The Rejected Luna Queen 👸

Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30: THE CHOICE BETWEEN FEAR AND LOVE

The silence that followed Seraphine’s words felt heavier than the storm gathering above Raven Hill. What if she was telling the truth? The thought refused to leave my mind. Around me, wolves remained frozen, their faces pale beneath the flickering silver light still crackling across the ground. Some avoided looking at me entirely. Others stared with fear they could no longer hide. Moments ago they had been my pack. My family. Now they looked at me like I was something dangerous. Something unnatural. My stomach twisted painfully. I never wanted this. I never asked for any of it. The silver energy around my body slowly faded, but the memory of every wolf dropping to one knee remained burned into my mind. I had felt it. The pull. The instinctive force pressing against them. And the worst part was how natural it had felt. Kael remained standing beside me despite the poison destroying him from the inside. His grip tightened weakly around my wrist. “Aria.” His voice sounded rough now, strained by pain.

I looked at him immediately. His amber eyes locked onto mine. “You are not your ancestors.” I wanted to believe him. Moon above, I desperately wanted to believe him. But the sight of frightened wolves surrounding us made doubt creep deeper into my chest. “I didn’t tell them to kneel,” I whispered. “No,” Seraphine said calmly. “You didn’t.” Her gray eyes never left mine. “That’s exactly why Luna blood is so dangerous.” Anger flared instantly. “Stop calling me dangerous.” “Then stop pretending the truth doesn’t exist.” The words struck harder than I wanted to admit. Rain began falling from the dark sky above. Cold droplets struck my face while thunder rumbled in the distance. The storm seemed to mirror the chaos inside me. Lucien stepped forward carefully. “Aria, you need to calm yourself.” I laughed bitterly. “How?” My voice cracked. “Everyone keeps telling me I’m some cursed monster while ancient spirits crawl out of the ground and Kael is dying in front of me.” Silence followed. Even Lucien didn’t have an answer. The mating bond pulsed painfully through my chest. Agony. Fear. Exhaustion. I felt all of it coming from Kael.

The poison was getting worse. My eyes dropped immediately toward him. Black veins now spread across his neck like dark roots. His skin looked paler than before. Fear gripped me instantly. “Kael.” He forced a small smile. “Still here.” The effort alone looked painful. Lucien crouched beside him carefully and placed a hand against his shoulder. The old scholar’s expression darkened almost immediately. My heart dropped. “What is it?” Lucien didn’t answer right away. That silence told me everything. The poison was winning. Panic clawed through my chest. “No.” Seraphine stepped forward. “I can still save him.” Rage exploded inside me instantly. “Stop saying that!” Silver energy cracked across the frozen ground again. The wind howled louder. Nearby wolves backed away instinctively. “Then listen,” Seraphine replied calmly. “Because every minute you waste brings him closer to death.” I hated that part of me knew she was right. Kael coughed violently. Blood stained his lips. Fear hit me like a physical blow. I dropped beside him immediately. “Kael.” His breathing sounded uneven now.

The mating bond screamed with every pulse of pain moving through him. “Stay with me.” He looked at me softly. “Always stubborn.” My throat tightened painfully. “You’re not dying.” “I’ll try not to.” Even now he was trying to make me smile. It only made my chest hurt more. The Wraith Alpha watched everything from the edge of the clearing. His massive shadow-covered form remained perfectly still while glowing silver eyes studied me. LOVE MAKES YOU WEAK. The words echoed inside my mind. I glared toward him instantly. “Shut up.” Several wolves flinched at my sudden outburst. Varok’s monstrous smile widened. LOVE MAKES YOU PREDICTABLE. My wolf snarled violently beneath my skin. Seraphine folded her arms. “The spirit isn’t entirely wrong.” “Careful,” Darius warned. “I’m done being careful.” Seraphine’s gaze remained fixed on me. “Every Luna Queen fell because of attachment.” My nails dug into my palms. “And every Hunter became a monster because of fear.” For the first time, Seraphine looked surprised. The faintest smile touched Kael’s lips. “Good answer.” I squeezed his hand tighter.

Rain continued pouring across Raven Hill. Thunder rolled overhead while ancient symbols beneath the cracked earth glowed brighter than before. Something was changing. I could feel it. The same feeling spread across the clearing as wolves exchanged uneasy looks. Lucien suddenly looked toward the distant mountains. His face paled. “No.” Every head turned toward him. Darius frowned. “What?” Another tremor shook the earth beneath our feet. Stronger this time. The ritual stones around us rattled violently. Cracks spread across the frozen ground. Then a roar echoed through the forest. It sounded ancient. Massive. Wrong. Every wolf immediately moved into defensive positions. Fear swept through the clearing. Another roar followed. Closer. Much closer. Varok slowly lifted his head toward the storm-dark sky. THEY ARE WAKING. The words thundered through my mind. A pulse of silver light exploded beyond the distant treeline. Then another. Then another. My blood ran cold.

Lucien stared toward the horizon. “The seals.” Seraphine’s calm expression finally cracked. “Impossible.” “No,” Lucien whispered. “It’s happening.” Another violent tremor shook Raven Hill. Trees swayed. Stones shattered. Wolves struggled to keep their footing. Somewhere beneath Pennsylvania, ancient prisons were breaking apart. Varok’s laughter echoed across the storm. THE RETURN OF THE LUNA CHANGES EVERYTHING. I felt it then. Deep beneath the earth. Something moving. Something old. Something angry. Fear coiled tightly around my heart. Because whatever was waking out there felt stronger than anything we had faced so far. And somehow I knew this was only the beginning.