CHAPTER 2: TO SEAL MY FATE

RAYA'S POV

Two weeks of grief and pain. Two weeks of heartbreak and guilt. Two weeks since my baby's death—and I was no longer the same.

I sat before my wooden vanity, staring at my reflection, my once lively emerald eyes had now dulled—dark circles surrounding them. My face was slightly hollowed, minor bruises from Draco’s abuse making it uncanny.

A tear trailed down my cheek. I couldn’t blame him. He’d just lost his son, and I was the cause—or at least, that’s what I told myself. His behaviour felt justified, even as the bruises on my skin whispered otherwise.

The sound of footsteps in the hallway caught my attention; it was Melissa—here to get me, for the full moon party.

The door creaked open, and through the mirror, I saw her poke her head in. “Hiii, girl!” she beamed.

I managed a smile. “Hey. Come in,” I greeted. On cue, she pushed the door open and strode toward me.

“You’re still working on your makeup?” she asked, tilting her head as she studied me. “Fine, I’ll help you,” she added with a reassuring smirk.

“Thanks,” I murmured.

Now ready, we stepped into the hallway, its polished stone floors reflecting the high, arched ceilings lit by chandeliers.

The walls were lined with tapestries and metallic sconces that radiated a soft glow. The tranquillity of the mansion soothed the ominous feeling which had clung to me.

The party was to be held in the ballroom; the building was also used for cabinet meetings and gatherings, its location a short distance from the Alpha’s mansion.

My heart raced on entering it. Melissa’s gentle squeeze eased my nerves.

“I know you feel guilt over Lason’s death, but it wasn't your intention. There was nothing you could have done. Learn to forgive yourself!” she said softly.

I shook my head, the image of his bloodied body and screams haunting me.

My voice cracked, “Bu...but I failed him. I failed the pack, and Draco—he hates me more than ever.”

“No, you didn’t; some things are not within our control.” Her tone softened, but her eyes glinted with something unreadable. “And as for the Alpha, he'll come around. Trust me.”

She smirked, leaning in close so only I could hear. “If you want to fix things, you need to give him what he’s lost—a child.”

Her words sent a chill through me. Another baby? Lason was barely gone. The thought felt like a betrayal to him, but what choice did I have? It was the only way to restore the bond between his father and me.

We glided into the ballroom. It exuded an air of elegance with polished woods, walls coated in off-white, adorned with golden accents and traditional frescoes.

Melissa left my side, and I made my way to the throne seat beside Draco, my movements strained from the rogue attack.

I stayed silent, not wanting to irritate him further.

The night stretched on as pack members mingled and danced to the soft background music, celebrating the rituals.

I watched Draco stride to the centre of the room, the crystal chandelier hanging from the vaulted ceiling casting a warm light over him.

“Everyone, listen to me,” he commanded, casting me a hard look. “There is another reason you’ve all been gathered here.”

I was bemused. What other reason could there be?

“As your Alpha, I need a capable Luna, and Raya is unfit for that.” His voice cut through the room. “From today on, she has been stripped of that position.”

Gasps and whispers rippled through the crowd, the weight of his words made me shiver. I gaped, struggling to process what I had just heard.

If I was no longer Luna, what did that mean for us as mates?

I froze– my hands gripping the edge of my chair,

“I, Alpha Draco, reject Raya as my mate and Luna,” he declared. His eyes flickered with a trace of regret before hardening once more.

A piercing pain shot through me, sending a wave of dizziness. It felt as though my heart had been cleaved in two. My knees buckled, and I crumpled to the floor, sobbing. Forcing myself upright, I staggered toward Draco. When I reached him, my strength gave out, and I collapsed at his feet. But even as the pain swallowed me whole, a spark of defiance blazed in my chest.

I couldn't bear to lose both my son and my mate in less than a month. Even though Draco’s affection was twisted, a huge part of me wasn't ready to let it go.

“Please, don’t do this. We just lost our child,” I choked. “We're to stick together and support ourselves now more than ever,” I spluttered, suppressing my groans.

He pushed me away, his lip curling. “No, Raya. You don’t get to beg. You don't get to act like you cared for him. Every time I look at you, I see his blood on your hands.”

No, no, I risked my life and carried Lason for 12 months; When he passed away, a part of me died with him. Why couldn’t you see that? I wanted to scream but instead,

I hung my head low and calmed, restraining my sobs as I spoke. “I never meant for Lason to die, and you know it. But if you think throwing me away will make your guilt disappear, you’re wrong.” I swallowed,

My lips were pressed in a thin line—losing their colour. I wasn't going to cower, I was willing to do the necessary to stay by his side.

“I'm not. Your absence will!” he snarled, his claws grazing my face. The slight impact sent a sharp sting through me, but it was his words that truly crushed me.

I collapsed to the floor, a suffocating weight settling over me. The cold surface pressed against my skin, grounding me in the unbearable reality of what had just happened.

Then came a scent—icy, familiar. One I knew like the back of my hand.

And it meant only one thing.