The Stripping

Chapter Two – The Stripping

Aria’s POV

I didn’t sleep that night.

I sat on the floor of what used to be our home, staring at the door, hoping maybe he would come back.

That this was a nightmare.

That Kael would walk in, say he made a mistake, and take it all back.

But morning came. And he didn’t.

Instead, a knock came at the door. When I opened it, Beta Nolan stood there, avoiding my eyes.

“The Alpha has called a meeting,” he said quietly. “Everyone is expected to be there.”

I swallowed hard. “Everyone?”

He nodded. “Including you.”

I followed him down to the center of the pack grounds, where a large circle had formed. Wolves of all ages stood in silence. The air was thick with tension.

Kael stood at the center, tall and cold. Lyra stood beside him, dressed in pure white, a cruel smile dancing on her lips.

My feet slowed as I stepped into the circle, and all eyes turned to me.

Whispers.

Pity.

Judgment.

“Aria,” Kael said, his voice sharp. “Step forward.”

I did.

“Today,” he announced, “we honor the bond given by the Moon Goddess. Lyra is my fated mate, and from this day forth, she shall stand as your Luna.”

I felt my stomach sink.

But he hasn’t finished.

"We also acknowledge that Aria once upon a time did serve this pack well in the past. But that time is over. Her position is no longer needed."

Lyra stepped forward now, her eyes full of light.

"Let's not drag out the process," she said in a sweet voice. "This will not take long."

Before I could even react, two guards stepped behind me and took the Luna's robe from my shoulders.

"No—don't—" I choked out, trying to grab it.

They tore it off.

The gold crest—the emblem of my rank—was wrenched away, and I was left in plain clothes. Exposed. Defenseless.

Then Kael spoke again.

"From this day onward, Aria is no longer to be addressed as Luna. She will no longer be housed in the Luna quarters or involved in council business."

He looked at Beta Nolan. "Reassign her quarters to the east servant quarters."

There were more gasps. Even the warriors shifted uncomfortably.

And the final blow came as he brought out the ceremonial book—the one where all the ranked wolves' names were recorded.

With one swipe of the pen, he crossed out my name.

Just like that.

Erased.

"Thank you for your service, Aria," Kael said, as if I was a maid being dismissed.

I looked up at him, tears blurring my eyes. "You hate me that much?"

His expression didn't even flicker.

"I don't hate you," he replied. "But I love her."

And with that, they all turned their backs on me.

No one said a word.

No one defended me.

Even those I had saved in the past… remained silent.

I walked off the pack lands with my head hung low and my heart shattered.

I didn't get to the servant quarters. I couldn't.

Instead, I simply walked—outside the borders, into the forest, to the riverbank where Kael and I had sat so many nights under the stars, mapping out our future.

Now that future was dead.

I collapsed to my knees beside the water and finally let the sobs overtake me.

Painful, heavy sobs.

The sort that wracked my body and tore from my throat like thunder.

Everything I had constructed…

Everything I had offered…

Was gone.

I wrapped my arms around myself and cried until my throat ached, until my body shook, until I could cry no more.

"I gave you everything," I whispered to the wind. "Why wasn't it enough?"

The skies darkened overhead. A chill ran through the trees. I did not feel it.

I wanted to disappear.

But before I could drop entirely into the ground and be gone, I felt something.

Warm.

Firm.

A hand.

A hand appeared in front of me.

I glanced up, dazed, wiping away my tears.

A dark figure stood towering over me, his face shadowed by the moonlight, his hand reaching out cautiously toward me.

"Are you going to stay down forever?" he whispered.

I stared at him, breathless.

And for the first time that day… I felt something other than pain.

I felt a spark.