5

Diana's pov

The sting still burned across my palm as I glared at him.

He just stood there, eyes dark, jaw clenched, the faint red mark slowly healing. Everyone was quiet, even a pin drop could be heard.

His expression was something in-between hurt and disbelief.

"You're not thinking clearly," he finally said at last, and then chuckled half heartedly. "I don't accept your rejection."

I stared at him. "What?"

His eyes searched my face- my eyes, my mouth, like he was looking for someone else- not the woman standing before him who visibly resented him.

"I made a mistake Diana. A grave one I admit- I would never hurt you intentionally. But what's done is done-" at that moment, Andrea came forward and curled in his embrace. "I can't just disregard how she feels and abandon her."

The words landed heavier than a blow. My gaze shifted from them both as my nostrils flare. "And what about my feelings, Zaden. Or is that no longer considered?"

My heart clenched tight seeing them close it felt like high school again. They looked every Inch the perfect couple. I have never felt so out of place and it hurt so much.

"Of course not," he suddenly reached for me, but I shoved him hard. "Diana you will always be my Luna."

His hands closed around my arms, steadying me grounding me against his body. Our eyes locked and the mate bond surged like a living thing between us.

Heat bloomed in my cheeks as I stared into his eyes, tears welling up when I realized how much I loved this man.

But then the pain returned. Image of blood, the doctor's voice telling me I lost my child flooded my memories and I never despised anybody more than I did him that moment.

My breath hitched violently and I tore myself free with a sob. "Don't you dare touch me with those hands you used to touch her!"

Andrea suddenly broke into another sob, stepping forward.

In a scarf, she looked small, fragile. Her eyes were red, lashes clumped with tears, hands clasped like she was praying for mercy. "Big sister, please you have to understand that I never meant for this to happen," she whispered. "Truly. But what we shared- it was inevitable. We are true mates."

Her gaze flickered to me. "Only, I wish this didn't involve hurting you."

For a second, it felt like the world tilted over. My breathing turned uneven and then I saw it. Through the tears everyone just saw, behind them, there was a glint. Triumph.

My vision blurred around the edges and without thinking, I lunged, claws sliding out instinctively, rage and fury ripping through me in waves.

But strong arms locked around my waist, hurling me back.

"Enough!" Zaden's sharp voice as he barked at me forced me back, staggering as I stared at his horrifying twisted expression in shock.

"She's barely entered our home and you're already supporting her. You're choosing her like always- even when you pretended you weren't all these years!" I screamed, tears rolling down my cheeks in fury. "Did you ever even love me?"

"Diana for goddess sake I am sick of this," his jaw tightened, his eyes flickering with irritation. "You're being cruel right now and I don't even recognize the woman in front of me. She is your sister! Do you want me to just abandon her, she could be with my child."

"She might give me the one thing you never could give me in years, did you even think about that. Your selfishness won't let you see that. You will always be my Luna, but Andrea is my true mate, and I can't just abandon her."

The words hit like a blade, sharply struck my heart, and I felt my legs give way.

"You have to accept the new living arrangements," he continues, his tone softening, but he didn't move to me again, instead comforting Andrea. "I won't reject you if that's what you want- but I will not let you hurt her."

I stayed still, on my knees, unmoving.

"Guards. Take her up to her room and ensure she doesn't leave."

With that, he walked in with Andrea while the guards lifted me up the ground, carrying me away. Numb, I barely struggled, staring off into the distance as I felt something crack inside me. Something I knew could never be repaired again.

The first night they locked me in, I screamed. I screamed in defiance and rebellion like my wolf was tearing itself out of my chest until my throat burned and my wolf collapsed Into a shaking heap inside me.

By the next day, I had stopped, choosing to stay in bed, numb and shaken.

Weeks passed after that.

I wasn't allowed beyond the door. Guards stood outside at all hours-- it was clear my status as Luna was just a joke.

I could hear their distant whispers at odd times. They said I'd lost my mind- that grief had broken me and I had tried to kill my sister so I was locked up. Not once did father come to see me.

Omegas came in quietly each day, their eyes lowered as they placed food on the table, but I let it spoil, the smell turning the room musky and choking till they hurriedly took it away. Hunger felt insignificant compared to the hollow rot eating me alive from the inside.

At the beginning, Zaden used to come.

He would sit across from me, voice calm and measured while speaking to me, like I was a child to be disciplined rather than a woman he betrayed and destroyed.

"You need to be reasonable Diana."

"I love you so much and what you're doing is hurting me, darling."

"You're still my Luna so act like one."

I never answered him, never spoke a word. I would stare past him at the wall, at the door, anywhere else but his face.

Sometimes I would fall asleep and wake up to him fallen asleep at my feet. He would coax me to eat but I hated him each passing day, I couldn't stand to look at him, the scent of my sister on him was disgusting.

Louisiana came when she could- often. She would bring news, stories, her smile lighting up the room that had grown cold. Only in her presence would I speak and I would let her feed me. I knew she wanted to rebel, to fight that I'd be released, but she didn't hold that much power.

She informed me about rogue sightings on the borders and how unsafe the forest had become. She told me how Zaden was brandishing Andrea and her now very visible pregnancy around the pack- at soirees, events, pack gatherings, balls.

I learned how easily the pack forgets women like me when I had stopped giving all I had

However, one day, she stopped coming. And I knew instantly it was Zaden's doing. He just couldn't stand that I would rather talk to her than him-

His voice was cold, eyes blank as he stared down at me like something stepped upon. He told me I would only be allowed visitors when I was reasonable.

And then he stopped coming entirely. A month passed, it felt like I was a prisoner in my own house. I had forgotten what it was like to be outside, to be free.

One fateful night, after being certain that he had headed out to one of the biggest soirees rumored to be held by the Lycan, I stealthily creeped towards the windows and there, I escaped the room.

The Moon was heavy in the sky, swollen bright and waiting to rise. It was going to be another full moon tonight.

I slipped past the guards in the darkness while they laughed among themselves, my heart pounding so loudly I was certain it would betray me. I didn't stop running until the manor disappeared behind the trees.

The forest welcomed me like an old friend. Stripping, I bundled my clothes before I shifted.

For the first time in a long time, I let my wolf stretch her limbs, weak but grateful. And then she dashed with the wind, fast, restless, claws slipping into the soil of the earth as we increased our pace, tongue out in the wind until the pain in my chest dulled.

When thirst finally slowed me down, I shifted back, got dressed and searched for a lake where I knelt by, cupping cool water into trembling hands as I drank.

Suddenly, something tore through the silence of the night, accompanied by crickets.

Bushes rustled behind me..

I froze, my mind retracting to Louisiana words. I had gone far off the border while running, could It be a rogue?

Claws out, I turned with a snarl, ready to lunge.

"Careful," a voice drawled from the shadows. Deep. Amused. "I wouldn't advise you to do that, princess."

I straightened. "Step out of the dark, coward and face me."

There was a low chuckle, one that reverberated in my chest. He stepped forward and I forgot how to breathe.

"You run with grace, but your tongue is quite sharp."

He was tall. The tallest man I've ever seen alive. Broad and masked by the shadows, but from where I stood, I could feel the power radiating off him in waves.

Something in me stirred and without thinking, I paced forward, head tilted.

"You have been following me. Who are you?"

The corner of his lips upturned, he slowly approached me. "I was only intrigued. I certainly have not seen you before. Are you from around here."

His green eyes spiked with amusement and something darker I couldn't name. Something about him made my skin warm. I felt pulled to him even without moving.

I exhaled sharply. "That makes two of us. But the forest doesn't belong to you alone, what I do is none of your concern."

"No," he agreed, eyes dragged over me slowly. I trailed mine over his bare chest, taking in his sinful body, the ripped abs and pecks straining against tanned skin. "I never said that. But I would hate myself if i didn't find out who you are."

Before I could respond, my eyes followed the clouds up ahead that suddenly shifted. The Moon in all its glory finally burst free, blanketing us in its light.

The silver light flood flooded the clearing and my world detonated as I staggered. My wolf slammed forward with a force that stole my breath- recognition roaring in my veins, my heart, my soul the moment our eyes locked.

Mate.

His breath hitched. But he didn't look surprised. However, flooded with light, his eyes landed on my neck.

Zaden's mate mark.

We froze- just as his scent hit me, shattering what was left of my sanity.

A growl ripped from his chest, deep and violent, vibrating through the ground beneath us and travelling in waves over my body. His pupils dilated, green eyes burning with feral and malice.

In a blur, he had completely closed the distance between us, his thick fingers grabbing hold of my jaw and lifting my head, enough to look at the mark.

There was rage and disgust in his eyes.

"Who fucking marked what was mine?"