Chapter 3
The eastern border patrol was supposed to be routine. Ethan had assigned me to escort Olivia, claiming she needed to learn our territory boundaries. I knew better—this was another opportunity for them to be together, with me as the unwilling chaperone.
We moved silently through the dense forest, the afternoon sun filtering through the canopy. Olivia walked slightly ahead, her honey-blonde hair catching the light. Every few minutes, she would glance back at me with that practiced innocent smile.
"Luna Claire," she called sweetly, "is this where the rogues were spotted last month?"
"No," I replied curtly. "That was the northern ridge."
Lyra growled within me. *She knows that. She's testing us.*
I kept my senses alert, scanning the trees and underbrush. Something felt wrong. The forest was too quiet—no birds, no small creatures rustling in the leaves.
"We should head back," I said, the hairs on my neck rising. "It's getting late."
Olivia turned to me, her expression suddenly sharp. "But we've barely covered half the border."
That's when I caught it—a subtle flick of her wrist, a movement so quick I almost missed it. In the same moment, a low growl emanated from the trees to our right.
Three massive rogues emerged from the shadows, their eyes wild with bloodlust, teeth bared. This was no chance encounter. This was an ambush.
"Run!" I shouted to Olivia, pushing her behind me as I faced the rogues. I could have left her—Goddess knows a part of me wanted to—but I was still Luna. I still had my duty.
The largest rogue lunged at me. I dodged, but not quickly enough. His claws raked across my side, tearing through flesh. Pain exploded through my body, hot and sharp. I stumbled but remained standing between the rogues and Olivia.
"Claire!" Olivia's scream sounded genuinely terrified, though something in her scent told me otherwise.
I partially shifted, my hands becoming claws, teeth elongating into fangs. Blood soaked my shirt, but I couldn't focus on that now. The rogues circled us, waiting for me to weaken.
"Stay behind me," I ordered Olivia, my voice strained with pain.
The second attack came from two sides. I managed to slash one rogue across the muzzle, sending him reeling back with a yelp, but the other caught my leg, his teeth sinking deep into my calf. I cried out, falling to one knee.
That's when Ethan's howl split the air. He burst into the clearing in full wolf form, massive and black, his Alpha aura radiating power. The rogues immediately backed away, cowering before his dominance.
"LEAVE!" His Alpha command thundered through the forest, impossible to disobey. The rogues scrambled away, disappearing into the trees as quickly as they had appeared.
I collapsed fully now, the adrenaline fading, leaving only searing pain. Blood pooled beneath me, too much blood. Through blurring vision, I watched as Ethan shifted back to human form and rushed forward—past me, straight to Olivia.
"Are you hurt?" he demanded, his hands frantically checking her for injuries.
"I'm fine," she whimpered, clinging to him. "Claire protected me."
Only then did Ethan glance at me, his eyes widening as he finally registered my wounds. "Claire..."
I tried to speak, but darkness was creeping in at the edges of my vision. The last thing I saw was Ethan lifting Olivia in his arms while I lay bleeding on the forest floor.
* * *
I awoke to the bitter scent of healing herbs and the throbbing pain of untreated wounds. Elara's healing den was dimly lit, the walls lined with shelves of potions and dried plants. The elderly healer bent over me, her ancient eyes filled with concern as she pressed a poultice to my side.
"The wounds are deep, Luna," she murmured. "Without a healing elixir, they will scar badly."
I nodded weakly. The door opened, and Ethan entered with Olivia close behind him. His face was drawn with worry, but I couldn't tell if it was for me or for the trembling she-wolf at his side.
"Elara," he said urgently, "do you have any healing elixir left?"
The old healer straightened, her expression grave. "Just one vial, Alpha. I was saving it for the Luna."
Ethan's gaze darted between me and Olivia. I saw the conflict in his eyes, but it lasted only a moment. He took the vial from Elara's gnarled hand and turned to Olivia.
"Here," he said softly. "Take this. You're in shock."
Olivia's fingers closed around the vial, her eyes meeting mine over Ethan's shoulder. There was no mask now, only triumph as she drank the elixir that should have been mine.
The pain in my body was nothing compared to the agony in my heart. Ethan had made his choice, clear as the moon on a cloudless night.
"I'll be fine," I whispered, though no one was listening.
Ethan led Olivia from the healing den without looking back. As the door closed behind them, I heard voices in the corridor—pack members who had gathered upon hearing of the attack.
"Did you see that?" someone whispered. "He gave the elixir to her."
"Over his own Luna," another replied. "He chose the newcomer while his mate bleeds."
I closed my eyes, tears sliding silently down my temples into my hair. Lyra howled in anguish within me, the sound echoing through my soul.
*He's made his choice*, she whimpered. *And it wasn't us.*
As Elara continued to tend my wounds with ordinary herbs and bandages, I made a choice of my own. This would be the last time Ethan Montgomery would ever make me feel like I wasn't enough.
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