THE LUNA THAT NEVER WAS

“I, Alpha Elias Stormbane, reject you, Iris Devenwood, as my mate and Luna.”

The words echoed like a death bell, sharp enough to slice through bone. My chest tightened, air refusing to enter my lungs as the elders leaned forward, murmurs rippling like wildfire.

I blinked at him, searching for the boy who used to climb into my window with stolen moonflowers, the man who swore he would choose me against the world. But his golden eyes once warm were cold as steel.

“No…” The whisper tore from me, fragile and broken. “Elias, you don’t mean this. You can’t mean this.”

He didn’t even flinch.

A cruel smirk touched the corner of his lips, the kind that made the elders nod in approval while my heart bled out. “I can, and I do. You were mistaken, Iris. You took my kindness for love. You’re too weak to stand beside me. Too fragile to be my Luna. This pack needs someone who can lead them, not one more thing to protect.”

My legs trembled beneath me, but somehow, I forced myself to stand tall. My fingers dug into my dress until the seams threatened to split, yet my voice came out steady…shaking only at the edges.

“You’re lying. I know you, Elias. You would never reject me. You would never say words that would hurt me.” My throat burned, but I held his gaze. “If there is something disturbing you, we can talk it out like we always do. We can fix it.”

“We can’t fix what was never there, Iris. I’ve done enough for you. The pack needs a strong Luna, and I’m sure anyone can testify that you are the opposite.” Elias’s voice carried so much disdain, so much hatred, it was hard to breathe.

I quickly grabbed his arm and forced a smile, though it wavered. “I can see you’re conflicted right now, so I’ll wait until you’re better before we talk about this.” I bowed to him, then to the elders before heading toward the door.

Just as I was about to pull the knob, a hand grabbed my arm and yanked me so hard that I fell to the floor.

“You ungrateful girl! How dare you go against the Alpha?” a sharp voice pierced through the room.

I looked up to see Calista, daughter of Beta Theron. Her red hair glittered in the moonlight, and she stared at me with disgust.

I took in a breath before carefully picking myself off the floor. “I didn’t know that my mate and I’s affairs were something that would bother you, my lady.” My voice was calm and steady.

I knew Calista hated me ever since she discovered I was Elias’s fated mate. I was also aware that the council had chosen her as their Luna.

She rolled her eyes. “Of course anything that has to do with my Elias also has to do with me.”

I froze. “Excuse me?” I couldn’t have heard her right.

She grinned. “Oh, so you didn’t know?” she asked in a mock-innocent voice.

“Know what?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear anything that came out of her mouth.

Her grin grew wider. She walked closer and leaned in. “Why do you think Elias is leaving you? It’s because he’s no longer bewitched and finally sees reason. He’s going to make me his mate and Luna.”

My arms clutched around my body as if they were the only things holding me together. “You’re lying,” I whispered, and didn’t wait for her to talk back.

I turned on my heels and ran through the doors. My eyes burned, my head spun, but I kept running far from her, far from that council, and far from the Elias I no longer recognized.

I found myself at the secret garden Elias made for me. The flowers were blooming, butterflies fluttering and making the place look ethereal. It was our special place, one he created with his own hands just for me. Me. His Luna.

My white dress was almost completely black at the hem, but that was the least of my worries. Elias knew where to find me, so I sat and waited.

****

“Search the area.” The deep voices of the guards startled me out of my thoughts. Were they following me? I ran to the willow tree and hid behind its branches.

I counted at least eight guards walking past, searching. Had it really come to this? In the past, Elias would never let anyone trespass in our garden, but here they were, trampling through it like they were hunting a fugitive and not their Luna.

My heart ached each time a soldier crushed one of the flowers. Flowers I had spent hours, even days, planting and tending.

I couldn’t hear their words, but eventually they left.

Just when I thought the garden had gone quiet, I heard a familiar voice. Elias. Relief and hope surged through me. He was probably here to tell me what he said earlier was a mistake, that he was under pressure and didn’t mean it.

Because I knew Elias better than I knew myself. He would never leave me.

“Wow, it’s beautiful.” I froze. That wasn’t his voice. That was hers. Calista.

“You like it? I thought I should give you a gift before the wedding,” Elias said, and my heart dropped into my stomach.

No. No, that couldn’t be him.

Calista had always hated me most. She bullied me, made her friends ambush me, and forced me into combat practice just to humiliate me. Elias used to hate her for it. He always taught me to stand up for myself because I was his Luna. He loved me more than anyone.

At least, that’s what I thought… before this moment.

“Really, this is all mine?” Calista squealed.

“Yes. Every grain of soil, every flower was planted just for you.” Elias’s voice was steady, confident, and it made my heart splinter. He had said those exact words to me once.

Calista sighed. “But didn’t you build this place for that girl?”

“No. I made it for you. I just used her to plant the flowers for you.”

The words sliced through me. My knees buckled.

I pressed a hand over my mouth, choking back sobs. How could he?

I wiped my tears, needing an explanation, needing to hear it from his mouth. I stepped out from behind the willow tree.

Calista looked startled when she saw me, but her hands clung tighter to Elias’s arm, like a claim. When Elias’s eyes met mine, he looked at me as if I were a criminal, as if I didn’t belong here as if it wasn’t just two days ago that he held me close, swearing he loved me and no one else, right here in this very garden. He had promised me everything.

But the man standing before me wasn’t my Elias.

“What do you think you’re doing here?” Elias’s voice was laced with disdain. It made my skin crawl.

“Are you sure you want to reject me?” I asked, one last time. If he wanted to leave me, there was nothing I could do to stop it.

Seeing Calista holding him, her smug expression making my blood boil, I could barely hold myself together.

“Yes. I thought I had already made it clear.”

“What about all the promises you made me? I’m your Luna, Elias. Does that mean nothing to you?” My eyes burned, and I struggled to keep them open.

He sighed, like he was tired of me. He let go of Calista and walked closer.

“I’m doing this for the pack, Iris. You know you’re too weak to be Luna. Calista is strong, and she has connections. With her, Arcadia will be the strongest pack among the leagues.”

My heart cracked, splintering beneath the weight of his words. The man who once swore to protect me was now the one cutting me deepest.

He stared at me with pity, then suddenly started laughing a sick, twisted sound that chilled me to my bones. Just hours ago, I would’ve sworn he could never make a sound like that.

“It’s actually funny, you know, how you thought you could ever be Luna.” He tried to stifle his laughter but failed.

My chest burned as tears spilled down my cheeks.

“Come on, Eli, you’re hurting her. She might lash out and hurt you,” Calista cooed, feigning sympathy before breaking into laughter herself.

They mocked me the people I loved and the one I despised most together.

My legs felt weak, my heart sluggish. They were right. I was weak. What could I do? I could barely stand now.

Everyone had called me a curse because I was an omega born to a beta family. Even my own blood despised me, always calling me weak. Maybe they were right.

But one thing I wasn’t, was a coward.

I found strength I didn’t know I had and lifted my chin.

“I, Iris Devenwood, accept your rejection. May the Moon bear witness that our bond is broken.” I didn’t wait to see his expression, or whatever triumphant smile Calista wore.

I turned and ran as fast as my legs would carry me before I felt it. My heart breaking. Our bond snapping. Each thread unraveling, tearing away a piece of me.

The pain was excruciating, dizzying. My body burned hot, trembling, unsure if the wetness on my skin was sweat, mud, or blood.

Then I heard it a howl. Close. Too close.

My blurred eyes caught the shadow just before its claws sank into my flesh. A rogue.

Good, I thought dimly. At least this would end my miserable life.

I closed my eyes, not sure if the pain in my chest was worse than the claws shredding my skin.

How had it come to this? I looked up at the full moon shining its brightest, and as darkness swallowed me, I made a vow.

If I ever got a second chance, I would live to love myself. I would prove my worth.