Luna's Revenge: Nightshade's Kiss

Raven's POV

"Little girl, how far do you think you can hide them? You think of me as a different person, but you and I are the same," someone cooed in my ear, making me jump from my bed.

I looked around frantically, trying to find the source of the voice.

"Who is it?" I asked, pulling the dagger from under my pillow.

"Who am I? You should be worried about why I am here. You have been having dreams, aren't you? Little visions of something you feel familiar with. And you still ignored them?" The voice asked.

"Look, whoever it is, if you think this is funny, then it isn't," I said, feeling a weird creepiness settle in my bones as I pointed the dagger in random directions.

"Funny? Do you think I am trying to be funny? Well, I wonder what you'll have to say about what you will go through starting this moment," the voice chuckled coldly.

"Miss Blackwood? Miss Blackwood? Are you okay?" I suddenly heard a voice around me, making me open my eyes as I looked at the girl who was doing my makeup.

"I will take it from here," I heard another voice.

"Hey, don't be so nervous. Everything is going to be alright," Christabel, my best friend, said for the umpteenth time.

Everything is going to be okay. I just need to calm down. I have waited for this day for my whole life. Whatever I was feeling was just my nerves working up because of the wedding. I repeated the words in my head.

"I know, Christabel. It's just I feel like something wrong is going to happen," I said helplessly, hiding the truth about my dreams as I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

Sitting in front of me was an elegant lady, dressed in a red bridal gown for her wedding.

Her hair was in a loose bun with light makeup to highlight her features.

Her hazel eyes were especially enchanting today with the excitement they held. Though it was an auspicious day for the girl, why do I see hints of terror in her eyes? I thought as I touched my face.

"Don't touch your face. It will spoil the makeup," Christabel said, pretending to be angry.

'Maybe Christabel is right. I am thinking too much about things,' I thought before standing.

Retouching my lip gloss one last time, I looked into the mirror before smiling politely.

"Miss Blackwood, are you ready to go?

Everyone is waiting downstairs," the maid said respectfully, making Christabel nod.

"She'll come down soon. You can leave,"

Looking at Christabel's suspicious face, I smiled sheepishly as we walked toward the exit of the dressing room.

I am sure if I said one more negative thing, then she is going to show me her claws.

It was still a twenty-minute journey to the wedding place, and I smiled thinking about how I met Flynn and how we had come so far.

Flynn and I aren't mates by fate. We were chosen mates. We fell in love over time and decided to spend the rest of our eternity together.

When Flynn's pack went under attack, they had to flee the area to save their lives. To say our pack and my parents were like a boon to them would be an understatement. They had nowhere to go, and they were barely holding it in with the resources they had.

Since their pack was destroyed, Flynn's father decided to join our pack, The Emberwood pack, and my father was more than ecstatic to have his best friend over.

Over the years, the friendship between Flynn and me turned into love. We went to the same school and used to spend almost most of our time together. When we talked to our parents about the feelings we have for each other, they made us sign an agreement to be each other's chosen mates so that none of us betray each other when we find our fated mates.

It was a collateral decision, and everyone was okay with it.

I am the only child of my parents, Alpha and Luna Blackwood.

Though I am strong and independent because of the alpha blood running in my veins, my father was more than ecstatic when he learned that Flynn and I had chosen each other.

My father has always thought the pack would be more prone to attacks if a female ruled it, and thus, he announced Flynn would take over the pack after marrying me.

It was a gender-biased decision, but I never questioned it because I loved Flynn. What's mine is also his eventually.

A pack under the supervision of two alphas is bound to bloom, and we proved our capabilities over the years.

We both would've married long ago, but my father wanted me to graduate and turn twenty before marriage.

He didn't want to burden me with the Luna duties, and thus, even after his death, I respected his decision, making us wait for two more years for this day to arrive.

After 5 years of secret dating and 2 years of the agreement, I can't help but smile as the day of our wedding was finally here.

Of course, marriage isn't our destination but the beginning of a new journey, and I guess I was ready for it.

"You relax, okay? I will tell you when we'll get there," Christabel said.

"Is Flynn's father already there?" I asked, and Christabel hummed in reply.

My mom and dad both died in rogue attacks and since I didn't have anyone else to walk me down the aisle, Flynn's father volunteered to do so.

As we reached the venue, I looked at Flynn's father, smiling slightly when I saw tears in his eyes that he was trying his best to hide from me.

"Dad," I whispered to him, and he turned to look at me.

"You are an alpha, Dad. Will it look good if people see you crying like this? We are going to continue my father's and your lineage and take care of this pack under your guidance," I consoled him, and he smiled.

"I know, sweetheart. I know you will be a better alpha, or should I say, Luna? I just miss your parents. They would've been so happy today," he said, and I smiled weakly at him.

Of course, they would've been happy. They used to always talk about it.

"Alpha Thane, I don't think you should make her sad like this," Christabel reprimanded him, and I chuckled at her angry look.

"Okay, I am sorry, Mom," Dad joked with her, and she huffed before walking toward me, making me laugh.

After Christabel's parents got killed in a rogue attack, my dad took her and made her family.

However, who would've thought that my father would also die like this, making both of us orphans?

I took Flynn's father's hand as Christabel walked behind me and held my long veil.

Walking towards the altar, I looked in front of me, my eyes meeting Flynn's eyes, making me blush a bit.

Once I reached the altar, Father gave my hand to Flynn, and he smiled.

"Don't worry, Mr. Caleb. I will take care of your friend's daughter, and she will always be my priority," Flynn said, and I smiled shyly.

Once on the stage, I stood in front of him, and we said our vows to each other before the priest marked us as husband and wife.

"Since you are chosen mates and not mates by fate, you can seal the bond by marking each other. It will be a representation of your unending love," the priest said, and I don't know if I was being paranoid, but I saw some hesitancy in Flynn's eyes when the priest mentioned marking.

"Hey, if you are not comfortable doing it in front of everyone, we can skip it for now," I suggested, not wanting to push it, and he shook his head.

Taking my hand in his, he tilted my head, making me hold his neck to a perfect angle as we sank our teeth into each other's flesh, making everyone around us howl in joy.

"You have a beautiful mark," Flynn complimented after he cleaned my wound, and I smiled.

"It's given to me by my love. Of course, it will be beautiful," I said before taking the mirror from Christabel's hand to look at my mark.

"It's beautiful, no?" Christabel asked, but I looked at the mark on my neck, feeling ‌weird.

The rare white wolf is mine, but why does it look like the black wolf isn't looking toward my wolf? What does this mean? I thought as I felt the same weirdness in my heart rising again.

Stop being paranoid, Raven. I told myself before smiling again.

"Hey, Raven? What are you thinking?" Flynn asked me as he circled his hand around my waist, and I shook my head.

"Nothing, I just can't wait to share a room with you," I winked at him, and he chuckled awkwardly, making me squint my brows even more.

"Why? You are not excited?" I asked, and he shook his head.

"Don't think like that. Let's attend to the guests," Flynn said, not giving me a direct answer, and before I could ask anything else, he left my side, making me look at his back.

"Raven? What are you thinking about? Let's get you in an evening gown. We need to attend the after-party. This gown is too heavy, and you need to save your energy for later, no?" Christabel winked at me, and I slapped her shoulder, feeling shy.

"You are such a naughty girl, Chris," I said.

"I am naughty? Well, the hickeys on Flynn's body tomorrow morning will tell me who is more naughty," she said, and I blushed even more.

Raven's POV

"Are you nervous?" Christabel asked me again, and I glared at her.

"What? Don't give me that look. Even a nun can tell what naughty thoughts are going inside your head," She said, and I sighed.

"Christabel Lane, if you don't get out of her room this second, then I am going to make sure you are not able to walk for a week," I heard Kane, Christabel's mate's voice, and I looked at Christabel, who was blushing profusely.

"You! I am sure you called him," Christabel accused me, and I shrugged.

"Well, you didn't leave me any choice either," I said.

I sighed loudly as soon as Christabel left, and I couldn't help but notice something weird now that I was alone.

Flynn didn't come with me. The whole evening, he had acted more distant than he had ever been.

'Hey, Kira. What happened to you? You have been quiet today,' I asked, but rather than her reply, I just heard her small whimper.

'At least talk to me, Kira. How am I supposed to know what is wrong when you won't speak?' I asked again, and she sighed.

'I felt something weird during the wedding, Raven. I can't feel his wolf anymore. I tried to look for Flynn's wolf, but it felt like he wasn't there. They had blocked us,' Kira said, and I looked out of the balcony thoughtfully.

Is something wrong with Flynn and his wolf?

"Come in," I said when I heard a knock, not moving from the balcony.

I was hoping Flynn come hug me from behind like he always does. However, when I didn't feel his arms around me, I squinted my brows before turning around.

Seeing a girl standing in front of me, along with Flynn, I sighed.

So that's the reason. He didn't want to look inappropriate in front of the stranger.

Wait. A stranger?

"Who are you? I am sure you don't work in the mansion. Even if you are new, why did you enter our room in the middle of the night?

Who hired you?" I asked, confused.

"Why are you looking at him? Let me call the head maid. How can she hire someone and allow her to roam without proper instructions? It's not good for her. What if someone bullies her -"

"She is not a maid," Flynn cut me off.

He didn't look too pleasant at the moment.

What was going on here?

"If she isn't a maid, then what is she doing here? You have brought her to meet me? Is she a friend? Or distant sister?" I asked, looking between the girl and him.

As I took a step forward, I noticed how the girl in front of me winced slightly, and Flynn held her hand, making me squint my brows.

"Why is she acting afraid of me?" I asked, looking at him now.

"She is not a friend, and neither a distant sister," he said, and I looked at the hesitancy in his eyes.

It was the same hesitancy he had shown when the priest asked to mark me and seal the bond. Why is he acting like this today, after our wedding? I thought before I tried to put two and two together.

He was hesitant to mark me. He was hesitant when I talked about our wedding night. Then he brought a girl to our room. The girl doesn't belong to our pack and is neither a friend nor a sister.

I don't want to think of things like that. I don't want to think negatively and ruin my mood, but why do I feel like this girl was -

"She is my mate," Flynn completed my thoughts, and I looked at them in shock and horror, feeling the ground under my feet shaking as my legs trembled.

His words pierced right through my heart like wooden arrows.

"She is what?" I asked again.

"Haha, Blake. Maybe my paranoia has gotten to my head. You are calling her your maid, and I am hearing mate. We will discuss her salary later. Send her away. We have waited for seven years for this day," I said and was about to walk towards him when the girl beside him whimpered, and he brought her close to his chest, making my heart skip a beat.

"Your mind is not playing tricks on you, Raven. You heard it right. She is my mate. My fated mate," He said, and Kira growled inside me.

"Wh-what are you talking about, Flynn? You found your mate and now what?" I whispered, my eyes brimming with tears, and I clenched my fists to control my raging emotions.

"Calm down, Raven. We can talk this through," His tone was still as calm as ever, but how could he expect me to calm down in a situation like this?

For seven years. I waited for this day for seven years, and now that it is here, he brought his mate here and told me everything is useless. How can he do this to me and expect me to calm down?

Was my love for so long a joke to him?

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes to control the hurt I was feeling before opening them again.

"Even if she is your fated mate, what is the use of bringing her to our wedding room? We have signed an agreement. You know what you need to do. What is this all ruckus for?" I asked, and he looked at me cautiously.

"I can't reject her, Raven," He gritted his teeth, and I looked at him, my heart beating at a fast pace now.

"What the hell are you talking about? We signed a contract! Reject her this instant!" I growled at him.

"Raven Blackwood! Don't you dare raise your voice at me? I am still your husband and the rightful alpha of the pack," Flynn growled back at me and my heart sank into the pit of my stomach.

"Darling, don't be mean to her. She is just being emotional," That girl placed her hand on Flynn's chest in a provoking manner, and a few tears rolled down my eyes.

"Do you see her, Raven? This is how a mate should act. She calms and soothes my anger. Something that you can't ever do because you are incapable," Flynn scoffed, and every word he spoke was like a slap to my face for loving him.

"You will never understand what I am feeling right now. You don't have a mate after all," Flynn scoffed, pulling that girl closer to himself and kissing her forehead, shattering my heart into tiny pieces.

"Y-you. How could you do this to me, Flynn?

Why now after all this time? Why now?" I broke down before turning away.

This man who has given me this pain doesn't deserve to see my tears.

"Everyone should be in the pack's hall in five minutes," I growled through the mind link and noticed Flynn wincing a bit before he looked at me with a hard gaze.

"Raven, this is a matter between us. You don't need to bring everyone into this," Flynñ said, and I can't believe that he still dares to defend this matter.

"Everyone needs to be a part of it. It has always been the rule of this pack. Besides, you are the alpha of the pack now, Flynn. Don't think impulsively," I said before walking towards the hall.

Seeing the crowd in the hall, I gulped a bit.

Though I acted strong inside the room, I wasn't sure about it anymore. My legs felt like giving up as my body shook with pain. I don't know if this was what rejection felt like, but in my heart, it felt like someone was stabbing me again and again.

Wiping the tears that flew from my eyes, I took a deep breath before walking ahead in the hall.

I don't know how humiliating this matter is going to become for the pack.

Their late Alpha's daughter just got married today, and they got a new alpha. On the same night, they were about to hear such a piece of news about their wedding.

"Raven? Why did you call everyone in such a hurry? Are we under some kind of emergency? Is something wrong?" Flynn's father asked me with a knowing look, and for some reason, it felt like he already knew about it.

"Your new alpha, Alpha Flynm, has something to say. Flynn," I said, and he looked at me with dark eyes as he gripped the girl's hand in a tighter protective grip.

"I am sorry. I know I should've informed everyone regarding this matter before the wedding, but I have no intention of leaving Luna Raven, thus I didn't tell her beforehand. I didn't want to spoil our day. I thought she would understand the matter, but it looks like she is more interested in creating a fuss than having a peaceful night," Flynn said.

I looked towards the ceiling, trying my best to control the tears that were wanting to fall.

Wow, according to him, I am fussing. He brings his mate that he can't reject, and I am fussing.

"What is the matter, Alpha Flynn?" Kane, who was also my Beta, said, and everyone nodded their heads.

"I found my mate. My fated mate," Flynn sighed, and everyone gasped before looking at me as if waiting for some kind of reaction from me.

"I don't see why there is a problem with that.

According to the agreement, ‌reject your mate.

That's what both of you had signed and vowed to each other. Why are you extending this thing and making it harder for yourself and the poor girl?" Christabel asked, and Flynn glared at her.

"I can't reject her," He said, and once again, everyone looked at me.

"Can I know the reason why you can't reject her? You didn't hesitate to sign the agreement.

And it was signed in front of the pack, my late parents, and your parents. And before that, I want to know when you came to know she is your mate?" I asked, and he looked away.

"It's been a week since I found her. I met her when I went to the southern areas. I can't reject her because she has already suffered so much in her previous pack. You guys won't believe how pitiful she was when I found her," Flynn brought that girl closer to him.

"She had wounds all over her body. She was barely alive. I can't reject her and have her suffer the mate-rejection pain too. Her wolf won't be able to take it. She will die, and I don't want that. I am sure you are not too inhumane to want that either," Flynn said, and I looked at him, a feeling of self-mockery settling in me.

"Her wolf would die because of the rejection.

What about me? Were my seven years of love a joke to you? Why don't you think about my wolf?" I asked, feeling sad, and Flynn looked away, not answering me.

"So, now what? You guys took your oaths today only. Are you going to reject our Luna?" Kane asked, and it brought tears to my eyes.

"There is nothing like that. Luna Raven will still be my rightful wife. What I am trying to say is, I can't reject my mate. My wolf w

Raven's POV

Pain. Humiliation. Betrayal. Hatred. Helplessness. Anguish.

All these feelings combined can't even describe how I am feeling at the moment.

Looking ahead, I kept running, changing back into my human form.

I don't know how long it has been since I've been running. Was it an hour? Two hours? I don't know. All I know is that I had never felt so helpless in my whole life. They took away the only hope of my happiness from me without a care.

Can I still be the Luna? What is the use of this title if I can't have the love of the person I love the most?

"Why did this happen to me, the moon goddess took away my mom from me, then you took away my dad. Flynn was my only hope for survival, and now you took him too?

What did I ever do to you?" I cried in anguish as I fell to the ground, realizing I was in front of my parent's graves.

"Dad, you only wanted Flynn to take over the alpha position because you thought everyone would challenge an alpha female, and it would weaken the pack.

Are you happy now? If I would've been the alpha right now, I would've ordered him to reject his mate. But I was never enough because I was a female, no? Are you happy seeing me shattered like this?" I asked while looking at the sky.

Closing my eyes, I bit my lips as I felt like my heart was slowly breaking into pieces I would never be able to collect. I was bleeding without any wounds.

My throat felt clogged, and my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach, making it hard for me to breathe. I was becoming anxious.

All the possibilities about the future felt like they were erased by someone.

"Raven, where are you? It's been more than an hour since you left. Lina has finally gained consciousness," I heard Christabel's worried voice through the mind link.

Running straight towards the hospital, I felt contemplated when I didn't see Flynn there.

However, I didn't have to think for long as Lina turned to me and smiled.

"Look, who's here? The almighty Luna Raven.

But, are you a Luna anymore? I mean, as far as I remember, Flynn is the alpha now, and he has chosen me. So I am Luna here, right?"

Lina scoffed, her gaze not wavering from me even for a second.

Flynñ said she was an omega, but judging from her energy, she was not an omega.

"Why are you doing all this? Would you be really happy being called a second woman all her life? Flynn has married me. So no matter what you do or are, I will always be his first one," I tried to reason with her.

It was a sick move.

Honestly, Raven, when her parents were alive, would've never done that. I am sure of it.

Begging and reasoning with the person who took away my happiness?

I know I was stooping low now, but I didn't have any choice. I was at my wit's end right now. I wanted to do anything I could to save my relationship.

"Why are you acting like this, Luna? I know you think‌ I came between you and Flynn, but don't you think you are wrong? I am his fated mate.

He is supposed to be with me for eternity. You were the one who had come between us.

You are the third person between us, the second woman, and in the local language, the names slut, and a housewrecker," She said, and Kira growled inside me, her words feeling like a slap on my face.

"How dare you provoke me like this!" I growled at her, and she whimpered at my voice.

"Please don't act like this, Luna. You are scaring me now. I am sure my mate, the alpha of this pack won't like it. I don't want you to get humiliated in front of your pack again."

She said in her lotus voice, and before I could understand what was happening, she suddenly tore off the bandages on her wrists, making me widen my eyes.

What is she doing?

"Luna Raven, please don't do this to me. I am sorry. I wanted to die myself, but I failed.

Please, for the sake of the alpha of the pack, don't do this. It's hurting. If you want to kill me, just do it. Don't torture me like this," Lina fell to her knees before hitting her head on the ground and scratching her arms, making me look at her in horror.

Why was she doing all this? What was this all about? Is she mad or -

My thoughts were interrupted when Flynn opened the door with a loud bang, and before I could do anything, she tugged my hair, making me swat her away, the pressure being a bit too intense as she fell a few feet away from me.

"Lina!" He shouted before looking at me accusingly.

"You crossed your limits, Raven Blackwood!"

Flynn growled at me as his eyes glowered, representing his wolf.

This can't be a coincidence. She framed me!

"Flynn, I didn't do anything. She is nothing like you think she is. It's all her plans. She isn't even an omega. I bet she is tricking you by acting pitiful. Believe me, she did it -"

"Oh, cut it out! I knew you were competitive, but I didn't know you could be this cruel, Raven," Flynn seethed at me.

Taking my hand in his, he pulled me over to the hall where everyone had been since earlier, and he threw me in the center, making me snarl as people took a step away from me.

"Your Luna today crossed her limits and attacked a member of the pack without any physical provocation from the member. I am sure everyone knows what the punishment is for it," Flynn said, and I froze.

"Guards! Circle her so that she doesn't run away. I am the alpha of the pack, and I don't want people to think that people close to me can get away even after breaking rules," Flynn said, his voice devoid of any emotions.

Punishment. How hard his heart has gotten against me ‌for him to mention punishment so easily?

"I just didn't reject my mate, and I don't see why there is such a fuss about it. Luna Raven here tried to kill the alpha's mate today. I am still willing to let her go with this if she apologizes to my mate. And if she isn't willing to apologize, then as per the rules of the pack, she will be whipped 20 times," Flynn said, and I looked at him in mere amazement.

Is he the same guy who used to tell me he would never let someone even touch me? Is he the same guy to whom I gave my seven years of youth?

"Does anyone have any objections?" Flynn asked everyone, and to my utmost horror, all the pack members that I thought were my family, took a step back, not saying anything.

This was my pack, but they have accepted Flynn just like that? Have they forgotten who I am? Just because I am a female, I am being ridiculed like this?

"You must be out of your mind, Flynn!

Raven is your wife. You broke the agreement by not rejecting your mate, yet you expect her to accept your mate and respect her?

Didn't you know about these things earlier? Or is it because you were eyeing the position of the alpha of the pack that you waited till the wedding before showing your true colors?"

Christabel growled, and I froze when I realized how accurate her words sounded.

"Christabel Lane! Whether I waited or I conspired, I am still your alpha. I won't think twice about snapping your neck if you talked to me like that again," Flynn said, and I looked at him, feeling more and more shocked.

"Chris, stay out of this," I said to her.

The man I loved is against me. The pack that belonged to me is against me, so what do I even have to fight for?

Christabel is pregnant. I don't want her to stress and harm her baby because of me.

I noticed how everyone was looking at me as if waiting for my answer, and I smiled.

'What do you think, Kira?' I asked her, and she sighed weakly.

'You know my answer. It's the same as yours,' She said, and I nodded.

"I, Raven Blackwood, the daughter of Asher and Astrid Blackwood, have never bowed down in front of anyone, and I will not apologize for a mistake I didn't even commit.

Make it 50, the whips. However, neither Flynn nor any of his people should touch me," I said, looking at all the pack members, who bowed their heads in shame.

"Raven, don't be so hard on yourself," Christabel cried as she hugged me, and I shook my head.

"Kane! Do it!" I said, and he whimpered before pleading with me with his eyes, my hard stare, making him nod dejectedly.

"Kane! No! You can't do that to my sister! Kane! I will forever hate you if that stick even touched her skin," Christabel cried as she held his legs, and I looked at her, feeling pity taking over me.

I looked into Flynn's eyes, his quivering eyes, making me smile.

I and my wolf refuse to kneel to anyone, but I was ready to make an exception today to save our relationship. Judging from the look on Flynn's face, this relationship isn't worth saving.

"Start! One!" I growled, and as soon as I said that, I felt a piercing pain in my back when the stick hit me, making me take a sharp breath.

"Again! Two!" I growled as he hit me again.

"No!" Christabel shouted as she struggled against Susan and Maya.

Ten.

Nineteen.

"Raven, you can stop this. Just apologize to Lina, and we are good," Flynn said, and I scoffed as I touched my back, my wolf whimpering when I saw a little blood on my hand.

'It's just a little blood, Kira. I can bear it,' I told her before closing my eyes as I tried my hardest to control my tears from falling.

"What are you waiting for? Continue! Twenty!" I growled at Kane.

"Kane, I will forever hate you!" Chris growled, and I sighed before closing my eyes as I opened them again and looked at Flynn.

Thirty-one.

Forty.

Forty-nine.

Fifty!

Growling in pain, I fell forward before supporting myself on my hands and panting heavily.

"Leave me!" Christabel growled threateningly, and I looked at Susan and Maya before nodding as Christabel rushed and slid in front of me, hugging me as she cried, making my eyes brim with tears as I felt pain all over my body.

My body was aching all over, but more than that, my heart was in pain.

"If Uncle Asher and Aunt Astrid would've been here, you would've never felt this justice,"

Christabel said as she looked at Thane, Blake's father, who fisted his hands, and I shook my head at her.

He probably knew everything and chose to make an exception. It was useless talking about it now. The damage was done.

"Stop it," I said to her before smiling, feeling less hateful toward myself now.