Lost Luna

Chapter 5

Astra’s POV

The warmth disappeared from his face.

“Follow me.”

My stomach tightened slightly. Without another word, he turned and started walking toward the western quarters of the palace, where the warriors and their families stayed. I followed behind him quietly. Dad did not say a word until we reached our quarters. The moment the door shut behind us, he turned around sharply. Before I could even speak, his palm landed across my cheek. I gasped softly in shock as my head snapped to the side.

“Have you lost your mind?” he snapped.

I stared at him in disbelief while holding my cheek.

“Dad…”

“I raised you better than that.” His voice was low and angry now. “Berating servants in the middle of the hallway like some spoiled noblewoman?”

“She bumped into me!”

“And you think that excuses your behaviour?”

I clenched my jaw tightly.

He pointed toward the door angrily. “People watch everything in this palace, Astra. Servants talk. Guards talk. Maids gossip more than anyone. One careless attitude and suddenly the entire pack starts whispering.”

I looked away bitterly.

“I don’t care what they whisper.”

“You should.”

Dad stepped closer with a frustrated sigh.

“If you are going to stand beside Kaelith one day as his Luna, then you need to learn how to control yourself in public.”

Something inside me snapped immediately.

“I don’t think I’m becoming anyone’s Luna!” I burst out angrily.

Dad frowned.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means Kaelith likes Nymera!”

The words came out louder than I intended.

Dad stared at me quietly for a second.

Then he sighed heavily, like he was already tired of the conversation.

“Astra.”

“No, I’m serious!” I laughed bitterly while pacing the room. “He looks at her like she’s the most important person in the world, and everyone knows it already.”

Dad rubbed his forehead slowly.

“He told her tonight that he likes her. He said when he thinks about the future, she’s always there.”

Dad stayed silent for a moment before speaking carefully.

“Kaelith is young.”

“That doesn’t change anything.”

“He may simply be attached to her because they grew up together.”

I scoffed softly. “That’s not how he looks at her.”

Dad’s expression darkened slightly.

“And Nymera?”

I frowned.

“What about her?”

“Does she return his feelings?”

I hesitated before answering quietly.

“I think she does.”

The room became silent after that. Dad walked toward the small table near the window and poured himself a drink before speaking again.

“She is still wolfless.”

I frowned slightly.

“So?”

“So eventually reality will matter. The elders will never support a wolfless Luna,” he said. “Kaelith may be fond of her now, but feelings change. Duty does not.”

I looked down at the floor quietly. Part of me wanted to believe him badly. But another part remembered the way Kaelith looked at Nymera tonight. Dad stayed quiet for a while after that, sipping slowly from his drink while I stood there trying not to cry from frustration.

Finally, he placed the cup down and looked at me properly.

“You need to stop thinking emotionally.”

I frowned slightly.

“What does that even mean?”

“It means Kaelith is not just some boy you grew up with. He is the future Alpha of this pack.”

I crossed my arms tightly but stayed quiet.

Dad continued calmly, “Do you know how many families would kill to have their daughter stand beside him one day?”

“I don’t care about other families.”

“You should start caring.”

His tone hardened slightly again.

“This palace is built on power, Astra. Alliances matter. Status matters. Influence matters.”

I looked away bitterly. “Apparently, feelings matter too.”

Dad scoffed softly.

“Feelings fade. Position doesn’t.”

He walked closer and lowered his voice slightly.

“You are strong, beautiful, respected and already close to Kaelith. Half the pack already assumes you’ll become Luna one day.”

“But Kaelith wants Nymera.”

“He thinks he does.”

I stared at him.

Dad sighed heavily before speaking again.

“A wolfless omega cannot survive as Luna beside an Alpha like Kaelith. The elders would never fully support it, and eventually, Kaelith himself will understand that.”

I swallowed hard. Even though part of me wanted to believe that, another part still remembered the way Kaelith looked at Nymera tonight. Dad placed both hands behind his back.

“You listen to me carefully, Astra.”

Something about his voice made me straighten immediately.

“You have spent years beside that boy. You know him better than anyone. You understand palace life, pack politics and responsibility. Nymera does not.”

I stayed silent.

“You cannot sit around crying because Kaelith is temporarily distracted by affection. If you truly want him, then stop acting like you’ve already lost.”

I blinked slowly.

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying you must become the future Luna by any means necessary.”

Dad held my gaze firmly.

“You think noblewomen and past Lunas simply sat around waiting for fate to hand them everything?”

I didn’t answer.

“Power is taken, Astra. Not gifted.”

Something twisted uneasily in my stomach.

But at the same time, his words settled somewhere deep inside me too.

Dad looked toward the door before speaking one last time.

“You are my daughter. Start behaving like someone worthy of standing beside an Alpha.”

Then he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I slowly sat down on the edge of the bed and stared at the floor quietly. Kaelith’s voice replayed in my head again.

When I think about the future, you’re always there.

But he hadn’t been talking about me. I clenched my fists tightly. For years, I had stayed beside him. I had trained with him and protected him. I understood him better than anyone. And somehow the person he wanted was still Nymera.

Sweet, shy, wolfless Nymera.

The worst part was that I loved her too. She was my best friend.

But tonight, for the very first time, a small, ugly feeling settled inside my chest

whenever I thought about her.

And no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t make it go away.