Comeback of the Betrayed Luna

The glow of the red moon illuminated the dark, casting eerie silhouettes over the forest where two pack members loomed in the shadows. The wind was as frigid as an arctic chill, befitting the ominous night.

My hearty promenade was cut short as I found myself navigating through the branches.

A nervous flutter twisted my stomach in a mixture of dread and anticipation.

As I got closer, the muffled voices became whispers, then murmurs.

“Who are they, and what are they planning?” I mouthed.

I had to hurry and inform Ethan about it. Creeping closer, I picked up a very familiar voice—sweet and filled with rancor at the same time.

“Are you sure she doesn't suspect anything?” the sweetly ill-willed voice asked.

“No, no. She's too blinded by love and loyalty to even suspect,” a deep gravelly voice replied curtly.

“Those voices… too familiar to be… It can't be…” My mind and heart were on the verge of protesting as confusion struck in.

“Sienna, I love you and only you. Don't worry, I'll get rid of her soon… and the pups!” the deep voice reassured.

“Sienna!!!? What is she plotting this time?” My pulse thrummed in my ears. A cold dread settled in as my breath hitched. Something bad was eclipsing, and I needed to tell Alpha Ethan as soon as possible.

“I love you too, Ethan,” Sienna beamed.

“Ethan!? My Ethan? No, no… What… No… Ethan!?”

A leaden weight settled in my chest, my eyes burning with unshed tears. A wave of sadness and betrayal washed over me, blurring my vision. Still reeling from the shock, I stumbled backward, my hand instinctively going to my belly. A sharp snap echoed through the stillness as my foot landed on a twig.

“Who's there!?” Ethan and Sienna yelled in unison.

I briefly consoled myself and immediately picked up the pace.

“Someone is there. I'll be back soon!” Ethan said.

I clawed through the forest as the eerie, blood-crimson moon highlighted every crevice.

I kept pushing and running, desperately trying to escape from the evil Alpha.

A heavy thud echoed in the distance, growing louder with each passing second. I didn't dare look back, but the sound was unmistakable: Alpha Ethan, in his wolf form, gaining ground with terrifying speed.

I’m doomed.

But the thought of my pups—the tiny lives growing within me—refused to let me surrender. I pushed myself harder, my lungs burning, my legs aching.

“LYRAAAAA!” Ethan's growl ripped through the night zephyr, a searing sound that sent shivers down my spine.

My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the rising tide of fear. His voice, laced with raw power and fury, made the blood pound in my ears, drowning out everything else.

I veered sharply to the right, nearly losing my footing as I navigated the uneven terrain. Transform. Transform! The desperate plea echoed in my mind. But transformation required focus—a clarity of thought I couldn't muster in my panic. It was impossible.

Losing concentration, I hit my head on a branch, knocking me down and almost slipping into unconsciousness. I was exhausted, heartbroken, devastated, and frustrated.

"It's no use. I'll lay here and wait until Alpha Ethan catches me. I'm sorry, pups. I'm sorry, Lucien. Mama isn't enough. Mama's fragile heart is in shambles."

A sharp kick from inside my tummy jolted me. The pups reacted. They wanted me to live for them. They wanted to live for me too.

What type of mom would I be to deny them life? An awful one, I answered, as an influx of refreshing energy surged through me.

I rose, cradling my belly, a flicker of hope igniting in my heart. A mother’s smile touched my lips.

"Lucien, my boy," I whispered, my voice filled with fierce determination, "stay strong. Mama will come back for you. I promise."

With renewed purpose, I moved through the woods, my strides now confident and purposeful. Survival was no longer a desperate struggle; it was a vow.

Meandering with a purpose, suddenly my heart quickened—a flutter of anger—as my fists clenched.

Standing across from me was him. The sheep in wolf’s clothing. The devil himself. It was Ethan. His eyes glowed red—a twin beacon in the darkness.

"LYRAAAAA!" he roared, his voice a command. "You belong to me. Return home. Now!"

"Don’t you dare order me around," I spat, my voice shaking with rage. "I heard everything. You’re a coward, Ethan. A Beelzebub!" Tears streamed down my face, fueled by fury and betrayal.

"So, you heard," Ethan snarled, his eyes narrowing. "Unlucky for you. Seems I'll have to finish this sooner than expected. Sienna and I have plans, and you're no longer part of them. In fact," a cruel glint entered his eyes, "you're about to be permanently removed."

His voice was a low growl, laced with pure, undiluted malice.

He shifted back into his human form with unsettling speed. Before I could react, a searing pain ripped through my chest. Blood gushed from a deep gash, narrowly missing my heart. He loomed over me, his eyes cold and devoid of remorse. Then, a devastating kick to my side sent me crashing into a nearby tree. The impact knocked the air from my lungs, and blood erupted from my mouth.

“This is why I hate you. You’re so weak. Sienna would never fly off from a sweet little kick like that. Pathetic!” he spat.

"Get up!" he continued.

I rose to my knees, gripping the earth underneath me as I murmured gently, "You… kno… what… Sien… na… can't do?" I whispered.

"What are you mumbling about?" he queried.

I repeated myself again and again until he came into range. Seizing my chance, I spritzed his face with sand.

“Ahhhhhh, you tramp!!” he hollered frantically.

I pushed myself up and sprinted through the trees, the sound of rushing water a beacon of hope. I burst from the woods, the roar of a waterfall filling the air. Exhaustion weighed heavily on me. My lungs burned. My legs trembled, finally giving way beneath me. I collapsed to my knees.

"Finally," I gasped. "I've lost him."

The icy wind bit at my skin. My hand instinctively went to my belly—a constant reminder.

But the relief was short-lived. Ethan’s furious roar echoed through the trees, shattering the fragile peace.

And then I saw him: a hulking shape emerging from the woods, even larger and more menacing than Ethan. A rogue wolf.

I was trapped.

The rogue lunged, closing the distance in an instant. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, except… the river.

Without hesitation, I threw myself into the churning water, the rogue’s claws grazing my neck.

The current seized me, tossing me like a leaf in a tempest. The icy water stole my breath, dragging me under. This wasn't smart, I thought, panic rising, but it was my only choice.

I fought against the current, desperate for air. Finally, I clawed my way to the bank, the weight of my pregnancy pulling me down. I collapsed, coughing up water, darkness creeping at the edges of my vision.

A low growl rumbled nearby.

"You are mine, Lyra. You are mine!"

The sounds of a struggle—thrashing, grunts—faded in and out, distant and muffled.

"No… please…" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Spare my pups…"

A pair of red eyes domineered above me, as the darkness finally consumed me.