The Return Of The Luna

Aspen, The coarse sand dug into my knees as I knelt on the ground, my mind clouded with confusion. Where am I? Who am I? What’s happening? A faint headache lingered but was fading fast. The disorientation felt unnatural. A few moments ago, I must have been fine—how else could I explain finding myself in this state? I scanned my surroundings, a sense of déjà vu washing over me. I knelt in the center, covered in dust, wounds, and blood, surrounded by guards. They were half-transformed into beasts, ready to strike. Was I their enemy? I searched my mind for answers but found none. The environment felt hostile, so I did the only logical thing—I ran. The guards chased me, and I pushed myself harder. Why was I the enemy? What had I done? "Hey!" a voice called out, accompanied by growls. The guards were gaining on me, so I sprinted faster. I had to escape, now. As I darted through the woods, two trees crashed down in front of me, forcing me to stop abruptly. Before I could figure out how to navigate the obstacle, the guards caught up. Against my instincts, I knelt and placed my hands on the back of my head in surrender. They clapped silver cuffs on my wrists and led me back to where I had fled. Once again, I was on my knees. A familiar voice approached, and as she moved through the guards to stand before me, everything came rushing back. The past events came in a rush, and I remembered everything. The scene played vividly in my mind—Alpha Aiden lying in his own vomit, his once strong body now limp and lifeless. Luna Dahlia had burst into the room, her scream piercing through the air. I didn't have a chance to explain myself, to clear my name. She and Beta Martin were the true culprits, but how could I explain? I was merely a servant, and she was the Luna. The odds were stacked against me. I stood before the elders during my final trial, wishing I had never trespassed into their world. I wished I had never stayed, for I knew I wouldn't win. The memory of Elder Jane's voice echoed in my ears, her words filled with both accusation and sorrow. "Why did you do it, Aspen? The alpha was kind to you. He accepted you into his pack even though people warned him against it. Why kill the one person who cared for you?" she asked, and I sobbed, the truth spilling from my lips. "I did not do it, I swear," I cried, my voice trembling with desperation. "I wish I could believe you, Aspen, but the odds are against you. The evidence points to you. The only reason I am still asking is that I do not understand your motives," Elder Jane said, her tone heavy with resignation. "I know her motives," Beta Martin interjected, and my heart sank. He despised me, loathing me because I had caught him having an affair with Luna Dahlia. Unlike fated mates, chosen mates could not sense infidelity; they had to trust each other blindly. He had threatened me to keep quiet, and I had never breathed a word to anyone. The baby Luna Dahlia was carrying was Beta Martin's. "What is it, beta? Please share with us so we can understand this matter better," Elder Jane prompted, and I knew my fate was sealed. Luna Dahlia had tried to get rid of me several times, but Alpha Aiden always turned a deaf ear. Every time she set me up, he forgave me. There were moments when he believed her lies, but he always went easy on me. Dahlia hated that. "Aspen was Alpha Aiden's fated," Beta Martin began. It wasn’t news; everyone knew that. Aiden had publicly rejected me. I wondered what angle he was playing. "She had been trying to get him to take her back so she could be Luna, and he had refused," he continued, and the crowd gasped in shock. I looked at him with disgust. His words were vile, a web of lies spun to condemn me. "Two nights ago, he told me he would send her away because she was causing too many problems for him. I told him to be cautious, but I guess he did not think she would go this far," he lied, and Elder Jane frowned, sensing the inconsistencies. "And why didn't he tell the elders this? Why did he only discuss it with you? And if he intended to do that, why did she still serve him tea last night? Your story does not add up, beta. Unless she planned on killing him for revenge and running, it does not add up," Elder Jane countered, and for a moment, hope flickered within me. "I do not know, elder. Maybe he took pity on her. You know how kind Aiden is," Beta Martin replied smoothly, and the other elders nodded in agreement. "Is that true, Aspen?" Elder Jane asked, her eyes pleading with me to refute the lies. "No, I have no reason to hurt him. I have nowhere to go from here. This is my only home. I could never hurt him," I cried, my voice breaking. Despite everything, I loved Aiden. "Liar!" Dahlia screamed, tears streaming down her face. "I can't believe we will let a traitor speak." Her tears were a performance. She didn’t love Aiden; she was only with him because her father wanted her to be. I suspected she had a hand in poisoning Aiden, but I couldn't prove it. I was doomed. "It is time to vote," Elder Marcus declared, and I saw Elder Jane's troubled expression. "Let us investigate a bit more," she urged, but the other elders were adamant. "We have heard enough. Aiden's soul needs to rest in peace," they argued, and I wept as they sentenced me to death. I was led to the guillotine to be beheaded. Luna Dahlia wore her black mourning clothes, weeping bitterly as her lover, Beta Martin, comforted her. She rubbed her belly, crying for justice. I cried too, knowing no one could save me. All my friends were dead, and those who once pitied me now looked at me with rage. How could I blame them? I had been accused of killing their alpha, my fated mate. It was all so wrong, and I cried out to the moon goddess for vindication. I remembered everyone's faces before they laid my head on the block. I prayed to the goddess for redemption, for another chance. Everything went dark.