~Eleanor~The moment Nadia muttered the incantation and the spirit fled, everything around me blurred like smoke in motion. I barely had time to breathe, let alone speak, before the room around us shimmered and dissolved.The air turned crisp. The scent of pine and something ancient wrapped itself around my senses. In the blink of an eye, I found myself standing in the center of what could only be described as a coven’s sanctum, with high stone walls overgrown with thick black moss, encircling a clearing lit by moonlight filtered through fractured glass above. It felt like we were somewhere between the earth and a place far older.The silence here was different.Nadia didn’t waste a second. With a sweep of her hand, seventeen black candles dropped to the forest floor in a perfect circle around the stone dais. No wax melted. No flames yet flickered. She disappeared before I could blink, her body vanishing into the same shimmer that brought us here.“Wait… Nadia!” I called, but she was
~Eleanor~I don’t know how long I stood there, unmoving, as his words echoed repeatedly in my head. Why him? He is just perfect. An Alpha with all power and authority yet he looks and claims to have a soft spot for me in his heart. For me! An unintelligent, combat-less, and wolf-less wolf.Doesn't he need a powerful Luna to stand by him? Like Victor. He is a Beta yet he needs an equally strong beta mate.I sighed and took a deep breath.My gaze trailed over to the gown and silver robe still untouched in Nadia’s hands.The fire’s blue glow flickered against the stone, casting shadows that danced like spirits. Everything felt weightless and yet unbearably heavy. I hesitated.I needed my wolf alive, yet my body knew fear. My heart knew doubt. But in the space between those two, his presence grounded me.Nathaniel stepped forward and gently took the robe and gown from Nadia. Without a word, he turned to me, hands open in offering. There was no force in his eyes, no pressure, just that re
~Unknown Location~The night was thick, moonless and drowned in silence. Shadows clung to the brick walls like rotting ivy, wet with the stench of decay and forgotten bodies.Two figures stood where the alley narrowed into pitch-blackness. Only one dared speak.“Master,” the smaller one said, bowing low. His voice was a rasp of wind over bone. “I bring news.”A low, amused hum answered him. “Speak.”The spy’s eyes flickered with fear. “The girl… the one of royal bloodline. She’s getting stronger than before. If we don't act fast now she'll become a bigger obstacle. Plus… there's another obstacle”There was a pause after the statement was made.“Another obstacle?” the taller figure asked. “Yes, Master. The witch, Nadia. She’s being too stubborn with zero ambition. Unlike the other one, Jenna. She doesn’t manipulate. She believes in the girl. Deeply, too deeply. She’s pushing Eleanor toward reclaiming her Luna strength.”The Master let out a cold and lifeless chuckle. A sound that didn
~ Eleanor ~ “With the power bestowed on me as the high priest of the Moonshadow Pack, I now declare you both husband and wife. Applause to the new couple,” the priest announced. The large, crowded hall was instantly filled with deafening cheering as Beta Victor and Isabella shared a kiss. I trembled wordlessly. My expression stiffened in shock. I still couldn’t figure out what was happening. Everything was just fine before I passed out after the rituals. Why can’t I remember doing anything wrong? Beta himself had marked me. He even suggested that we consummate before the final ceremony, and I agreed. So why am I not standing beside him at the altar? I have been waiting for this moment my entire life. I secretly loved him and wished to be with him. I even prayed to the Moon Goddess in the hopes of becoming his mate. Everything was going smoothly when I discovered my life partner was the Beta I’ve always had a crush on. What went wrong, and why? What kind of tricks did Isabella
~Eleanor~ I chewed silently on the roasted meat, but it did not taste as delicious as it usually did. Everything tastes bland and raw in my mouth. All I can think about is what Isabella and Victor are doing. Did they already consummate their marriage? That would be strange if they didn't, as the Darkmore Family of Moonshadow Pack required an heir. But, most importantly, Isabella would do anything to ensure that he spent the night with her, and the Beta was also hot-blooded. "Eleanor," I heard Father's voice deep within my mind. What is happening? Am I starting to imagine things? How is this even possible? "Dear daughter, please stop thinking about Isabella; she betrayed and shamed our family." His voice echoed in my mind. I snapped out of the awful thought and turned my head to the side, only to see Father staring at me. “Are you alright, dear daughter? I have been calling out to you, but you have not responded,” he said, patting my head. The bubbles of hope that had am
~Eleanor~ Isabella was gritting her teeth nonstop. I could already see how nervous she was. Tsk, stupid thing! I snickered as we walked towards the massive hall. **** “In the presence of everyone in this pack, I, Beta Victor Darkmore, shall answer all questions posed to me by Eleanor Sinclair, my rejected mate,” Beta Victor declared openly the moment he got to the meeting room. I felt my legs weaken, and my earlier conviction almost flew out the window. This is another weakness of mine: the crowd. I rarely have the confidence to stand in front of a crowd. “Don't you understand what it means to be rejected? Why are you still bothering Beta Victor and Beta Isabella's relationship?” Someone in the crowd gloated, and my breath hitched in discomfort. “I have no idea as to how she thinks,” another spat without regard to how I felt. “I agree with you, dear. She's so stupid to be doing what she's doing,” a red-eyed omega added. "I am wondering what she wants to ask now.” “
~ Eleanor ~ *Ashford's Chamber* The door swung open as Isabella entered his chamber looking stressed out. “Father, you called,” she said, bowing her head slightly as she took a seat and relaxed in the backrest of the rocking chair. “Yes,” Father replied as he stood up from another rocking chair. “What are you and Victor planning again? It wasn't part of the plan to get her to leave the pack. Eleanor is in a dangerous situation,” Father began. “Oh, c'mon, father, she can't possibly remain here after everything. Besides, I heed your plea not to kill her. I don't want that shit interrupting my married life, so yes, Eleanor cannot remain here in Moonshadow,” Isabella mumbled. “Mhmn…” Father agreed silently, not saying a word. “Yes, I do not want you to get yourself tainted, but I also didn't want her to get such a punishment. Besides, she's done nothing wrong to the beta. Cursing her to be a lone wolf for life is too extreme!” Father remarked, and Isabella's eyes widened in shock.
~Eleanor~ “Hey, what are you doing? Why are you taking out the IV drip?” IV drip? Is that what the rubber rope is called? Wow! “I apologize, but I thought…” “Stop the nonsense! What exactly did you think? How foolish are you to attempt to remove the IV? Lay down now!” Her reaction took me completely off guard. The lady wore a pink gown that fell slightly below her knees. She wore an unusual bow in her hair. “Are you deaf?” She yelled, striding closer to me, “I asked you to sleep, you low-life; how dare you disobey?” Kpa! Before I could react, both of my cheeks were slapped. I blinked twice but could not recover my composure. Fuck, that was painful. “You… Why did you hit me? Do you know who I am? How dare you?” I raised my hand to retaliate but was pushed back to the bed by a stronger force. “What are you trying to do? Hit our chief nurse? Who do you think you are? A lowly peasant picked up by the Alpha at the brick of death. You should be grateful to us for saving your ass.”
~Unknown Location~The night was thick, moonless and drowned in silence. Shadows clung to the brick walls like rotting ivy, wet with the stench of decay and forgotten bodies.Two figures stood where the alley narrowed into pitch-blackness. Only one dared speak.“Master,” the smaller one said, bowing low. His voice was a rasp of wind over bone. “I bring news.”A low, amused hum answered him. “Speak.”The spy’s eyes flickered with fear. “The girl… the one of royal bloodline. She’s getting stronger than before. If we don't act fast now she'll become a bigger obstacle. Plus… there's another obstacle”There was a pause after the statement was made.“Another obstacle?” the taller figure asked. “Yes, Master. The witch, Nadia. She’s being too stubborn with zero ambition. Unlike the other one, Jenna. She doesn’t manipulate. She believes in the girl. Deeply, too deeply. She’s pushing Eleanor toward reclaiming her Luna strength.”The Master let out a cold and lifeless chuckle. A sound that didn
~Eleanor~I don’t know how long I stood there, unmoving, as his words echoed repeatedly in my head. Why him? He is just perfect. An Alpha with all power and authority yet he looks and claims to have a soft spot for me in his heart. For me! An unintelligent, combat-less, and wolf-less wolf.Doesn't he need a powerful Luna to stand by him? Like Victor. He is a Beta yet he needs an equally strong beta mate.I sighed and took a deep breath.My gaze trailed over to the gown and silver robe still untouched in Nadia’s hands.The fire’s blue glow flickered against the stone, casting shadows that danced like spirits. Everything felt weightless and yet unbearably heavy. I hesitated.I needed my wolf alive, yet my body knew fear. My heart knew doubt. But in the space between those two, his presence grounded me.Nathaniel stepped forward and gently took the robe and gown from Nadia. Without a word, he turned to me, hands open in offering. There was no force in his eyes, no pressure, just that re
~Eleanor~The moment Nadia muttered the incantation and the spirit fled, everything around me blurred like smoke in motion. I barely had time to breathe, let alone speak, before the room around us shimmered and dissolved.The air turned crisp. The scent of pine and something ancient wrapped itself around my senses. In the blink of an eye, I found myself standing in the center of what could only be described as a coven’s sanctum, with high stone walls overgrown with thick black moss, encircling a clearing lit by moonlight filtered through fractured glass above. It felt like we were somewhere between the earth and a place far older.The silence here was different.Nadia didn’t waste a second. With a sweep of her hand, seventeen black candles dropped to the forest floor in a perfect circle around the stone dais. No wax melted. No flames yet flickered. She disappeared before I could blink, her body vanishing into the same shimmer that brought us here.“Wait… Nadia!” I called, but she was
~Eleanor~ *"It sounds like a wolf separation ritual."*My blood ran cold, and the world around me seemed to tilt. "A... wolf separation ritual?" I echoed, my voice barely above a whisper. I was stunned beyond words. How could they?Nadia nodded grimly, her face darkening with a seriousness I hadn’t seen before. She drew closer, lowering her voice even more. "Miss Luna, a wolf separation ritual was forbidden and outlawed centuries ago after the Great Purge. It’s considered one of the cruelest things that can be done to a werewolf," she said. "It's the act of severing the bond between a wolf and its human soul. It's... it's a partial killing." A chill spread through my veins, colder than any winter."But why? Why would they…" My throat closed up. The memories of the ceremony flashed before my eyes: the blindfold, the pain, the searing loss... the feeling of emptiness that never went away. Nadia bit her lip, a troubled expression crossing her features. Oh! How much more complicated
~Eleanor~ Backtrack to the day of the ritual… Earlier that morning, Father had sent three maids to me despite my insistence. He said he didn't want anything to go wrong, and he wanted everything perfect. My father is my pride, and I have nothing against him. I was dressed in a plain, floral white gown. A blue moon pendant attached to a red string could be seen around my neck. A silver tiara, shimmering under the full red moon, was placed on my head. Standing barefoot on an altar with a giant statue of the first Luna Queen and the first female Beta comrade of Blue Moon Pack, ore-made silver shackles were used to bind my arms together. “Kneel! Beta Victor has arrived, and the ritual shall begin.” The high priest announced. The tone in which it was said was surprisingly as powerful as it would have been the pack Alpha rather than a beta. But I was so blinded by my excitement of being the beta's mate that I nodded with a gentle bow before going to my knees. It's the first time I wil
~Eleanor~“Are you sure you're okay!?” Nadia probed, watching me pace around the room for the hundredth.“I’m fine,” I answered, still pacing back and forth.“Alright! That's it. I can't continue watching you go up and down. I feel dizzy. Miss Luna, better tell me what's wrong now before Alpha Nathaniel blames me later.”I wasn't able to react quickly as Nadia placed her hands on my shoulders and with a single push, I landed carelessly on the bed.Sigh! “You didn't call me here to watch you contemplate your thoughts, did you?” she asked, sounding sweet but the begrudging crease between her brows betrayed her voice.“Yeah, I did.” I grinned.She frowned and shook her head with concern. “No, you didn't. Miss Luna, could you please tell me what's wrong? Did someone from the pack bully you behind Alpha Nathaniel’s? You can let me know, I'll seek justice for you.”“No… no, of course, no one dared to bully me. It's just I - I don't understand this mind link of a thing. See, your Alpha can r
~Eleanor~I countered with a punch of my own, but Nadia was too quick and dodged it easily. She retaliated with a series of swift punches, each one aimed at a different spot on my body. I tried to defend myself, but she was too fast, too strong.Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, Nadia stopped and grinned at me. “Not bad, Miss Luna. You've got some fight in you after all. It's been quite a while since I found someone who could stand my attacks for more than five minutes.”I panted, trying to catch my breath. “Thanks...I think… I'm exhausted.”Nadia chuckled. “Don't mention it. Now, let's try something else. Defend yourself against my attack.”Oh, didn't I mention being exhausted? She charged at me, her fists flying in a blur of motion. I raised my hands to defend myself, but Nadia was relentless. She kept coming at me, her punches and kicks aimed at my face, my stomach, my chest.I stumbled backwards, trying to avoid her attacks, but Nadia was too fast. She caught me with
~Eleanor~As I stepped out into the pack house grounds, I was met with a sea of curious faces. All the members of the Twilight Pack present in the new house were gathered under the ancient oak tree, their eyes fixed on Nathaniel, waiting for him to address them. But their gazes kept drifting towards me, filled with curiosity and speculation. I can guess they were wondering if the rumours the guard mentioned were real. Who was I? What was my relationship with Nathaniel?I felt a flutter in my chest as I scanned the crowd. So many unfamiliar faces, all of them wondering about me. I stood a little straighter, trying to appear confident.Nathaniel stood at the front of the crowd, his eyes fixed on some point ahead. His jaw was clenched, his muscles tense. I felt guilty. He probably thinks I am some unappreciative bitch who, despite trying to make me feel alright, still doesn't succeed because of my stubbornness.I glanced around, taking in the atmosphere. The oak tree towered above us, i
~Eleanor~“You don't learn, huh? You need to be taught a lesson.” Another slap resounded on his face. I was taken aback. Nathan's reaction had already stunned me, and Nadia wasn't making it look any easier. I felt scared. What if word gets out that the mighty Alpha of the Twilight Pack is defensive when it comes to me? Wouldn't that mean I've successfully become his weakness? Wouldn't that expose me to a whole lot of danger? No, that's not what I want. “Nate… I…”“Did he touch you?” he suddenly asked. I was tongue-tied; I didn't want this matter to escalate.“Yes, he did. He held onto her shoulders and both arms and tried to nestle on her chest.” Nadia responded before I dismissed his words. I shut my eyes, wishing I could shut her up. Why did she get involved? She isn't me who was asked right?Nate growled, and before being told, the big guy was single-handedly lifted by Edward and thrown over his shoulders.“Call for a pack meeting. Let no one be absent. Immediately.” Nathaniel ord