The Alpha's Lost Luna

8

Liz

My heart didn't settle for the rest of the day. It didn't matter how many slow breaths I forced myself to take or how many times I pressed my palm against my chest as if I could physically quiet it. It refused to calm, pounding hard enough that I could feel it in my throat, in my fingertips, in the hollow of my ears. My body didn't seem to know what it wanted — whether to collapse in relief or brace for something worse.

He didn't come after me and I didn't know how to feel about that. Relief came first. It was sharp and immediate, like cool water over a burn. He hadn't chased me down the hall. Hadn't cornered me. Hadn't forced me into something I wasn't ready for. But underneath that relief... something else lingered. Something quieter and heavier. Disappointment.

I swallowed hard, folding a shirt with more force than necessary, smoothing the fabric flat against the table as if I could press the feelings out of myself along with the wrinkles. It only confirmed what I already knew. He didnt want me.

My gaze unfocused as the memory of breakfast flickered through my mind. His voice, the way he had spoken up, the way everything in the room had shifted for one minuscule moment. For me. Had it meant anything at all? Was it just a kindness? If it had... then why hadn't he come? He had every opportunity too, even after running into him at the alpha's office. Why hadn't he at least checked on me?

My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, pacing in tight agitated circles. She didnt like this. Didn't like the uncertainty, the distance. There had been something there, she was sure of it. A pull, a spark. But she was quieter than usual. Resigned. She felt it too. We weren't wanted here. Not really. Not in the way that mattered. A bitter thought surfaced before I could stop it. A rogue would probably be treated better here than me.

My fingers stilled for a moment on the fabric before I forced myself to move again. Folding, stacking, sorting. The repetitive motion helped. It gave my hands something to do, something to focus on other than the ache building in my chest.

I placed the shirt into the correct basket and reached for the next one. My small, carefully hidden stash tucked safely out of sight in the corner of the room. Piece by piece, day by day, I had been gathering what I could. Clothes no one would miss. Small items that might help me survive once I left. If I was honest with myself, I had been planning to leave for a while. This whole mate bond was just the catalyst that threw me into higher gear.

I had gathered the map from earlier today, socks, a worn jacket. Nothing noticeable. Nothing important. Just enough. Just a few more days. Footsteps echoed faintly in the hallway. I froze. My hands hovered midair, fingers still curled around the fabric as every muscle in my body locked tight. My breath caught, and I held it instinctively as I tilted my head, listening. No one came down here. No one wanted to come down here. The laundry room was mine — by default, more than anything else. A forgotten space for a forgotten person.

The footsteps came again. Slow and measured. Then they stopped. My pulse spiked. A sharp and painful thud against my ribs. I inhaled carefully through my nose, trying to catch a scent, but the thick smell of detergent and cleaning chemicals clogged the air, drowning everything else out. Whoever it was… They were close. Right outside the door. Waiting.

The silence stretched. One second. Two. Five. Too long. My skin prickled, unease crawling up my spine as my mind began to spiral through possibilities. Luna. One of the guards. Someone sent to drag me out, to punish me for something I hadn't even realized I'd done. Or worse... my wolf bristled. A low warning hum vibrated through me.

Slowly, carefully, I reached for the utility knife on the counter. My fingers curled around the handle, my grip tightening as I held it close to my side. I had never hurt anyone before. But I would if I had to.

The seconds dragged, thick and suffocating. My heartbeat was loud enough that I was sure whoever stood on the other side of the door could hear it. Then... footsteps. They were fading, retreating. Gone before I could blink. The pressure lifted so suddenly that it left me dizzy. I had exhaled a shaky breath that I hadn't realized I'd been holding. My shoulders sagged as the tension drained from my body all at once.

"Pull it together, Liz..." I muttered under my breath. The words were weak and unconvincing.

I set the knife down a little harder than necessary. The metal clattered against the granite countertop with a sharp, echoing clang that made me flinch. Get it together. There was work to finish. I gathered the last of the clothes, folding them quickly now and stacked them into baskets before loading them onto the rolling cart. The familiar routine steadied me just enough to move. Just a little more, then I could rest.

My body protested with every step as I pushed the cart into the hallway. My muscles ached, my head throbbed, and a dull exhaustion settled deep into my bones. I had scrubbed every room, every surface, every trace of someone else's life. I cleaned the toilets until my hands smelled permanently of bleach. Washed dishes from meals I wasn't allowed to eat. Listened to laughter from behind closed doors while my stomach twisted in quiet hunger. I had swept, mopped, dusted... and cried.

I hated crying. It made me feel weak and small. But sometimes it was the only thing that took the pressure off of my chest. The only thing that let me breathe again afterward. At least no one ever saw it. No one cared enough to look.

I moved through the packhouse, dropping off baskets one by one. Life went on around me like I didn't exist. Pups darted through the halls, laughing. Their energy bright and unrestrained. I smiled at them in wonder. Their joy was loud and unfiltered. Untouched by the weight that pressed constantly on my shoulders.

Mates passed each other with soft smiles and lingering touches. Quiet affection that made something inside my chest twist painfully. What would that feel like? To be wanted like that? To be looked at like you mattered? My wolf stirred again, softer this time. Aching instead of restless. I swallowed and forced my gaze away every time.

I stopped at a window, watching the warriors outside spar and fight. They trained outside, their movements were sharp and controlled. Bodies shifting fluidly between forms. Strength and power, freedom rolling off of them. Sometimes, when I was alone, I mimicked what I saw. Small movements and careful steps. Learning in secret. I would need it. When I left... I wouldn't have anyone to protect me. It would be up to myself to stay safe and alive.

I shook my head as I passed the window, eradicating the thoughts from my mind. I pushed the now empty cart forward and froze. Luna Faye stood just outside my room. Her arms were crossed, and her posture was rigid. Her presence was almost suffocating even from a distance. Her gaze was fixated on my door, her expression twisted into something sharp and displeased.

My brief flicker of relief at seeing my room vanished instantly. Of course. Of course, she was here. I lowered my head as I approached, forcing my steps to remain steady despite the instinct screaming at me to turn around. To run. "Luna Faye," I greeted quietly, bowing my head.

Her lip curled, teeth flashing in a disgusted snarl as her gaze snapped to me. "Is there something that I can help you with?"

"Yes," she said coldly. "There is."

She took a slow step toward me and I fought the urge to step back.

"I wanted to warn you. Stay away from my son!" Every muscle in my body tensed. The words landed like a blow. "I don't know what you said to him. What you did to get him to stand up for you like that, but you would do well to remember your place. I was gracious enough to take you in when we found you. I could have left you to die as an infant. I fed you. Clothed you. You weren't even supposed to be seen!"

Her voice sharpened with each word. Her aura pressed down on me in a way that felt like bricks on my shoulders. Each sentence felt like a reminder. A chain tightening around my throat.

"And yet, you can't follow simple directions. You insulted me son! Your future alpha!" My fingers curled slightly at my sides. My nails bit at my palms. "Do you think that is something I should just ignore? Do you think I should just let that go?" Her head tilted slightly, her eyes narrowing. "Or do you need to be punished?"

"I thought..." the words slipped out before I could stop them. I clamped my mouth shut immediately. Her smile was sharp and dangerous.

"You thought what?" She pressed. "Go on."

There was no escaping it now. I swallowed hard. My throat dry and scratchy.

"I thought... Alpha Rowan said it was fine," I whispered, keeping my gaze locked on the floor.

The slap came fast. It was sharp and loud. My head snapped to the side as pain exploded across my cheek. Heat bloomed instantly beneath my skin. The force of it made my vision blur for a split second, stars dancing at the edges. I didnt move. I didn't react. I couldnt. I focused on the floor. On the lines in the wood. On the tiny imperfections scattered across its surface. Anything to keep myself grounded. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth where I had bitten my cheek.

"You insolent girl!" she spat. Her voice cut through me, laced with fury. "You don't deserve to speak his name!"

Her aura pressed harder, forcing my wolf down. Forcing submission. My wolf snarled in protest, hackles raised, but I shoved her back down, forcing her to yield.

"I'm warning you, Elizabeth," Luna Faye continued. Her tone dropped into something colder. More dangerous. "Watch yourself."

A hand fisted suddenly into my hair. I gasped as she yanked my head back, pain flaring across my scalp as my eyes were forced to meet hers. Her gaze burned bright and wild. Her wolf dangerously close to the surface.

"I will take drastic measures if you don't." She growled. "And I don't think you want to spend another few days at the stake, do you?"

Fear flickered through me. I shook my head immediately though she held my hair tighter.

"I mean it," she said. "Stay away from my son. He and Heather have something real. Something valuable. I wont have you ruining that!" Her grip tightened.

Did she know? That we were mates. The thought hit hard. It was sudden and disorienting. Had he told her? Or had she seen something? Something I hadn't even realized was visible. Why did it matter so much? I was nothing. No name. No status. No power. Even if he did want me... I would never be enough.

"Do you understand me?" she demanded.

My voice came out steady, even if everything inside me wasn't. "Yes, Luna Faye. I understand."

Her eyes searched mine for a moment longer before she released me abruptly. The shove came without warning. I hit the ground hard, my shoulder slamming first before my head knocked against the wall behind me. Pain flared as stars burst across my vision. For a moment I couldn't move. Couldn't think.

I just laid there, staring at the floor as her footsteps receded down the hall. The silence that followed felt heavier than before. My wolf stirred slowly this time. Not fearful. Not submissive. Angry. A low, simmering anger curled in my chest. It was unfamiliar and dangerous. I pushed it down. I had to. Now wasn't the time. I shifted slightly, wincing as pain rippled through my body, and drew in a slow shaky breath. Just a few more days. That was all I needed. Just a few more days... and then I would be gone.