Chapter 7

WINTER

The next morning.

I placed the last clothes I intended to take into the bag and zipped it shut. I wasn’t bringing much, there was no point in carrying anything that might remind me of him. I crossed to the window and opened it, letting my eyes roam over Stoneclaw Pack's land before I walked away from it.

Yes, I decided that I will leave this place forever.

“Luna, your coat.”

I turned at the sound of Merlin’s voice.

She stood in the doorway holding out a tray with my Luna’s ceremonial coat resting atop it, the deep blue velvet mantle I always wore whenever I sat beside Kallias at council.

I would never wear it again.

“I’m not taking it with me, Merlin. I’m no longer the Luna of this pack.”

“What do you mean, Luna Winter?” Merlin’s voice cracked as she crossed the room in an instant.

“Your Alpha and I have already severed our mating bond.” I even managed a small smile.

It had happened last night. I had thought the pain would shatter me and I wouldn’t survive it, but to my surprise, I did. And if Kallias had felt even the smallest of my agony, he had hidden it well. 

'Then move out from here. I don't want to see you again.' He told me after accepting my rejection.

“Luna, please don’t tell me you’re leaving forever?” Merlin’s hands trembled as she set the tray down on the nightstand. She took my hand and held it.

She had been my closest friend in this place after Crystal before her betrayal.

“I’m so sorry Merlin. Promise we'll meet again soon.” I whispered.

No one stopped me as I made my way through the castle towards the front door. The maids only watched in silence, Kallias and Crystal were nowhere to be seen. There was only Julian standing waiting in the front courtyard.

His face showed sympathy, “Are you going to leave? There must be another way to solve this than leaving." He hesitated, "You should just accept the Alpha’s proposal to have two Lunas-"

My eyes snapped to him instantly, sharp enough to make Julian pause and swallow.

“I'm so sorry if my words hurt you, Winter. I just offer my suggestion as his Beta."

I didn't answer and continued to walk toward the gate, each of my steps felt heavy as I tried not to look back at the building I had once called home. The guards who once greeted me with warm smiles and respectful nods now glare at me like they can't wait to watch me disappear.

Just as my foot crossed the threshold, I saw her.

“Sadly our goodbye has to be like this. If only you weren’t so arrogant.” Crystal stood there blocking my path, her expression steeped in false sympathy. “A Luna stripped of her title is a disgrace for any woman.”

“Better a disgrace than chained here with you and that bastard.”

“Oh, come on.” A smile slid across her face, slow and mocking. “You used to share everything with me, Winter. What’s so hard about this one? You know I could give the baby to"

“Birth as many pups as you want for this pack, Crystal,” I cut in, my voice rising. “This pack is yours. Kallias is yours. I don’t give a damn about any of it anymore.”

Crystal stepped back, her hand instinctively resting over her still-flat belly in a protective gesture. “Bitter because I gave him something you never could? I offered you a better option, but you refused. Your mother would be proud seeing you walk home stripped of everything.”

My fist tightened at her words, a hot rush of anger burning through my veins.

She had no right to speak of my mother, the woman who had treated her like her own daughter.

“I’m not going back there,”

“Good. Because you wouldn’t make it there either.” Something vile flickered in Crystal's eyes.

Whatever she meant by that answer, I didn’t care. Without another word, I turned my back on her and walked away.

-----

The sun had finally set by the time I pulled a folded map from my bag to check how far I’d come. I had been walking since morning but all around me was still the same expanse of endless forest. Elara, my best friend since school, was mated to Alpha from Silverpine Pack and that was my destination today.

There was no going back to the Winterwood pack after what Kallias did to me. My father had died two years ago and my uncle had taken his place. Being an only child, I had forfeited my claim as Alpha to move to my mate's pack, something I regret very much now.

I knew mom and uncle would welcome me back with open arms, but the rest of the pack? They would see me as nothing more than the Luna who had been cast aside. I could bear the mockery, but I wouldn’t drag shame onto my mom's or uncle's name.

For now, I needed somewhere else to gather myself before I decided on my next step.

“It shouldn’t be far now, Khione,” I murmured, glancing in the direction the map indicated.

My wolf purred in quiet agreement.

We could have traveled much faster in wolf form but since I brought this heavy bag, I can't.

“Alright, let's go” I breathed, "Don’t give up. We’re almost there.”

I wiped the sweat from my brow and took another step when the bushes around me rustled.

I froze.

“Who’s there?”

I barely had time to turn before something exploded out of the shadows and slammed into me, knocking me flat onto the forest floor. My bag flew from my hands, scattering its contents.

I heard a growl and a sudden searing pain tore through my legs as claws raked down my flesh.

“Ahh!” The scream ripped from my throat before I could stop it.

A dark brown wolf stood before me, its yellow eyes gleaming with a hunger to kill.

'Run, Winter!' Inside me, Khione shouts.

Ignoring the agony in my legs, I scrambled upright and bolted into the trees behind me.

I shifted into Khione as I ran, surging forward as we dove deeper among the trees. But then I heard more footsteps, more snarls, close behind me.

'They’re not alone. There are many!'

Branches whipped past as I ran at my fastest speed, but it wasn’t long before two of them flanked me, matching my pace.

The wolves lunged from both sides at once, teeth snapping, claws raking. The impact sent me rolling across the earth and Khione's deafening howl split into the air immediately.

Their attack left me bleeding heavily, dark crimson streaking through the pale gray of my fur. It had been so long since I bled from a fight and I couldn’t stop the sick churn in my stomach at the sight.

'Who are they?!' I ignored my horror and asked my wolf.

'I don't know, Winter. But we must escape cause I sense they wanted to kill us!'

'Kill us?'

For a moment, I could only lie in silence, unable to process what was happening.

But then, more of them emerged with teeth bared, and all at once they descended on us. It was too late to run. My muscles were screaming as I forced myself to my feet and fought with my remaining strength.

One against a dozen.

Amidst the chaos, my gaze caught a pendant swinging from the neck of one of my attackers.

'T-that’s Kallias’s pack sigil.' My heart dropped. 'He sent his men to kill me? Even after everything between us was over?'

A flash of claws raked across my back, leaving a long, searing gash.

I staggered forward with a strangled cry before my knees gave way and I collapsed to the ground. The pain was overwhelming, spreading through my limbs until every movement felt impossible.

My breaths came in short, ragged gasps. The edges of my vision bled into darkness.

'You want me dead, Kallias? By attacking me from behind like a coward?'

As I lay there, I saw the wolves circling me, watching to make sure I didn’t rise again.

'I swear, by the Goddess’s name, I will repay you.'

The forest around me began to blur and fade as Khione’s strength slipped away. My body shifted back into human form, bare and broken on the forest floor.

I hate losing.

Just before the darkness claimed me entirely, a flicker of movement caught my eye.

Someone, or something, was coming.

'More wolves?'

I wasn’t mistaken.

Shapes emerged from the trees around me, wolves larger than any of Kallias’s pack. Their scents were unfamiliar, carrying a wild, foreign edge that prickled against my senses.

They closed in swiftly, some lunged, clashing with Kallias’s wolves.

It was a strange sight, beasts tearing into each other while I lay broken in their midst.

And then, before I could process anything more, everything turned black.