Kaelen's POV

Within a few hours, I was ready to take another vow with Merrick.

"Welcome, Luna Kaelen," the announcer said and the large doors opened.

Merrick was seated on stage, his gaze locked on mine. With a smile and my shoulders held high, I walked through the crowd, ignoring the sneers I could practically smell from everyone around me.

No one truly accepted me in the pack. Despite all I had done, they all viewed me as undeserving of Merrick and the position of Luna. But this -this ceremony, marking me in front of everyone, claiming me as his -was proving them wrong. Merrick loved me, and we deserve to be with each other.

Lifting my gown, I walked up the small stairs and to my seat, just beside Merrick.

"Welcome, Lady Corvina," the announcer said once more.

My heart dropped to my stomach at that name. It raced, eyes widening as smiling Corvina walked into the room. Everyone stared at her in awe and she bathed in it.

She gracefully headed towards us. I expected someone, the guards, anyone to take her head right there but no one did and I wasn't sure if I saw it right, they bowed for her.

I snapped my head to Merrick, pausing for a second as I found him... smiling? That look he wore, one that I thought he forgot how to give was now back on his face but he didn't look my way.

"They are not doing anything, Merrick," I said. My voice shaking.

"Why should they?" He stood and gave out his hand. "Come, my dear."

Not to me, but Corvina. She smiled and rushed over, taking his hands so delicately.

I found my feet, staggering up. "Me- Merrick, what's happening?"

He slid her hand over her waist pulling her close like it was second nature. I held back the urge to scream. "She betrayed me. Why are you letting her stay?" My voice cracked.

"Why can't she?" Merrick asked.

"Have you forgotten? She hurt our child. She-"

"That is a blatant lie," Merrick said, and a lump fell in my stomach.

"What... What are you talking about?" I stammered.

Merrick looked away. I nodded, wiping the tears from my face. "We can talk about it later. Let her leave so we could continue with the ceremony."

He might have his reasons. I wouldn't put him in a tight spot.

"But the ceremony cannot go on without me, Luna," Corvina's tone sounded of mockery, and her gaze was no different.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, my brows knotted.

Merrick intertwined his fingers with Corvina. "This ceremony is for Corvina. I am officially taking her as my concubine."

My heart shattered at his words. Concubine? I looked around and no one, not a single soul looked surprised by this. I didn't want to believe what was happening.

"She..." I pointed with shaky fingers. "You want to take her in as your concubine?"

"It seems you aren't only useless in bearing a child, but in understanding as well," Merrick scolded.

I staggered back, his words echoing in my head. "Why? You promised me! You told me you wouldn't betray me!" My emotions were all over the place.

Merrick scoffed. "I made that promise years ago. Plus, you are useless to me now. I need an heir, and you can't even do that."

I shook my head, gripping his jacket. "It's not my fault. The doctor said-"

"He said you are useless!" he barked, pushing me off him.

"Luna," Hazel yelled, rushing over to me as I fell to the ground.

"Your womb is too weak. It can never carry my heir. I'm being nice enough not to divorce you and just taking a concubine," he pulled Corvina close. "She will give birth to my heir."

My chest burned with pain. It felt like my heart was being squeezed. I held my chest. "And you chose her? She killed our child!"

"Corvina did nothing. It was your negligence," Merrick said.

"I-"

"You shouldn't blame me for your mistake, Kaelen. You aren't meant to be a mother," she mocked. "But I am," she rubbed her stomach.

"You are..."

"Yes, I am pregnant. Five months along. Don't worry, I'll let you around the child when he is born," Corvina said, and my breath hung in my throat.

"No, she can never be close to my child," Merrick said, then sighed. "Stop with the fuss. We have a ceremony to hold."

"What's the rush? This is just a formal ceremony. I've already been marked," Corvina said, giggling.

And my world shattered.

"You marked her?" I whispered, my strength drained.

"Yes, she bears my child. I need everyone to know she is mine," Merrick boldly said.

"And what about me?" I sobbed, gesturing to my chest. "Why did you lie to me? You told me this was for us."

"If I didn't lie, you wouldn't be here, would you?" he replied without a ting of guilt.

"Don't be mad, Kaelen. I asked he didn't tell you. I wanted it to be a surprise, but I guess you don't like it." Corvina pouted leaning into Merrick. She knew what she was doing. I couldn't focus on her but on Merrick.

Merrick rubbed her side, comforting her. "We've been married for five years, Merrick, and you never marked me. I thought you wanted to do that today. Why are you doing this to me?"

Merrick sighed. "Guards, get her out of here. She's ruining the peace."

Peace? Something in me, snapped. The very thing that had kept me together all these while, gone. 

The guards came for me and swiftly; I got off the ground, grabbing the sword of one of the guards without unsheathing it, but it was enough to send fear through the room. A gasp echoed through the hall.

"Let me see who dares!" I barked.

"Merrick, I'm scared," Corvina said, hiding behind Merrick.

"Kaelen, you will not dare hurt Corvina. Or else?" Merrick warned.

I could only laugh. It sounded foreign, filled with so much pain as tears fell from my eyes.

"Or else?" I muttered, then chuckled. "Merrick, I sacrificed five years of my life. I took a sword for you, right here," I pointed to my abdomen. "And this is how you repay me?"

"I am being generous enough by keeping you as my Luna. Keep this up, and you will be nothing," he said.

More tears came down my face. How did it turn this way? "I thought you loved me, Merrick? I love you," I said. "You wouldn't hurt me like this, right?"

I needed the words to snap me out of this delusion and it came. "Then you will listen. Drop the sword and apologize. I'll forget any of this happened," Merrick said.

I stayed silent, my heart aching. I wanted to use the sword, but I couldn't. My fingers let go, and the iron blade clattered on the floor.

"Good," Merrick relaxed. "Now, apologize."

I staggered forward, every energy and joy I once had drained. I dropped to my knees, sniffling. The side of Corvina's lips curved up and Merrick -he was pleased.

I had always been mocked by everyone, and this was the perfect humiliation. I should have known!

It was right there all this time, but I ignored it. I didn't want it to be true. Even when I told myself it no longer mattered, I felt hurt that I didn't care and now, they were a loving couple in front of me? I wanted laugh but instead, I grabbed my dagger.

I always had it hidden in my thighs and unsheathed it. Merrick stepped back, keeping Corvina behind him. I slit my palm, letting the blood flow. It stung, but not as much as the pain I felt in my chest.

"I, Kaelen Wildes, reject you Merrick as my mate and Alpha," I said, letting my blood drop.

Hazel rushed over, tearing a piece of her clothes and trying to wrap around my hand to stop the bleeding, but Merrick pushed her, grabbing my chin.

"You think this would make me care for you?" he pointed at my injury then pushed my head to the side, sighing.

"I'll forgive this madness because it is a happy occasion, but don't you dare think I cannot punish you," he told me, but I said nothing, helping myself up.

Hazel held my hand as she led me out of the hall. My eyes were ice cold, my mind adjusting as we walked between the crowd, heading for the door with the murmurs of the people seeping into my ears.

"She truly thought she was special. Alphas always took in as many wives as they wanted."

"A Luna with no dignity. Not once did she do a thing for the pack, only enjoying the riches."

"She took a sword, and she thinks she has done more than enough."

They laughed. They all saw me as a housewife, yet that was never my decision. All they knew was I took a sword, still that was a simple sacrifice in their eyes.

"I accept your rejection!" Merrick's voice boomed through the hall.

It felt like spikes pushed through my veins. Fortunately, Hazel still held me. A teardrop escaped my eyes, but that was it. I was foolish. Truly foolish, but I would never repeat the same mistakes again!

As though the moon goddess heard me, thunder roared, followed by lightning. I stood on the porch, staring out at the now pouring sky. Hazel wrapped the cloth around my hand to stop the bleeding. She sniffled, unable to contain her emotions, but she didn't need to around me.

"I'm fine," I said softly.

Hazel nodded, wiping her face with the back of her hand, but more tears flowed.

"I'll divorce him. Contact Linda to prepare the divorce papers."  Just as she was about to leave, I grabbed her arm. I stared at the pouring sky for a moment. "Call General Sterling."

Once she was out of sight, I staggered forward. I felt dizzy. It could be the blood loss or my broken trust and the world weighing down on me, but I could do nothing about it.

Goosebumps spread across my skin as the cold touch of the rain met my skin. A laugh erupted from my lungs as I twirled, my hands spread. My heart bled, and hot tears came down my face, mixing with the cold rain.

I didn't want to cry. I shouldn't.

"Cry, my child. Crying helps the mind. It flushes out the pain," my father's voice echoed in my mind.

"Dad," I dropped to the ground, sobbing. "I failed you, Dad."

He warned me. He told me not to leave everything behind.

"I don't see you two's future together. Do not proceed with the marriage," he warned.

But I didn't listen. Instead, I eloped and got a marriage certificate.

"Luna," Hazel called, running into the rain with an umbrella. She helped me up with a frown. "Luna, you could get sick. You haven't healed properly."

"Have you done what I asked?" I said, and she nodded.

"The papers would be ready tomorrow," she said.

And right there, something else died inside of me.

Kaelen's POV

By noon the next day, the papers had arrived and were sent to Merrick. I waited for his reaction, but I got nothing. Two hours in and Corvina barged and threw the divorce papers at me.

"Signed," she said with a smug look.

Hazel picked it up and went through before giving me a small nod.

"You expected him to come to you after your stunt yesterday, but he could not bear to leave me." Her tone dripped with venom.

I drank my coffee calmly, not planning on playing into what she wanted from me. They all saw me break, but they won't anymore.

"You always bragged about how well Merrick took care of you, how much he loved you," she chuckled. "Yet, he so easily fell for the woman who killed his firstborn child."

My hand hung midair. Seeing my reaction, she chuckled. "Struck a nerve?"

I resumed taking a sip of my coffee without a word.

"You took a sword for him, giving a mark to your womb. You bearing a child was only going to be a miracle. Three times you had an opportunity, and it all wasted," she scoffed. "I always knew I would win, but you were too blind to see. Don't let the woods swallow you on your way home."

She finally left. The tension on my shoulders dropped, and silent tears rolled down my eyes. Hazel sat beside me, holding me. "Luna."

I shook my head, wiping the tears off my face. They weren't tears of hurt, but tears that I let it go on for this long. "I am no longer his Luna."

I took the divorce papers and stared at his signature for a moment.

"From today, we have nothing to do with each other," I said and signed. "Send it over to Linda."

While Hazel was gone, I packed what was left to be packed of my belongings. George helped get a few guards to take my things to the car. Once Hazel was back, it was time to leave.

On the porch, only Corvina and her maids were present. The omega I saved during the war not only killed my child and took my husband, but had more maids than I ever did.

I expected Merrick to be here, but he didn't bother to come to me last night, so he definitely would not care to see me off. Our five years of marriage was nothing but a lie, and it still burns.

"Expecting Merrick? Well, he doesn't like trash when it wants to get rid of itself," Corvina said.

I wasn't going to exchange words with her. She wanted a reaction, but she would get none. Just as I was about to walk away, she blocked my path.

"You've been quiet. So heartbroken, you lost your ability to speak?" she said, then waved her hands dismissively as she took a step towards me. She leaned in, then whispered, "Goodbye, Luna Kaelen."

I could sense something in her tone, but I could not decipher what it was. Shoving it at the back of my mind, I got into the car and George drove off.

I stared at the pack house through the rearview mirror. I never imagined leaving this way, but here I was.

"Where to, my lady?" George asked, staring at me through the rearview mirror.

"Take me to my father."

George soon drove into a cemetery and found a good spot to park. He quickly went out of the car and helped with my door.

"He's here?" I asked, looking around.

"Yes, my lady," Hazel responded with a saddened expression.

I sighed, turning to George. "Give the keys to Hazel. You need to head back."

"But Luna-"

I cut him off with a raise of my hand. "I can take Hazel with me because she came to the pack house with me. You were assigned to me when I arrived at the pack house."

He dropped his head. I took a few steps forward towards him, and reluctantly placed a hand on his shoulder, forcing a smile on my face. He raised his head.

"You have always been a guard at the pack house. I wouldn't want you punished, so please, return," I told him.

George was reluctant. He didn't want to, but he had to. I didn't have the power to take him with me, and I wouldn't want to put him in any trouble. He passed the key to Hazel, who pouted, watching him go.

Once he was out of sight, I turned to Hazel. "Take me to him."

She nodded, leading me through the vast landscape of graves and headstones, decorated with flowers. Each step I took felt harder. My legs felt heavier.

"Here." Hazel pointed at a neatly crafted headstone.

I took a step closer, my heart racing and chest hurting. Silent tears rolled down my eyes, reading my father's name boldly written on his headstone.

IRON GENERAL GRANT WILDES.

I dropped to my knees, unable to contain my tears. "I'm sorry, Father. I'm sorry."

He has been gone for five years and not once did I come to him. I didn't attend his funeral. I had failed him in so many ways, and he wasn't here for me to apologize.

I wanted to. I needed to hear his scoldings, but I knew that was only wishful thinking.

"I'm sorry."

With shaky hands, I reached out to touch his grave, but I withdrew my hand just before I could. I was too ashamed, too lowly, to touch his grave. The flowers on his grave were never given by me. I had failed him, but I will get back on track.

I wiped my face, rising. "Father, I know how disappointed you must be with my decisions, but I promise to make things right. I'll get back to the top. I'll take back what I lost and threw out."

Only then would I be worthy to touch him. He was a great leader. He once told me I could be one, and I was almost that, but I dropped it all for love -for Merrick. I wiped off the loose strand of tears, filled with determination.

A fig snapped a few distances away just as I turned around to leave. I paused, heightening my senses. There was a lot going on around us -the leaves of the trees dancing and colliding with each other as the wind blew, birds chirping, but then it stopped, followed by the flapping of their wings.

They were flying away. Then I heard it, footsteps, hurried and almost so faint it could go unnoticed if not focused. I turned my head to Hazel. With her eyes, I could tell she felt it, too.

We were surrounded!