Chapter 5

Kyra's POV:

I clasped my hands tightly together, eyes closed as I whispered a fervent prayer. “Moon Goddess, please bless the silver-haired man who brought me back home safely. Watch over him wherever he is.”

Taking a deep breath, I turned and began walking deeper into the familiar borders of our pack lands. Relief flooded me with every step and as soon as I reached the border gates and my eyes landed on the guards, the world spun, my knees buckled, and everything went blank.

When I woke up, I was in an unfamiliar room. The moment I tried to sit up, cold metal bit into my wrists and ankles as both my hands and legs were chained tightly to the bed. Panic surged and I struggled to lift my head and saw Alpha Mason standing there, bow drawn, arrow pointed directly at my heart.

I screamed, jerking upright and realized it was only a dream. I was in my own room, safe in my father’s house.

Gratitude washed over me. I was finally home. But the room was empty. No father. No maids hovering nearby. Unease prickled at the back of my neck. I shot to my feet, ignoring the lingering ache in my legs, and stumbled out of the room.

I made my way straight to Father’s chambers, but he wasn’t there. The bed was neatly made, no sign of him or my stepmother Margaret. Heart pounding faster, I hurried to his study but it was still empty so I rushed downstairs to the living room and found Margaret and my stepsister Lyra seated together, talking in low voices.

The moment I stepped in, they fell silent. “Where is Father?” I asked, voice shaky.

Margaret smiled calmly. “He’s in an urgent meeting at the council hall with the Alpha, Prince Killian and the Elders.”

I took a deep breath, relief easing some of the tension in my chest. Soon I would see him. I needed to embrace him more than I had ever realized. I never thought I could miss him this much.

Lyra’s voice cut through my thoughts, filled with mockery. “You were asleep for so long we thought you might never wake up.”

I turned to her. “How long was I asleep?”

“You have been asleep for two whole days since the guards brought you back from the border.” She replied.

Two days? That meant my wedding day had already passed. Still, it wasn’t a disaster. Father would be too busy investigating what happened to me to hold the ceremony anyway. We could simply set a new date.

Sounds suddenly came from behind me, and I turned to see Father, Killian, and several elders descending the stairs, apparently coming from the council hall. The elders glanced at me with unreadable expressions before walking out of the building without a word while Father stopped in front of me.

“Why are you out of bed?” He asked. “You should still be resting.”

I glanced at Killian, but he was avoiding my gaze, staring somewhere past my shoulder. Ignoring the unease, I threw my arms around Father. “I was so scared.” I whispered against his chest, voice breaking. “I thought I would never see you again.”

“It’s all over now.” He said, patting my back stiffly. “Calm down and go back to your room. I’ll send a maid with food.”

I pulled back and turned to Killian. Relief and longing surged through me. I ran to him and wrapped my arms around him. “I know you must have missed me terribly and searched everywhere. I’m here now. We can finally fix the wedding.”

Suddenly Killian pulled away, removing my hands from him and confusion flooded me because he still hadn't met my eyes.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, reaching up to tilt his face toward me. He resisted. “Killian, please look at me. Is there a problem?”

He took a deep breath. “Why did you leave the house that afternoon?”

I tilted my head, confused. “I slipped out because I wanted to be outside for once. Father has never let me leave the house all these years. I just wanted to move around freely before I became Luna and had to go everywhere with guards and maids. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to marry you. If that’s why you’re upset, don’t be. I’m back now. We can get married.”

Killian exhaled slowly. “The wedding… won’t be possible.”

“What do you mean?” My voice rose. He tried to turn toward the stairs, but I grabbed his arm. “Killian, what do you mean the wedding might not hold?”

He remained silent so I spun toward Father. “What does he mean?”

From behind me, Lyra spoke up. “What he means is that the elders have refused to let the wedding happen between you and Killian.”

I whirled on her. “What?” Margaret shot Lyra a sharp glare, and my stepsister immediately went quiet.

“Someone tell me what’s going on.” I demanded, panic rising. “I will lose my mind if no one explains right now.”

Father took a heavy breath. “I never planned for you to learn about it this way. I wanted to wait until the physician confirmed you were stable enough.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, voice trembling. “Why are the elders opposing my wedding with Killian?”

He sighed. “The elders believe you have become… unclean. Therefore, you are no longer fit to be Luna of Respawn Pack.”

“Unclean?” The word felt like ice in my veins. “How? How did I become unclean?”

“Because you were kidnapped and kept away for days.” Father said carefully. “There is a possibility you were manhandled.”

“But nothing happened to me!” I cried. “Nobody touched me. I was kidnapped and sold to be part of Alpha Mason’s hunting ceremony, but I escaped. That’s exactly what happened.”

“I didn’t know the full details.” He replied. “But as soon as you were brought back, I had a female physician examine you. It was confirmed that you had not been touched. However, the elders still oppose the union. They say you are still unclean and cannot become Luna.”

“No.” I shook my head frantically. “This cannot be real.” I turned to Killian, desperate. “Tell me this is a mistake. You can explain to the elders that nothing happened. Father just said the physician confirmed it. So there’s no reason I cannot marry you, right?”

Killian’s jaw tightened. “My father has accepted the elders’ decision. He believes that for such an incident to have happened, the Goddess never intended for us to marry in the first place. He has already broken off the engagement between our families.”

“Fuck the engagement!” The words burst out before I could stop them. “Fuck the arrangement between our families. We are fated mates. Even if they broke the engagement, we are still bound to each other.”

Killian scratched the back of his neck, looking anywhere but at me. “Please.” I whispered, dread pooling in my stomach. “Don’t even think about it.”

“I’m sorry.” he said quietly. “But I have to break off the bond as well.”

“Don’t do this to me, please.” I fell to my knees, tears spilling freely. “Please, Killian. I have spent my entire life learning how to be the perfect wife for you. If the marriage doesn’t happen and you break the bond, what am I supposed to do with my life? I’ll be mocked. I’ll be cast aside. I’ll be spat on.”

“Nobody will dare do that to you.” He said, but his voice lacked conviction. “Please understand, this marriage cannot go on.”

I kept begging, reaching for him, but he took a step back. “I am sorry, Kyra. I really wanted to sort this out indoors but it would only make sense to end it here. So, I, Killian Darkmoon, reject you, Kyra Nightingale, as my mate.”

I shook my head violently, refusing to accept the words. “I don't accept this rejection!” He looked down at me, expression pained but resolute. “This is not how it works, Kyra. I am an Alpha. Whether you accept the rejection or not… it still stands.”