Return of the Rejected Luna

Aerith’s eyes fluttered open, a sharp pain piercing her skull. The world was a blur, muffled voices swirling around her as she tried to focus but failed. ‘What’s happening?’  She tried to look around, attempting to grasp her situation, but there was a heavy shroud of mist. Aerith forced herself to get up, her body trembling from the effort, and panic seized her heart as soon as she could see better. Aerith was on the edge of a jagged cliff―one wrong move, and she would be swallowed by the depthless dark. She shuddered, crawling back. Aerith’s breath came in shallow gasps as she frantically looked around, and soon, she saw a beautiful woman lying unconscious on the ground. Soft amber hair fell over her pale skin. Elenora. Aerith’s heart clenched. The last person she expected to see in such a situation was her husband’s ex-girlfriend, Elenora, who had returned just a week ago, leaving Arvis in turmoil. Gradually, fragments of memories flickered in Aerith’s mind, and her heart throbbed with a bitter ache. She remembered storming out of the pack office, her face flushed red from anger after an argument with her mate and the Alpha of the Silver Dawn pack―Arvis. Lacking any special abilities and failing to awaken as a ‘Talent,’ Arvis never saw her as someone worthy of standing beside him. Frustrated, she left the office, only to be ambushed by a group of masked figures. Before she could react, rough, calloused hands dragged her inside a black sedan. Something sharp pierced her neck, and soon, she fell unconscious. As Aerith now stared at Elenora, her heart sank, ‘What would anyone want from us both?’ A gruff voice pierced through her thoughts before she could make sense of the sight. “Why is she awake?” a man snarled. Aerith tensed up, meeting the eyes of two menacing men looming over her. They were clad in sleek black suits and concealed their faces behind masks. The second man gave a wicked grin, raising a heavy iron rod in his hand threateningly, “Move, and I will break your legs.”  Aerith clenched her fists tight. But then she felt a slight tremor through her heart. Her captors realized something was wrong a moment later as distant, alarmed screams cut through the surrounding mist. “That bastard is here,” her captor spat in a venomous voice. Aerith could not see as clearly as them. Her wolf had always been far too fragile―but her heart was racing wildly. There was no mistaking the sensation—a deep, primal pull she felt deep in her soul. For him.  Before Aerith could see through the mist, her wolf stirred with a desperate longing. The fog parted slowly, revealing a shadowed figure moving with lethal grace. Aerith’s breath caught in her throat. His gaze locked onto hers, and everything else faded. His raven-black hair fell effortlessly around sharp, chiseled features.  His skin was pale, contrasting the stormy gleam of his purple eyes, which seemed to pierce straight into her soul. Her heartbeat quickened painfully, a rush of emotions overwhelming her senses.  All she wanted was to run to Arvis and sob into his chest, just as she had when they were children. Despite the cold distance in their marriage, despite his indifference to their bond, the pride she felt at this moment was undeniable. He had come for her. He was her husband, and she knew he wouldn’t stand by after her disappearance. “Arvis!” She called his name, tears welling in her eyes. But she had barely moved when one of the captors viciously yanked her by her long, blonde hair, “What are you so happy about, b***h?”  Aerith winced, a numbing pain crawling down her skin. Arvis’s expression darkened with each step, his purple eyes now blazing crimson. His jaw tightened, rage emanating from him like a palpable force. His gaze darted from Aerith to Elenora, lying unconscious. “If you come any closer, you’ll lose both of them,” one of the men snarled, though the quiver in his voice betrayed his fear. But even if this was the end, they have come too far to back down. “We’ll give you a choice,” With a cruel grin, the man placed his foot on Aerith’s body and taunted, “Choose one. Your lover or your Luna? We’re generous. Take one and leave. The unfortunate one will seek her love at the gates of hell!” His smirk widened as he spoke, his remaining eye gleaming with malice. Arvis, however, said nothing. His gaze was devoid of any warmth as he paused―expressions unreadable. The captor leader mocked, “How does it feel to be so helpless? No matter what you do, you’ll have to suffer!” His voice dripped with hatred. But Arvis calmly questioned, “Why would you assume that?”  “What do you mean?” the captor’s grin faltered. Arvis coldly smiled, “If I have to choose,” he slowly walked towards the cliff, “Isn’t it obvious that I’ll save the one best suited for the future of my pack?”  Aertith stared intently at Arvis, her body perilously close to the edge of the cliff. Even if Arvis never loved her the way she did, they had been childhood friends, things eventually fell apart, but no one knew him like she did. Aerith was his fated mate.  The captor leader scorned, “So, which woman do you desire?”  Arvis’ gaze shifted to Aerith. He said nothing for a long, dreadful moment, and she found herself unable to breathe. At last, Arvis commanded coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion. “Set Elenora free.” For a brief moment, the kidnappers faltered, their smug confidence shaken.  They had carefully planned this a*******n to wound the Alpha where it would hurt the most—through his mate. Yet, as Arvis stood before them, resolute and cold, they couldn’t fathom how he could so easily abandon his fated mate. Were all their efforts for nothing? The alpha captor sneered, his one hand transforming into deadly claws, “You think this is a joke?” he growled, pulling Aerith’s head back until her throat was fully exposed. She inhaled sharply, “I can make it far more painful; do not test me, Alpha! I’ll slit your Luna’s pretty throat and make you watch as she drowns in her blood.”  His sharp nails broke through her skin, drawing thin, red lines of crimson that dripped on the ground. Aerith’s eyes burned with tears, her heart, her mind—it was all shattering, but she told herself to hold on. Maybe Arvis would save her. Maybe he was only lying to the captors.  But there was no warmth in his voice as he stated, “I don’t care,” there was a chilling indifference in his words, “Just make sure there isn’t a scratch on the other woman’s body. You’re free to kill Aerith however you want.” ‘What do you mean?’ Aerith let out a trembling breath. Everything around her blurred, a persistent ringing dulling the sounds of their voices. He wouldn’t… There was no way her mate would prioritize Elenora over her. Did she hear it wrong?  Arvis never wanted this marriage. She knew that. But seeing how little he valued her life and how uncaring he was of her suffering cut deeper than any wound. What about all those years? The boy who once risked his life for hers was gone. The one who stood by her side for so long—had he truly disappeared?  Her mind spun, her wolf clawing at the walls of her consciousness, howling in anguish and desperation.  A cruel grin spread across the captor’s face. “What a heartless man,” he spat bitterly, roughly shoving Aerith on the cold, hard ground, and a sharp pain shot up through her body. “Find someone better in your next life, girl.” The captor leader gestured at one of his men, but as he moved, Arvis’s voice broke through the mist: “My wife might have some last words.” Aerith’s breath wavered, her heart pounding against the raw ache of betrayal. She lifted herself, every movement painful but determined. Blood trickled from her wounds, her weak healing struggling to keep up. Arvis watched her silently, his eyes never leaving her, and yet, there was no sign of regret. He watched her as if she was nothing. With unshakable composure, Aerith looked at him with a sharp, unforgiving glare,  “From this day forward,” she declared, her voice hollow but stern, “I refuse to acknowledge Arvis Windward as my mate.” She paused, her gaze hardening with finality.  “May we remain strangers forever.” As her one final act of defiance, she ran over the cliff, surrendering herself to the abyss.