Aria’s Point of View

“Her name is Lyra, she is the new Luna of the Moonfang Pack.”

His words hit like a punch to the gut.

I stood there frozen, my pulse roaring in my ears. My chest tightened, and my legs threatened to give out beneath me. Kael said it like it was nothing, like I was nothing.

He stood in front of the entire pack with that stone-cold face, one arm wrapped around Lyra’s waist like she belonged there, like she was me.

I felt Nyra stir under my skin, a low growl building inside me.

“What the hell did you just say?” I asked, my voice low and shaking, not from fear, but from rage.

Kael’s gaze barely shifted. “You heard me, Aria.”

I looked at the girl beside him.

I didn’t know her, she wasn’t from this pack because I had never seen her, not in the warrior ranks or the servant quarters. She was a stranger, a pretty stranger wearing my crown.

“What is this?” I spat. “Some sick game? Or are you just trying to humiliate me?”

His cold gray eyes finally met mine. There was no guilt in them, no love, just bitter anger.

“You always thought everything was always about you,” he said, his voice sharp and flat. “You walk around like a queen when your crown's been rusted for years.”

I stepped forward, my blood boiled uncontrollably.

“I am your Luna!” I shouted, my voice cracking through the hall. “Your mate! "I was chosen by the Moon Goddess herself, and you think you can just replace me like I’m nothing more than a bad habit?!”

I saw Nyra pacing inside me, her rage matching mine, and I didn't care about the eyes that were watching me.

Kael scoffed. “You gave me nothing but headaches, Aria. You are always challenging me, always questioning my orders.”

I barked a bitter laugh. “You mean I didn’t roll over and act like your pet? Sorry I didn’t bow down and kiss your boots like the little omega you’re screwing now!”

Gasps rang out among the crowd, but I didn’t care.

“I gave you everything,” I hissed, my chest heaving. "I turned my back on my family, on my father's pack. I left my rank, gave up my sword for you and I gave up myself for you!”

Kael’s face twisted with scorn. “And what did I get in return? Three years of a Luna who couldn’t give me an heir, not even a miscarriage, just empty beds and empty promises. "You are nothing but a barren curse!” he spat.

My whole body froze.

“What?” I whispered.

“You heard me,” he said, taking a step forward. “You’re barren, Aria, and I’m done pretending that doesn’t matter.”

I staggered back like he’d slapped me. My throat tightened and Nyra whimpered softly.

“Screw you!” I breathed. “You cold, spineless bastard!”

“Watch your mouth,” he growled.

“Or what?” I snarled. “You’ll embarrass me in front of the whole pack? Well, news flash, you already did that.”

The air was thick with silence as all eyes watched from every corner. Warriors I trained, elders of the pack I once advised and omegas I protected. Not one of them stepped forward.

“You pathetic excuse for an Alpha,” I continued. “You couldn’t handle me, so you found someone soft and quiet who would stroke your ego and spread her legs.”

“Aria!”

“No, don’t you damn Aria me!” I roared. “You let me give my all for this pack, you let me sacrifice everything, and now you throw me away like garbage?”

His aura pulsed out, it was a warning to me and his dominance filled the air, but I wasn’t scared of him, I wasn’t that woman anymore.

“Do you want a broodmare that bad? Fine, go ahead, knock her up and call it legacy, but let me tell you something, Kael, if your sons turn out like you, I hope the Goddess doesn't have mercy on them.”

Kael’s eyes darkened. “You dare insult me in front of my pack?”

“I dare,” I growled. “Because you never earned my respect, you never deserved it.”

His jaw clenched and immediately, he raised two fingers, its silent command signaling the guards towards me.

At once, I heard footsteps heading towards me as the guards stepped forward.

I laughed, loud and sharp. “Of course. Can’t fight your own battles, huh? Let the dogs do your dirty work.”

Nyra surged and I turned to face the guards.

“You touch me,” I said through gritted teeth, “and I’ll break every damn bone in your body!"

They didn't listen and one lunged towards me, but I was quick to move.

My elbow cracked into his throat, he choked and dropped to the ground, gasping for air.

The second guard charged towards me, but I ducked low, driving my knee into his gut. He folded, but I didn’t stop, and I hit him again until he fell to the cold ground.

The crowd gasped in shock.

I turned around, but before I realized it, another guard tackled me from behind.

“Let me go! Now!”

I kicked, scratched, and screamed, but another guard held my hands and twisted my wrist.

Immediately, pain exploded through my veins.

“Let me go, you bastards!” I roared, but it was useless.

I heard the sound of chains and I knew what was about to happen.

One of the guards held an iron cuff which was lined with wolfsbane.

Fear gripped me as I knew that I would lose my strength and wouldn't be able to shape-shift.

“No! Don’t you dare…” but it was too late.

The cuffs clamped around my wrists and a collar locked at my throat.

The magic from the wolfsbane drained from my body and my knees hit the stone floor.

I snarled, baring my teeth, as my eyes locked on Kael.

“Look at me, you coward!” I screamed.

“LOOK AT ME!”

But he didn’t.

He stood there, arms folded, with a blank face.

“Coward!” I screamed again as they dragged me up. My dress was torn, blood smeared my arms, and my hair clung to my face. “Damn coward!”

I looked at the crowd.

Everyone looked away at my plight.

“Screw all of you,” I spat, my voice cracking. “You don’t deserve a Luna.”

Kael turned his back and that hurt more than anything else.

“You’re nothing without me,” I whispered.

“Take her away, instant!” he ordered.

The guards dragged me across the stone floor.

“You hear me, Kael?” I shouted. “You’re nothing! Do you think this makes you powerful? It makes you pathetic!”

My voice filled the hall but Kael didn't say a word.

The great doors opened.

“KAAEL!”

I roared, but the doors slammed shut on my face.

*

The dungeon floor was cold against my knees.

The cuffs burned and the collar around my neck choked every breath. The wolfsbane made every inch of my body ache.

But nothing hurt as much as my heart.

Nyra was silent.

I curled in on myself.

My body was shaking, and my dress clung to me in bloody tatters as my hair was matted to my face.

“Why?” I whispered into the dark. “Why would the Moon Goddess bind me to a man who hated everything I was?”

I lowered my forehead to the ground, hot tears spilling down my cheeks.

“Why couldn’t I give him what he wanted? Why couldn’t I give him a child?”

I couldn’t finish the thought as the word he used to describe me hurt me so deeply.

“Barren.”

The hours dragged on, but I couldn't sleep at all. The full moon shone and all I could do was stare at it through the small open window of the dungeon.

Soon morning came, and the first light broke through the tiny barred window even though I barely noticed.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching the dungeon.

The dungeon door opened, and a guard stepped inside, his lips stretched into an ugly smirk.

“What a shame,” he said, his eyes falling on my torn clothes and exposed thighs.

I didn’t lift my head as his stares bored deep into me.

“Alpha Kael wants you at the Assembly,” he added, voice thick with mockery.

He smirked. “He wants everyone to see what happens to a disobedient Luna.”