(05
I’d spent the last few days testing my newfound powers in secret. Every night, when the house was quiet and everyone was asleep, I would lock myself in the small room adjacent to my bedroom.
I’d start with small cuts on my arms, watching in awe as they closed up in seconds. Then I moved to objects, like broken glass, focusing on piecing them back together.
It wasn’t just healing–it was renewal. The energy coursing through me felt limitless, as if I’d been given a second chance at life. And this time, I wasn’t going to let anyone take it away.
The day of the celebration came quickly. Xavier and Celeste were throwing a grand party to announce her pregnancy. The pack house was filled with laughter, cheers, and the clinking of glasses.
I sat in my wheelchair at the far corner of the hall, invisible to most of the crowd. Nobody offered me a drink, a greeting, or even a glance. Not that it mattered. I was too busy listening.
From my spot, I caught snippets of their conversation.
“She’s still here, I hate seeing my sister in the same house. My baby doesn’t like it,” Celeste smirks with
annoyance.
“Not for long,” Xavier replied curtly. “After the ceremony, I’ll announce her relocation. We can’t keep her around- it’s too embarrassing for the pack. Especially now.”
Relocation. He meant banishment. Ha!
My grip on the armrest tightened, my nails digging into the fabric. The man who had once begged me to marry him, who had crossed oceans for me, was now planning to throw me away like garbage.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. Not yet. Not until the perfect moment.
The ceremony began, with Xavier standing proudly beside Celeste. She wore a flowing white dress, her hand resting on her barely visible baby bump. The pack clapped and cheered as Xavier announced, “Tonight, we celebrate the future of this pack. My mate, Celeste, and I are thrilled to bring new life and strength to our family.”
Strength. What a joke.
As the crowd erupted into applause, I decided it was time. I wheeled myself closer to the center of the room, the noise gradually quieting as people noticed me. I caught Evelyn’s eye–her face twisted in disgust, like I was a disgrace to her perfect world. She shot a quick glance at Xavier, then back at me, silently questioning why he hadn’t
removed me yet.
I didn’t flinch. I met her glare, refusing to be crushed by it. This was my moment, not hers.
“What is she doing?” someone murmured.
“She shouldn’t be here,” another said.
Ignoring them, I stopped just a few feet from Xavier and Celeste. For a moment, I let the silence stretch, the tension thick in the air. Then, slowly, I stood.
Gasps rippled through the room.
“She’s walking!”
“How is this possible?”
C
I let them murmur, watching the shock spread across Xavier’s face. Celeste’s smug smile vanished in an instant.
“I suppose congratulations are in order,” I said coolly over the stunned crowd. “But before you toast to your new
future, let me share mine.”
“Lyra,” Xavier said, stepping toward me, his eyes wide with confusion. “How–how are you-?”
I smirked, tilting my head. “What’s the matter, Xavier? Surprised that I didn’t stay broken for your convenience?” His expression shifted, the confusion replaced by something sharper–something greedy. “Is this… a new power? How did you heal? Can you do it for others?”
And there it was. He wasn’t chasing after me because he cared. He wanted my power.
I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “Of course. It’s always about what I can do for you, isn’t it?”
“Lyra, that’s not-”
“Don’t,” I cut him off, my voice steady but full of fury. “I’m done being used. I’m done being humiliated.” I straightened, letting every ounce of my newfound strength shine through. “I, Lyra Nightshade, reject you, Xavier, as my mate and Alpha.”
The gasps from the crowd were immediate, followed by a heavy, stunned silence.
“You can’t do this!” Xavier growled, stepping toward me, his voice desperate now. “You’re my mate-”
“No, Xavier,” I said, my voice cold as ice. I reached up, gripping the mark on my neck–the symbol of our bond- and with a surge of will, I clawed through it. Pain seared through me, but I didn’t flinch. “Not anymore.”
I ripped off the ring he had placed on my finger and let it fall to the ground. It clinked against the floor, echoing through the room.
I glanced at Celeste, who stood frozen, her face pale and furious. “Congratulations on being the new Luna. You’ll need all the luck you can get.”
Without another word, I turned and walked out of the hall.
The last thing I heard was Xavier shouting my name, but I didn’t look back.
I had planned this for weeks. My suitcase had been packed and hidden in the back of my closet long before today. The moment I walked out of that ceremony, I headed straight for my room, grabbed my bag, and didn’t look back.
When I reached the train station, the cool evening air hit my face. It felt… freeing.
For the first time in forever, I felt like I could breathe. I bought a one–way ticket to the farthest destination listed on the board and sat down on a bench to wait.
That’s when the texts started.
My phone buzzed relentlessly, one message after another popping up on the screen. They were all from Xavier. “Come back to the pack. Now.”
“You’re making a mistake.”
“Lyra, stop being childish and return home.”
“Don’t make me come after you.”
“You’ll regret this if you don’t come back.”
The texts kept coming, one after another. My jaw clenched as I scrolled through them. Empty threats, desperate pleas. None of it mattered anymore.
Without thinking twice, I stood up, walked to the edge of the platform, and tossed my phone onto the train tracks. A second later, the train roared past, crushing it into nothing.
I let out a deep breath. Watching that phone get destroyed felt like watching my chains break.
When the train doors opened, I boarded without hesitation, my suitcase in tow. I found a seat by the window and sank into it, staring out at the station as it blurred into the distance.
For the first time in years, I felt lighter. I didn’t know where this journey would take me, but I knew one thing for sure: I was finally free.
12:54 PM
