The Luna He Erased

Chapter 3

Near death

Lyra

I slammed into the dirt as the guards hurled me past the boundary stones.

Pain shot up my arms. My healer’s robes tore on the thorns. The torches behind me shrank into tiny orange dots.

The pack’s cheers still rang in my ears, mixed with Kade’s cold voice saying those two words over and over.

“Get up, girl,” one guard spat. “Start walking before we drag you farther.”

I pushed myself onto my knees. Blood ran down my cheek. “You bastards… he promised…”

“He rejected you. Now….move.”

They shoved me again. I stumbled into the black trees of the Forbidden Forest. The air turned sharp and wet. There was no path or light. Just thick trunks and the smell of rot.

I began to walk.

Hours blurred. My boots sank into mud and branches slapped my face. Every step made the empty place in my chest burn hotter. Kade’s last look stayed stuck behind my eyes. His storm-grey eyes looked so empty.

“You swore on your life,” I whispered to the dark. “You said you’d burn the territory down.”

A twig snapped behind me. I spun around. “Who’s there?”

I was met with silence, then I heard low growls. Just then, three wolves slid out from the undergrowth. Eyes glowing yellow and lips pulled back over long teeth.

“s**t…”

The first one lunged. I threw my arms up and the claws ripped across my shoulder. Hot blood soaked through my robe and I hit the ground hard. Another set of teeth clamped on my leg. I kicked and screamed.

“Get off! Get the hell off me!”

They dragged me across the roots. One bit deeper into my arm. Pain exploded white-hot. I felt the bone scrape the ground and my vision swam.A sudden roar tore through the trees, it was deeper and louder than any pack wolf.

Something huge crashed into the three attackers. Bodies flew and bones cracked. A man landed in front of me, tall and broad, dark hair falling over sharp eyes.

He moved like lightning. One swing of his fist and the last rogue wolf yelped and fled into the shadows.

A woman stepped out beside him, with long red hair glowing under a thin beam of moonlight. She wore leather armor and carried a glowing blade.

“Easy,” she said, kneeling beside me. “You’re safe now.”

I tried to crawl back. “Don’t… touch me…”

“Name’s Kate Throne,” she said calmly. “This is my husband, Galen. He's the King of the Rogue Kingdom. We heard your scream from miles away. What the hell did they do to you?”

Galen crouched, checking the wounds on my leg. “She’s losing too much blood. Kate, hold her still.”

“No…stay away!” I shoved at his hands. Tears mixed with the dirt on my face. “Kade… he said forever. He lied. He f*****g lied!”

Kate caught my wrists gently. “Breathe, girl. Tell us your name.”

“Lyra… Lyra Ashwood.” My voice cracked. “They threw me out. Called me powerless and unworthy.”

Galen’s jaw tightened. “Silver Ridge does that to humans who get too close to their precious bloodlines.”

“He was my mate,” I choked out. “He rejected me in front of everyone. Then they dragged me here like trash.”

Kate’s eyes softened. “We’ve seen that look before. The broken ones always end up in these woods.”

I laughed, bitter and broken. “Broken? I’m empty. There’s nothing left inside.”

“Not nothing,” Galen said. He pressed a cloth against the deep bite on my arm. “You’re still fighting. That counts.”

The world tilted. The blood loss pulled me under. I heard Kate’s voice fade.

“Galen, she’s slipping. Get her to the site. Now.”

That was the last thing I heard, and darkness took me.

****

I woke to the soft light and the smell of herbs, clean sheets, and a fire crackling nearby. My body felt heavy, wrapped in bandages.

A door opened. Kate walked in with an older woman carrying a tray.

“She’s awake,” Kate said. “Lyra, this is Mara, our best healer.”

Mara set the tray down and checked my pulse. “Strong heart for someone who almost bled out in the Forbidden Forest.”

I tried to sit up. Pain stabbed my side. “Where… am I?”

“This is the Rogue Kingdom territory,” Kate answered. “You’re under our protection. No one from Silver Ridge can touch you here.”

Galen appeared in the doorway, arms crossed. “We sent scouts to check out the situation and the pack already closed the border. They’re pretending you never existed.

”My throat closed. “Kade?”

“Still the Alpha heir,” Galen said flatly. “Standing next to his father as nothing happened.”

I turned my face into the pillow. Hot tears soaked the cloth. “I hate him. I hate that I still feel the space where the bond used to be.”

Mara cleared her throat. “There’s something else you need to hear, child.”

I looked up. “What?”

She hesitated, then met my eyes. “When we cleaned the wounds… we ran the usual checks. You’re pregnant.”

The room went silent.

My heart stopped. “What did you just say?”

“Pregnant,” Mara repeated. “About six weeks along. The baby’s strong and healthy.”

I stared at her. The words didn’t fit.

My fingers curled into the blanket until my knuckles turned white.

“No…” The word barely escaped my lips. “That’s impossible…we…we…were careful.”

Mara’s expression stayed gentle. “I’m afraid you weren't careful enough.”

I shook my head so hard the room spun. Six weeks? My mind raced backward through stolen kisses, whispered promises, and the night Kade had held me close, swearing I was his forever.

A broken laugh escaped me. “He rejected me.” My voice cracked as I looked down at my stomach. “He rejected us.”

Kate stepped closer, resting a careful hand on my shoulder. “Does he know?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “No.” My answer came out hollow. “And he never will.”

Galen’s sharp gaze settled on me. “Are you certain? An Alpha heir has a right to know about his child.”

I looked up, fury burning hotter than my grief. “He lost that right the moment he threw me away.”

Silence settled over the room until a sharp knock echoed through the cabin. A young scout burst inside without waiting for permission, breathing hard.

“My King,” he gasped. “Some guards from Silver Ridge crossed the eastern border.”

Galen frowned. “For what?”

The scout's face went pale. “They’re searching every corner of the forest.” He looked directly at Lyra. “And they’re carrying a decree from Alpha Trick.”

He unfolded a blood-red scroll.

“The order says…” His voice faltered. “…capture Lyra Ashwood alive and kill anyone who shelters her.”