Dead Luna Comes Back

The morning light filtered through the silk curtains of the bridal suite, casting everything in a golden glow that should have felt magical. Instead, my hands trembled as I stared at my reflection in the ornate mirror. Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life—the day I would finally become Luna of the Silver Moon pack, the day I would marry my fated mate, Damien.

My wedding dress hung behind me like a pristine white dream, its intricate beadwork catching the light. The baby growing inside me seemed to flutter with excitement, as if sensing the importance of this day. I pressed my hand to my still-small bump, smiling despite my nerves.

"You're going to have the most beautiful family," I whispered to my reflection.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. "Selene? It's me," came Lila's familiar voice from the other side of the door.

I turned as my best friend entered, carrying a delicate porcelain tea set on a silver tray. Her smile was radiant, though something flickered in her eyes that I couldn't quite place.

"I thought you might need some calming tea before the ceremony," she said, setting the tray on the vanity table. "You look a little pale."

Lila had been my closest friend since childhood, the sister I never had. As an orphan taken in by Damien's family, I'd always been grateful for her unwavering loyalty. She was the only one who truly understood what it meant to feel like an outsider looking in.

"You're so thoughtful," I said, accepting the delicate cup she offered. The tea smelled of chamomile and honey, with an underlying herbal scent I couldn't identify. "I am nervous. What if I trip walking down the aisle? What if—"

"Selene." Lila's voice was firm but gentle. "You're going to be perfect. Damien is the luckiest Alpha alive."

I took a sip of the tea, feeling its warmth spread through my chest. There was something oddly bitter about the aftertaste, but I attributed it to my pregnancy-heightened senses. Everything tasted different these days.

"Thank you for being here," I said, reaching for her hand. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Something strange passed across Lila's face—too quick for me to interpret. "Of course. We're sisters, remember?"

I nodded, taking another sip of the tea. The room felt suddenly warm, and a peculiar heaviness began settling in my limbs. My wolf, usually a constant presence humming beneath my skin, felt distant and muted.

"Are you feeling alright?" Lila asked, her voice seeming to come from very far away.

I blinked hard, trying to clear the fog creeping into my mind. "I... I feel strange. Dizzy."

The teacup slipped from my fingers, shattering against the marble floor with a sound that seemed amplified in my ears. I tried to stand, but my legs felt like water.

"Lila," I gasped, reaching for her. "Something's wrong. The baby—"

But when I looked up, her expression had transformed completely. Gone was the warm, concerned friend. In her place stood someone cold and calculating, watching my distress with clinical detachment.

"What did you—" I began, but the words felt thick and clumsy on my tongue.

The door burst open with violent force. Three figures in black masks stormed into the room, their movements swift and coordinated. My wolf tried to surface, to protect me and my unborn child, but she felt trapped behind a wall of cotton and confusion.

"No," I whispered, struggling to focus. "Lila, help me."

But Lila stepped back, her arms crossed, watching as the masked rogues surrounded me.

"Please," I begged, my voice barely a whisper. "I'm pregnant."

One of the rogues—a massive man with scarred hands—grabbed my arms. I tried to fight, but my body betrayed me, weak and unresponsive. The drug, whatever Lila had given me, had stolen my strength, my wolf's power, everything.

"Careful with her," Lila said, her voice sharp. "She needs to arrive intact."

The words hit me like a physical blow. Lila. My best friend. My sister. She had orchestrated this.

"Why?" I managed to gasp as they hauled me to my feet.

Lila's smile was cold and beautiful, like winter moonlight. "Because some of us weren't born with everything handed to us, Selene. Some of us have to take what we deserve."

The rogues dragged me toward the window, where a rope ladder waited. My mind screamed in protest, but my body couldn't respond. As they pulled me through the opening, I caught one last glimpse of Lila.

She was already moving toward my wedding dress, her fingers trailing over the silk with possessive hunger.

"Don't worry," she called softly. "I'll take good care of everything that was yours."

The world spun as they carried me down the ladder and into a waiting vehicle. My last coherent thought before darkness claimed me was of Damien, waiting at the altar, and the baby growing inside me.

Both of them counting on me to survive whatever was coming next.