Never Getting The Luna Ritual Chapter 05

Never Getting The Luna Ritual Chapter 05

I left Verdanwood behind and made my way to Ancientgrove Pack. The name was fitting the place felt like a step back in time. I even spotted a chugging diesel generator. But at least they had

internet.

I greeted the Alpha of Ancientgrove Pack, then settled into a cave deep in the forest.

The cave was dry but chilly.

I thought about the tasks ahead. As a warden, I needed to stay in one forest for eight years. To guard it better, living in the forest itself made sense-but I still wanted to build myself a small wooden

cabin.

A place where I could cook roast meat and drink mead.

That was the scent of home I’d once dreamed of. I didn’t need anyone else to give it to me-I could make it for myself.

“Do you still remember how to build a house?” Serena asked.

“Please-I built my first one when I was eight!” I retorted.

My earliest memories were of the old Warden. She was a woman of few words, with hair matted into dreadlocks and clothes stiff with grime. But she never smelled bad-she said it was the smell of loam and leaf litter, of belonging to the woods. She claimed dressing that way made the animals less fearful. I secretly thought she was just lazy.

When the warden passed away, I lost the only person I could talk to, wandering the forests alone for

years.

I’d thought meeting Forrest was my luck.

Never imagining luck could run out.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed outside the cave. I tensed and stepped out. Thanks to the warding runes I’d painted at the entrance, he couldn’t see me–but I could see him clearly. It was Rowan, Alpha of Ancientgrove Pack.

He’s surprisingly young,” Serena noted. “And his eyes are mint green-could he be your long-lost brother?”

“Cut it out, Serena,” I said..

I stepped beyond the runes and greeted Rowan.

“That’s incredible magic,” Rowan exclaimed. “You mentioned the pack’s signal was spotty earlier.

I had someone fix the tower you should try it again.”

I never thought he’d take my casual complaint seriously. “Thank you,” I said quickly.

“It’s the least I can do. Let me know if you need anything. We’re grateful for your protection,” he smiled, bowing like a prince.

I turned on my phone, and messages flooded in.

Missed calls from Forrest: 47.

Unread messages: 99+.

I ignored them all and sent a quick check-in to my friend.

Forrest’s call came through again..

I hung up.

He called back.

Hung up again.

When it rang a third time, I answered.

“Meredith!” His voice was hoarse, as if he’d been shouting all night. “Where are you?!”

“In the forest.”

“Which forest? I’ll come get you!”

“I’m no longer in Verdanwood Pack’s woods.”

Silence fell on the other end.

After a long pause, his voice dropped, “You… really left?”

I didn’t answer.

“Meredith,” he gasped, “come back. Let’s talk.”

“Talk about what?”

“About the Luna Ritual, about our future, about…”

“Forrest,” cut him off, “that’s the eighteenth time.”

He froze.

“The first time you said ‘next time,’ I waited. The second time you said ‘definitely,’ I waited. The third time you said ‘trust me,’ I waited again.

My tone remained calm.

“The eighteenth time, you said ‘nothing will delay us.’ I didn’t believe you. So I didn’t wait.”

“No–this time it’s real,” Forrest begged.

“I know,” I said softly, “Lila got hurt by a silver dagger. Then her stomach started hurting, right?”

Silence again.

“Forrest, I finally understand,” I said quietly.

“Understand what?” Forrest asked nervously.

“That you were never mine.’

He said nothing, but I could hear his heavy, ragged breathing.

“Five years ago, when you pursued me, you told me I was the exception. You said you never chased anyone, but you’d break your

n rules for me.” A soft, humorless laugh escaped me. “I believed then. Now I see. You didn’t break your rules for me. You just hadn’t met the one worth breaking

all of them for.”

you

“Meredith!”

“Lila is that person.’

My voice was steady, relentless. “You broke your rules for her seventeen times over a Luna Ritual. Eighteen times, you broke a promise to me. Countless times, you left me standing alone. Your exception, Forrest, was never me.”

That’s not true!” His voice rose sharply. “She’s just a fragile Omega-I don’t have feelings for her, I…”

“It doesn’t matter what you feel or don’t feel,” I cut in, my voice like ice. “The only thing that

matters now is that I. Don’t Care.”

A dull thud came from the other end, as if something had fallen.

“Meredith,” his voice trembled, “you can’t do this. We loved each other for five years–you can’t just walk away.”

“We were never marked,” I said flatly. “No vows. No bond.”

“Meredith!”

“Goodbye, Forrest.”

I hung up and turned off my phone.

Rowan still stood nearby, scratching his head awkwardly. “I shouldn’t have listened, should I?”

I stared at him quietly, letting a faint, menacing aura wash over me.

Rowan just shrugged, “Relax. Everyone has regrets from the past.

“When you come to a new place, leave old memories in the old forest.”