The Alpha Who Let His Luna Die

The healer didnt make me sit down first.

That was how I knew the news was going to be badwhen even the gentlest hands forgot kindness for a moment, when the room smelled too sharply of crushed sage and iron, and when the silver basin beside the cot had already been set out as if my body might fail right there.

Master Vaelorian stood across from me with a scroll in one hand and a strip of moonstone in the other. The moonstone had been dipped into my blood. It shouldve glowed warmsteady, living.

Instead, it flickered like a dying ember.

Eirlys, he said softly, your moon-blood isnt holding.

I stared at the flicker, waiting for my mind to catch up. Thats that just means we adjust the dosage. We try another draught.

His gaze droppednot to the scroll, not to my wrist, but to my eyes, the way healers look at wolves they cant save.

Weve adjusted everything we can. He exhaled. Your blood isnt feeding your wolf anymore. Your healing is slowing. Your strength will keep bleeding out with every full moon.

My throat tightened. So what do we do?

There is only one cure left, he said. A blood-binding ritual. A transfer. You need a matching strainsame resonance, same moonline.

My fingers went cold. A match.

He nodded once.

I waited, breath shallow, because I already knew what came next. There werent many wolves with blood like mine. The Vale line was oldtoo old, too thin, too rare.

You have I swallowed. How long?

He didnt hesitate. That was worse than pity.

One lunar cycle, he said. Maybe less, if the next moon hits you hard.

The room tipped. Not enough for me to falljust enough for me to feel how close the edge really was.

A month.

A month to watch my body betray me. A month to become a burden. A month to be mourned while I still breathed.

I forced my hands to stop shaking by curling them into fists. Then tell me the match.

He paused, like he didnt want to say the name out loud. The only confirmed match is Vaelis.

My chest went tight.

Of course it was her.

Vaelisthe woman everyone in the pack whispered about as my twin, because she wore my face like a familiar lie and carried a scent so close to my own that even elders had squinted at us under moonlight and murmured about shared blood. Shed arrived years ago with a smile too polished and a story too convenient. Shed stayed because no one wanted to challenge the idea that fate sometimes made duplicates.

And because my matemy Alphahad never told her to leave.

Shes the only one? I asked, though the answer was already a blade in my ribs.

Master Vaelorians expression hardened. The only one who will test compatible. The only one who can give you enough to survive the binding.

My lungs wouldnt fill properly.

I left the healers lodge in a daze, the cold night air biting at my cheeks, the sky stretched wide and cruel above the pines. The pack lands were quiettoo quiet for a territory that belonged to Blackthorn wolves. Somewhere in the dark, sentries paced. Somewhere, distant howls braided into the wind.

Somewhere, Kaelrion Blackthorn existed as if my world hadnt just cracked.

I pulled my cloak tighter and forced myself to walk, because collapsing in the snow would not change anything. Wolves didnt die dramatically. They died slowly, with pride gnawed down to bone.

My phone was heavy in my palm. Modern glass, old problems.

I pressed call.

Kaelrion.

It rang.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Then the line cut.

I stared at the screen until it dimmed, then called again, because denial is a kind of faith.

Straight to silence.

My heartbeat turned uglytoo fast, too loudlike it was trying to run ahead of the truth.

I made it halfway down the lodge steps before my screen lit up with a notification. Not from him.

From her.

Vaeliss profile slid onto my display like a taunt.

A new post on MoonGram.

My thumb hovered, then tapped before I could stop myself.

There she wasbathed in warm lamplight, hair curled perfectly over one shoulder, mouth curved into something soft enough to fool strangers. Her hand was tangled with a mans fingers.

I knew those fingers.

I knew that scar across the knuckle. Id traced it in bed when hed come home bloodied from a border skirmish, when hed grunted that it was nothing and then let me kiss it anyway.

Kaelrions hand.

My vision tunneled, sharp at the center and blurred at the edges.

The caption was worse.

The Alpha Ive loved in silence is finally mine. Even if its only for a month, Ill treasure every night.

My thumb slipped.

I liked it.

I didnt even realize I was crying until a tear hit the screen and smeared her perfect face.

Less than a minute later, my phone began to vibrate like it was panicking with me.

Kaelrion.

Kaelrion.

Kaelrion.

I answered on the third call because my hands wouldnt stop shaking and because some part of me still believed hed say, This isnt real.

Eirlysdont hang up, he said immediately, voice rough and urgent. Please. Just listen.

I didnt speak. If I opened my mouth, I was afraid Id howl.

I know what you saw, he continued. Its not what you think.

My throat burned. Then tell me what it is.

A beat of silence. A breath. The sound of him choosing words the way men choose weapons.

Vaelis agreed to give you her blood, he said. For the binding. Shell do it. But only if I if I give her one lunar month. Publicly.

My spine went rigid. Publicly.

She demanded it, he said, too fast, as if speed could make it cleaner. A month where I stand beside her. Where I act as her mate in the packs eyes. Its a deal, Eirlys. A sacrifice. Im doing it for you.

I swallowed pain like it was water. Youre going to pretend to be hers.

Yes, he said. Then, softer: Youre my Luna. Youre my life. I cant lose you.

My laugh came out wrongthin and broken. Then why does it feel like you didnt hate saying yes?

He didnt answer.

I could hear him breathing on the other end, and that quiethis hesitationwas louder than any confession.

Because I remembered.

I remembered Kaelrion in the early days, when hed still been learning how to be gentle, when the pack feared him and I didnt. Hed been cruel to everyone elsesharp commands, colder punishmentsbut with me, hed softened like a blade warmed in a forge.

When my wolf had first faltered, hed carried me across half the territory without letting me touch the ground. When my bones had ached so badly I couldnt sleep, hed left his war council at midnight and returned with herbs and warm broth, glaring at anyone who dared look surprised. When Id mentioned a silver comb once, only once, hed brought me a handcrafted piece the next week, as if hunting down artisans was as natural as hunting prey.

And when Master Vaelorian had spoken the first warning months agomoon-blood instabilityKaelrion had held my face between his hands like he was afraid Id disappear.

If you stop fighting, I stop, hed said. Dont leave me.

Hed gone everywhere after that. Hidden healers. Rogue witches. Forbidden markets that traded in artifacts the packs outlawed. Hed offered gold, favors, threats. Hed even offered his own blood, though we both knew it wouldnt match.

Id caught him once in his study, staring at a blank page with a quill shaking in his grip, writing a will he couldnt finish.

He hadnt looked ashamed. Hed looked terrified.

So why did my chest feel like it was splitting now?

And why was Vaelis always therein the cracks, in the delays, in the small betrayals that were easy to excuse until they stacked too high?

She had promised the blood-binding before. More than once. Then shed found a reason to postpone.

First, she claimed her wolf was too weak from stress. Kaelrion stayed with her through the night, leaving me alone in our den with my fever and my pride.

Second, she said she was having night terrors. He escorted her to the healers as if she were the one dying.

Third, she announced she was sick, and on the same day Id collapsed after a failed tonic, the sentries told me the Alpha had ridden out to her cabin.

Now she wanted something new.

A lunar month.

A public claim.

A photo with his hand in hers, her caption rubbing salt into my ribs.

Kaelrion, I said, trying to keep my voice steady. It came out thin anyway. Offer her gold. Offer her lands. Offer her anything. I dont care how much. Justdont stand beside her like that. Dont give her the title.

Silence.

I heard his breathing again, slow and careful, like he was bracing for my anger.

Then he said quietly, We already owe her a lot. I dont want to pressure her. Shes helping you. We should be grateful.

Something snapped behind my ribs.

Owe her? I whispered. And what do you owe me, Kaelrion? Five years? A bond sworn under the Moon? Or are those debts too easy to forget?

He didnt answer.

Thenfaintlyanother voice drifted through the line, soft and sweet in the exact way poison can be sweet.

Kaelrion, Vaelis said, dragging his name as if she owned it. I cut my palm. It stings. Come here.

His tone changed instantly, sharp with concern I hadnt heard aimed at me in weeks.

Ill call you later, he said quickly. She needs me.

And the call ended.

Just like that.

I stood there on the lodge steps, the cold gnawing through my boots, staring at my dead screen as if I could revive it by will alone. It felt like something inside me had finally caved inlike Id been hollowed out and there was nothing left to protect.

I turned slowly and walked back inside.

Master Vaelorian was still there, sorting herbs with calm hands, as if he hadnt just handed me a death sentence.

I forced air into my lungs. If I dont get the binding, I asked, voice barely louder than the crackle of the hearth, how long do I have?

He didnt sugarcoat it.

A month, he said. Maybe less.

I nodded once, because falling apart in front of the healer would not make me stronger.

I understand, I said quietly.

Then, before my courage could flee, I added, I wont do it.

His hands stilled. Eirlys

I wont beg, I corrected, the words scraping my throat raw. I wont survive by crawling for someone elses mercy while my mate plays husband to a woman who wants me dead.

Master Vaelorians gaze softened with something like sorrow, but he didnt argue. Hed seen too many wolves die from sickness.

And too many die from love.

That evening, I returned to Blackthorn Hall.

The sky was bruised purple and gold, the kind of sunset that made the pack lands look almost gentle. For a moment, I let myself believe the world was offering me one last kindness. One last quiet breath before the storm.

The manor rose aheadstone and iron and old money, the Alphas home carved into the bones of the forest. Torches burned along the entryway. Sentries watched me pass, their expressions carefully blank.

No one greeted me as Luna.

No one said, Welcome home.

I reached the doors and pushed them open.

Warmth spilled out, carrying the scent of wine and something sharper beneath it.

Perfume. Sweet and bright and entirely wrong in my home.

Then I heard laughtersoft, feminine, pleased.

My stomach dropped, as if my body recognized betrayal before my mind could give it a name.

I stepped inside.

And whatever was left of mewhatever Id been holding together through sheer willbegan to break.

I stood in the doorway longer than I should have.

Blackthorn Hall looked the samestone walls warmed by firelight, antlers mounted above the hearth, banners stitched with the pack sigil hanging in quiet authority. This place had once felt like the safest den in the world. Tonight, it felt staged. Rearranged.

Occupied.

Vaelis was curled against Kaelrion on the main couch as if she had always belonged there. Not sittingcurled. Her legs tucked beneath her, her head tilted just right so her hair brushed his shoulder. Too familiar. Too practiced.

She was feeding him fruit.

Not in a rushed way. Not shyly. Slowly, deliberately, like she had all the time in the world and wanted me to see exactly how she was using it.

Eirlys! Kaelrion shot to his feet the moment he saw me, nearly knocking over the low table. The movement was too quick, too rehearsed. Guilt and relief crossed his face at the same time. Youre back. Icome here.

He stepped toward me, hands out as if he could still pull me into his arms and make everything right by force alone.

I didnt move.

Instead, my eyes went to the small velvet box he held out to me.

I got you something, he said, voice soft, coaxing. If you take this it means you agree. Youll let me stay with her for the month. Just until the binding. Just say yes.

I stared at the box.

A gift. An offering. A peace treaty wrapped in velvet.

I dont need it, I said quietly. Ill agree even without that.

The words surprised him.

You will? His eyes widened, hope flaring too fast. You really mean that?

Yes.

Each letter scraped my throat raw.

Vaelis was on her feet instantly, crossing the space between us with a brightness that made my skin crawl. She took my arm as if we were sisters again, as if she hadnt just posted my mates hand on the internet like a trophy.

Good, she said sweetly. Then we can all be comfortable, right? No jealousy. No misunderstandings. She tilted her head at me, smile perfect. Kaelrions only helping me fulfill a dream. Just one month.

I slipped my arm free.

I wont be jealous.

Kaelrion visibly relaxed, tension draining from his shoulders as if Id passed some invisible test. He moved quickly, eager to fill the silence, rushing toward the kitchen.

I made you something, he said over his shoulder. Soup. Its good for your blood. You should eat.

I watched him ladle it into a bowl with the same care he used to reserve for me alone. He brought it over himself, setting it gently into my hands like an offering to the Moon.

It smelled warm. Familiar.

I told myself not to hesitate.

I took one sip.

The burn hit instantly.

Not heatwrongness. My throat tightened violently, lungs seizing as if theyd suddenly forgotten how to draw air. My vision swam.

No I gasped, clutching my chest. Kaelrionthis

My body reacted faster than thought. Wolf and flesh screaming in unison. My knees buckled as pain ripped through me, sharp and sudden and terrifyingly familiar.

Shrimp, I choked. You put shrimp in this. KaelrionIm allergic.

The room exploded into motion.

What? He went pale, the bowl slipping from his hands and shattering on the floor. Nono, that cant be right. I thought

Vaelis stepped in smoothly, voice calm and helpful. Youre mistaken, she said, frowning lightly. Im allergic to peanuts. You remembered that, didnt you? I told you last week.

The world tilted.

He remembered hers.

Not mine.

My chest constricted violently, each breath coming shallower than the last. My hands trembled as I tried to stay upright, pain tearing through me like claws.

Alpha! someone shouted. Get the healer!

The last thing I saw before darkness crept in was Kaelrions facepanic-stricken now, shouting my name as if volume could undo what hed already forgotten.

I woke to the steady rhythm of a healers chant and the bitter taste of antidote on my tongue.

My body felt heavy. Bruised from the inside. Like Id been dragged back from the edge by force rather than choice.

Kaelrion sat beside the bed.

His eyes were red. Bloodshot. He was gripping my hand too tightly, knuckles white, as if afraid Id dissolve if he let go.

Im sorry, he said immediately. Im so sorry. It was a mistake. I mixed it up. I swear I wont let this happen again. His voice cracked. I canceled everything. For the next few days, its just you. I promise.

I turned my face away.

You dont need to apologize, I said softly. You already belong to her.

He shook his head, panic flaring. Thats not true. This isnt real. Its a deal, Eirlys. One month. Im pretending so shell save you. Dont twist this into something its not.

I closed my eyes.

Just remember what she likes, I murmured. Her allergies. Her habits. Take care of her. A pause. And stay out of my life.

His breath hitched. You dont mean that.

I do.

The silence stretched.

Finally, he stood. Rest, he said hoarsely.

The door closed behind him with a sound heavier than a slammed gate.

I lay there long after he left, staring at the ceiling until the firelight blurred. My chest achednot just from the reaction, but from something deeper. Something final.

A month.

That was all I had left.

Later that night, when the hall was quiet and my strength had returned just enough to move, I dragged myself out of bed and crossed to the far corner of the room. I knelt and pulled a dusty chest from beneath the wardrobe.

Inside was my life.

Old trinkets. Notes written in Kaelrions hand when he was still learning how to soften his words. A broken silver clasp from my first Luna mantle. Polaroids from before blood, borders, and betrayal.

In every image, he was looking at me.

I closed the lid and carried the box outside.

The night air bit into my skin as I lit the brazier. One by one, I fed the memories to the fire, watching paper curl and burn, silver blacken, laughter turn to ash.

What are you doing?!

The shout came too late.

Vaelis rushed toward me and shoved hard. The brazier tipped, hot coals scattering across the stone. Pain lanced up my arm as one struck skin.

If you didnt want me here, just say it! she cried. Why are you burning my things?!

My teeth clenched. These arent yours.

Footsteps thundered.

Kaelrion appeared, grabbing her instantly, pulling her into his chest as if she were the one in danger.

Are you hurt? he demanded.

She clung to him, trembling. She hates me so much she started burning my things. I was scared.

His gaze finally landed on me.

There was no concern in it.

Only disappointment.

How could you, Eirlys? he said. After everything shes done for you?

My fingers trembled as I reached into the ashes and lifted a half-burned photograph.

Look, I said, voice breaking. These are mine. Our memories.

For a heartbeat, he froze.

Then Vaelis whimpered. My hand I think I burned it.

He released me without hesitation.

Ill take care of you, he said urgently, already guiding her back inside.

I stood alone by the dying fire, ash clinging to my skin, watching the Alpha walk away with the woman who wore my place like a borrowed crown.

Something inside me finally went quiet.

And I knew

this wasnt about survival anymore.

It was about how much of myself I was willing to lose before I let the Moon take the rest.

My arm burned, but I barely felt it.

The sting from the scattered coals was sharp and immediate, yet it faded quicklyovershadowed by something deeper, heavier. I returned to my room alone, each step measured, each breath forced. Pride was a habit. Pain, an old companion.

I poured alcohol over the burn without flinching. The hiss against my skin was loud in the silence, biting hard enough to steal the air from my lungs. I gripped the edge of the dresser until my knuckles whitened, waiting for the pain to crest and pass.

It did.

Unlike everything else.

Once, Kaelrion would have panicked over a mark like this. A shallow cut, a bruise from traininghe used to react as if the world were ending. I remembered him snapping orders at healers, pacing like a caged wolf, refusing to leave my side until I smiled just to calm him down.

Now he hadnt even noticed.

I bound my arm and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing until the fire in the hearth burned low. Tears came thennot dramatic, not loud. They slid down quietly and soaked into the sleeve of my nightdress, stinging when they touched raw skin.

That night, I slept poorly.

And the days that followed proved something I hadnt wanted to admit.

Vaelis didnt need to fight me for my place.

She already had it.

She clung to Kaelrion constantly, as if afraid the pack might remember who stood beside him first. Wherever he went, she followed. Wherever he stopped, she leaned into him, smiling softly, eyes flicking toward me just long enough to make sure I noticed.

At meals, she pouted playfully and nudged his arm.

Feed me, she said once, tilting her head. You know it tastes better when you do.

I sat across from them, quietly pushing food around my plate while he lifted a piece of meat and brought it to her lips. She laughed, pleased, and leaned closer.

On the couch in the evenings, she curled into his side as if she belonged there, fingers fisted in his shirt.

I hate loud noises, she murmured during a movie. Hold me tighter.

He did.

Each time, she looked at me afterward, smile innocent.

You dont mind, right, Eirlys? You promised.

I dont mind, I said.

I wasnt sure when that sentence stopped being a lie.

My body, however, didnt bother pretending.

The Moon weighed heavier each night. My limbs felt weak, my senses dulled. Shifting became painful, incomplete. I could feel my wolf curling inward, conserving what little strength she had left.

Vaelis was supposed to give her blood soon.

I stopped counting the days.

One afternoon, after a particularly bad spell of dizziness, I stood before the mirror and barely recognized the woman staring back. My skin looked too pale. My eyesonce sharp, once proudwere dim.

That was when I made a decision.

I needed a photograph.

Not for identification. Not for records.

For my funeral.

The photographer blinked when I told him.

For what?

My funeral, I repeated calmly. I want it simple. Just one.

His hands shook slightly as he adjusted the lens. I stood straight, shoulders back, and forced a small smile. The flash went off, briefly blinding.

That would be the one they put on the altar.

Alive. Whole. Still me.

When I returned to collect the print, laughter drifted in from the front of the shop.

I froze.

That voicelow, familiar, careless.

And herslight, pleased.

They entered arm in arm, moving easily, as if this were a routine errand for a couple.

Eirlys? Vaelis said, feigning surprise. What a coincidence.

I slipped the photo into my pocket. Just needed an ID picture.

She leaned into Kaelrion, smiling. Photo albums are important for couples. We took some earlier this week.

Kaelrion glanced at me, almost apologetic. She wanted memories.

I nodded. I didnt trust myself to speak.

She dragged me toward the counter anyway. Help us choose, she said sweetly. You always had better taste.

The screen lit up.

Image after image filled the monitorsunset light, clasped hands, his arm around her waist, her head tipped back in laughter. They looked happy.

My chest tightened painfully.

Which one looks happiest? she asked.

Before I could answer, chaos erupted.

A loud crash echoed as a shelf behind us gave way, metal groaning before collapsing. Kaelrion reacted instantlylunging forward, wrapping Vaelis in his arms, turning his body to shield her.

I wasnt so lucky.

A jagged edge struck my shoulder as I was knocked sideways. Pain exploded, hot and wet. I screamed as I hit the floor, blood soaking through my sleeve.

Kaelrion! Vaelis cried. It hurts!

He scooped her up without hesitation, panic etched across his face. We need the healer. Now.

Our eyes met for half a second.

Then he turned away and carried her out.

I dragged myself up and staggered to the healer alone.

The old man frowned as he stitched the wound. Why didnt anyone bring you sooner?

I didnt have anyone, I said.

Later that night, Kaelrion finally returned. He froze when he saw the bandage.

What happened? His voice cracked. Why didnt you call me?

You were busy, I replied calmly.

He reached for my hand. I didnt mean to leave you. She was cryingI thought

You did the right thing, I interrupted. She needed you.

Relief washed over his face. Ill stay tonight.

The moment almost fooled me.

Then his phone rang.

Her name.

Ill be right there, he said instantly.

And just like that, he was gone again.

I curled into myself after he left, breathing unevenly.

This wasnt love.

It was erosion.

That night, my phone buzzed.

Vaeliss voice slipped through, amused and cruel.

Did you know Kaelrion risked his life for me today? He did something dangerous just because I asked.

I stared at the dark window. Take care of him, I said. Hes yours.

Silence.

I ended the call.

Then I dialed another numberone Id memorized weeks ago.

Hello, a calm voice answered.

Yes, I said quietly. Im calling about burial arrangements. Section B. I wanted to ask if

The front door slammed open.

Eirlys!

Kaelrion stood there, pale, bandaged, furious and frightened all at once.

What were you doing on the phone? he demanded.

I forced a smile. Helping a neighbor.

He sagged with relief, pain dragging at his posture. Motor crash, he muttered.

I guided him back to the hospital, signed papers, tucked the blanket around him like I used to.

As he slept, I whispered so softly hed never hear it:

This is the last time I worry about you.

And for the first time since the Moon began taking pieces of me away, I felt calm.

Because ashes dont cry.

They wait.

Morning came without warmth.

I woke in a room that no longer felt like mine, the silence heavy and unfamiliar. For the first time since I could remember, Kaelrion was not there. His side of the bed was cold, untouched. No lingering scent of pine and steel. No quiet weight beside me that once meant safety.

Just emptiness.

I dressed slowly, every movement deliberate, as if rushing might crack something fragile inside my chest. My body felt weaker today. The Moon had taken more than it should have overnight. My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, uneasy, exhausted.

Outside, Blackthorn Hall was already awake.

I stepped into the corridor and stopped short.

The pack was gathered.

Not formally. Not summoned. Just watching.

Vaelis stood at the center of it all, wrapped in a pale mantle that brushed the floor. My mantle. The one reserved for the Luna during rites and announcements. She wore it as if it belonged to her by right, her hand resting lightly on Kaelrions arm.

He stood tall beside her.

Unyielding. Alpha-perfect.

When he spoke, the hall fell silent.

For the next lunar cycle, Kaelrion announced, his voice echoing against stone, Vaelis will stand as acting Luna of Blackthorn.

The words hit harder than any blow.

My breath left me in a sharp, silent rush.

This is temporary, he continued. A necessity for the binding ritual that will save Eirlys Vales life. Any who challenge this decision challenge me.

No one spoke.

No one looked at me.

The pack bowed.

I watched them kneel to another woman wearing my place, my mantle, my namewhile my mate stood beside her and let it happen.

Vaelis turned then, eyes finding mine across the hall.

She smiled.

Not sweetly this time.

Victorious.

I left before they could see me break.

By midday, my strength was nearly gone. My hands shook as I tried to hold a cup of tea, the porcelain rattling softly against the saucer. I hadnt realized how much energy anger consumed until there was none left to fuel it.

That was when she came to my room.

Vaelis didnt knock.

She closed the door behind her carefully, as if this were a private meeting between equals. Between sisters.

You saw the announcement, she said lightly.

Yes.

She circled me slowly, examining the room as if committing it to memory before taking possession. The pack needed reassurance. They trust Kaelrion. If he stands beside me, theyll accept it.

I said nothing.

She stopped in front of me. You look worse today.

Get to the point.

Her smile sharpened. I wont give you my blood.

The words were soft. Casual.

My chest tightened painfully. You already made the deal.

I changed my mind. She leaned closer. Why would I save you now? I already have everything I wanted.

You dont, I whispered. Not yet.

She laughed quietly. Oh, Eirlys. Havent you realized? I never needed the ritual. I just needed time.

Time.

Time to slide into my life.

Time to teach the pack to bow to her.

Time to teach Kaelrion to forget me.

I told him, she continued pleasantly, that the ritual can wait. That Im anxious. That stress affects blood compatibility. She tilted her head. He believes me.

My wolf growled weakly inside me.

Youre killing me, I said.

Yes, Vaelis agreed. Slowly.

She stepped back, smoothing her mantle. But dont worry. I wont let you die just yet.

I laughed thenquiet, broken. Why?

Because, she said, eyes glittering, I want him to watch.

She left without another word.

That evening, I packed.

Not clothes. Not jewels.

Memories.

The last things I hadnt burned.

I folded them carefully into a small bag and carried it outside, past the sentries who pretended not to see me. The air was heavy with approaching rain. The Moon hid behind thick clouds, as if unwilling to witness what came next.

I didnt go far.

Just to the edge of the territory.

I sat on a fallen log and waited.

Headlights cut through the dark not long after.

The car stopped, and a woman stepped outtall, composed, her presence commanding even in silence.

Seraphaine Vale.

My mother.

She looked at me as if afraid I might vanish if she blinked. Then she crossed the distance in three strides and wrapped me in her arms.

You came, she whispered.

I dont have anywhere else to go, I replied.

She pulled back, eyes scanning my face, the tremor in my hands. Her expression hardened into something dangerous. Youre worse than when I last saw you.

Im dying.

I know, she said. Thats why Im here.

She took my hands. I can save you. But not like this. Not here.

I hesitated. Kaelrion

Is not your fate, she cut in sharply. And he is not worthy of what you will become.

Rain began to fall, light at first, then harder.

I need you to trust me, she said. One last time.

I closed my eyes.

And nodded.

By morning, Blackthorn Hall was in chaos.

My room was empty.

My scent gone.

Kaelrion stormed through the corridors, fury etched into every sharp line of his face.

She was here, he snarled. Find her. Now.

His men searched the territory until dawn broke and found only one thing.

My cloak.

Soaked. Torn. Abandoned at the edge of the cliff road where the mountain fell away into darkness.

The rain washed everything else clean.

Kaelrion stood there long after the others left, staring down into the ravine below, his chest tight, his heartbeat wrong.

The Moon finally slipped free of the clouds.

And for the first time since our bond had formed, it did not answer him.

Not because I was gone

but because I had let it take my name.

And somewhere far from Blackthorn lands, with a new path opening before me and death close enough to taste, I whispered into the dark:

Let them believe I fell.

When I return the Moon will remember who I am.