Rise Of The Forsaken Luna

CHAPTER 3

Freya’s POV

My body still felt heavy, the pain of the wound was dulling but had not totally faded. I laid there on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Tears pooled in my eyes but I held them in. I had already shown Nero enough of my pain. He didn’t deserve to see the rest.

The door swung open. The sudden sound startled me, and I turned my head just in time to see Beta Zarek stride in. His face was tense, his eyes darting first to Nero, then to me. And then… he froze completely. His whole body locked up, like he had stepped into a trap.

His gaze collided with mine, and for a moment, everything stopped. His expression softened, and in that instant, I could see it—the regret and remorse. The shame of helping Nero to betray me.

Zarek’s eyes were apologetic, almost pleading, though no words left his lips. My tears slipped free, trailing hot down my cheeks as I looked at him. For the first time since this nightmare began, I could tell I wasn’t the only one broken by Nero’s choices. But I didn’t let it fall all the way through. I cut it with my thumb.

But before I could say anything, Nero’s voice shattered the moment.

“Why are you standing there like a statue, Zarek?” his voice thundered in irritation.

Zarek blinked, the remorse vanishing as quickly as it had come. He bowed his head, breaking eye contact with me. “Apologies, Alpha,” he muttered, his voice was low and stiff.

He cleared his throat uncomfortably before speaking again, this time directing his words at Nero. “The border patrol just sent word. The Cryptic Moon Pack… they’ve breached the edges of our territory.”

My heart skipped a beat at that name.

Cryptic Moon… One of the strongest packs across the territories. They were ruthless, feared, and unchallenged, stronger than us in every way—numbers, warriors, resources. Our pack was strong too, the third strongest, but compared to them? We were vulnerable.

If they were really crossing into our land, it wasn’t a small scuffle. It meant one thing, war.

Nero’s posture changed instantly. His jaw clenched, his body became tense and his eyes sharpened from restlessness. He rubbed his chin, pacing a step before muttering, “Are you certain?”

“Yes, Alpha,” Zarek confirmed, his voice carrying pure dread.

I laid there, my tears drying into hot streaks on my cheeks, watching this happen. My body trembled, but not from fear of the Cryptic Moon Pack, No. My fear had already been stripped away, torn apart by Nero’s betrayal. What more could truly scare me after what he had done?

And in that moment, clarity settled in.

If Nero had already rejected me, if he had already replaced me in his heart with another woman, then what was left for me here?

This wasn’t my pack anymore.

My legs shook as I forced myself to sit up. Pain tugged at my side, but I ignored it. Every breath was a struggle, but I pushed myself up, letting my feet touch the cold floor. The weakness in my body screamed against me, but I didn’t care.

I wasn’t going to lay in this bed and rot.

Slowly, unsteadily, I pushed myself forward. One step, then another, toward the door.

I didn’t get far before I felt their eyes on me. Nero’s head snapped up, his attention ripped away from Zarek’s urgent report. Lilith’s eyes followed too, wide with curiosity. Zarek stiffened.

“Where are you going?” Nero’s voice cut through the room, sharp but not harsh, more like he was in disbelief.

I didn’t answer. I kept moving, dragging my body forward despite the weakness.

“Freya,” his tone hardened. He moved quickly, his tall frame blocking my path before I could even reach the door. His eyes narrowed at me, as if he were searching for something in them. “I asked you a question. Where are you going?”

Still, I stayed silent. My lips pressed tightly together, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reply. How dare he speak to me like nothing had happened? How dare he act like we were still the same, like he hadn’t already torn me apart and chosen someone else?

I clenched my fists, swallowing down the lump in my throat.

“Move,” I whispered hoarsely.

Nero’s brows furrowed. He sighed heavily, dragging his hand across his forehead in frustration. “Freya, you can’t just walk out of the packhouse right now,” he said firmly. “Did you not hear what Zarek just said?”

My head tilted, my eyes blazing as I snapped back, “I heard him clearly.”

“Then why are you leaving?” he asked, his tone rising.

Finally, my voice broke free, raw and unfiltered. “What am I supposed to do here, Nero? Tell me. What purpose do I serve anymore?”

He stilled at my words. His jaw tightened, and then, to my shock, his tone softened. “The pack might be at war, Freya. And I…” He hesitated, as if weighing his words, before his voice steadied. “…I need you.”

A bitter laugh tore from my lips, dry and humorless. “You need me?” I repeated, my voice shaking as tears threatened to spill again, but I held it back.

His eyes softened just a little. “You are the only one who wields the dragon fire.”

My body froze. My chest tightened at the sound of those words. He was using it—using the one thing that made me different from everyone else in the pack, the one gift I never asked for.

I shook my head slowly, realization dawning on me like poison spreading through my veins.

“So… that’s it, isn’t it?” My voice cracked as I stared up at him. “When the pack is safe, you can betray me, toss me aside for her.

But when war comes knocking, suddenly I’m important again? Suddenly you ‘need’ me?”

His lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn’t deny it.

“So that’s all I am to you?” I yelled, my voice trembling as tears blurred my vision. “A shield? A weapon? Just the dragon fire you can call on when it suits you?”

Behind him, a voice cut through the air, sharp and mocking.

“Are you always this dramatic?” Lilith’s words came out carelessly as she shifted slightly on the bed, her fragile frame looking far too confident for someone who had nearly died. Her lips curled into a faint smirk. “What’s the big deal, Freya? This is your pack.

Don’t you love them? Must Nero love you first before you can protect them?”

Her words pierced deeper than she could imagine. My chest heaved as I turned my head slowly toward her, my eyes narrowing, my anger rising like fire under my skin.

She thought this was about love. She thought this was about him.

No. This was about betrayal, about loyalty shattered into pieces, about the bond of mate and Luna ripped apart without a second thought.

Before I could speak, I felt Nero’s hand close around mine. His touch was warm, steady, almost desperate. His eyes locked onto mine, softer this time, filled with something I couldn’t read.

“Freya,” he murmured, “please… consider it.”

Something inside me snapped.

I yanked my hand away violently, my voice breaking into a roar of pain and anger.

“Don’t you ever touch me again.”