“The Luna They Betrayed: Rise of the Forsaken Wolf”

Chapter 1 – The Day My World Ended

The Moonstone Pack had always called me their Luna.

For years, I believed I belonged there.

I believed in my mates.

I believed in our bond.

And most of all...

I believed love was enough.

I was wrong.

...

The celebration hall was filled with music, laughter, and the sweet scent of blooming moon lilies.

Pack members danced happily while servants carried trays of food from one table to another.

It was supposed to be a happy day.

It was the anniversary of the alliance between our neighboring packs.

As Luna, I stood beside my three mates, welcoming every guest with a smile that hid my exhaustion.

Life had not been easy, but I was grateful.

Or at least...

I thought I was.

"Smile, Aria," Alpha Kael whispered.

"The elders are watching."

I forced another smile.

"I am smiling."

His eyes lingered on me for only a second before he looked away.

Lately, all three of them had become distant.

Kael.

Ronan.

And Ezra.

Three powerful Alphas.

Three men who had sworn before the Moon Goddess that I was their only mate.

Three men I had loved with everything I had.

Yet none of them noticed the loneliness growing inside me.

...

Suddenly the massive doors opened.

Silence swept across the hall.

Everyone turned.

A woman stepped inside wearing a flowing white dress.

Her long silver hair reached her waist.

Her eyes shimmered like moonlight.

She looked fragile.

Beautiful.

Perfect.

Someone gasped.

"It... it can't be."

"Isn't that Selene?"

"The former Luna?"

My heart skipped.

Selene.

The woman everyone believed had died five years ago.

The woman my mates once loved before fate supposedly brought them to me.

She slowly walked toward us.

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I've finally come home."

The room exploded into whispers.

Before I could even react...

Kael ran to her.

Then Ronan.

Then Ezra.

Each of them stared at her as though seeing a miracle.

Kael gently touched her face.

"It's really you..."

Selene smiled weakly.

"I missed all of you."

Without thinking...

Kael hugged her.

Ronan joined him.

Ezra held her hand tightly.

I stood frozen.

Watching the men who once promised never to leave my side embrace another woman.

No one noticed me anymore.

...

After several minutes, Kael finally remembered I existed.

He turned.

"Aria..."

Before he could explain...

Selene suddenly looked at me.

Fear filled her eyes.

She took a step backward.

"No..."

She whispered softly.

"It was her."

Everyone frowned.

Kael's expression darkened.

"What do you mean?"

Selene lowered her head.

"I didn't want to tell anyone."

"I wanted to forgive her."

"But..."

Her voice trembled.

"Aria threatened me years ago."

The room became silent again.

I blinked.

"What?"

Selene cried harder.

"She said if I didn't leave, she'd make sure I disappeared forever."

My body went cold.

"No."

"I never—"

"You stole everything from me."

Her words echoed through the hall.

"My mates."

"My place."

"My future."

"I had no choice but to run."

The entire hall stared at me.

Disbelief.

Shock.

Judgment.

Every pair of eyes felt like knives.

I laughed bitterly.

"This is ridiculous."

"I've never even met you before today."

Selene covered her face.

"I knew no one would believe me..."

Kael looked at me.

"Tell me she's lying."

"I am."

"I swear on the Moon Goddess."

Ronan frowned.

"Then why did she disappear the exact night we found you?"

"I don't know!"

Ezra stepped forward.

"Aria..."

"Be honest."

"I AM BEING HONEST!"

For the first time since becoming Luna...

I shouted.

The hall fell silent.

My breathing became uneven.

I searched their faces.

Waiting.

Praying.

Hoping one of them would trust me.

Just one.

Instead...

Kael looked away.

Ronan remained silent.

Ezra sighed.

That silence hurt more than any accusation.

Because silence meant doubt.

And doubt meant...

They no longer believed me.

...

Then Elder Magnus slowly stood.

"If Selene is telling the truth..."

"Everything given to Aria should be investigated."

The elders nodded.

One after another.

Another elder spoke.

"The inheritance from her parents."

Another added,

"The White Moon Wolf."

Someone else whispered,

"Even the Luna Bond."

My heart stopped.

"No."

"You can't."

"My parents left those to me."

"They are mine."

Selene lowered her head again.

"I never wanted to take anything."

"I only want justice."

Justice?

For a crime I never committed?

Kael finally spoke.

"Until we know the truth..."

"We'll temporarily transfer all Luna authority."

I stared at him.

"You can't be serious."

"I'm trying to be fair."

Fair?

Was this fairness?

Believing a woman who appeared after five years over the mate who had stood beside him every single day?

I looked at Ronan.

He avoided my eyes.

Ezra clenched his fists.

"I'm sorry."

Sorry.

Such a useless word.

My heart cracked.

Right there.

Right then.

Something inside me died.

I finally understood.

The bond between us...

Had already begun to break.

And this was only the beginning of my nightmare.