Luna Aurora novel (Alpha Fenrir)

Aurora took a deep breath as she stepped out of the car and approached the pack's ceremonial grounds, where she would soon face Fenrir's rejection.

The space was empty except for two figures waiting by the stone altar that had long stood as a symbol of their pack's unity and loyalty.

Fenrir stood tall, his expression as cold and unyielding as ever, while Arianna was beside him, a triumphant glint in her eyes. Aurora's heart clenched, but she steadied herself, determined not to show any weakness. "Aurora," Arianna's mocking voice reached her before she could even reach the altar. "Glad you made it. I was beginning to think you'd skip out on this little event."

Aurora clenched her fists, swallowing the retort that threatened to escape her lips. She reminded herself that this moment was about her and Fenrir, not the petty games of a woman who'd come back to disrupt her life. She felt the pain of his words like a dagger to her heart, but she would not let him see her break. She had already made her peace with his decision, or so she thought. Now, she just needed to survive the formalities. "Let's get this over with," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil raging within her.

Fenrir's face showed no remorse, no hesitation. He stepped forward, his eyes hard as he began the ritual words. "I, Alpha Fenrir of the Onyx Shadow Pack, reject you, Aurora, as my mate and my Luna. From this moment, you are no longer bound to me, nor I to you." Each word landed with a crushing weight on Aurora's chest.

Her instincts screamed at her to hold onto the bond, to resist the rejection, but she forced herself to stay calm. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her break.

Gathering every ounce of strength, she met his gaze. "I, Aurora, accept your rejection, Alpha Fenrir." The words left her mouth with a finality that shocked even her. As she spoke, she felt the invisible threads that bound them snapping, the severing of their mate bond sending an overwhelming ache through her entire being.

She tried to take a step back, but her vision blurred, and her legs wobbled as the full weight of the broken bond hit her.

Her body felt as though it had been hollowed out, left weak and fragile. She struggled to breathe, her chest tightening with pain she hadn't anticipated.

Aurora took another shaky step, her vision going darker at the edges.

The last thing she saw was the cold expression on Fenrir's face, unmoved by her collapse. Darkness enveloped her as her legs gave way, and she sank into oblivion.

When Aurora opened her eyes, she was in a familiar room, the comforting scent of her mother filling the space.

The ache of the rejection lingered, but now there was a heaviness in her limbs, an exhaustion that refused to let her move.

"Aurora, sweetheart," her mother's soft voice broke through the fog of pain. She looked over to see her mother sitting beside the bed, her gaze filled with concern and sadness.

"Mom?" Aurora's voice was barely a whisper, her throat dry and her body still weak. "What... what happened?"

Her mother placed a gentle hand on her forehead. "You collapsed, darling. The rejection from Fenrir... it's affected you deeply." Her mother's voice wavered with worry. "The bond you shared with him was strong, and breaking it so suddenly has left you weak." Aurora's heart twisted at the reminder of what had happened. She'd known the rejection would hurt, but she hadn't realized it would leave her feeling like this, like a piece of her very soul had been torn away.

Her mother stroked her hair softly. "You need rest, Aurora. You've been through so much."

"Mom," she murmured, her voice trembling slightly. "I... I'm pregnant."

Her mother's eyes widened in shock, but her expression softened immediately. "Aurora... oh, my sweet girl." She reached out and squeezed her hand. "You've been carrying this burden alone. I can only imagine how hard it's been."

Her mother's expression turned serious as she held Aurora's gaze. "Then he doesn't deserve to know about your child. If he was willing to cast you aside so easily, then he's not worthy of being a part of this child's life."

Aurora nodded, the pain still fresh but her resolve hardening. Her mother was right. Fenrir had made his choice, and she would make hers.

She would protect her child, give them a life filled with love and stability, away from the rejection and coldness that Fenrir had shown her.

Her mother took a deep breath. "We'll leave the pack, Aurora. We'll go somewhere far away, where Fenrir can't find you or the child. You don't need him, and neither does your baby."

Aurora felt a surge of relief, mingled with fear for the unknown future. But the thought of leaving, of truly escaping Fenrir's shadow and starting fresh, felt like a balm to her wounded heart. She looked at her mother, gratitude flooding her tired soul. "Yes, Mom," she whispered, her voice filled with determination. "Let's go. I want to start over, somewhere he'll never find us."