Chapter 4 The Last Goodbye

Alyssa’s POV

"Astra… Mom," My voice shakes. "Come with me. Please."

She freezes.

Pain flashes in her eyes.

"I can’t," she says finally, her voice so low I barely hear it. "I have a debt to pay."

"No." I shake my head wildly. "No, you are abandoning me, just like my parents did!"

Astra lunges forward, grabbing me by the shoulders, pulling me into her arms.

"Never, Alyssa," she breathes into my hair. "You are the most important thing in this world."

I sob into her chest.

"You cannot be his, Alyssa," she whispers. "You were never born to bow. You were never meant to serve anyone."

My body trembles. My heart hurts.

But what does she mean?

Why won't she explain?

Should I not sacrifice my dignity to have a little safety?

In less than twenty-four hours, I have lost everything.

Levi. Mira. My home. Any possibility for a future.

It’s like the world is tearing me apart piece by piece, and I am powerless to stop it.

But Astra is right.

I can still feel Alpha Conan’s hands on me. Still hear his voice in my ear.

And Levi—Levi just watched.

I take a shaky breath.

"Okay," I whisper.

Astra exhales, a heavy sound of relief.

"Go rest," she says. "I’ll get your things ready. You’ll leave when it’s dark."

I nod.

And as I climb into bed, exhaustion pulling me under, only one thought lingers in my mind.

I will never bow again.

****

Darkness wraps around me like a suffocating blanket.

I blink, adjusting to the dim light filtering in from the cracks in my window. It’s nightfall again. I’ve slept through the entire day.

My body feels like lead, my limbs too heavy to move. I missed training. I missed everything. But most of all…

Levi hasn’t come looking for me.

The thought alone makes my chest tighten, and my throat burns.

He should have come. He should have searched for me. He should have cared. He owes me at least that.

I press my hand to my face, feeling the dampness on my cheeks.

I didn’t even realize I had been crying in my sleep.

The tears threaten to spill again, but I push them down.

I have no time for weakness.

Throwing the blanket off, I force myself up and stumble into the bathroom.

My eyes immediately land on the dress crumpled in the corner—the one I wore to the ceremony.

A shudder wracks through me.

I can still feel his hands on me.

Alpha Conan.

His breath.

His touch.

The way he forced his lips onto mine as if he had every right to me.

A wave of nausea rises in my throat, and I grip the edge of the sink, fighting it back.

I squeeze my eyes shut, but it only makes the memories sharper, and more vivid.

What if he shares me with his son?

The thought crashes into me like a tidal wave, so strong I nearly gag.

Never again. Never.

I strip everything off—every reminder of the night before—until I’m bare and exposed.

I step into the shower, twisting the knob until scalding hot water pours down my skin.

I scrub.

I scrub until my skin turns raw.

But no amount of soap, no amount of burning water can wash away the humiliation. The shame.

By the time I step out, my skin is red, my fingers trembling.

I pull on the black clothing Astra left for me. It’s simple, practical—dark pants, a fitted top, a leather jacket.

It’s meant for one thing.

Escape.

I run a comb through my damp hair, glancing around my room.

This might be the last time I ever see it.

A lump forms in my throat, but I swallow it down. I won’t cry.

I can’t.

I am dried out, exhausted. Even my eyes feel pain now.

Astra stands by the fireplace, staring into the flames, her arms wrapped around herself.

She doesn’t turn when I enter, but I see it—the sadness etched into her face, the way her shoulders tense. The scent of worry and anxiety that threatens to suffocate me.

“There’s no other choice, Mom,” I say, breaking the silence. My voice is hoarse, exhausted. “I can either stay here and become Alpha Conan’s plaything while I watch Levi and Mira live a happy life—or I can try and survive as a rogue.”

Astra’s jaw clenches.

“I’m sorry, Alyssa.” Her voice is quiet, yet filled with guilt, with regret. “When I brought you here, I thought you would be safe. I thought… by now, you would have been accepted as a member of the Moonborn Pack.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “They were never going to accept me.”

Astra is silent for a long moment. Then she sighs, running a hand through her hair. “One day, the truth will be clear.”

I frown. “What truth?”

Astra doesn’t answer.

Instead, she walks towards me and grips my shoulders tightly. “Avoid the new full moon, Alyssa,” she says, her voice suddenly urgent, desperate. “Never tell anyone your origin.”

My blood runs cold.

I stare at her.

“My origin?” My voice wavers. “What origin, Mom? I was abandoned in the Hulen Woods. You found me.”

Astra swallows hard. “I know. But it’s… complicated.”

Complicated? What does that even mean?

I shake my head, frustration bubbling up. “Mom, just tell me the truth.”

She cups my face, her fingers trembling. “I can’t. Not yet.”

I search her eyes, but all I see is fear.

Why is she so afraid?

She exhales shakily. “Trust no one,” she whispers. “I will come find you.”

Her words send a chill through me.

Something isn’t right.

But I don’t have time to question it.

Astra pulls me into a hug, clutching me so tightly it almost hurts. I cling to her just as desperately, breathing in her scent, memorizing the warmth of her embrace.

This might be the last time.

“Promise me you’ll stay safe,” she says, her voice breaking.

I nod against her shoulder, though I’m not sure how much of that promise I can keep.

And then, just like that—

I let go.

And I walk away.

*****

Alone

The woods stretch out before me, endless and dark. The wind howls through the trees, carrying the distant sounds of howling wolves.

For the second time in my life—

I have no one.

No pack. No protection.

I have spent years as an omega, unwanted, unseen. But at least then, I still had food. A home. Training. Friends.

Now?

I am worse off.

I am free play. No one to protect me.

A rogue.

A shadow.

I walk until my legs ache, until the cold seeps into my bones. I find a spot beneath a thick tree and sink, wrapping my arms around myself.

Sleep doesn’t come.

Astra’s words keep circling in my head.

Never tell anyone your origin. Avoid the new full moon.

I don’t understand.

Who am I?

Why am I different?

I close my eyes, but the loneliness is unbearable. I can’t do this.

And so, I make a choice.

A reckless, stupid choice.

I sneak back into Moonborn territory.

I have to see him. See if it's true.

***

I know exactly where to find him.

Levi always trains alone at night—our secret place deep within the meadow grounds, where the moonlight filters through the trees, casting silver shadows.

And there he is.

Moving like a predator, his staff a blur of motion, his muscles rippling with every strike.

He looks… powerful. Unstoppable.

For a second, I forget everything.

Then he stops.

His head snaps up.

And suddenly—he’s running. Towards me.

Before I can react, he tackles me to the ground.

We crash into the dirt, his body hovering over mine, his hands gripping me tight.

"Alyssa…" he whispers.

My breath catches.

I hate him. I hate him.

So why does my body betray me? Why do my eyes lock onto his? Why do I feel his warmth, his scent, his love?

He brushes a stray curl from my face, his fingers lingering.

And for one, brief moment—

I have him. The way his eyes tear into me. The relief on his face. His contagious smile.

Of course, I love him. He is magnetic.

But of course, reality crashes back in.

I shove him.

"Get off me, Levi!"

He stands, running a hand through his hair, his muscles tense.

"Alyssa, please—talk to me."

I glare at him. "Talk? Talk about what? How you used me? How you married my best friend?"

"Alyssa, I—"

"No." My voice shakes. "You hurt me, Levi. You humiliated me. You chose her over me."

He steps closer, his eyes filled with pain.

"I love you, Alyssa," he whispers.

And then, before I can stop it—

His lips crash against mine.