The Rejected Luna's Awakening

Chapter 3

LIORA

A dull ache stirs me from unconsciousness, the familiar scent of my home surrounding me as I slowly wake up.

“Good, you’re finally awake.” The voice draws my attention, and I see Miss Maya carefully placing photos into a box.

Her hands move steadily, making sure nothing gets damaged. These are the only memories I have left of my parents.

“Don’t bother arguing. Dan and I already left the pack and packed our things,” she says quickly, cutting me off before I can speak.

Her brown eyes meet mine with determination. I want to object, but I know better. Once Miss Maya makes up her mind, there’s no changing it.

“Kazil and Seth ruined everything, and you deserve better. I won’t let them destroy what my family worked so hard for,” she adds firmly.

Her words hit me hard. I sit up on the couch and glance around. The walls are bare, and the photos of my parents are stacked neatly on the floor beside her.

“But Kazil is your brother. Don’t you want to stay?” I ask weakly. Miss Maya only laughs bitterly.

“Kazil is obsessed with power. The only reason he’s alpha is because Stormclaw doesn’t allow women to lead. Otherwise, that position would’ve been mine,” she says with a tight smile.

“Why are you here helping me? Shouldn’t you be finishing your own packing?” I ask, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere.

“Dan and I are already done. You’ve been unconscious for five hours—it’s three in the afternoon now. The kids are loading the trailer while I came to check on you,” she explains.

Shocked, I glance at the clock. She’s right. I woke up at nine-thirty this morning, full of hopes about being mated and becoming Luna. Now, those dreams are gone.

The memory of today rushes back, and I gasp as the pain hits.

The wound feels fresh, overwhelming. My mate betrayed me. Seth chose duty over me, and Kazil threw me out of Stormclaw.

“Don’t cry, Liora,” Miss Maya says softly, sitting beside me. She gently wipes the tears off my face.

“It hurts so much,” I choke out, my sobs shaking my entire body.

“I know, sweetheart. The pain won’t stop until one of you bonds with someone else. But right now, I need you to stay strong. Can you do that?” Her voice is calm but firm. I nod weakly, and her face softens in relief.

“Good. Take a deep breath. Breathe in. Breathe out.” Her steady tone helps ground me, and I follow her instructions until the ache in my chest fades enough for me to breathe normally again.

When I calm down, she continues. “I hate to say this, but we only have nine hours before they force us off this land. You have to pack and focus. Can you do that for me?”

Her words sting, but I nod. She’s right—if I don’t leave, I won’t survive.

“I’ll try,” I whisper after a moment, exhaling shakily.

“That’s my girl.” She smiles proudly, ruffling my hair as she stands. “I’ll take care of the photos. You go pack what you need. We’re leaving in four hours.”

I push myself off the couch and head to my bedroom. Most rogues don’t get any time to prepare; I should feel lucky to have a few hours.

I change into a sundress, tossing Seth’s bloodied and torn clothes into the trash. His scent lingers on them, and it makes my stomach turn.

I trusted him completely. I gave him my heart, my body, my everything when we discovered we were mates. I thought he’d mark me and fight for us. Instead, he rejected me.

The pain hits me like a tidal wave, and I grab the edge of my bed, barely staying on my feet. My chest feels like it’s being ripped apart, the shattered bond clawing at me, begging to be fixed.

But it’s useless. Seth made his choice.

Tears pour down my face as I try to breathe, my body shaking under the weight of everything I’ve lost.

I can’t change what’s happened. No matter how much I wish I could, I can’t undo the bond, or the rejection, or the heartbreak.

What I can do is keep going.

Taking a deep breath, I force myself to stand. The pain lingers, but I refuse to let it destroy me. I have to survive this. I have to leave Stormclaw alive.

Vengeance simmers beneath my skin, waiting to erupt.

Luke is the only one left in this pack who still cares about me. Everyone else turned their backs on me long ago.

I open my eyes, feeling a strange calm take over. As I pack up what’s left of my life, one thought echoes in my mind: What happens next?