My wolf body ached from head to toe, every bone and muscle begging for rest. Instead of leaving the healing chamber as I had planned, I remained pressed into the bed, letting the dull pain keep me still. I did not weep. There were no tears left with me.

When I opened my eyes again, pale sunlight slipped through the cloth curtains, warm against my skin. And there, standing at the foot of the bed, were Alden and Draven.

“Good moon, Luna,” Alden said, a nervous smile pulling at his lips as he held a wooden tray. “We brought you morning food.”

Draven carefully placed the tray on my lap. Toasted bread, soft eggs, sliced fruit and a cup of pressed citrus drink. All of it was slightly cool, without care.

“We thought you should eat, Luna Liora,” Draven added, sitting at the edge of the bed.

I looked at them. Their wolves were calm, relaxed. Almost content. As if the last few painful moons had never happened.

Alden rubbed the back of his neck. “Listen, Luna… we regret what happened. Selene told us she saw a crystal image from that night. She thought you were at a gathering while she was wounded. Robbed by rogues, attacked and wounded. She believed you ignored her on purpose.”

Draven nodded. “She truly believed that, Luna. So… perhaps you should apologize to her. Just to smooth things over in the pack.”

I stared at them, stunned, before letting out a short laugh.

“Perhaps you should apologize to your Luna.”

They both blinked.

Alden frowned. “Why would we? I am the Alpha! And we did nothing wrong. You never told us what happened. If you had spoken, we would have gone to you.”

I laughed again, empty and sharp. “Must I beg to be seen now? I vanished for several days and not once did either of you reach out through the mindlink.”

“Do not speak that way,” Draven said firmly. “Selene was attacked. She needed us.”

“And I did not?” I asked. “So if I am not bleeding in front of you, I hold no value as Luna?”

Before either Alpha or Beta could answer, the chamber door creaked open.

She entered.

Selene wore a loose wool sweater, her steps slow, a slight limp to her walk. Her face was pale, lips trembling, eyes filled with tears.

“Are you arguing again, Luna Liora?” she whispered, her voice weak. “I am sorry. I never wished to be hurt. None of this was what I wanted.”

I watched her closely. The shaking of hands. The lowered gaze. The careful tone. Every word was shaped to make her the wounded one.

Tears slid down her cheeks.

“I only wish we were not enemies. We were sisters of the pack once. I want that again.”

At once, the males reacted.

“Stop making her cry, Liora,” Alden snapped.

“Come, Selene,” Draven said gently. “You should not be walking. Let us return you to your chamber.”

Their care for her struck like a blade. Immediate. Protective. Undeserved.

“I will feed you,” Alden said, taking her hand. “You must eat properly.”

“Yes,” Draven added. “We will bring you seafood. Your favorite. You need strength.”

Then they turned toward me.

“You eat what we brought, Liora,” Alden said. “You have been released from healing. Do not be difficult.”

And with that, they guided Selene out of the chamber, leaving me alone once more.

I stared at the tray. Dry bread. Bland eggs. Hard fruit.

From the stone passageway beyond, laughter echoed. Selene’s voice carried clearly. “Mmm, I love crab legs! You remembered I dislike bread, yes? Seafood is my favorite!”

Of course it was. I was given leftovers. She was given a feast.

I did not cry. Not now. I was simply finished.

My crystal communicator vibrated softly. A message from my mother. [The ceremony grounds are chosen. Garments attached. Tell me which you favor, my dear.].

“Mother,” I said calmly through mindlink.

“Liora! Did you see the garments? What do you think of the flowers and the bindings?”

“I like them all. It was difficult to choose. I will decide today. But the older design feels right to me.”

“Good! We will prepare it. How many days until you return to Obsidian Fang Pack? Your mate waits; he is eager.”

“Only a few days more. Something delayed me, but I will come soon. I look forward to wearing the garments… for the Moonbond Ceremony.”

She laughed softly. “That is my girl. We will wait for you.”

The connection closed. I looked down at the untouched food.

Then I felt it. The shift in the air.

Alden and Draven stood in the chamber doorway. I had not heard them return.

Their eyes were fixed on me, their wolves alert.

Draven spoke first, his voice low. “Garments… for a Moonbond Ceremony?”

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.

Later that afternoon, I finally left my chamber and entered the manor’s hearth room, craving warmth. Soup, perhaps. Something real, not prepared for show.

As I opened the cold storage and began slicing roots, I heard it, a soft step behind me.

I turned slowly.

Selene stood there, wrapped in a pale wool garment, her hair braided neatly. The picture of a fragile, harmless she-wolf.

“I did not know you were awake,” she said sweetly, leaning against the stone counter. “I thought you were still injured… or perhaps pretending?”

I ignored her, cutting steadily.

“I mean,” she continued with a light laugh, “did you truly go to the Healer Sanctum? Or were you lying because I was there, taking attention?”

I set the blade down and met her gaze. “I am not like you.”

Her face hardened. “What do you mean by that?”

“You hunger for attention,” I said calmly. “You always play the wounded one.”

She scoffed, her voice turning sharp. “You are jealous. How does it feel, Luna, knowing Alden and Draven choose me now? Your mate, your protector, both mine. And you? You are nothing.”

My wolf flinched, just enough for her to notice. She smiled.

“You should leave this manor and Crownfang Pack,” she said softly. “You no longer belong.”

I turned back to the pot, stirring slowly, refusing to give her more.

“Still pretending you are above this?” she mocked. “Very well. I will help cook. They will enjoy it.”

I spun toward her. “No, Selene. I do not need help.”

“I will prepare something anyway,” she said cheerfully, taking a blade. “Let us see whose they prefer.”

She stepped closer, cutting fast and carelessly, clearly on purpose. I moved aside, letting her continue.

Then….

“Ah!” Selene cried, dropping the blade. Blood welled on her finger.

“You must be joking,” I whispered.

Too late.

“Alden! Draven!” she cried out. “Help! I am hurt! Luna Liora did nothing!”

Heavy footsteps thundered down the stone passageway.

The Alpha and Beta burst into the hearth room, alarmed.

Alden rushed to her side. “What happened? Are you wounded?”

“She ignored me,” Selene sobbed, clinging to him. “I was bleeding and she just watched!”

I stood frozen, ladle in hand.

“You did not help her?” Draven barked. “What is wrong with you, Luna?”

Selene held Alden tightly.

“I tried,” she whispered. “But she pushed me away.”

“I did not touch you,” I said quietly.

But no one listened.

“I did not touch you,” I said softly, but no one in the pack listened.

Their attention was fixed on Selene, the adopted she-wolf, who held her hand as if it had been torn apart instead of lightly cut. Her act was perfect, wide watery eyes, shaking lips, hunched shoulders. Every movement was shaped to gain pity from the Alpha and the Beta.

“You should have stopped her!” Alden shouted at me. “She is still weak from healing! Why did you allow her near the hearth room?”

“I told her no,” I said quietly. “She ignored me. Why am I the one blamed?”

Draven’s stare was cold, filled with anger. “You should have forced the issue. You know she is unwell. You are supposed to be the sensible one, Liora!”

“And what about me?” I whispered under my breath. “I am not healed either.”

Once again, my words vanished into nothing. Or perhaps they heard them and chose to ignore them.

“Next time, Liora, you will prepare all the meals yourself,” Alden ordered. “Selene should not lift a finger in her condition. Show some care for her. You are pack sisters and we are one pack.”

Pack? The word turned my stomach.

I tried to speak again, but the words died before they reached my lips. What use was explaining when my Alpha and Beta never listened?

“She should not need to ask for anything,” Draven added sharply. “Just handle it. You are fine now, are you not? Act like it. Prepare food for us. We want something proper to eat.”

They guided Selene, still sobbing, toward her chamber. Alden held her close, as if she were made of fragile glass. Draven followed, saying he would bring her ice herbs.

And once again, they left their Luna behind.

Alone.

I stood before the hearth, the soup long since cooled. Without thought, I warmed it again, added salt and cracked an egg into the pot. My body moved on its own, stirring, pouring, working as I had done countless times for the pack.

But this time… I did not cook for everyone.

Why should I? They had already planned to travel to Bloodmoon Territory without me. I was not wanted. They did not deserve my care, not even once.

So this meal was for me. Only for me.

I sat at the table and began to eat.

The broth was warm, gentle on my tongue. It did not heal my heart, but it belonged to me.

Halfway through the bowl, heavy footsteps entered the hearth room.

Alden. Draven.

“There you are,” Alden said, scanning the table. “Where is our food, Liora?”

Draven frowned. “Is it not finished yet? What did you prepare?”

I did not look up. “Nothing for you. This meal is mine.”

Alden stared. “You only cooked for yourself? Did you not hear me? I told you to prepare food for Selene and us. Where is it?”

“I am not a pack servant,” I said simply, lifting another spoonful. “I never agreed.”

Silence followed. Then a sharp scoff.

“This is about Selene again, is it not?” Draven asked. “By the Moon Goddess, Luna Liora, when will you stop this?”

I said nothing.

“She is wounded,” Alden added. “She is in pain. Why must you always be so bitter? Do you expect us to abandon her just so you feel important?”

I continued eating.

Spoon after spoon, the silence thickened.

“You are selfish,” Draven growled. “Everything is always about you. Do you believe the pack owes you something just because you were here first?”

I stared at my bowl. My hands shook slightly, not from fear, only exhaustion.

“She did not choose to be hurt,” Alden continued. “You have been cold since she returned. She is trying and you sulk like a jealous pup. Admit it.”

Jealous.

That word again.

The word they always used to silence me.

I slowly set my spoon down.

“I am not jealous,” I whispered. “I am simply… finished.”

They did not respond. Perhaps they heard me. Perhaps they did not care.

Suddenly, Draven slammed his palm against the table. The bowl rattled. I flinched.

“You know what?” he snarled. “You are nothing compared to her.”

Without warning, he grabbed my bowl and hurled it against the stone wall.

The clay shattered. Warm broth splashed down the surface like blood.

I stared at the mess.

Alden did nothing.

Neither of them stopped it.

“Useless,” Draven muttered, shaking his head. “You are completely useless.”

The words hung heavy in the air, sinking deep.

They left the hearth room again, their footsteps fading down the stone passageway.

I remained standing, staring at the broken bowl, at the food wasted, at the mess they did not bother to clean.

And strangely, I did not cry.

Not this time. Not anymore.

Because I had already passed that point.