Alden stepped forward, confusion darkening his face. “Moonbond Ceremony? Luna Liora… what ceremony?”
“What Moonbond Ceremony are you talking about?” Alden asked, his brow drawn tight, confusion clear on his face.
I smiled slowly, with care, letting the words rest between us like a quiet threat. “The Moonbond Ceremony you will not attend.”
He blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Whose ceremony? Not… not ours, right, Liora?”
I tilted my head, releasing a soft, mocking breath as I stepped closer to the Alpha. “Of course not ours. You have not even marked me yet, Alden. I am still only your chosen Luna, am I not?”
I brushed my fingers lightly over his arm, just enough to unsettle his wolf.
He pulled back at once, shaking my hand away. “Liora… do not act this way. You are still recovering. Just… rest.”
I swallowed the pain that cut deep into my chest. He did not even pretend to care now. How foolish I had been to believe in his bond.
Draven leaned against the stone doorway, folding his arms. “Wait. Why are we not invited, Luna? We have shared cycles together.”
“She is of a distant bloodline,” I said evenly. “You would not know her. My mother wishes me there to stand for our pack.”
“And Selene?” Draven pressed. “Will she go with you, Luna?”
I lifted one shoulder. “No. She has no tie to that bloodline. She is only my adopted she-wolf. There is no reason.”
Alden laughed, clearly pleased. “Good. Then, while you are away, we can travel to Bloodmoon Territory.”
Bloodmoon Territory. My breath caught. That land had been my dream territory for cycles, yet they always claimed it was wasteful.
“Yes,” Draven added casually. “The healer has cleared Selene to travel next moon. We will make the journey.”
“Without me?” I asked, though my wolf already knew.
Alden smiled and I did not return it. “Do not worry, Luna. We will send you a gift for the ceremony. Perhaps garments. Now rest. We must escort Selene to her next healer visit.”
And just like that, the Alpha and Beta turned away again.
I said nothing. I only nodded and closed the chamber door behind them. So this was my place now, a silent presence in another wolf’s life.
Fine. Let them believe I remained. I would leave quietly, vanish without sound. No one would notice and when they did… regret would follow. I only needed time.