Ariana stood in the grand hall, her heart pounding like a drumbeat of despair. The chandeliers above cast a cold, golden glow, illuminating the polished marble floor that seemed to mock her with its unyielding perfection. The murmurs of the gathered pack faded into a dull roar as Rowan's voice pierced through her chest like a blade.
"Ariana… I can't," Rowan said, his tone void of warmth. He exhaled sharply, his gaze darting to the ground before rising to meet hers with cold finality. "I choose Elara."
The words hung in the air, each one sharper than the last. Ariana felt the world shift beneath her feet, as though the ground itself rejected her presence. Her throat tightened, but she refused to cry—not here, not in front of them.
The stares of the pack weighed heavily on her, their gazes burning into her skin like brands. Each face blurred together, a mass of judgment, pity, and thinly veiled satisfaction. She could hear faint whispers amidst the silence Rowan's words had carved, like knives twisting deeper into her chest.
"Rowan… why?" she whispered, her voice trembling. She didn't want to ask, didn't want to hear whatever excuse he might give, but the question escaped her lips like a plea for salvation.
"I don't owe you an explanation," he replied, his jaw tightening. His voice carried an edge of frustration, as if she were the one being unreasonable. "This is how it's meant to be."
Ariana's stomach churned. Meant to be? Was this the cruel fate the Moon Goddess had woven for her? Her bond to Rowan, the fragile thread of hope that had sustained her for so long, snapped with a pain so sharp it stole her breath.
Elara's soft laugh broke the heavy silence, a sound as sweet as poison. She stepped closer to Rowan, her delicate hand sliding into his as she turned to face Ariana. Her green eyes gleamed with triumph, the corners of her mouth curving into a smile that reeked of mockery.
"Don't take it personally, sister," Elara said, her tone syrupy with false sympathy. "It's not your fault you were never enough."
Ariana's nails dug into her palms, the sting grounding her against the rising tide of emotion threatening to drown her. She felt her body tremble as anger surged through her, mingling with the ache in her chest. "You were supposed to be my sister," she said through gritted teeth.
"And you were supposed to stay in your place," Elara snapped, her smile never faltering. The words dripped with venom, each syllable a calculated blow. "But don't worry. I'll take good care of him."
The whispers of the pack grew louder now, a clamor of cruelty that surrounded her like a storm. She caught fragments of their words, each one twisting the knife in her heart.
"She's nothing without her wolf."
"She should've known Rowan would choose Elara."
"Pathetic."
Ariana couldn't breathe. The walls seemed to close in, the air thick with judgment and scorn. She stumbled back a step, her vision blurring as the world spun around her.
"Run," a voice whispered in the back of her mind, soft yet insistent, like the howl of the wind through the trees.
She didn't hesitate. Turning, she bolted from the hall, her feet carrying her blindly through the twisting corridors of the palace. Her dress snagged on doorframes, tearing slightly, but she didn't care. She didn't stop. The weight of Rowan's rejection, Elara's betrayal, and the pack's mockery pressed down on her chest, threatening to crush her.
The cool night air slapped her face as she burst through the palace doors and into the forest. The scent of pine and damp earth filled her lungs, sharp and bracing, a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere she had just escaped. She ran, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Branches scratched at her arms, their jagged edges leaving faint marks, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in her heart.
Memories surged unbidden as she ran, each one a cruel reminder of how far she had fallen. She thought of the nights she had prayed to the Moon Goddess, clinging to the hope that Rowan would be her salvation. She thought of the quiet moments when she had imagined a future where she was no longer an outcast, no longer invisible.
All lies.
Ariana's foot caught on an exposed root, and she stumbled, barely catching herself before falling. Her knees ached, but she forced herself to keep moving. The forest grew denser around her, the towering trees casting long shadows in the pale moonlight. Their branches intertwined like a cage, trapping her within her despair.
Finally, her body gave out. She fell to her knees, the damp earth seeping through her dress as she gasped for breath. The forest was silent, save for the sound of her ragged breathing and the distant rustle of leaves in the wind.
Tears she had tried so hard to suppress finally spilled over, hot and relentless. She cried for what she had lost, for the life she would never have, for her sister who had stolen everything from her.
Her mind raced, replaying the events of the evening in an endless loop. Every word, every cruel smile, every mocking laugh cut through her like shards of glass. She had never felt more alone.
The moon hung high above, its light cold and distant, as if it too had turned its back on her. Ariana looked up at it, her chest heaving as fresh tears blurred her vision.
"Why me?" she whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of her sorrow. "What did I do to deserve this?"
The silence that followed was deafening. The Moon Goddess had no answers for her, no comfort to offer. Even the forest seemed to hold its breath, as though mourning with her.
As the exhaustion claimed her, Ariana collapsed onto the forest floor. The cool earth pressed against her skin, grounding her in its quiet embrace. Darkness crept in at the edges of her vision, but she welcomed it. It was easier than facing the
pain.
Her last thought before she succumbed to the void was a spark of defiance.
This isn't the end.