The Rejected Luna's Awakening

Chapter 2

LIORA

Seth suddenly cries out, clutching his neck as a pained groan tears from his throat. Through my blurred vision, I see a mark searing itself into his skin.

It’s a dark red mark, slashed through with three jagged lines. Everyone gasps at him in stunned silence—some horrified, others murmuring quietly, and a few smirking with cruel amusement.

Fire rips through me, burning from the inside out as the mate bond shatters.

Last night, we strengthened it when we came together, bonding in ways I thought were forever. Now, the connection between us is breaking apart, and the pain is unbearable.

I gasp and sob as the fire rages through me, consuming every part of my body.

When the agony finally subsides, I see Seth standing tall, his face blank and cold. The mark still glows on his neck, but his pain has faded.

“It’s over, Liora. We’re done,” he says, his voice sharp and uncaring.

Rage replaces my pain in an instant, surging through my veins like poison. Without thinking, I lunge at him, my fingers turning into claws as I s***h them across his face.

Seth howls, blood streaming from the deep cuts I’ve left behind. My heart pounds as fury overtakes me. He knew this wouldn’t work—he knew he was tied to Caroline—but he still lied to me, still let me believe in something that was never real, he took everything from me!

Strong arms wrap around me, pulling me back. Dan’s familiar scent surrounds me, calming me enough to stop.

“Let it go, Liora,” Dan says quietly. “You’ve made your point. He’ll carry these scars for the rest of his life.”

I breathe heavily but nod, letting my hands drop to my sides. The anger still simmers inside me, but I trust Dan enough to listen.

“Liora, you’ve crossed the line!” Alpha Kazil shouts, striding toward me with fury burning in his eyes. The wolves who restrained Seth now step in, blocking Kazil from reaching me.

I glare back at him, unafraid. He’s taken everything from me—my rank, my dignity, my mate—and I refuse to let him see me cower.

“You’re the one who crossed the line!” I yell back. “My parents gave their lives for this pack, and this is how you repay me?”

Kazil’s face twists with anger. “I’ve been more patient than you deserve, Liora,” he growls. “Don’t push me!”

“Liora Bloodrose, you are hereby banished from Stormclaw. You have until midnight to leave. If you’re still here after that, you’ll be treated like any other rogue,” he declares coldly.

The words hit me like a blow to the chest. The pack bond snaps, leaving a hollow ache in its place.

My omega rank is stripped away, and for the first time in days, my beta blood feels unrestrained. But it’s meaningless now—I’m nothing but a rogue, useless but free.

In less than an hour, I’ve lost everything: my rank, my mate, and my place in this pack.

“This isn’t right, Kazil!” Dan, the alpha's brother in law and my godfather shouts, stepping forward.

“It’s exactly what needs to happen,” Kazil snaps, glaring at him.

“If you can’t accept that, you’re free to leave too,” he adds, his tone sharp.

Dan starts to respond, but another voice interrupts.

“Fine. We will leave then, as clearly Stormclaw is made of liars and snakes.” I turn to the sound of the new voice and find Miss Maya, the alpha's sister, walking towards us. Her eyes on Kazil and her husband.

I turn toward her, my vision blurred by tears and pain. Every word she speaks feels like a knife twisting in my heart.

“Dan, take her home,” Miss Maya says firmly. I try to protest, to tell her not to abandon her family, but my knees give out, and I collapse.

Dan catches me before I hit the ground, his arms steady and strong.

“Don’t fight this, Liora,” he says softly. “We’re leaving together.”

I struggle weakly against him, but the pain and the wolfsbane coursing through me make it impossible. My strength fades as the darkness creeps in.

The last thing I hear is Miss Maya’s voice, calm and certain:

“If you do this, Kazil, you’ll regret it—she’s more powerful than you’ll ever know.”

And then, everything goes black.