SCARLET MOON: THE DOCTOR'S CURSE

"You're not worthy of this pack, Celeste. Your mixed blood will always be your weakness." The words hit harder than any blow could. A public rejection was one thing, but for him to call me a stain, to discard me like I meant nothing—his voice carried through the crowd, a jagged blade cutting through the stillness of the clearing. The air was thick with the scent of snow and burning wood, but it was nothing compared to the suffocating weight of Kael's words. I stood there, unmoving, my heart beating erratically in my chest. The chill of winter clung to my skin, but it was nothing compared to the coldness in his eyes. The entire pack was watching, waiting for me to break, for me to collapse into tears or to beg him to take me back. But I wouldn’t. Not this time. His voice rang out again, sharp and clear. “Your blood is weak, Celeste. Your heritage is nothing but a curse to us. A taint on the pack’s strength.” The murmurs began to ripple through the crowd, whispers of disbelief, of sympathy, of pity. The Alpha had made his choice, and now they all knew. They all knew what I was, what I had always been to him: an unwanted, unworthy distraction. I kept my chin high, the sting of his rejection burning beneath my skin, but I didn’t flinch. I didn’t beg. I didn’t cry. "Is this really what you want, Kael?" My voice, steady and unwavering, broke through the murmurs. "Is this how you want to define your legacy? By throwing away your fated mate because of your pride?" His eyes narrowed, and for the first time, I saw the faintest hint of doubt flash across his face. But it was gone as quickly as it had come. Kael was the Alpha, the leader of our pack, and nothing would make him falter. Not even me. “I don’t need a weakness like you at my side.” His words were final, sealed with a cold, unfeeling finality. I turned on my heel, my back straight, my steps purposeful. I could feel his eyes on me, could almost hear the rage in his breath, but I didn’t dare look back. The pack’s eyes were on me, too, but I didn’t care. I would not be the one to break. Not this time. As I walked away, the sound of my boots crunching against the frozen ground echoed in my ears. The weight of the rejection felt like a thousand pounds on my chest, but I refused to let it break me. Kael had made his choice. Now, I would make mine. The pack’s murmurs faded as I left the grounds, the scent of pine and cold air filling my lungs. I didn’t look back. I couldn’t. And then, as I reached the edge of the pack’s territory, I saw him. Lucian. His figure was silhouetted against the fading light, his piercing gaze locking with mine across the snow-covered field. For a moment, the world seemed to stop, the chaos of the pack, the pain in my chest, all fading away. Lucian’s eyes were filled with understanding. I saw it in the way he stood, his posture tense but steady, his hands clenched into fists by his sides. He knew. He knew what Kael had done, and for the first time since our paths had crossed, there was no judgment in his gaze, no pity. I opened my mouth to speak, to say something, anything, but the words caught in my throat. I couldn’t bring myself to say them. Not yet. But before I could even take a step toward him, a loud c***k echoed through the air. Something moved in the distance. My heart skipped a beat as I instinctively reached for the silver knife hidden in my boot. Lucian’s eyes snapped toward the sound, his body tensing, his every muscle coiled in readiness. “You need to go,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “Now.” I didn’t argue. There was no time for words. Without another glance, I turned and ran, my heart pounding in my chest, my legs moving faster than I thought possible. The cold air stung my face, but it was nothing compared to the icy fire that burned in my veins. I could feel them—wolves—moving through the woods, closing in on me. Their scent was unmistakable, a mix of fear and blood. They were coming for me. But why? I had no time to think about it. No time to process the fury that surged in my chest as the memory of Kael’s words echoed in my mind. “You are nothing but a stain on my pack’s honor.” The sound of footsteps behind me snapped me from my thoughts. I didn’t dare look back. I pushed myself harder, my boots sliding on the ice beneath me. I could hear their growls now, closer, louder. The wolves were closing in, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep this pace. Then, in the corner of my eye, I saw a shadow. Lucian. He was running beside me, his long strides easily matching my own, his gaze sharp and focused. “They’re after you,” he growled, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and something else. Fear, perhaps? “Who?” I gasped, my breath coming in ragged gasps. His jaw clenched, his eyes flicking back toward the pack. “It doesn’t matter. We need to get out of here. Now.” The urgency in his voice spurred me forward. We were almost out of the pack’s territory, the trees thinning as we neared the boundary. I could hear the wolves behind us now, their growls growing louder, closer. “We can’t outrun them,” I panted, the cold air burning in my lungs. Lucian’s eyes met mine, and in that moment, I saw the same fire in his gaze that I had always seen in Kael’s. But there was something different about him—something deeper. “We don’t have to outrun them,” he said, his voice steady. “We just have to outsmart them.” Before I could ask what he meant, a sharp, guttural howl split the air. The wolves were upon us. Lucian grabbed my wrist, pulling me to the side, just as a blur of movement shot past us. My heart raced, panic flooding my veins. “What—” “Stay close,” he ordered, his voice low and commanding. He didn’t let go of my wrist as we darted into the trees, the wolves closing in behind us. I didn’t know where we were going, didn’t know how far we had to run, but I trusted Lucian. I had to. There was no other choice. I couldn’t hear the wolves anymore. The sound of their growls was drowned out by the thundering of my own heartbeat, the rushing of blood in my ears. But then, just as I thought we might be safe... A voice, smooth and cold, echoed through the trees. “You should’ve stayed where you belonged, Celeste.”