The rain started just as I stumbled out of the Pack Estate gate, the sound sharp and wild against the tin roofs.
Cold water soaked my hair and clothes within seconds, but I didn't stop walking. My heart was thudding so hard it hurt.
I had nowhere to go, no family to turn to or pack that wanted me. But I couldn't stay here... not after what Ethan did tonight.
My feet carried me down the dirt road past the pack borders, my vision blurred by tears and rain. The smell of wet soil filled the air, but even that couldn't calm the storm inside me.
Everything I had built... every bit of dignity I tried to hold onto, was gone.
He'd brought her home. And in front of her, he said I was nothing. Now I was the rogue Luna again.
The sound of cars passing on the distant highway mixed with the wind, but I barely noticed. I felt invisible, like a ghost haunting the place where her life used to be.
"How did it come to this?" I whispered to myself, hitting my chest in the rain. "How did I become someone... even my supposed mate despises?"
My voice cracked, lost to the rain.
Five years... Five years of loyalty, of trying to belong, of fighting against the whispers that I wasn't good enough to stand beside an Alpha.
I stumbled forward, remembering the one night that changed everything... five years ago, when I had clung to life while giving birth alone.
The screams, pain, and cold. And then Ethan's words afterward: "The pup didn't make it."
Even now, it hit me like claws to the chest.
I fell to my knees in the mud, trembling. The rain mixed with my tears, washing the dirt off my hands but not the ache in my heart.
"Why?" I wailed. "Why does the Moon Goddess keep testing me?"
Lightning cracked through the clouds, and thunder rolled over the hills. My wolf whimpered deep inside me, weak from exhaustion and grief.
I forced myself back to my feet and kept walking. My legs felt heavy, every step slower than the last.
When headlights flared behind me, I turned, shielding my eyes. A dark Sedan car slowed beside me, the window rolling down.
A man's voice called out over the rain, "Hey! You okay out here?"
I tried to speak, but my throat burned. "I... I just need somewhere dry," I managed.
"Get in," he said gently. "You'll freeze out here."
I hesitated, staring at the stranger's face. His scent was unfamiliar, not from any nearby pack. Still, his tone carried no malice.
Before I could answer, my strength gave out. The world tilted, and everything went dark...
---
When I woke up, I was lying in the backseat of the Sedan. A blanket was wrapped around me, and the rain had stopped. The man glanced at me through the mirror, relief softening his rugged face.
"Hey there, you passed out. I'm taking you to the hospital in town."
I nodded weakly. "Thank you…"
"No worries," he said, offering a small smile. "You look like you've had a rough night."
Rough night? That was putting it lightly.
As the car rolled toward the faint glow of the town, I rested my head against the seat, eyes fluttering shut. The hum of the engine was steady, and for the first time in a long while, I felt… alive.
When we reached the hospital, he helped me inside and the sterile smell of disinfectant hit my nose. Nurses moved briskly around, their footsteps echoing on the tiled floor.
"You'll be alright here." The man gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. I blinked at him, trying to focus.
"Can I at least know your name?"
He smiled. "Luca. Just… take care of yourself, yeah?"
"Wait... please." I reached out, panic rising. "I don't have anywhere to go. Could you—could you spare a little cash? I'll pay you back."
Luca looked surprised, then reached into his jacket and handed me a few folded bills. "You don't owe me anything. Just promise me you'll stay safe."
"Thank you so much, sir. You don't know how much this means."
He nodded once and walked out into the night, his boots echoing down the corridor. I watched until he was gone.
After the nurses checked me and confirmed I was fine, I left the hospital too. The money he'd given me was warm in my palm... small, but enough to survive another day.
Outside, the storm had passed, but puddles glistened under the moonlight.
I walked until I reached a small park near the train station. The benches were damp, the world quiet except for crickets singing in the dark.
I sat there for a long time, staring up at the sky. Tomorrow, I decided, I'd leave Silverpine. Leave Ethan and everything behind...
★★★
ETHAN'S POV
The storm had finally quieted by the time I stepped out onto the balcony. The scent of rain mixed with the faint perfume of the woman lying in my bed... Lara.
She slept soundly, her arm draped across the sheets that once belonged to Riley. I should've felt satisfied, relieved, even.
Riley was gone... just like I wanted. But instead, there was a strange emptiness in my chest, like something was missing.
"Ethan, darling, dinner is ready," Mum's voice called from downstairs.
I let out a deep sigh before heading down. The dining room lights were warm and bright, the table set perfectly... as usual. Mum sat at the head, her smile wide.
"There you are, son. I was beginning to think you'd stay upstairs all night."
Lara followed behind me, smiling sweetly at Mum before sitting beside me. "How did it go?" Mum asked, pouring herself some wine.
"It's done," I said flatly. "Riley left and she didn't ask for anything."
"Finally," "Mum's grin widened. "That rogue never belonged here anyway."
I remained silent and then Lara reached over, touching my hand. "You did what needed to be done, Alpha Ethan. You deserve better."
"Yeah, I know." I nodded.
"Now you can focus on real pack matters... and perhaps give us an heir this time." Mum chuckled, making Lara laugh softly, her voice smooth as honey.
The sound used to make me feel powerful but tonight, it only made the silence louder. I forced a smile and raised my glass.
"To new beginnings."
But when I glanced toward the window, the rain outside looked endless. Somewhere out there, Riley was alone... and my wolf, damn him, wouldn't stop growling her name.
He could feel her pain, even when I refused to. But I would make sure I block out his yearning for Riley, forever!