Be My Luna

2

Winter’s POV

I sank to my knees, the cold stone floor biting through the fabric of my gown. My hands shook as I pressed them against the blood smeared across my dress, Mason’s blood. My chest heaved, sobs tearing from me like something broken loose.

What just happened? Did my world end in front of me? And the monster who murdered my groom, my Mason, walked away without chains, without a single hand raised to stop him?

The cries clawed out of me louder, raw, uncontrollable. It was only then that my father rushed forward, his arms wrapping around me, pulling me close into the pool of blood that still spread between us.

“Father,” I sobbed against his chest. “He killed him. He killed my Mason!” My voice cracked into pieces.

“Shh, my angel,” my father whispered, his hand pressing my head firmly against his chest. “It will be fine. You are safe. We will get through this. This… this will pass.”

“Pass?” My voice rose, ragged and furious through my tears. “My husband was murdered in front of me, and you tell me it will pass?” My trembling hands seized his, desperate, begging. “Do something! Anything! Father, you have to hurt him back, you have to kill him. Order the guards! Order everyone! Kill that murderer!”

“Ter…” His voice dropped low, sharp, warning. “Calm yourself. Don’t say such things so carelessly. People will hear.”

“Let them hear!” I tore myself out of his arms, my voice cracking across the hall. “They sat like cowards while Mason was butchered before their eyes. Hypocrites! All of you!” My throat burned as I screamed, the sound echoing through the vast chamber. “But you, you are my father. You must avenge me!”

My words fell into silence. Around us, heads bowed one by one, as though the weight of their shame was too heavy to bear. Then, like shadows, they began to drift away, one after another, slipping out the doors without a word. Soon, the hall that had been full of witnesses was hollow, nothing but the scent of blood and the sound of my sobbing.

“Father…” My voice cracked, weaker this time, desperate. “Do something. Please.”

A long silence pressed down on us. Then his voice, quiet and broken:

“I… I can’t, Ter. Moonveil cannot risk a war with Ashborne. Not now. Not with that mad Alpha in power.”

I choked, shaking my head violently. “So what then? We just let him get away with murder?”

“That is all we can do.” His words struck like a blade. “It is Ashborne’s matter. We should not interfere.”

“No!” My scream tore through the air, splintered by sobs. “No, we must do something! We can’t just let—”

But my father rose, turning his back to me, his shoulders heavy with defeat. He didn’t look at me as he gave the order.

“Take her to her room. Do not leave her alone.”

“Father!” I shrieked, lunging forward, but the guards caught me before I could reach him. My hands clawed at the air, at nothing. “You can’t do this! Father, please! Don’t leave me like this!”

But he didn’t turn back.

“No! No! NO!” My screams chased him as the guards dragged me away, the sound of my grief echoing through the hollow, bloodstained hall.

I fought as they dragged me away, screaming until my throat burned. My nails clawed uselessly against stone and fabric. I kicked, I thrashed, but it was no use. The guards held me as though I were nothing. My screams echoed down the corridors until even I no longer recognized my voice.

They brought the pack doctor. I remember the sting of the needle, the cool rush of medicine flooding my veins. My body weakened, the fire in my limbs sputtering out into smoke. My arms dropped heavily to my sides, my legs refusing to carry me.

By the time they stripped away my bloodstained gown and washed me, I was a husk. Too weak to resist, too broken to speak. My tears mingled with the bathwater, silent and endless, until sleep dragged me under.

When I opened my eyes again, daylight streamed into the room. A new day, though nothing in me felt new. My body was sore, my eyes swollen, my chest hollow.

The door slammed open.

“Oh, you’re still alive, you wretched b***h!”

Lily stormed in, her grief twisted into fury. Mason’s mother. Her fingers clamped into my hair, yanking me upright before I had the strength to rise myself. She shook me with wild strength, her eyes bloodshot, her face streaked with rage.

“You killed my son!” she screamed, spittle hitting my face. “You two-timing b***h! You killed my son!”

I sagged in her grip, my body limp, too weak even to raise my arms. The words pierced through me like knives, stabbing into the guilt I already carried.

“I’m sorry,” I sobbed, the words tumbling out broken. “I swear, I never betrayed him. I never—”

Her hand cracked across my face. Then again. Then again. The slaps landed hard and mercilessly, each one burning across my skin. I didn’t resist. I couldn’t. I just stood there, trembling, receiving every blow as if I deserved them.

“Liar!” she shrieked. “Evil, lying w***e!”

The door burst open. “Enough!”

Monika rushed in with two maids, grabbing Lily by the arms and dragging her back. The woman fought them, kicking, cursing, clawing at the air until finally they hauled her out, her wails echoing down the corridor.

I collapsed into Monika’s embrace, sobbing uncontrollably. Her arms were warm, trembling around me. But when I lifted my head, I saw her face, red, streaked with tears, her eyes so swollen they could hardly open. She had been crying as much as I had.

“Monika…” My voice cracked, guilt rising in my chest. She had suffered for me, too, my best friend since childhood, always so pure-hearted.

Then her voice broke through, unexpected, trembling. “But you didn’t… did you?”

I stilled, blinking at her. What? Was it really my best friend questioning my credibility?