THE WHITE WOLF HE REJECTED

Chapter 5: The Luna He Chose

Lyra's POV

Victory changed everything and for the first time in years laughter filled every corner of Silver Crest. The market was filled with people carrying baskets of fresh bread and roasted meat, children chased one another through the streets pretending to be warriors while the elders watched with smiles that had long disappeared from their faces.

The curse hadn't been broken, the rogues were still out there, the pack was still struggling yet today hope had returned. I stood outside the healers hut helping Martha arrange bundles of herbs on the wooden shelves.

“You should be celebrating,” she said glancing at me,

“I will”

She raised an eyebrow, “When?”

I smiled, “When everyone else is done”

She shook her head with a sigh, “You spend so much time taking care of everyone else that you forget yourself”

Well, maybe she was right or maybe I simply didn't know how to put myself first before I could answer the sound of a horn echoing across the village. Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing, a young warrior ran through the streets.

“The coronation is about to begin! Everyone to the central square!”

My heart skipped, Kael. I cleaned my hands on my dress before following the crowd,the entire pack had gathered around the ancient Alpha platform by the time I arrived purple banners bearing the Blackthorn crest shining bright in the evening breeze while torches illuminated the square as the sun slowly went down behind the mountains, Kael stood proudly at the center of the platform.

Tonight he looked every bit the Alpha he had fought to become, Elder Marcus stepped forward raising his staff.

“Today marks the beginning of a new era for Silver Crest”

The crowd erupted into applause,

“The Blackthorn bloodline has reclaimed its rightful place”

More cheers followed, I couldn't stop smiling. This was everything Kael had dreamed of, everything everyone fought and sacrificed for. Kael accepted the ceremonial Alpha pendant before turning to face the pack, his golden eyes moving across the crowd. For a brief second, his gaze was on me, something moved on his face, his wolf stirred again. There she is, the strange feeling trapped him in his chest before disappearing.

Kael frowned, why had he looked for Lyra? He didn't understand it so he pushed the thought aside and continued speaking.

“I wouldn't be standing here today without the people who believed in me” The crowd was silent.

“There were days when I wanted to give up” his voice carried clearly through the square

“But someone always reminded me why this pack was worth fighting for”

A warm smile spread across his face without realizing it, I also smiled. Maybe just maybe he knew, maybe Damon had told him, maybe he had discovered the truth. Hope bloomed inside my chest despite my efforts to stop it.

Kael turned, “Selena”

The smile on my face faded away, Selena stepped gracefully onto the platform, her silver dress shining beneath the moonlight. She looked surprised or perhaps she simply pretended to. Kael reached for her hand.

“Yiy stood beside me through every victory and every defeat”

Selena lowered her eyes modestly,

“You never stopped believing in me”

My fingers curled tightly against my dress. Around me the crowd began whispering excitedly.

“I always knew it”

“They're perfect together”

“Our Luna”

Kael looked at Selena with genuine gratitude

I can think of no one more deserving” He turned toward Elder Marcus.

“Before my pack, before the Moon Goddess, I ask Selena Frost to become my Luna” The square exploded with cheers, no one cared about the mates bond again. The Alpha chooses his Alpha on his own now.

My world went completely silent, I couldn't hear the applause, I couldn't even hear my own breathing. Every word echoed over and over inside my head, become my Luna. Selena slowly looked toward me, only for a second, her expression was soft almost apologetic and of pity. If anyone else had seen her they wold have believed she never wanted this then so quickly I almost missed it, the corner of her lips lifted, a tiny smile one meant for only me.

She accepted his hand, “I would be honored”

The pack cheered once more, Kael slipped the Luna pendant around her neck, the Silver gemstone catching the moonlight sparkling brilliantly as everyone applauded.

My vision blurred, I told myself not to cry, not in front of everyone, I forced my feet to move one step at a time. No one noticed as I slipped through the celebrating crowd.

No one except Kael, halfway through accepting another warrior's congratulations he glanced toward the place where I'd been standing, his smile faded slightly

“Where's Lyra?”

The question left his mouth before he could stop it, Damon was standing beside him and followed his gaze.

“She was here a moment ago”

Kael frowned, an unfamiliar unease settled over him, it didn't make sense because tonight should have been the happiest night of his life, so why did it suddenly feel as though he'd lost something important? Before he could think about it further, Selena touched his arm.

“They're waiting for us” Kael looked at her before forcing another smile

“Right”

The feeling disappeared or at least he convinced himself it had. I didn't know how long I walked, the music from the celebration became quieter with every step until all I could hear was the wind moving through the trees. My tears finally fell, I laughed bitterly at myself.

“What did you expect Lyra? That he’d suddenly notice you? That he'd choose the orphan without a wolf?” I wiped my cheeks angrily,

“You knew this would happen didn't you?”

I reached the Moon Shrine without remembering how I'd gotten there, the ancient altar stood beneath the towering silver tree exactly as I had left it the night before only this time the air felt different.

The crescent pendant Damon had given me began to grow hot against my skin

“What….”

A soft breeze circled around me, the Silver leaves above rustled though no other trees moved, then a gentle female voice whispered through the darkness.

“My child…”

I froze, there was no one there yet the voice sounded very close.

“You have loved silently, you have sacrificed and you have endured”

The ground beneath the altar began to glow with a pale silver light, my heart was beating very fast, the voice spoke again.

“And now it is time to awaken”

The light burst upward, surrounding me completely, I gasped as warmth flooded every part of my body, something deep was inside me, something that had kept for twenty two years finally opened its eyes.