The Sacrificed Luna’s Redemption

Elara’s POV. “Miss, are you sure you’re volunteering to be the human sacrifice who jumps off the cliff? You’re the most cherished member of the alpha family— how could they bear to watch you die?” “Yes, I’m willing to die.” I smiled calmly, watching the gamma in charge of registering the sacrifice candidates look stricken. Every five hundred years, the werewolves living in the forest must offer a sacrifice to the abyss beneath the cliff, which was said to house a dark power. This means the sacrifice will fall into the darkness, with no body to bury. For centuries, this ritual had been the pack’s tradition until the present day. In the past hundred years of peace, belief in the sacrifice has waned, so the alpha family is anxious. Without a volunteer, the entire pack may be endangered. They need a volunteer before it’s too late. They grant a huge reward and swear to protect the participant’s privacy and keep their identity secret from everyone, even family. Once someone signs up, they are given a death certificate. After the sacrifice is completed, the participant’s family can use it to receive many benefits from the pack. No one knew that in one month, I would be the only participant. In exactly one month, I would jump from the cliff, and my life would end there. The gamma across from me stared at the form in his hand. His other hand trembled slightly as he gripped the pen. Then, he glanced up at me again, trying one last time to make me change my mind. “You know that means certain death—” He stopped himself, then sighed deeply. “You still have time to think, Miss. Once your name is written down, there’s no turning back.” “I’ve already thought about it. Please register me.” The words left my mouth easily, as if I had practiced them many times before. In truth, I had. Seeing he had no other choice, he let out a long sigh and finally wrote my name. The scratch of the pen against paper sounded unbearably loud in the room. “Your brothers and your family adore you. You even got Marcus as your fiancé. The future Luna position was meant for you. If they knew—” “That was all in the past,” I interrupted, tasting the bitterness in my own lips. “When they discovered I couldn’t awaken my wolf, no one mentioned the engagement again. It was as if it never existed.” He looked away because he knew. Everyone in the pack knew. I was wolfless. A disgrace. An existence abandoned by the Moon Goddess herself. I was adopted by the alpha family when I was very young. Back then, I was loved. I remembered clearly how my brothers would fight over who got to carry me on their shoulders, how my father would laugh proudly when I showed signs of talent far beyond children my age. They called me the pack’s little princess. They said I would be stronger than any alpha. For a time, I believed that too. But then, everything changed when the alpha family’s biological daughter returned. And slowly, the light around me faded. My abilities have weakened year by year. By the time I came of age, I couldn’t feel my inner wolf at all. I became wolfless. That was the moment their love for me turned into disappointment, and the pride they once had for me crumbled into shame. Suddenly, an authoritative voice echoed throughout the entire pack through the alpha broadcast. “Attention,” my father’s voice rang out. “We are still seeking a sacrificial volunteer for the upcoming ritual. In addition, in three days, we will be holding a grand birthday celebration for my daughter, Vanessa Moonveil.” The joy in his voice was impossible to miss. “I expect all pack members to attend.” Almost immediately after the broadcast ended, more voices followed. My brothers, Sebastian and Julian, and my mother began giving commands to servants and pack members, telling them to prepare gifts, decorations, and banquets. All for Vanessa. My fingers curled into my palm. In a few days, it will also be my birthday. But no one remembered. No one ever did anymore. I swallowed and pressed my lips together. I didn’t want anyone to see my expression, so I lowered my head. The corners of my mouth felt stiff, as if I had forgotten how to smile. The gamma glanced at me, guilt flashing across his face. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. The words he had been using to persuade me seemed to lose their meaning. This time, he didn’t try to stop me. Instead, he opened a drawer and took out a thin document. He slid it toward me with both hands, as if handing over something sacred. “This is your sacrificial death certificate,” he said hoarsely. “Only a few people have the authority to see it. Your identity will remain confidential.” I reached out and took it. For a second, my grip tightened. The paper was thin, yet it felt heavy in my hands. I looked down at the name written clearly at the top. Elara Moonveil… “Recently, the dark energy at the cliff has stirred again. With your sacrifice, the entire pack will be safe,” the gamma continued, standing up and bowing deeply to me. “This pack owes you.” I folded the paper and bowed in return. “This is what I should do.” This would be the last thing I could give to the alpha family who had once raised me.