When the Luna Vanished Chapter 02

When the Luna Vanished Chapter 02

A flicker of shock crossed Isaac’s eyes, but Layla Clark stepped forward. “Alpha, Mrs. Bennett insists your mate leave. Today.”​

Issac clenched his fists, about to speak.​

Biting back a cry, I forced myself to stand. My fingers fumbled as I dragged my coat on. “It’s fine. I’ll go now.”​

“Celeste…”​

He reached for me, but I dodged his hand.​

Layra Clark sniffled, “Does Alpha blame me for being harsh on her? Do you feel sorry for her?”​

Isaac gathered Layla into his arms at once, his gaze soft with a tenderness that seemed reserved for her alone.​

“Of course not. I know how hard this is for you. Don’t overthink it—you’ll always be my top priority. I just worry Celeste Brown might trouble you.”​

Once, when I loved him, these words would have shattered me.​

But now I was numb—no longer hurt by his lies.​

By the time I reached the forest chapel, a light drizzle had begun to fall.​

Blood seeped from between my legs, mixing with the rain to stain the stone steps crimson.​

Each kneel felt like my wound was being split open; I could barely stand.​

Yet I knew—with every step, I drew closer to freedom.​

The world greyed at the edges, then faded to black. The last thing I knew was the sensation of falling into a sudden, solid warmth.​

I came to in my own bedroom. Isaac’s hand was clamped around mine, his grip tight enough to bruise.​

“You’re finally awake,” he said. “I heard you muttering about going home—do you miss your family?”​

“You’re still weak. If you want to see your parents, they’ll be at Layra’s birthday feast tomorrow. Shall I ask them to stay with you afterward?”​

His tone was gentle, but I knew he didn’t mean it.​

If he had, he wouldn’t have asked—he’d have arranged it.​

He was afraid Layra Clark would be upset.​

Though I was the birth daughter of Silvermoon Pack’s Alpha, I’d been swapped at birth and only found my way home seven years ago, raised in a rural village.​

Layra Clark was the daughter they’d doted on for over a decade.​

When I was brought back, Layla Clark had thrown a suicidal fit.​

We’d fallen into the water together; Layra nearly drowned. The moment she woke, she accused me of pushing her.​

After that, my parents grew distant.​

Their one and only act of “kindness” was to pack off their country-bumpkin daughter to marry into the Stormborn Pack—as a companion for the beloved Layla.​

When they learned Stormborn Pack had accepted me only because I’d saved Issac’s life on a mission, they felt no joy—only warned me not to ruin Issac and Layra Clark’s relationship. “They’re childhood sweethearts, well-matched,” they’d said.​

Later, when I got pregnant, my parents even helped Layra Clark cover up her schemes—sending me handfuls of medicine and forcing me to take it.​

It led to a difficult labor that nearly cost me my life.​

When I told Isaac that Layla was behind it, he said nothing.

Not a word. After that, he started treating me with a kindness so attentive, so public, that the whole pack became convinced he’d developed real feelings for me.​

I shook my head, “It was just a thought.”​

Layra Clark’s lady’s maid entered, “Alpha Issac, Miss Layra has prepared dinner.”​

Issac released my hand at once, “Celeste, rest well. Save your strength—don’t forget the birthday feast tomorrow.”​

Once, that earnest tone would have made me believe he cared.​

Now, I saw it for what it was. The pack was buzzing with whispers that Layla had a hand in my children’s deaths. My presence at her celebration was meant to silence those whispers.​

If he truly cared, he never would have thrown a birthday party for my daughter’s murderer—before my daughter’s grave was cold.​

But none of it mattered anymore.​

As an added boon, the Golden Witch had promised me this: my five daughters would know only happiness in the afterlife.​

I nodded vaguely.​

The next day, the maid layered three coats of powder on my face to hide my paleness.​

At the feast, Layra Clark chatted merrily with my parents, while Issac’s gentle gaze never left her.​

Pack members were experts at sniffing out the rising star and avoiding the falling one. With the memory of Mrs. Bennett’s punishment fresh, no one dared so much as glance in my direction.​

I welcomed the peace—until I took a sip of wine. Suddenly, Layra Clark’s retching echoed from across the room.​

I turned to see her collapse to the floor, spitting up mouthfuls of blood.​

Issac’s eyes blazed with panic, “Fetch the wolf healers—quick!”​

But after half a dozen wolf healers examined Layra Clark, they found nothing wrong.​

Issac flew into a rage. Then a warlock stepped forward from the crowd, holding a compass.​

“Last night, I read the stars,” the warlock intoned, his voice cutting through the chaos. “The celestial alignments are… disturbed.

Someone within Stormborn has cast dark magic. Someone is harming Miss Layla.”