t made it halfway down the stairs when a violent shove sent me tumbling. I rolled, helpless, until I slammed against the wall midway, my head pounding, vision spinning. I lay there, dazed and through the haze I saw a dark pool forming beneath me — my own blood. A few staircases above, Kattie watched, her expression cold, while Ryker lingered behind her.

Kattie had pushed me. And Ryker said nothing, only started walking down the stairs toward me.

“Ryker, she’s still alive!” Kattie’s voice trembled, fragile and tense, as he descended.

“Help me…” I croaked, forcing the words out as I reached desperately toward him.

“The pack’s healer… please… help me, I'll give up whatever you want me to,” I gasped, every syllable dragging like chains, the fall and the pain stealing my strength. I needed him. I needed his help, even if it meant surrendering everything I had, even if it meant giving him the power to destroy me later, I just couldn’t die. Not like this. And definitely not now.

Ryker bent over me. Relief surged but it was a cruel, fleeting illusion. His hands didn’t grasp mine. They found my throat instead.

I struggled, thrashing and kicking, clawing for air. My cries were muffled, just barely whispers, crushed under the weight of the fall and the tightening pressure of his hands. Kattie stepped in, pressing my legs down, holding them firmly. Every thrash I made only made it easier for Ryker and the realization cut through me like ice.

“It's better for you to die, Elena! You're better off dead!" Ryker kept saying the more he tightened his hands on my neck.

Tears blinded me. My love, my sacrifices, my years of loyalty and devotion, had been reduced to nothing but this cruelty and betrayal.

As my consciousness began slipping away, I whispered to the moon goddess in desperate prayer, tears streaking my cheeks. Grant me a second chance. Just one more chance, to live for myself. To right my wrongs. To be free.

Then, miraculously, my eyes snapped open. I was alive. Standing and unharmed when I was supposed to be dead like Ryker and Kattie had left me for.

I was dressed in a flowing gown, adorned with sparkling jewelry. My heart raced as I took in my surroundings, hesitant and confused. Where was I? How had I survived? I had died and yet, here I was. How?

Alphas from other packs surrounded me, their Lunas by their sides. The air shimmered with elegance and authority.

Is this… the Alpha’s council ball? I whispered to myself, recognizing the grandeur. The scene felt familiar, as though I had walked it before. And I had years ago, when I was still alive, with Ryker by my side.

Then I saw him approaching me like he had years ago when we came here together. And my mind refused to believe. How was this possible? There was no way. No explanation that made sense.

Had the moon goddess truly granted me a second chance? Had I been… reborn?