Rejected by Luna, Reclaimed by the Rogue

The heatwave had turned the Silvermoon Pack house into a furnace. For three days straight, temperatures soared past 100 degrees, and today, the ancient air conditioning system had finally surrendered to the relentless summer sun. I wiped sweat from my brow as I made my way through the main hall, my thin cotton dress clinging uncomfortably to my skin.

"The pups are having trouble breathing," little Emma, one of our youngest pack members, tugged at my skirt. Her cheeks were flushed crimson, dark curls plastered to her forehead.

"I know, sweetheart." I knelt down to her level, brushing damp hair from her face. "I'm going to fix that right now."

My wolf, Luna, stirred within me. *We should help them. They need us.*

"We will," I whispered internally.

I made my way to the medical supplies room, my legs weak from the heat. The medication fridge sat in the corner, its backup battery still functioning. Inside, I found a box of cooling patches—special adhesive strips infused with menthol and eucalyptus that could help lower body temperature.

"Only twenty left," I murmured, counting them carefully.

Not enough for everyone, but I'd make them count.

I loaded them into a small basket and began my rounds. First to the nursery, where three pups lay listlessly on their beds.

"Luna Scarlett!" Nurse Mira's eyes lit up when she saw me. "Thank the Moon Goddess."

I placed a patch on each pup's forehead, watching their tiny faces relax as the cooling effect took hold. "How are they?"

"Better now," Mira smiled gratefully. "You always know what we need."

Next came the elders' quarters. Elder Morris was propped up against pillows, his weathered face drawn with discomfort.

"There you are, my dear." His voice cracked with thirst. "I was just telling Martha how I could use some of that fancy cooling stuff."

I placed a patch on his wrinkled forehead, then handed one to his wife. "I'm sorry we don't have more, but these should help until the power comes back."

"Always thinking of others," Martha said softly, squeezing my hand.

I continued through the pack house—to the warriors' barracks, the kitchen staff quarters, even the Betas' offices. Each patch was received with gratitude, each person cooled by my efforts.

Finally, I reached the Alpha's quarters with the last cooling patch in my basket. My heart quickened as I approached Dean's door. Maybe this small gesture would remind him of what we once had—before Ada, before everything fell apart.

I knocked softly.

"Enter," Dean's deep voice commanded.

The room was dim, curtains drawn against the harsh sunlight. Dean sat at his desk, his powerful frame tense with heat and irritation. Ada lounged on the bed behind him, her hand resting protectively over her stomach—the stomach that carried a child I could never give him.

"You needed something?" Dean didn't look up from his papers.

I stepped forward, holding out the last cooling patch. "The power's still out, and it's getting worse. I've distributed the remaining