Broken Luna

“Hello?” I called out again, my voice already hoarse. “Please, I’m your Luna.” I heard a snicker from the guard at the door. I glanced over as I inched closer to the bars, leaving a few feet. I already learned my lesson on the first day that Brandon had me thrown in here. I shuddered as I remembered the sizzle of silver against my skin. I looked down at my still-scorched skin. “Please let me out. I have done nothing!” I called out weakly. My poor wolf, already weak, howled softly inside of me.

“Shut up already.” The guard called back. “If you haven’t figured out why you are in here, whore, then I’ll tell the Alpha you haven’t learned your lesson.”

The betrayal cut deep. Brandon did this. I closed my eyes as I laid on the concrete ground. “Nix.” I called softly to my wolf, but she ignored me. She turned her back on me, like everyone else. Her soft, mournful howl broke my heart. “I didn’t do anything.” I tried to explain to her, but she already knew we had done nothing wrong. She was the other half of my soul.

There was a clang from the door, and I pushed off the ground, still hopeful to see my mate. But it was Shannon who walked in — my step-sister, and best friend. Her soft clicking heels came down the barred corridor and stopped outside my cell. “Amy.”

“Shan.” I let a smile grace my lips. I pushed up and staggered to the bars, keeping a small distance. “Talk to Brandon for me.” I pleaded with my eyes. “I don’t know why I’m here. No one will tell me.”

“That’s why I’m here.” Hope surged in me again, and I stepped closer, leaving only half an inch between me and the bars.

“Really?” I felt a tear fall down my face. “Thank you.” I carefully slid my hand out between the bars to grab her hand.

She threaded her fingers into mine, and a smile broke across her face. “Of course. We are family.” She squeezed my fingers. I nodded once before she yanked me against the bars.

The sizzle and smoke registered before the pain did. The smell of charred meat reached my nose, and that was the cue for my brain to catch up, and the pain exploded inside of me. My eyes flickered to black as a scream burst from my lips.

The guard covered his nose and gagged as the smell hit him. But Shannon just smiled wider as she slammed me back to the ground. She stomped off, but I was still writhing in pain to full register what she was doing.

Until the cell door swung open, and a new pain sliced across my back. My eyes snapped open only to see another strike from the silver whip cut across the hand I raised up to ward off the blow. I curled over my stomach, trying to protect the pup in my womb. He kicked as I screamed again, like he was trying to fight off whoever was attacking us.

I’m sorry, my love. I called to my pup. Mommy doesn’t understand what’s going on.

“Shannon, stop, I’m your Luna.”

The main door to the hidden jail swung open, and I turned to see who was coming now, only for the silver whip to land across the bared half of my face. I bellowed my pain, and Shannon cackled, glee written on her face.

Brandon, my mate, stepped up to Shannon’s side, and he slid his arm around her shoulder. Betrayal shattered the remaining shard of heart I had left. His smile was slow and deliberate. “You aren’t the Luna of this pack anymore. Shannon is.”

I choked on blood as I stared up at my mate and my sister. “So, the pain last night?”

They nodded. “I shattered the bond and marked her under the full moon.”

Shannon grinned as she rubbed her slightly rounded belly. “And it wasn’t the first time. I’m going to give him his first pup.”

I struggled with this new information. “You’re lying. I would have felt his betrayal.” I laughed as I rolled, staggering to my feet. “This is his first pup.” I pointed to my giant stomach.

Brandon snarled. “We all know that pup is a bastard from another pack.” The words hit me like knives. “There is no bond between me and that fucking whelp.”

Shannon’s eyes tightened a little as he said the words, and I realized the truth. The chuckle that worked its way out of my chest was chased by blood. Speckles landed on their faces. “You think the pup I carry is someone else’s? Are you fucking stupid?” I screamed as I leaned closer. “When would I have time to cheat? You would have felt it. Why don’t you fucking believe me?”

Shannon smirked. “There are ways around the betrayal pain, Amy. Or else you would have known I had been sleeping with Brandon for the last year.” Her words were a punch to the gut. I stood on shaky legs.

“There is no way.” I took a step towards her. “I would have known.”

Brandon smiled. “No, you wouldn’t.” His words were sharp. “What I do outside of my bond is none of your concern. But you…you're not allowed to sleep with another male.” His taunting words had Nix growling. We charged at him, but Brandon smacked me, sending me flying to the ground. “I know you cheated when you went to your father’s pack. Shannon told me everything, showed me everything. What was his name again? Beck? I even spoke with him, and he confessed everything. But don’t worry. You will be reunited with the father soon enough.”

“What the fuck are you talking about? There is no other male.” Beck? My father’s Gamma. He had to be lying.

“I know. I eradicated your father’s pack yesterday.” He leaned over me as the truth shattered me. “You and that bastard are next.” He turned and left me alone in the cell with Shannon.