Chapter two
1112 Words
Apologize.”
My eldest brother’s voice cracked like a whip.
I was still on the floor.
Lyra clung to his arm, trembling delicately, silver hair falling over tear-streaked cheeks. “I don’t understand why my sister hates me so much…”
“I didn’t push you,” I said quietly. “You grabbed me first. You tried to take—”
“Still lying?” my second brother cut in coldly. “We saw her fall.”
“You’re becoming more vicious by the day,” the eldest added. “Is it because you’re jealous?”
Jealous.
The word struck harder than the shove.
I opened my mouth again, but the looks on their faces told me everything. No matter what I said, the verdict had already been decided.
Lyra sniffed softly. “It’s fine… I don’t blame her. She’s been under a lot of stress since…” She hesitated delicately.
Since she became wolfless.
Since she became worthless.
I stopped speaking.
What was the point?
Footsteps echoed from the grand staircase.
Father. Mother.
And Cassian.
For a brief, foolish second, my heart leapt.
Cassian crossed the distance first. He crouched and gently helped me to my feet.
“Are you hurt?” he asked quietly.
His hand was warm around my arm.
That warmth spread through my chest, and for a moment, I remembered being ten years old, him declaring before the elders that he would one day make me his Luna.
I swallowed.
“I’m fine.”
Behind him, Father’s booming voice carried through the hall, cheerful and proud.
“We have wonderful news—”
Mother was smiling brightly. “Our Lyra—”
They stopped mid-sentence when they noticed me standing there.
Their expressions changed instantly.
Disappointment, annoyance.
“Seraphina,” Father said sternly. “Must there always be conflict when you are present?”
Mother didn’t even look at me for long. Her attention returned quickly to Lyra, brushing imaginary dust from her sleeve.
Cassian’s hand was still around my arm.
My heart was still racing.
And then Father continued, voice swelling with pride.
“At Lyra’s birthday celebration, we will formally announce her engagement to Cassian Thorn.”
The world went silent.
I stared at him.
“…What?”
Lyra lowered her head shyly.
Cassian’s grip on me loosened.
Father continued, oblivious to the sound of something breaking inside my chest. “This union will strengthen our alliances and secure Silverfang’s future.”
Mother beamed. “We couldn’t be more pleased.”
I turned slowly.
Lyra stepped closer to Cassian.
And kissed him in public, claiming him.
He didn’t refuse.
He didn’t hesitate.
The brothers began congratulating them immediately.
“When did this start?”
“Finally!”
“You two look perfect together.”
Perfect.
I realized then that everyone knew.
Everyone.
Everyone except me.
Cassian reached into his coat and withdrew a velvet box. He opened it and revealed a delicate moonstone necklace—the very one I had once lingered over in the jeweler’s window months ago.
“I thought this would suit you,” he told Lyra.
She gasped in delight. “It’s beautiful!”
I remembered standing beside him that day, saying softly that I liked it.
He had smiled and said, “Maybe one day.”
One day.
I felt nothing now.
No tears.
No anger, just cold.
I stepped forward and pulled Cassian aside before the celebration swallowed him.
“What is this?” My voice was steady.
He sighed. “Seraphina… not now.”
“When were you planning to tell me?”
He glanced toward Lyra, then back at me with irritation. “You should apologize to her first.”
I laughed quietly. “Apologize?”
“For pushing her.”
“I didn’t—”
“You always deny it,” he cut in. “Why are you making this harder than it needs to be?”
My fingers curled.
“And the engagement?” I asked.
He hesitated. “You know how my family is. I was always meant to marry the Alpha’s daughter.”
“I am the Alpha’s daughter.”
His expression hardened slightly.
“You’re adopted. And…” His eyes flickered downward. “Circumstances change.”
Wolfless.
Disposable.
“I never stopped caring about you,” he added quickly. “You must understand. Politics matters. Stability matters.”
I stared at him.
“Six months from now,” he continued, lowering his voice, “at the winter feast… I was planning something for you. Something you’ve always wanted.”
My birthday.
He meant my birthday.
The one in three days.
The one no one remembered.
Six months from now… I would be dead.
I almost smiled.
“How generous of you,” I said softly.
He frowned. “Why are you acting like this? I’ll make it up to you.”
“You’re offering me scraps,” I replied calmly. “And calling it love.”
His jaw tightened. “You’re just jealous. Lyra is kind. Pure. She would never scheme the way you—”
“Schemed?” I finished.
He looked at me carefully.
“Have you truly become as cruel as they say?”
Something inside me went very, very still.
I bent and picked up my wooden box. The children’s wildflowers were slightly crushed from the fall.
I brushed them gently.
“I see,” I murmured.
Behind us, the family’s laughter grew louder. They were discussing wedding dates now.
My words to Cassian, too soft to be meant for anyone else carried farther than I intended.
“May you two be very happy.”
Unfortunately, my eldest brother heard.
“Still pretending to be gracious?” he scoffed. “Shameless.”
Mother’s gaze turned icy. “You should reflect on yourself instead of ruining this joyful occasion.”
Father’s disappointment felt heavier than anger.
Lyra met my eyes across the hall.
Her lips curved faintly.
A mindlink brushed against my consciousness. It was Lyra.
You’ve lost.
I felt it.
But I could not respond.
Because I had no wolf.
No link.
Only silence.
My nails bit into my palms.
Lyra’s smile widened slightly.
And then—
A servant burst through the doors, breathless.
“Alpha! Luna!”
Everyone turned.
The servant dropped to one knee.
“There has been a volunteer.”
The hall went still.
“For the Blood Moon sacrifice.”
My heart did not race.
My expression did not change.
But somewhere deep inside my chest—
Something stirred.
And this time…
It did not feel empty, it felt like peace. It's weird but doesn't feel panic or sad rather I feel at peace.
- Writer
