Scars and salvation

Virelle’s POV

The battlefield smoke still clung to the air the next morning, even though the fighting had ended hours before dawn.

We had won, and the red moon was finally at peace as it used to be.

I stood at the entrance of my family cave, watching the wounded Red Moon wolves being dragged into the treatment cave by other wolves for care. A sharp pain pierced my heart—the silence that engulfed me and the worries in everyone’s eyes were heavier than the screams emerging from the battlefield.

I wrapped my arms around myself, watching it all. My body ached in places I hadn’t noticed during the chaos. My mind felt worse until I heard footsteps approaching me.

I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

Alpha Gabriel stopped at a respectful distance away. Behind him stood the elders—their faces carried something more than just guilt and exhaustion. It was a regret.

“Virelle, sorry—Luna,” Gabriel said quietly.

I finally looked at him.

He looked older than I remembered. Hollowed.

“We owe you more than words can repay,” he continued. “But we must begin somewhere.”

One of the elders stepped forward—an old woman named Mara who used to braid flowers into my hair when I was small.

“We were wrong,” she said, voice trembling. “We let our fear overshadow our loyalty to you as a pack member. We failed you. All of us.”

Gabriel lowered his head.

“I failed you most of all,” he said. “I was your Alpha. I should have protected you. I… I cannot ask you to forget. But I beg you to hear me when I say I am sorry. Truly. From the marrow of my bones.”

His words crashed into me, shattering something I had tried to hold back for years—my anger.

Ripples spread through my chest.

I opened my mouth and nothing came out. Tears rolled down my face before I could stop them as memories of what I had gone through started pouring in.

They came fast, hot, and unstoppable. My knees weakened.

The first nights alone in the wild—cold, starving, terrified of the rouges that might see me. The same night Rodrick found me wandering in the woods.

The way he’d smiled when he realized no one was coming for me and placed a heavy collar around my neck, claiming me like a free slave.

I remembered the nights he tied me over a burning pile, just because I didn’t fuck him right to punish me.

The day he dragged me by my hair to the auction—naked, and numbered.

Until the moment Kairox’s hand raised to buy me out of his slavery, the way his hands closed around my wrist and pulled me from that hell I thought I had escaped into another kind of torture.

I screamed everything into their ears, tears pouring down my face, my nose soaked like an abandoned stream, and I could feel my eyes burning.

I let out a sigh after letting out all the rage left in me. “I went through hell for my age, and all you could say was sorry and expect things to go back to normal suddenly?” I snapped, struggling to relax but it wasn’t working.

“I came to you Gabriel, I begged you to spare me, and you pushed me off like I was nothing, like I was cursed.” They all bowed without a word, mara sniffled, tears trickling down her eyes like my words broke her.

My voice cracked and splintered until the last word fell, and silence swallowed the clearing again.

Gabriel was crying too—openly, and shamelessly.

Mara reached out with shaking hands and touched my cheek.

“We will carry this shame forever,” she whispered. “But we will also carry our gratitude. You saved us. After everything… I never expected that you would come back.”

I looked between them—broken, humbled wolves who once held my entire world in their hands.

And something inside me cracked open. But I wasn't ready to forgive them exactly.

I hesitated for a while, watching them all in a bow position, pleading for mercy, and all I ever wanted was for them to be out of my sight. “I accept it,” I said, in a low voice. “I accept your apology.”

Gabriel exhaled like a man granted air after drowning. He rose slowly.

“Thank you, I will forever be grateful for your kindness,” he said, holding my hands in his gently. “Everyone, quick—we have to take care of her as long as she is here. Do all you can, bring all the treasures we have,” he ordered, and then the pack moved as tribute.

Within the hour trays appeared in my room—filled with roasted ducks, honey-glazed roots, fresh bread still warm from clay ovens. Platters of berries, smoked fish, and spiced wine.

I sat on the small stool in front of my round table mirror, watching them shower me with so much food and care. A young girl—no older than twelve—approached shyly and pressed a small red pouch into my hands. I smiled at her and opened it slowly as I looked into her eyes. It was quite bulky, filled with moonstone earrings, a silver torque etched with running wolves, bracelets of braided gold. Then followed clothes—soft linens dyed indigo and velvet, furs lined with silk, cloaks heavier than anything I’d worn since childhood.

I felt like a queen, I felt seen by my own kind, driving me into uncontrollable tears. For the first time in years… I let myself receive.

I didn’t realize Kairox. Had been watching me from a far distance. My eyes darted in his direction where he knelt beside a young warrior whose leg had been torn open by rogue claws. His large hands moved with surprising gentleness as he cleaned the wound, packed it with herbs, murmuring low words I couldn’t hear.

The boy’s face relaxed under his touch.

Kairox didn’t look impatient or like a superior. He was simple and protective.

When he finally stood and caught my gaze across my cave entrance, something unspoken shifted between us.

Somehow, I didn’t hate the man looking back at me anymore.

The next morning I woke before dawn. The morning was cold and comforting, especially when the aroma from the kitchen seduced my throat. I found myself striding to the kitchen, all the kitchen maids bowed at me like I was the queen and I bowed right back, feeling small and uncomfortable.

“I’d like a plate for Kairox, I should bring him some food myself,” I said to the matron and she ordered the maids to arrange a plate that looked more like a feast. a tray with bread, cheese, sliced apples, a pot of tea, and scrambled eggs. I was used to such treatment already—the red moon definitely knows how to care for its guests.

I paused at the entrance of his door, hands trembling—I shouldn’t be here. I told myself it was just a simple gratitude for his help but my heart mocked me for the lie.

I knocked once, softly.

“Come in.”

His voice was rough with sleep.

I stepped inside.

Kairox sat on the edge of the bed, shirtless, his hair rough and tousled, golden eyes lifting to mine.

He didn’t speak.

Neither did I.

I set the tray on the small table in front of him, then I sat beside him—close enough that our thighs brushed.

“I thought to appreciate you with this, I’ve seen how you cared for my people like they were your own, thank you”

He stayed silent, eyes piercing into mine like he was searching through my soul, then his warm hands reached for mine, cupping my hands.

“These past few days have been a lot on me, I don’t know how to be… normal anymore.”

He turned toward me fully.

“You don’t have to be anything you’re not,” he finally said.

His thumb brushed a tiny tear threatening to drop from my cheek.

Then he leaned in, planting his lips on mine. The kiss was soft at first—almost like he was asking for my permission. It was unlike the first day he kissed roughly out of jealousy.

I slid my fingers into his hair and pressed him closer.

The gentleness disappeared. Heat roared between us, he yanked my clothes off desperately as his mouth passionately claimed my breasts before his hands did.

My nails raked down his back, and I kept moaning at every touch. He lifted me like I weighed nothing, pressed me into the mattress, and covered me with his body.

He slid out of his pants, and rubbed his dick on my already wet cunt softly—I winced and he groaned.

“I’m going to be gentle this time,” he whispered and I nodded. He pushed inside me without hesitation, raw, and desperate. He slapped against my thighs hard and fast, holding my legs up steady in the air. My hands flung to my mouth. I tried to muffle my moan, I didn't want to be heard.

“Hands off your mouth,” he ordered in a low whisper.

Then he slowed down for just a few seconds, circling my clit with his fingers before pushing it into my mouth.

“Keep looking at me,” he added. Then he slammed hard again, driving my orgasm close to the edge. I swear—I could no longer take it. I struggled to keep my eyes on him, I trembled and cummed all over his dick twice before he followed, he buried his face in my neck, growling my name like a prayer until he was calm. We lay tangled, panting.

His hand stroked lazy circles on my spine. I thought I had nothing to be guilty for until Kaelric’s face was boldly pictured in my mind.

I’d promised I wouldn’t betray him, and I told him nothing more would happen.

Guilt slammed into me.

I stiffened.

Kairox felt it immediately and pulled me closer to his chest, I could feel his warm breath wash over me.

“Virelle?”

I sat up, pulling the sheet around me.

“We shouldn’t have—”

“Don’t,” he said quietly.

But I was already shaking.

Kairox’s expression darkened—with anger and pain.

“You didn’t belong to him anymore,” he said. “You’re my luna, you belong to me.” he snapped.

“But I—”

“You’re not his anymore,” he repeated, firmer.

I stared at his golden eyes steadily and pulled my lips between my teeth. The guilt refuses to vanish.

He pulled me against his chest and pressed a kiss on my forehead, and somehow I found myself wanting more.