Never Getting The Luna Ritual Chapter 02

Never Getting The Luna Ritual Chapter 02

That afternoon, I sought out Elder Mara of the pack.

She looked at me, her face filled with regret and confusion,

“You and the Alpha could have made the pack stronger and more peaceful. Six months ago, when we learned you’d moved in with the Alpha, we thought you’d stay forever…”

“Don’t you want to be his Luna? What’s made you decide to leave so suddenly?”

I thought back to six months earlier, when I’d said I wanted to move into Verdanwood Pack. The look of joy on Forrest’s face.

“I was born for this,” he’d said, his eyes shining as he looked at me. “Where’s your forest home? I’ll help you move your things.”

I’d replied, “A warden’s forest home is surrounded by warding runes—you can’t enter. I have very little luggage. I can manage alone.”

But Forrest insisted on waiting for me in the forest.

When I emerged, my bag in hand, I realized with a sudden clarity that my entire life’s worth of daily belongings fit into a single backpack.

He stared at it in silence.

After a long pause, he’d said, “Sometimes I think the Moon Goddess is unfair… why must you endure such a lonely journey?”

He’d wished that from then on, I’d never walk alone.

He’d probably forgotten those words by now.

It had only been six months.

My phone lit up—an unfamiliar message arrived.

From Lila Riven, an Omega of the pack:

“Thank you for staying with me all afternoon, Alpha. As a thank you, I’m treating you to a picnic tomorrow.”

I knew instantly—Forrest, who’d said he’d be home that noon, wouldn’t be coming back.

“Why would Lila send you a text like that?” Serena, my wolf, asked in confusion.

“She’s provoking me,” I replied.

“Then tear out her throat!” Serena growled.

“No, Serena,” I said softly, “If a bird provokes you, do you waste energy tearing it apart?”

I unrolled the ancient map.

It was nothing like a human map. This one charted the borders of countless enchanted woods. A Warden’s duty was to patrol those edges, to keep the human world and the world of the supernatural from bleeding into one another. Of course, sometimes I’d take a job as a park ranger on the human side, just to earn a bit of coin.

“Next, we’ll head to the forest beside Ancientgrove Pack…” I said.

Serena huffed, “I’ve heard they’re all a bunch of old fogeys.”

“Here’s hoping they have internet,” I shrugged.

“In two days.”

“We’ll leave here in two days.”

I continued. Serena fell silent.

In two days, we’d depart the place we’d called home for eight years.

The next morning, I began packing.

To my surprise, I had more belongings than expected.

There were wooden carvings from the pack’s young wolves.

Herb specimens gifted by the pack’s healer.

The dress Forrest had given me.

The bracelet Forrest had bought me.

The perfume Forrest had picked out.

The photos Forrest and I had taken together…

When I opened the closet, I was met with a riot of color—new clothes in Forrest’s section, bright and flashy things he would have once scoffed at.

But since Lila’s arrival, he’d started wearing them. He said it made him seem more approachable, more of a “regular guy” and less of a stern Alpha.

Had I grown old?

Was I too serious? Did my constant calm demeanor intimidate the pack’s Omegas?

Had I unknowingly done something wrong to make people dislike me?

I gave a bitter smile, folding my clothes into the suitcase one by one.

I was only halfway done when Forrest walked in.

The sweet, cloying scent of citrus and cinnamon wafted in with him—Lila’s favorite perfume, clinging to his clothes.

He froze when he saw me, hastily explaining,

“Last night Lila insisted on trying Old Black’s mead. You know how even dwarves get drunk on that stuff. I had to stay with her overnight to guard against rogues… she’s just an Omega, after all.”

I nodded, saying nothing.

It was the first time in six months he’d volunteered an explanation for his absence.

He took two steps closer, his gaze falling on the suitcase, “Are you going to visit your vampire friend?”

I didn’t want to tell him the truth, so I just nodded.

For some reason, he seemed to relax,

“The vampire territory is quite far, but you’ve lived in forests for years—you shouldn’t have to worry about danger.”

“I have something to take care of today. Just stopping by to grab something.”

“Okay,” I said, not looking up as I continued organizing my weapons.

He grunted in response, pulled a red gift bag from the closet, grabbed his coat by the door, and hurried out again.

The moment the door slammed shut, the photo frame that had hung on the wall for six months suddenly fell, shattering into a hundred pieces on the floor.

It was our anniversary photo.

In it, he wore the suit I’d picked out, and I wore a wedding dress.

He’d told me he’d love me forever, stay with me always.

He’d said he couldn’t wait to mark me, to make me his fated Luna for all eternity.

My eyes stung as I laughed bitterly—foolishly.

But the moment Lila had appeared, all those promises had been cast aside.

I stared at the photo for a long time before sweeping up the shards of glass.

Then I picked up the picture—filled with such happiness—and tossed it, along with the last trace of reluctance in my heart, into the trash.