C11
I couldn’t sleep that night. Zephyr’s words replayed in my head over and over. “I’ll protect you. You deserve to be
safe.” He meant it, I could see it in his eyes, but I also couldn’t ignore the blood I’d seen earlier–the deep wound on
his back, the mercenaries Xavier sent, the threats in that letter.
I didn’t trust myself, not with the weight of an entire pack on my shoulders. What if this was just the beginning? What if Xavier sent more rogues, or worse? Zephyr might be my second mate, but I wasn’t going to let his pack suffer because of me. And Lilith–sweet Lilith. If anything happened to her… I couldn’t bear the thought.
The wound on Zephyr’s back had been a warning, and I knew Xavier wouldn’t stop. My healing powers had limits; I couldn’t save everyone if the entire pack was under attack.
So I made my decision.
That night, while the pack slept peacefully, I packed what little I had and slipped out of the packhouse. I didn’t look back. If I did, I’d lose my resolve.
At the train station, I bought a ticket to the southernmost region–a place that was always covered in snow, where wolves wouldn’t think to look for me. It was freezing there, but that was perfect. I needed to disappear completely.
On the train, I met an old woman selling handmade trinkets. One necklace in particular caught my eye, a simple chain with a dull gray stone pendant.
“That one conceals things,” she said, her voice rough with age. “For someone looking to hide.”
I didn’t ask how she knew. I just handed her all the money I had in my pocket and took the necklace. Once I put it on, I felt a strange, comforting warmth, as if the air around me shifted slightly.
By the time the train stopped in a small, snow–covered town, I was no longer Lyra, the Luna with rare healing powers. I was just a nobody–a stray wolf trying to blend in.
I found a room to rent and picked up work at a tiny coffee shop in the middle of town. The human customers were kind, the tips decent, and for the first time in years, no one treated me like I was special. I could almost convince myself I was normal.
But every time I closed my over leaw Tanhur Lesurlilith’s bright emila and haard har ment voice calling me
12:55 PM
Banished and Betrayed, But She Walked Again–And Rejected Him
But every time I closed my eyes, I saw Zephyr. I saw Lilith’s bright smile and heard her sweet voice calling me
“Mommy.” My heart ached, and sometimes, in the quiet moments between serving coffee and cleaning tables, I’d catch myself thinking about going back.
But I stayed. I stayed because I knew this was the only way to protect them.
I wasn’t doing this for me–I was doing it for them.
Months passed in that snowy little town, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I thought I was free. The
pain, the chaos, the betrayals–they all seemed like distant memories. I blended in perfectly. I served coffee, swept floors, and even smiled at strangers. The necklace kept my identity hidden, and I started believing maybe I could
build a new life here.
But peace never lasts, does it?
I was wiping down the counter one evening, the shop nearly empty, when the bell above the door jingled. I
glanced up, ready to greet the customer, but my heart dropped.
Celeste.
My sister stood there, wearing a long coat and a smug smile that instantly churned my stomach. Her flat stomach. The baby she’d flaunted so proudly was gone.
I froze, gripping the cloth in my hand. My mind raced. Had she tracked me down? Before I could duck into the
back, she walked in like she owned the place.
“Well, well,” she sneered, her voice laced with mockery. “Look who it is–my perfect big sister, hiding out in some
crummy little town. My pregnancy? I’d it aborted. It was pointless. Xavier’s obsessed with you again, and that pregnancy wasn’t going to stop him.”
I straightened my back and stared her down, refusing to let her see me flinch. “What do you want, Celeste?”
Her smile widened, cruel and sharp. She stepped closer, her heels clicking against the floor. “Oh, nothing much.
Just thought I’d drop by to deliver some news.”
I stayed silent, my gut telling me whatever came next would shatter me.
“Zephyr’s pack,” she said, drawing out the words, “is gone.”
I blinked, her words not registering at first. “What are you talking about?”
She tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Didn’t you know? Xavier and I… we handled it. Banished the whole lot of them. Zephyr, Lilith-” she smirked, “-dead.”
The world spun. My legs felt weak, my chest tightening like I couldn’t breathe. I staggered, gripping the counter to keep myself upright. “You’re lying,” I whispered, my voice trembling.
Her laugh was cold, heartless. “Why would I lie? It was fun, actually. Watching Xavier rip through his so–called
competition.”
Tears streamed down my face before I could stop them. My sweet Lilith, her bright smile, her little hands that always reached for me. Gone. And Zephyr–the man who swore to protect me–killed because of me.
“You monster,” 1 hissed, my voice breaking.
Celeste’s smile faltered. “Oh, don’t look at me like that. You knew this would happen. You’re the one who left
them. If anyone’s to blame, it’s you.”
Her words sent me over the edge. Before I could think, I lunged at her, tackling her to the ground. We crashed onto the floor, my fists flying, fueled by rage and grief.
“You killed them!” I screamed, slamming her head against the floor. “You took everything from me!”
She clawed at my arms, managing to shove me off. “The
