ALPHA'S REGRET: RISE OF LUNA

The night air carried the scent of pine and damp earth, a familiar comfort Celeste had always loved. Yet, as she stood near the edge of the packhouse courtyard, that comfort felt distant, slipping through her fingers like sand. Laughter echoed from within, a celebration she should have been a part of. Instead, she lingered in the shadows, her presence unnoticed. Or ignored.

She wasn't sure which hurt more.

"Celeste."

She turned at the sound of Kieran's voice. Her mate. Her Alpha. His dark eyes met hers, but there was something missing-a warmth that had once been undeniable.

"You shouldn't stand out here alone," he said, but his voice lacked the concern it once held.

"I was just getting some air."

He hesitated. A beat too long. Then, with a nod, he turned back toward the packhouse without inviting her inside.

The door shut behind him, sealing her out.

Something was changing. She could feel it like the first crack in an ice-covered lake. Barely there, but deep enough to warn of the cold waters below.

And she had no idea how to stop it.

Celeste exhaled slowly, forcing herself to stay still as the cold night pressed against her skin. She wasn't fragile. She wasn't weak. But the sting of Kieran's indifference cut deeper than she wanted to admit.

She turned toward the tree line, her wolf restless beneath her skin. Run, it whispered, but she ignored it. Running wouldn't change anything. Running wouldn't fix the way Kieran had stopped looking at her like she was his.

The door to the packhouse swung open again, spilling golden light onto the courtyard. Voices carried-excited, unguarded.

"She's not strong enough to be our Luna."

Celeste stiffened.

Another voice, lower but no less cruel, responded, "Kieran will see it soon enough. A weak mate makes a weak Alpha."

A sharp laugh followed, and the door shut before she could hear more.

Her fingers curled into fists. It wasn't the first time she had heard the whispers, the doubts. At first, she had told herself it was nothing. That the pack would warm to her, that they would see her worth. But now, even Kieran seemed to be slipping away, caught in the tide of their opinions.

The tension had started small-an unspoken shift in how the pack regarded her. Fewer nods of respect, more lingering glances of skepticism. Then, Kieran had begun pulling away, missing their shared training sessions, speaking to her less, standing a little farther away during meetings.

Now, it was like she was an outsider in her own home.

A rustle in the trees made her snap her head up, her senses sharpening.

"Still hiding out here?"

Celeste turned to see Rowan, Kieran's Beta and one of the few wolves who hadn't treated her differently. His dark brown hair was tousled, and he studied her with quiet concern.

"I'm not hiding," she murmured, but the words felt hollow.

Rowan leaned against the fence beside her. "You heard them, didn't you?"

Celeste swallowed. "It doesn't matter."

"It does." His jaw tightened. "They're testing him, Celeste. They know he listens to them more than he should."

Her throat ached at the truth of it. "He's my mate. He's supposed to stand by me."

Rowan hesitated, then said carefully, "An Alpha is only as strong as his pack, and Kieran...he's not fighting them the way he should."

A cold weight settled in her stomach.

"He's letting them turn him against me," she whispered.

Rowan didn't confirm it, but he didn't deny it either.

The truth had never felt so sharp.

Celeste exhaled, steadying herself against the weight of Rowan's words. She wanted to believe Kieran would never turn against her. That the mate bond, the connection they had shared for years, would be enough to hold him to her. But doubt curled around her ribs, tightening like a vice.

Rowan shifted beside her, arms crossed. "You need to be careful."

"Careful?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"The pack is watching. Waiting. If they sense weakness, they'll push harder. And Kieran..." He hesitated. "He's already slipping."

Celeste bit the inside of her cheek. She had known for a while that something was wrong, but hearing it spoken aloud made it feel more real, more irreversible.

A gust of wind swept through the courtyard, rustling the trees. Somewhere in the distance, an owl hooted, a lonely sound in the otherwise silent night.

Celeste turned her gaze toward the packhouse, its windows glowing warmly against the darkness. Inside, Kieran was surrounded by his pack, by wolves who questioned her strength, who whispered doubts into his ears.

Would he listen?

Had he already?

A familiar ache spread through her chest.

She had fought so hard to be a Luna worthy of him, of this pack. She had trained beside the warriors, studied the history of their laws, dedicated herself to proving she belonged.

And yet, it still wasn't enough.

Rowan's voice softened. "You don't have to fight this alone."

Celeste looked at him, at the genuine concern in his eyes. But what could he do? He was Kieran's Beta. His loyalty belonged to the Alpha, not to her.

"I can handle it," she said, forcing strength into her voice.

Rowan held her gaze for a long moment before sighing. "Just...don't let them break you, Celeste."

She swallowed hard. "They won't."

But as she stood there, watching the warm light of the packhouse flicker against the night, she wasn't sure she believed it.

Because something told her the worst was yet to come.

Celeste barely slept.

By the time the first light of dawn crept through her window, she was already awake, lying still beneath the sheets, staring at the ceiling. The weight of last night pressed down on her chest, heavy and unshakable.

She had spent months ignoring the whispers, pretending they didn't matter. But now, they weren't just whispers. They were taking root, growing into something stronger, something dangerous.

And Kieran was letting it happen.

A sharp knock at the door made her sit up. "Come in."

The door opened, and a young omega, Mira, stepped inside, her expression tight. She hesitated before saying, "Alpha Kieran asked for you."

Celeste's heart skipped. He hadn't spoken to her much over the last few days. Maybe this was his way of making things right.

She got dressed quickly, ignoring the nervous energy twisting in her gut. When she stepped outside, the packhouse was already alive with movement-warriors training in the clearing, omegas carrying baskets of supplies, and groups of wolves murmuring to one another.

She felt the stares before she saw them.

Wolves watching her, some with poorly hidden smirks, others with calculating eyes.

Her steps faltered for just a second before she forced herself to keep walking.

Kieran was waiting in the center of the training grounds, surrounded by a few high-ranking wolves. Rowan stood beside him, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

Celeste inhaled deeply and approached. "You wanted to see me?"

Kieran turned, his gaze sweeping over her. "You haven't been training much lately."

Celeste frowned. "I train every morning."

"Not with the others," he corrected, nodding toward the warriors sparring in the clearing.

Her stomach tightened. There was a reason she trained alone. The last time she had joined the warriors, they had made it clear she wasn't welcome-little comments, subtle shoves, "accidental" hits that were just a bit too hard.

But Kieran knew that.

"I want you to spar today," he said, his tone neutral. "With Marcus."

Celeste's fingers curled at her sides. Marcus. The pack's lead warrior, one of Kieran's closest friends-and one of her most vocal critics.

She forced herself to meet Kieran's gaze. "Why?"

"You need to prove you belong here," he said simply.

A slow, cold disbelief spread through her veins. Prove?

A few of the warriors nearby chuckled under their breath.

Celeste swallowed the burn in her throat and squared her shoulders. "Fine."

Kieran nodded toward Marcus. "Begin."

Marcus grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Don't take it personally, Luna."

Celeste took her stance.

Then he lunged.

His first strike was fast-too fast. A real hit, not a test. Celeste barely dodged in time, her heart pounding. He wasn't holding back.

The second blow landed against her ribs, knocking the breath from her lungs.

Pain flared, but she gritted her teeth and retaliated, sweeping her leg out. Marcus dodged easily, shoving her back hard enough to make her stumble.

Laughter rippled through the watching crowd.

Celeste's cheeks burned.

She adjusted her stance, breathing through the pain. Again.

Marcus struck again, harder this time. She blocked, barely, but the impact stung down to her bones.

"You're too slow," he taunted.

A sharp, bitter anger surged in her chest. She knew how to fight. She had trained for years. But she could see it in their eyes-none of them expected her to win. They had already decided she was weak.

And Kieran...

She dared a glance at him, searching his face for something-support, reassurance, anything.

But he only watched, expression blank.

Something inside her cracked.

Marcus swept her legs out from under her, and she hit the ground hard.

Pain lanced through her shoulder. Before she could rise, Marcus was above her, his boot pressing lightly against her chest. Not hard enough to hurt-just enough to humiliate.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

"Yield," Marcus said lazily.

Celeste's vision blurred.

This wasn't training. This was a show. A message.

Kieran wasn't stopping it.

He was letting them break her.

Slowly, deliberately, she turned her head-locking eyes with the mate who was supposed to stand by her side.

And in that moment, she knew.

She was alone.

Celeste lay on the cold ground, Marcus's boot pressing just lightly enough to taunt her, to remind her of her place. Around her, the pack cheered, the sound blending into a dull roar in her ears.

Get up.

But her limbs trembled from the force of the last hit, her ribs screaming in protest.

Marcus smirked down at her, his voice dripping with amusement. "Come on, Luna. I thought you were stronger than this."

Luna. The title felt like a cruel joke.

Celeste's heart pounded, her wolf clawing at the inside of her skin, demanding she fight. But as she shifted, Marcus pressed his foot down just a little harder, not enough to hurt-just enough to humiliate.

Her hands curled into fists.

The warriors were laughing. Some openly, some hiding their smirks behind their hands. Even those who didn't laugh didn't step forward to stop it.

And Kieran...

She lifted her gaze toward him again.

He stood a few feet away, arms crossed, watching in complete silence.

No anger. No outrage. No sign that he would call this off.

Celeste's breath caught, something twisting painfully in her chest.

He's not going to stop it.

Something in her shattered.

Marcus leaned down, his voice low so only she could hear. "This pack will never follow you. Kieran knows it, too. That's why he's letting this happen."

The words hit harder than any blow.

A sharp, cruel whistle cut through the air.

"Enough," Kieran finally said.

Marcus immediately stepped back, but not before flashing her a smug grin.

Celeste forced herself to sit up, her hands pressing into the dirt. Her entire body ached, but it was nothing compared to the hollow, searing pain in her chest.

Kieran stepped forward, looking down at her. For one brief moment, she thought he might offer a hand. That he might help her up.

He didn't.

Instead, he turned to the gathered wolves and said, "Training is over."

The crowd slowly dispersed, wolves murmuring to one another, but not before shooting her satisfied glances.

Marcus walked away without a second look.

Only Rowan lingered, staring at Kieran like he couldn't believe what he had just witnessed.

Celeste forced herself to her feet, swallowing down the humiliation clawing up her throat.

Kieran finally looked at her again, his gaze unreadable. "You need to be stronger."

That was all he said before walking away.

Leaving her standing there, broken and alone.

Celeste's body ached with every step, but the pain was nothing compared to the hollow ache in her chest. She had never felt so small, so utterly alone.

She moved through the packhouse like a ghost, her presence barely acknowledged. The warriors who had once trained beside her walked past without a glance. The omegas whispered when she entered a room. Even the elders, who had once praised her for her dedication to the pack, now looked at her with disapproval.

She had spent years proving herself. Years standing by Kieran's side.

And now they were all turning away.

Her fingers trembled as she reached for the door to her shared room with Kieran. She hesitated. Then, taking a deep breath, she pushed it open.

Kieran wasn't there.

The bed was neatly made, untouched from the night before. His scent was already fading.

A lump formed in her throat, but she swallowed it down. This is just another rough patch. He'll come back to me. He has to.

She sat on the edge of the bed, her muscles screaming in protest. But just as she began to let herself relax, the sound of laughter echoed from the hallway.

Feminine laughter.

Celeste froze.

The voices grew closer.

"...he's finally seeing the truth," a woman said, her tone dripping with satisfaction.

Another chuckled. "He deserves better than a weak Luna."

A sharp, bitter taste filled Celeste's mouth. She knew that voice-Lillian, one of the female warriors. One of the wolves who had never accepted her.

And she was talking about Kieran.

Celeste forced herself to her feet and stepped out into the hallway.

Lillian was standing with two other female warriors, their arms crossed, their faces smug. When they saw her, they didn't even have the decency to look guilty.

Instead, Lillian tilted her head, eyes filled with mock sympathy. "Oh, Luna, you look exhausted. Rough morning?"

The others laughed softly.

Celeste's nails dug into her palms, but she refused to react. "Is there something you need?"

Lillian smirked. "Just passing through. But you might want to check the training grounds later. Kieran's been spending a lot of time there. With me."

The words struck like a blade between her ribs.

Celeste forced her expression to remain blank. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her break.

She turned and walked away, ignoring the laughter that followed her down the hall.

---

That evening, Celeste found herself standing at the edge of the training grounds, hidden in the shadows.

She had told herself she wouldn't come. That it didn't matter. That she didn't care.

But she did.

Her chest tightened as she spotted Kieran sparring with Lillian. They moved in perfect sync, matching each other's strikes effortlessly.

Celeste had once been his partner.

Now, she was nothing more than an outsider watching from the sidelines.

A sharp laugh rang out as Lillian lunged, knocking Kieran onto his back. He let out a low chuckle and pushed himself up, shaking his head.

"You're getting better," he said.

Lillian smirked. "Maybe I just have a good teacher."

Celeste turned away before she could hear more.

Her hands clenched at her sides as she walked back toward the packhouse, each step heavier than the last.

She had always believed that the mate bond was unbreakable. That no matter what happened, it would hold them together.

But now...

Now she wasn't so sure.

And for the first time, she wondered-what if she wasn't meant to be Kieran's Luna at all?

Celeste walked blindly through the corridors of the packhouse, her heart pounding in her ears.

The words she'd overheard rang in her mind, over and over again.

"Maybe I just have a good teacher."

Lillian's voice. Kieran's low chuckle. The way they moved together so easily, so effortlessly-like Celeste had never even been part of his world.

She felt sick.

As she turned a corner, a sharp shoulder bumped into her, sending her stumbling back.

"Watch where you're going."

Marcus.

He barely even glanced at her, but the two warriors beside him chuckled, exchanging knowing looks.

Celeste straightened, her fists clenching at her sides. "You ran into me."

Marcus arched a brow. "Did I?"

One of the warriors, a tall, broad-shouldered man named Tobias, let out a low laugh. "Careful, Marcus. Our Luna is getting bold."

The mocking way he said the word made something burn in Celeste's chest.

She lifted her chin, refusing to let them see her waver. "Say what you really mean."

Marcus smirked. "Fine." He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "A Luna is supposed to be strong, respected, worthy. But tell me, Celeste-who actually respects you anymore?"

The words hit like a slap.

She forced herself to hold his gaze, but it was harder than it should have been.

Marcus leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper. "Kieran doesn't defend you. The pack doesn't follow you. And me?" His lips curled. "I'm just waiting for the day you finally break."

A slow, simmering rage built inside her, but before she could say a word, Tobias let out a loud, exaggerated sigh.

"Come on, Marcus. She's not worth it."

Marcus held her gaze a moment longer, then scoffed and turned away.

Celeste stood frozen as the three of them walked off, their laughter echoing down the hallway.

Her breaths came shallow and uneven, her fingers trembling at her sides.

They weren't just mocking her. They were waiting for her to crumble.

And Kieran was doing nothing to stop it.

---

Later That Night

Celeste sat in the empty dining hall, untouched food in front of her.

She had barely eaten in days.

A creak of a chair made her look up. Rowan slid into the seat across from her, his sharp gaze scanning her face.

"You look like hell," he said bluntly.

Celeste let out a dry laugh. "Thanks."

Rowan leaned back, arms crossed. "Kieran's being an idiot."

Her stomach twisted. "I don't need your pity."

Rowan tilted his head. "I don't pity you. I think you're stronger than you realize. But you keep waiting for Kieran to see it, and I'm telling you-he won't."

Celeste looked away, her throat tight.

He wasn't saying anything she hadn't already felt in her gut.

But hearing it aloud made it real.

Rowan exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "You need to stop breaking yourself for him. If you keep waiting for him to come back to you, you'll be waiting forever."

Celeste swallowed hard. "And what do you suggest I do?"

Rowan held her gaze, voice quiet but firm.

"Rise."

The word settled deep in her bones.

Rise.

She wanted to. But how?

Before she could respond, the door swung open.

Kieran strode in, flanked by Lillian and a few others. They were laughing, their voices light and easy.

Kieran's gaze swept the room-and landed on Celeste.

For a fleeting second, something flickered in his expression.

Then he looked away.

Like she was nothing.

Celeste's breath hitched, something in her chest shattering.

Rowan's voice was calm, but edged with steel.

"See?" he murmured. "He's already gone."

Celeste's fingers dug into the table.

She had spent years loving Kieran. Fighting for him. Fighting for them.

And yet, the moment things got difficult, he had left her behind.

Rowan was right.

She was waiting for a man who wasn't coming back.

The realization was as painful as it was freeing.

Celeste closed her eyes, inhaled deeply-then exhaled.

It was time to stop waiting.

It was time to rise.