Chapter 3

Lyra's Pov

The celebration of the Moonlight arrived.

It was a night of joy. A night of unity, of love, and of renewal under the silver glow of the full moon.

I used to dream of this night as a child — dancing under the open sky with my mate, our hands intertwined, his eyes locked onto mine as if I were the only thing in the world that mattered.

That dream will become a reality with Aaric.

We used to do this every year since we got married. I was living my childhood dream but dreams, as they say, have a cruel way of turning into nightmares.

I sat in a corner of the room, my fingers curled around the champagne. I downed the entire glass in one gulp and passed it to a waiter who strolled by.

During this time of the year, people saw me. People talked to me about their wishes, plans for the next quarter and whatnot. Now, I had never felt more invisible than I did in my entire life.

Laughter and music swirled around me, filling the air with warmth and life. Pack members twirled and danced with each other, their faces glowing with joy. I used to be among them. I should be amongst them right now. I should've been at HIS side. Instead, Aaric was there, in the center of the clearing, with her.

Thalena.

She looked ethereal under the moonlight, jet-black hair cascading down her back as she smiled at him. Her body pressed against his as they swayed in perfect harmony, lost in a world I didn't exist in.

Aaric's hand was on her waist, his touch lingering for more seconds than it should and his gaze on her was soft.

I had spent three years loving him, being his wife, his Luna, and yet I had never seen him look at me the way he was looking at her now.

I felt sick

The pack whispered, stealing glances at me, their pity sharper than any blade.

“Luna is standing alone again.”

“She looks so sad, it's making ek sad.”

“Why isn't the Alpha dancing with her?”

“I bet the Alpha doesn't love her anymore.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the tears away. I had promised myself I wouldn't cry, not tonight but it was unbearable.

Everything was.

The way Aaric had abandoned me.

The way Thalena thrived on my misery.

The way my own people looked at me as if I was a ghost.

I pressed my hands to my belly, feeling the faintest flutter of life within — our pup, the only one of love I clung to.

I welcomed Aaric's coldness. I had endured his neglect but I had done so because I believed, in the depths of my heart, that our child would bring him back to me.

I was so wrong.

A sudden scream pierced the air.

I looked up from my stomach and I saw her —

A woman stumbled into the clearing. Her dress was torn and her face was streaked with blood.

“Rogues!” She screamed. “They're coming.

And immediately, the celebration turned into chaos.

The pack warriors shifted into their wolves, snarling as they rushed into battle.

Mother's reached for their children, fleeing into the packhouse. People running Helter skelter. It was terrible.

“Get out of the way!” A wolf brushed past me, shoving me in the process. The crushing impact sent me sprawling to the ground.

The scent of blood filled the air and then — pain.

“I'm so sorry.” The offender muttered an apology and ran without looking back.

I was trapped.

Darkness swam at the edges of my vision as I gasped for air.

“Aaric —” I choked, reaching out.

I saw him through the blue if bodies and flames.

But he was looking at me or even looking for me.

Instead, he was pulling Thalena into his arms.

I tried to crawl towards him, to scream, but another rogue lunged at me. A clawed hand struck my stomach.

Sharp, searing pain tore through me and I screamed.

****

The scent of herbs and damp clothes filled my nostrils.

My body felt heavy, as if I had been submerged in water. I forced my eyes open, wincing at the dim light filtering through the healer's den.

Pain radiated from my core — a deep, hollow ache that throbbed terribly.

I reached down, my hand trembling as they pressed against my belly.

Empty.

Cold.

“No….” My voice cracked.

I struggled to sit up, my breath coming in sharp gasps. A soft hand pressed against my shoulder, urging me to lie back.

“Luna, you're awake.” The healer murmured.

“My pup… why isn't he moving?” I asked in a whisper.

“T —The wound was deep, Luna,” the healer murmured. “We … tried to save your pup but …”

I didn't hear the rest.

I refused to.

A sound tore through my lips — a half sob and half scream. It felt as though my chest would cave in on itself and crushed me itself with an unbearable weight from the inside out.

I felt like death.

So he's gone.

My baby is gone.

Tears streamed down my face, hit and endless.  My hands trembled as I clutched the blanket draped over me. I had carried that child in my womb for 5 months. I had promised him love and safety.

Safety.

And now, there was nothing.

He was…

Suddenly, HE flashed through my mind.

.

I looked around the room. He was nowhere in sight.

He should be here with me. Holding me. Mourning with me.

Why isn't he here?

“Where is my mate?” I asked through sobs.

The healer hesitated.

A terrible, gut-wrenching feeling crept over me.

“Where is he?!” I demanded.

She finally answered. “He is with Thalena.”

Those words sliced through me like a dagger.

I stared at the healer, the sound of my pulse hammering in my ears. “No,” I said, shaking my head. “That's not possible.”

But it was.

Aaric hadn't come to me. He hadn't checked on me. He hadn't held me while I bled, while I lost our child. Instead he had been with her.

My body trembled as I swung my legs over the left side of the bed. The healer tried to stop me, but I pushed past her, my vision blurring with grief and fury.

I stumbled through the corridors, each step filled with rage and fear. Fear of what I anticipated was real. My heart pounded violently against my ribs as I approached Aaric's chambers. And there he was, seated beside the bed, holding Thalena’s hand.

She looked up at him, her lips trembling. “I was so scared,” she whispered.

Aaric squeezed her hand tighter. “I won't let anything happen to you.”

Not me.

Her.

Something inside me broke.

A raw, ugly sob escaped my lips. Aaric's head jerked up, his eyes widening when he saw me but I had already seen everything I needed to.

Slowly, I straightened, forcing the agony down into the depths of my soul.

“Aaric,” I whispered. “I reject you.”

The room went deathly silent.

Aaric stood abruptly, his expression one of shock.

The room went deathly silent.

Aaric stood abruptly, his expression one of shock. “Lyra, don't —”

“I reject you as my mate,” I continued, “And as my Alpha.”

The bond between us shattered. A sharp pain lanced through my body but I embraced it because this was the end.

I turned on my heels and walked away.

Night had fallen when I finally prepared to leave.

I had nothing but a small bag of essentials, but it didn't matter. The DarkVeil Pack was no longer my home.

As I stepped towards the gates, a slow clap echoed behind me.

I turned to see who it was.

Of course, it was her.

Thalena.

She was leaning against a tree, a smirk curling her lips. “Ah. You're leaving. Finally.”

“This is for the best, Lyra.” she mused. “You were never meant to be here.”

I swallowed my anger, gripping my bag tighter. “Move.”

She took a step closer, tilting her head. “You know, it's a good thing you lost that pup, Lyra. Aaric never wanted a child with you anyway.”

A sharp gasp left me.

What the hell did she just say?

Thalena leaned in, lowering her voice to a whisper. “He never loved you, Lyra. He never could.”

My body trembled with rage. Before I could respond, she gasped and stumbled back as if I had pushed her.

A second later, Aaric was there.

His eyes locked onto Thalena, then flickered to mine.

“She — she tried to hurt me,” Thalena whimpered. “I only wanted to stop her from leaving.”

Are you serious?

My heart sank.

Aaric's face darkened. “Lyra,” he said, his voice cold. “Leave. Now.”

I stared at him for a long moment.

Then, without another word, I turned and walked out of the pack forever.