MY LUNA’S TIME TO REIGN

Chapter 3

Mia's breath caught despite the anger inside her.

The Forest of Fear.

The mere name sent shivers through the spine of even the bravest warriors. It was a cursed place, thick with darkness—no day or night. It was a place where shadows, different creatures, ancient weird beings with glowing eyes and elongated claws lurked around without a source. No one has entered the forest and ever returned—alive or dead. It had been rumored that the forest was alive, feasting on the fear and flesh of the lost.

The elders exchanged uneasy, knowing glances, shifting uncomfortably in their seats. They knew it was no different from a death sentence, but none of them dared utter a word. Mia wasn't anything special anyway—she could have been gone since they'd chosen their true Alpha.

Mia clenched her fists, gritted her fang. Her body was trembling with fear and exhaustion, but she refused to let them see, refused to let them know even her brave wolf was growling with fear inside her. She squared her shoulders, her eyes as defiant as ever and her voice dripping with rage as she spat, "You're a coward, Maiks. Instead of trying to get rid of me by sending me to the forest of fear, why don't we have a sword fight? Let's settle this with a fight, you bastard."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Warriors exchanged glances, some intrigued, others wary as they wondered if Maiks would give in to her request.

Maiks face grew pale, his eyes darted nervously towards the elders. He knew it, they knew it. In fact, everyone knew that he had no chance, even if they were to spare like she suggested. Maiks knew his sister was fierce and strong, and he would never take such a risk as having his head beheaded.

He quickly masked his expression with a cold, hardened gaze and, with a sharp nod, he signaled to the guards, "I won't waste my time engaging with a traitor. Take her outside. Let her know what defying the Alpha means."

Mia glared at him as the guards closed in on her. "You'll regret this. I swear, you will," Mia promised.

The guards obeyed and acted swiftly. They grabbed her roughly, dragging her towards the courtyard. The entire pack gathered, watching in silence, their faces devoid of sympathy. She was thrown on a metal table and bound with a chain like a lamb for s*******r.

The first Barbed Chain Whip landed on her back, searing through the skin and muscles, forcing the air from her lungs. Then another. And another. The thick whip landed on her countless times as she lay bounding on the table, her body already weak from the betrayal and grief.

She didn't scream. She didn't beg for mercy. She refused to give them that satisfaction, and it wasn't like they would listen anyway. But with each strike, her rage grew, unshed tears formed at the corners of her eyes. She made a vow to remember this. Every single face. Every single strike. And if fortunately she survives—which I knew she wouldn't —she would make them pay.

When the beating was finally over, the guards dragged her up to her feet. Her body was drenched in blood and sweat. Blood soaked through her shredded night robe. Her head slumped weakly, but she took one last glance at Maiks and Kaiya—they both stood beside each other brimming with satisfaction—she would make them pay. She didn't know how she would do it but the determination burned inside her—sharp and unrelenting. The pack members wondered how fast their loyalty had shifted. The elders were enraged at how selfish they could be. They will all pay. They will all suffer.

The guards dragged her through the village, towards the towering gates that separate the Pack's lands from the cursed forest. They passed by stone houses and flickering torches, but no one stopped them. No one spoke. Cowards.

After walking for hours, they reached her and, without hesitation, they threw her inside and slammed the gate shut behind her while they hurried out, desperate to get out of the evil forest.

Mia lay on the floor; the thick, suffocating silence greeted her. Her heart thundering in fear.

The air was thick with eerie stillness, and only the rustling of leaves and some mystic creatures moved in the darkness. She was too weak to move, too tired to even think. The lashes had torn deep, and even a werewolf’s healing could not erase this pain quickly.

Her vision blurred.

This was obviously the end, she thought bitterly. This is how I die. Maiks had killed our parents and i won't even get the chance to avenge them.

Her eyelids grew heavy, and before she could fight it, darkness claimed her.

******

Then, the dream or perhaps a revelation came—vivid and intense.

She saw a dimly lit chamber, the scent of blood and thick sweat filled the entire room. Two women were on separate beds, both writhing in that agony of childbirth. One was the mother Mia had known all her life, her face plagued with pain, her fingers digging into the bedsheets like it was the only thing holding her together. The other woman, a stranger yet familiar, had it worse —fragile, pale, her breath labored as though death was lurking near.

Her father stood beside the stranger, his face twisted with grief.

The midwives were seen working on both women, their faces torn with worry and exhaustion. "Push....." The word echoed through the room, accompanied by the painful groans of the women.

A sharp cry filled the air as the mother she had known gave birth to a child. A boy. The woman held him close, tears streaming down her face.

Then, another cry. A girl. The stranger had put to bed. Her father was excited. The midwives were relieved, but not for long. The woman was very weak after losing so much blood. With the last of her strength she grasped her husband's hand and whispered, "Marry my sister, since her husband died while fighting for our pack."

"Elara," the husband and the woman Mia knew echoed. Her husband stepped closer to her, his hand on her cheeks. "You'll be fine." The physician will do everything to save you."

"No......" the woman said. "This is my last wish as your wife and Luna. Marry her. Raise them as twins. Promise me... promise me our daughter will be Alpha."

Her father choked back a sob, nodding desperately. "I swear it," he promised firmly.

Then the head of the midwife stepped closer, handing her the baby—who was still drenched in blood. Her husband supported her as she took the baby with a weak, trembling hand.

She smiled through her blurry eyes, and stared at the small cute creature. She was so beautiful. If only—if only she could live to raise her daughter herself.

"Mia," she breathed heavily as she named her daughter. "Mia Cadman."

Feeling that her end was near, she handed the baby back to the midwife. A single tear escaped her eyes, dropping on the bed. She gave her last, shallow breath and went still.

"Noooooooo." Her husband screamed, clutching tightly to the lifeless bodies of his beloved wife and Luna. Tears streamed down the eyes of the other woman as she mourned her sister.

Mia jolted awake, her heart pounding against her rib cage.

What was this?

What did she just see?

Was it a vision? A forgotten truth?

Still panting, her heart raced as she put all the pieces together. Maiks and hers weren't twins as their parents made them believe. And the woman she had all her life wasn't her biological mother but aunty. Her biological mother had died while giving birth to her and made her sister and husband get married.

Tears streamed down her face as she realized that her whole life had been built on a lie all along. But she didn't break.

Because now, she had something stronger than pain.

The truth. She had the truth.

And she would use it to destroy them all if she survives.

Today was supposed to be a happy day for her—her birthday-and they had taken that away from her. She would show them what it means to hurt a broken woman.