Chapter 001

The Girl Who Never Belonged

Serena

“Luna Serena, your undivided attention is needed right away at the main hall.”

The title Luna still felt more like a joke these days, especially if it's coming from Marta, who couldn't spare a second without finding a way to lace it with poisonous venom. I paused immediately, took a glance at my gradually disappearing reflection in the gilded mirror. The once bright gleam in my eyes was far long gone. What stared back before me was just... faded, a shadow of who I used to be.

“Did the Alpha request for my presence?" I asked quietly, consciously adjusting my silver cuffs.

Marta scoffed at my voice. “Does he ever do that, these days?”

I flinched at the harshness of her voice, but didn’t let her see it. I turned away quietly, totally ignoring the growing ache in my chest. Ronan hadn’t made it his duty to call for me in over a week. And I could remember the last time he did, it was to quarrel and ask why I hadn’t prepared the pack ledger properly the way he commanded it, something that wasn't my duty but always handled by the beta.

I left my chambers with my heart on my hands and followed Marta obediently through the stone corridors of Ravenfall manor. The whispers increased the moment my legs stepped into the hall.

“There she is again. Still walking around with no pup in her belly, and to think it’s been what? Exactly two years?”

“Poor Alpha. But he's full of regrets now for bringing her in.”

“She was rumored to be an orphan, right? No real bloodline was found in her. No wonder misfortune is following her.”

I increased my pace to avoid breaking down. 

Their words these days didn’t cut as deeply as they had a few months back, and it wasn't because they hurt less now, no, but because I had decided to grow numb toward whatever they dish out to me. I was once a noble, the daughter of a powerful and well respected Alpha. Until the very hour ruthless rogues ambushed our lands and in a blink, I lost everything, including my family, my home and my identity.

Ravenfall had extended a hand and taken me in… barely after the incident. I turned to an orphan girl no one ever wanted. Until Ronan showed up for me.

For once, he gave me hope and made me feel like I truly belonged. Like I was worthy of something, and my existence wasn't a waste. He wasted no time in marrying me, and crowned Luna to sit by his side before the pack. I had never in my life known such love. Is it his touches, or his smile, the way he constantly gave me the look like I was his moon.

But unfortunately, all that is now history. The love never lasted.

Exactly two years had passed. No child came to grace our home. And suddenly, I was labeled the disappointment in his life. The cursed womb breathing air meant for the useful. The shame he had to bear and carry daily.

“You’re late,” That was Ronan’s voice, snapping aggressively at me the moment I entered. He sat at the place reserved for the Alpha, at the head of the table, his brows furrowed in anger not even looking up to see my face.

 “I wasn't informed earlier as supposed...”

“That’s still not an excuse,” he cut me off before I could finish, his voice sharp and cold. “Sit.”

I sat without blinking.

The pack council meeting was endless, dragging on to forever, and discussions revolving mostly on border patrols and on upcoming winter preparations. I didn't dare speak except only when asked, and very much careful not to draw too much attention as all eyes were already on me. Ronan never spared me even a glance, not even once.

After the meeting, I dutifully followed him out, and half way to the chamber, I gathered the courage to talk to him. 

“Ronan,” I started softly. “Can we talk please?”

He stopped abruptly, sighed heavily like I just requested for his death, then turned to me. “About what exactly?”

“Us.” My voice came out cracked. “We haven’t even spoken to each other properly in over weeks. You barely see the need to look at me anymore.”

“Serena…” He furiously rubbed his temple like my very presence was a headache. “I’m already dealing with enough at the moment, and wouldn't want you to add to them. The patrols, the pack, those are a lot to be handled and now, instead of being useful, you want to talk about feelings?”

I swallowed an invisible lump. “Do you still love me, Renon?”

He didn’t attempt answering.

The silence alone said it all.

 “I’ve given you myself,” I whispered. “I gave up my true identity, my self worth and pride, just to be here with you. To be by your side.”

“And I in turn gave you a noble title that many craved for, a home, and respect,” he snapped. “Isn’t that enough for a dry womb?”

I stared at him unbelievably.

Did he just say respect? When his pack took after him, always treating me like dirt? When I was constantly mocked on a daily basis for not bearing him a child and an heir? When servants were given reasons to look down on me?

“Do you have any idea that Marta laughs and gathers gossip behind my back? That people never fail to whisper every time I walk into a room? And you...you never did anything to stop them. You never defended me, not even once.”

His eyes narrowed as he watched. “Maybe if you had done your duty as a Luna, even as a wife, you wouldn’t have given them reasons to.”

That shattered me entirely.

I stepped back like he had hit me, and he actually did with his words.

“I..I tried my..,” I choked out on the right words to use. “I’ve tried everything possible.”

“Trying alone isn’t good enough, Serena,” he said flatly and coldly. “Not for someone like me. Not for the pack that I rule.”

With that, he walked away.

I stood there speechless, heart shattered in pieces.

>>>>>>>>>>>

Later that same evening, I sat in deep thoughts in the garden, the one place that I found solace, and hadn’t turned against me. I pressed a warm hand to my belly, aching to feel something that I knew wasn’t there.

I was so lost in my imagination that I didn’t even notice footsteps approaching. 

The air surrounding me wasn't the same again, very heavy and strange. Even the wind couldn't blow anymore but held its breath.

“Serena Valen,” I heard a voice say, silky and confident.

I looked up only to behold her. 

The woman whose presence would ruin me completely!