The Heartless Alpha’s Rejected Luna Returns

Before Sunrise

Ömrüm

The sky was still dark as it was not quite night yet. Not yet morning. That in-between hour where everything felt uncertain and unforgiving. I stood at the edge of the pack grounds, the gates looming behind me like something final.

Like a door that would never open again.

“Move.”

The guard’s voice was sharp, impatient. I didn’t turn and didn't react. Because if I did…if I looked back I wasn’t sure I’d be able to walk away.

“You were given until sunrise,” he continued. “You’re already pushing it.”

His words barely registered. My attention was somewhere else. Inside, actually inside of me as I didn't know the chaos that may be unleashed if something wrong occurs.

That presence again but was quiet now although not gone. And I thought it ever went away. It's like it's watching and waiting for that perfect timing.

I adjusted the small bag slung over my shoulder. It felt lighter than it should have.

Like I had left more behind than just things. I took a step forward. Then another. Each one is slower than the last. Not because I didn’t want to go, but because something in me felt like it was being pulled. Backwards.

Like invisible threads still tied me to this place. To him.

A sharp pulse flared in my chest. The bond, I felt it immediately, it's still there after all, hah.Nonetheless everything still felt wrong and twisted. I clenched my jaw, forcing my feet to keep moving.

Don’t stop.

Don’t look back.

Don’t.

“Ömrüm.”

The voice cut through the silence, so soft and smooth like poison wrapped in a cloth. I froze. Of course, I knew that voice.

Slowly, I turned.

Cordelia stood a few steps away, her posture elegant, her expression composed. Perfect. Always perfect. Her pale dress caught the faint moonlight, making her look almost ethereal.

Like she belonged here.

Like she had always belonged here.

Unlike me.

“I was wondering if you’d make a scene,” she said lightly, tilting her head. “But I suppose even you know when you’ve lost.”

I didn’t respond. Didn’t give her that satisfaction. Her lips curved into a faint smile.

“Oh, don’t look so serious,” she added. “This is a good thing. For everyone.”

Her gaze flicked over me slowly, assessing then it became dismissive, “You were never suited for this pack anyway.”

The words should have hurt. They should have cut deep. But they didn’t. Not the way they used to. Now they just felt empty.

“I’m leaving,” I said simply.

My voice was calm. Too calm. Something flickered in her eyes at that. Surprise. Yeah, the Beta was surprised.

Maybe even unease. Good.

“See that you do,” she replied, her tone tightening just slightly. “It would be unfortunate if the guards had to remove you.”

I almost smiled. Almost. But instead, I turned away again. She wasn’t worth it. None of this was. Behind me, I heard her shift, heard the soft exhale of satisfaction she didn’t bother hiding.

She thought she had won. Maybe she had. For now. The path to the border stretched ahead of me, long and quiet. The trees stood still, their shadows dark against the fading night.

No one followed. No one called out. No one stopped me. Not a single person came.

Not even…

My chest tightened suddenly. The bond pulsed again. Harder this time so unstable I froze afraid of what could happen. It's like something is trying to break through.

****

Far away, too far to see.

Lykaios stood at the training grounds, his hands clenched at his sides. He didn’t know why he had come here. Didn’t know why he couldn’t stay inside.

Didn't know why the air felt wrong, heavy and uneasy. Something pulled at him. A sharp, irritating tension beneath his skin.

His wolf paced restlessly, low growls rumbling in his chest.

‘Something’s wrong.‘

“I know,” he muttered under his breath.

But he didn’t move. Didn’t follow the feeling. Didn’t even bother listening further. Because he refused to believe that it had anything to do with her.

***

Back at the border, I stopped. The invisible line was right in front of me.

I could feel it.

That thin divide between what I had been and whatever came next. One step. That was all it would take. Just one.

My fingers tightened slightly around the strap of my bag. This was it. No pack. No home. No bond.The thought stopped abruptly. Because it wasn’t true.

The bond was still there. And it was getting worse. I inhaled slowly. Steady, trying hard to be in control.

Don’t think about it. Don’t feel it. Just walk.

I lifted my foot and stepped across. For a moment nothing happened but just silence, stillness and immense relief. And then something snapped. Not clean. Not sharp. But deep and Violent, that I knew instantly it's happening again..

A force slammed through my chest like a shockwave, stealing the air from my lungs as I stumbled forward.

My bag slipped from my shoulder, hitting the ground as I dropped to my knees again.

“Agh—!”

The sound tore out of me before I could stop it. The bond twisted harder than before then stretched and then instead of breaking it split.

My vision flickered violently, darkness crashing in at the edges as the world tilted.

The presence inside me surged forward, Stronger and Hungrier.

‘There it is…’

The voice whispered, almost satisfied.

‘Freedom.‘ that again.

My breath came in short, uneven gasps as something cold flooded through my veins. Not pain this time. Not entirely that painful. Something else.

But I read it felt deeper from within like earlier. Lie Something is awakening.Oh lord!

Behind me, the guards had stepped back completely now, fear clear in every movement.

“What the hell is happening to her—?”

“Don’t go near her!”

But I barely heard them. Because something inside me had just changed irreversibly. My head lifted slowly. Too slowly. My eyes locked onto the dark forest ahead.

It didn’t feel unknown anymore. It didn’t feel dangerous. It felt like it was calling me. Like I belonged to it. A faint smile touched my lips. Unfamiliar and Unintentional.

And far away too far—

Lykaios staggered suddenly, his hand flying to his chest. His breath hitched violently.

“What—”

His wolf roared inside him so loud, Uncontrolled and terrified signalling at something Because whatever connection had existed between them was no longer the same.