The wind carried blood and loss as it howled through the woods. Perched on the packhouse's balcony, I gripped the railing so firmly that my knuckles went white. Restless, agitated, my wolf sensed something was wrong and walked into me.
From that evening, something had been off always.
Considering she departed.
Zaia here.
I tried to drive her name from my head by exhaling sharply, but it was useless.
I urged myself that I had acted morally. She was never supposed to be my Luna; that rejecting her was essential. That Elara was the one I ought to have been with all through.
Still, something in my chest hurt no matter how many times I said that to myself.
I forced my attention on the horizon by rolling my shoulders. The familiar sight of the Silver fang Pack lands generally comforts me since they extended much beyond the trees. not tonight, though.
Because tonight seemed strange.
Kieran, my beta, came from behind with an unreadable look. " Alpha.
I turned slightly, still fixed on the blackness beyond the trees. What is it?
He paused. Two days have gone since Zaia went.
I pushed my face into neutrality. "And?."
Kieran exhaled. "And we have not heard anything". Not one rogue assault or one sighting. She seemed to just have disappeared.
I clinched my jaw. That was excellent, not bad at all. I wanted her to be gone. From out of my life, I wanted her.
Then why did my chest feel as like it was collapsing in when I considered her going?
I turned totally to meet him, my voice under control. "She is not of interest to us now."
Kieran shook his head. " Alpha, she was our Luna. She led for years right next to you. A few of the pack seem... nervous.
My wolf snared in annoyance. "Are they doubting me?"
Kieran held back. "They ask if we ought to have offered her a trial. Some feel she was deserving of better.
I started to growl in my throat, but before I could attack him another voice broke through the tension.
Clearly they do.
Elara started on the terrace, her green eyes shining with contentment. She slid up next to me and curved a hand over my arm. She spent years serving as their Luna. Still, they'll keep on. Sebastian, you have made the right decision.
I flinched at her touch, something inside me naturally withdrawing. I used to long for Elara's presence. before to Zaia, before to the mate link.
But her touch felt improper right now.
I did not withdraw, but I did not lean in either.
Kieran opened his mouth to cough. "There's more."
I nodded to let him know to keep exhaling gently.
Last night there was a disturbance near the eastern border. a rogue strike.
My spine aligned. "Was She involved?"
Kieran nodded, saying, "We don't know. "But if she was traveling alone, it's possible she ran into them."
A sharp pain lanced through my chest, so sudden and unexpected that I staggered.
My breath hitched. My wolf let out a low whimper inside me, panic bleeding into his presence.
Elara frowned. "Sebastian?"
I pressed a hand to my chest, but the pain didn't fade. It lingered, like claws dragging through my insides.
No. Not pain. Something worse.
Loss.
It took me a moment to realize what was happening.
The bond.
The mate bond wasn't just gone—it was… fading. Weakening in a way that felt unnatural.
I inhaled sharply. "Find out what happened."
Kieran nodded and strode away, leaving me alone with Elara.
She studied me for a long moment before speaking. "You're worried about her."
I clenched my jaw. "She was my mate."
"Was," Elara repeated, her voice sharp. "You rejected her."
I turned to her then, finally meeting her gaze. "That doesn't mean I wanted her dead."
Elara's eyes flickered with something—annoyance? Jealousy? It was gone before I could place it.
She forced a smile. "Then let's hope she's smart enough to survive."
I said nothing.
Because for the first time since Zaia left, I wasn't sure if I wanted her to.
Pain.
Everything hurt.
The fight with Raine had left me battered, but I had won. Barely.
My lungs burned as I forced myself to sit up, my limbs aching with the aftermath of the fight. Shadow Moon Pack was nothing like Silver fang.
Here, weakness wasn't tolerated. Every wolf had to prove themselves.
And I had done exactly that.
Kai had watched the entire fight with those piercing silver eyes, unreadable as ever. And when I had stood victorious, bloodied but unbroken, he had only given a single nod.
Approval.
It wasn't much, but it was enough.
Now, I sat in a dimly lit room, my injuries wrapped, my thoughts tangled.
I had won the fight. But I was still alone.
I pressed a hand to my stomach, my heartbeat faltering. Not completely alone.
I had him. My child.
A sharp knock at the door made me stiffen.
It opened before I could respond, and Kai stepped inside, his presence consuming the room instantly.
He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "You lasted longer than I expected."
I rolled my eyes. "Thanks."
A flicker of amusement crossed his face. "Raine was impressed."
I snorted. "I'm sure."
Kai studied me for a moment, then his expression shifted. His usual smirk faded, replaced by something sharper.
"Why are you really here, Zaia?"
I stiffened.
Kai tilted his head, his gaze narrowing. They don't have your fire.