The Banished Luna's Awakening.

"I, Alpha Matteo of the Red Moon Pack," his voice rang loud and cold across the packed ceremonial grounds, "reject you, Lara Alvarez, as my mate and Luna."

The words slammed into me like a silver blade to the chest. For a second, the world went silent. My heart stuttered, then dropped violently into my stomach. No. This couldn't be real.

No... not him. Not the man who had held me through countless nights of terror. For years, I had feared this exact moment. Every time the elders whispered about my barren womb, every time the pack members sneered at me behind my back, calling me worthless, an ill omen, a wolfless disgrace - I had run to him in tears. And every single time, Matteo had pulled me into his strong arms, kissed the tears from my cheeks, and whispered promises against my hair.

"I don't care what they say, Lara. You're mine. I will never reject you. Never."

"Let them talk. My wolf chose you. That's enough."

"I'll protect you. Always."

I had believed him. Goddess, how foolishly I had believed him.

Because despite everything - despite the pack's open hatred, despite their constant reminders that I was broken and useless - I had worked myself to the bone for them. As the intended Luna, I had poured everything I had into this pack. I rose before dawn to oversee training fields, spent hours in the kitchens ensuring every warrior was well-fed, mediated disputes until my voice grew hoarse, and stayed up late into the night balancing pack finances and organizing ceremonies. I exhausted myself day after day, pushing my weak body past its limits, all in a desperate attempt to prove I was worthy. To make them see me. To earn even a scrap of their approval.

Matteo had hated it. He would pull me into his lap at night, frowning as he massaged my aching shoulders. "You're tiring yourself out again, Lara. I don't like it. You don't have to prove anything to them."

But I never listened. I kept going. Kept sacrificing. Kept smiling through their cruel whispers because I thought that if I gave enough, they would finally accept me as their Luna. He had given me hope. He had made me believe that his love was stronger than the pack's hatred, stronger than my empty womb, stronger than the ugly birthmark I hid so desperately beneath high collars.

And now he was the one delivering the blow I had dreaded most.

My trembling fingers instinctively rose to my throat, pressing the fabric of my dress hard against the large, discolored birthmark on my collarbone - the mark that had made me feel hideous since I was a child. The mark that proved I was damaged. Unworthy.

Matteo stood tall on the raised platform, jaw clenched so tightly I could see the muscle jumping. His eyes... Goddess, his eyes looked haunted, but he didn't look away, not even when the whispers erupted around us.

"Finally."

"She was never fit to be Luna."

"The pack needs an heir. Alpha deserves better."

I kept my gaze fixed on him, desperate for any sign that this was a nightmare. That the man who once vowed to burn the world for me would take it all back.

But Matteo's jaw tightened further, his fists clenched at his sides. The bond between us-the fragile, golden thread I had clung to for years-shattered with a pain so sharp I gasped aloud.

Matteo lifted his chin, his voice booming across the ceremonial grounds like a death sentence.

"I, Alpha Matteo of the Red Moon Pack, hereby banish you, Lara Alvarez, from these lands and from the protection of this pack. You are no longer one of us. Your name shall be struck from the records."

The words hit harder than the rejection itself.

A broken sob tore from my throat before I could stop it. Banished. Not just cast aside as a mate-erased. Thrown out like garbage.

The crowd erupted. Some mocked me. Others looked away, but none spoke in my defense. Not a single soul.

I staggered back a step, my legs threatening to give out. My fingers dug harder into the fabric at my throat, pressing the ugly birthmark as if I could somehow hide the proof of my unworthiness even now.

"Matteo..." His name slipped out, raw and pleading. For a fraction of a second, something flickered in his eyes-pain, regret, maybe even the ghost of love. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

"You have until the next week," he continued, voice flat and merciless. "Take nothing that belongs to the pack. Leave, Lara. And never return."

The elders behind him smiled. One even placed a proud hand on his shoulder.

Tears burned down my cheeks, hot and humiliating. Every promise he had whispered in the dark, every gentle kiss, every time he had called me "mine"... all of it turned to ash in that moment. I lifted my chin, forcing myself to meet his eyes one last time, even as my heart broke into a thousand pieces.

Matteo turned to leave.

Desperation clawed up my throat. I stripped away the last shred of my dignity and screamed after him, my voice raw and broken.

"Matteo!" I cried, sobs tearing out of me. "Do you ever love me?! Tell me the truth! Did you ever love me at all? Or were you just using me this whole time? Did you say all those sweet things... all those promises... because you pitied me? Do you believe what they say? That I'm worthless? That I'm a curse to this pack? That I'm an ill omen who will only bring ruin? Do you really think I never deserved to be your Luna? Did you ever love me... even for one second?!"

My entire body shook with violent sobs. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I looked pathetic. Broken. Worthless - exactly what they had always said.

Matteo stopped. He turned back slowly. For one heartbeat, I saw the torment in his eyes - the way his jaw clenched, the slight tremble in his fists, the pain flashing across his face. It looked like he was dying inside.

But before he could speak, Elder Marcus stepped forward with a cold, disgusted sneer. "Enough of this shameful spectacle," the elder spat. "If I were you, Lara, I would crawl away with whatever tiny bit of dignity you have left. Look at you, crying and begging like a pathetic stray. The Moon Goddess has finally answered our prayers."

He gestured proudly toward Selene, who stood with both hands gently placed over her swollen belly.

"Unlike you, a barren, wolfless, and utterly worthless Luna. Selene is carrying the Alpha's son. A strong heir who will secure the future of this pack. At least now we will have a Luna who is worthy. A strong Luna who can fight beside our Alpha, who can bring power and prosperity instead of shame and misfortune. We needed someone strong. Not you."

Each word felt like a knife twisting deeper into my already bleeding heart.

The words sank in like poison.

His son.

While I had been desperately trying to conceive... while I had been making love to him, believing every sweet promise he whispered in the dark... he had gotten another woman pregnant. Her stomach was swollen, appearing to be at least six or seven months.

The betrayal hit harder than the rejection itself. Fresh, guttural sobs tore out of me. I wrapped my arms around my empty, useless womb and doubled over, crying so hard I could barely breathe.

I couldn't breathe. My chest heaved with ugly, choking sobs as fresh pain ripped through me. The man who once kissed my scars and called me beautiful. The promises, the hugs, the late-night whispers - all of it had been pity. All of it had been lies.

Matteo's eyes met mine one final time. He said nothing.

He turned his back on me and walked away.

Overnight, everything had changed.

I was no longer allowed to sleep in the bedroom I once shared with Matteo. Instead, I was ordered to move to the maids' quarters. I had less than three days to gather my belongings and disappear from this pack forever.

When I reached the small, dimly lit room, I paused at the doorway, my heart heavy. It was cramped and simple - just three bunk beds squeezed into a narrow space. Two of the lower bunks were already occupied by sleeping maids. Their breathing was soft and steady. They didn't even stir as I stepped inside.

I quietly set down the few things I had managed to carry: a worn bag stuffed with clothes, my toothbrush, and one pair of shoes. The rest of my belongings were still back in Matteo's room. Deep down, I knew they would probably be thrown away or burned before I could ever return for them.

The top bunk was empty. I climbed the creaky wooden ladder slowly, careful not to make any noise that might wake the others. Once I lay down on the thin, lumpy mattress, the weight of the day finally crashed over me.

I closed my eyes tightly, but the tears refused to stay hidden. They slipped out anyway, hot and silent, trailing down my temples and into my hair. Everything hurt - my chest, my pride, my future. The life I had known was crumbling around me, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

That night, the only sounds in the quiet room were my muffled sobs and the painful cracking of my shattered heart. Sleep came slowly, and when it did, it was shallow and restless.

---

I had only managed a short, fitful nap when a sudden shock of freezing water slammed into my body.

I gasped sharply and bolted upright, nearly losing my balance on the narrow top bunk. The icy water soaked through my clothes instantly, cutting straight to my bones. Violent shivers wracked my frame as I wrapped my arms tightly around myself, trying desperately to hold in what little warmth I had left.

"About time you woke up, lazy bum," one of the maids sneered.

The other girl burst into loud, mocking laughter as they watched me tremble in confusion and cold.

"Sleeping until eight in the morning?" the second one taunted, her voice dripping with disdain. "What, did you think you were still the Luna? That you could laze around like before? Get down here. You have a lot of work waiting for you in the laundry room."

Anger flared inside me, hot and sudden. For a moment, I wanted to snap back at them - to remind them who I had been. But the truth settled heavily in my chest. I wasn't the Luna anymore. I had no wolf. No power. No protection.

Reacting with pride would only make them target me more.

So I swallowed the bitter words, climbed down the ladder on shaky legs, and quickly changed into the plain, faded clothes I had brought. Without saying a word, I followed them out of the room.

When we reached the laundry room, they led me to an enormous pile of white sheets. It was clearly too much work for one person - the kind of load that was usually shared between four or five maids. Sara and Clara stood back, arms crossed, watching me with smug little smiles.

They had done this on purpose. They wanted to break me on my very first day.

Their eyes dared me to complain. They knew I couldn't fight back. A wolfless girl like me was easy prey.

I lowered my gaze and began working without protest.

The hours dragged on painfully. My fingers grew raw and swollen from the harsh soap and endless scrubbing. Every time I straightened my back, it cracked loudly, sending sharp aches through my spine. Sweat trickled down my forehead, stinging my eyes. My arms trembled with exhaustion.

I couldn't remember ever feeling this drained. Back when I was Luna, even when I spent long hours doing paperwork in my office, Matteo would always appear with a tray of warm food. He never allowed me to skip meals. His care had been quiet, but constant.

Now, I hadn't eaten. I hadn't bathed. My stomach ached with emptiness, and my throat felt painfully dry.

Finally, I couldn't bear it any longer. I straightened up slowly, my vision spinning for a few frightening seconds. My voice came out hoarse and weak as I turned toward the two maids who were casually sitting on stools, chatting.

"Excuse me... I've washed almost all the sheets. Only three are left. Please... can I take a short break to eat something? I'm so tired."

Each word felt like sandpaper in my throat.

Sara, the blonde one, looked at me with open contempt. "You're not even finished, and you already want food?" She let out a cold laugh. "Don't make me laugh."

My hands shook as I clenched them at my sides. "But I've done most of it... This is too much. It's maltreatment."

Clara, the brunette, threw her head back and laughed loudly, as if I had told the funniest joke. "Maltreatment? This is nothing. I was even given the choice to send you to the brothel to sell your body, but I didn't. You should be thanking me instead of complaining about a little work and food."

The humiliation burned deep in my chest. I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. Instead, I bit down hard on my lip and bent over the washbasin again, continuing in silence.

That was when the door to the laundry room opened.

Sara and Clara instantly dropped to their knees, bowing low with exaggerated respect.

"Greetings to the Luna!" they called out in unison.

Even without looking up, I knew who had entered.

Selene.

I kept scrubbing, my raw fingers moving mechanically, refusing to acknowledge her presence. Her elegant heels clicked slowly across the floor until they stopped directly in front of me - close enough that I could see the expensive leather clearly in my line of sight.

She said nothing.

She simply stood there, looking down at my soaked, exhausted, broken form.

Selene didn't speak at first.

She simply stood there, her expensive heels planted firmly in my line of vision, the faint scent of her rose perfume cutting through the damp, soapy air of the laundry room. I kept my head down, my raw fingers still moving mechanically over the last sheet, scrubbing even though my arms felt like lead.

I could feel her eyes on me.

"Leave us," Selene said softly to Sara and Clara. Her voice was smooth, almost gentle, but it carried the unmistakable weight of command.

The two maids didn't hesitate. They rose quickly from their knees, murmuring respectful farewells before hurrying out of the room and closing the door behind them with a soft click. The sudden silence felt heavier than their mocking laughter.

Only then did Selene speak again.

"Look at me, Lara."

My hands stilled in the water. For a long moment, I considered ignoring her. But defiance would only make this worse. Slowly, painfully, I straightened my aching back and lifted my gaze to meet hers.

She looked radiant. Her skin glowed with health, her hair perfectly styled, and her clothes expensive and immaculate. The complete opposite of how I must have looked - drenched in sweat and dirty water, eyes swollen from crying, fingers red and cracked.

Selene smiled. It didn't reach her eyes. "You've had a long morning, haven't you?" she said, tilting her head slightly. "Working like a common maid on your first day. How... humbling."

I said nothing. My throat was too dry, my body too exhausted to form words that wouldn't shake.

She took a slow step closer, her heels clicking once against the tiled floor. "The elders have made a decision. As you know, I'm carrying the Alpha's child. But the pregnancy has been... difficult. The healers say I'm physically weak. My body needs strength to nourish the future heir."

Her eyes dropped deliberately to my collarbone, where my high collar had slipped slightly during work, revealing just the edge of the large, ugly birthmark I had spent years hiding.

"They believe a blood transfusion... would stabilize me." Her smile widened, sweet and poisonous. "And since you're still here for a few more days, the elders have decided that you will donate what is needed."

My stomach dropped.

Blood. They wanted my blood.

The room seemed to tilt. I gripped the edge of the washbasin tightly, my swollen fingers protesting at the pressure. They couldn't get rid of me last night, so they decided to drain my blood to slowly kill me?

"Why... why my blood?" I whispered, my voice hoarse and cracking.

Selene let out a soft, pitying laugh. "Because the healers believe it will be effective. And because Matteo has already agreed. He said it was the least you could do for the pack after... everything."

The words hit like a fresh slap.

Matteo had agreed.

Of course, he had.

I thought of all the nights he had held me, whispering that I was enough, that we would find a way despite my wolflessness and the mark on my skin. Now he was willing to drain me to strengthen the woman carrying his child. Something inside me cracked wider.

"I... I'm already weak," I said quietly, my eyes burning with fresh tears I refused to let fall. "I haven't eaten since yesterday. I've been working for hours without rest. Taking my blood now..."

"Will you refuse the Alpha's order?" Selene interrupted, her voice turning sharper. "After everything this pack has given you? After you failed to give us an heir? After you brought shame upon us with your... defect?"

She stepped even closer, lowering her voice to a whisper that felt like venom sliding into my ear.

"Or would you rather I tell the pack that you're refusing to help the future Luna and her unborn child? That the wolfless, marked girl is still trying to be difficult even in banishment?"

My hands trembled violently. The exhaustion, the hunger, the humiliation - it all pressed down on me until I felt like I was drowning.

I hated her.

I hated Matteo.

But most of all, in that moment, I hated how powerless I truly was.

Selene straightened up, smoothing down her perfect dress. "The healer is waiting in the infirmary. Sara and Clara will escort you there once you finish those last sheets. Don't keep us waiting too long, Lara. We wouldn't want you to cause any more trouble before you leave."

She turned gracefully on her heel and walked toward the door, pausing only at the threshold.

"Oh, and one more thing," she added without turning around. "Try not to faint. It would be terribly inconvenient."

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving me alone in the heavy silence.

I stood there for a long moment, staring at the murky water in the basin. My vision blurred again, this time not just from exhaustion. The tears I had been holding back finally spilled over, mixing with the sweat and grime on my face.

I had thought the rejection and banishment were the worst things that could happen.

But this... this was something else.

They weren't just throwing me out.

They were going to bleed me dry first.

With trembling hands, I forced myself to finish the last three sheets. When I was finally done, Sara and Clara returned, their smirks wider than before.

The door finally opened again.

Sara and Clara stepped inside, their faces twisted with smug satisfaction.

"Done already?" Clara mocked. "How hardworking of you, former Luna."

"Time to go," Sara added, grabbing my upper arm roughly. "The healer is waiting."

They didn't give me a chance to wash my hands or change my damp, dirty clothes. They simply dragged me out of the laundry room and through the familiar halls of the packhouse. My wet shoes squeaked against the floor with every exhausted step. My vision kept blurring at the edges, and my legs felt dangerously unsteady.

By the time we reached the infirmary, my breathing was shallow and ragged.

The room was brightly lit and coldly sterile. The healer - an older woman named Mira who had once treated my minor injuries with kindness- now avoided my eyes completely. On a neatly arranged tray lay syringes, tubes, and several empty blood bags.

Selene was already there. She sat comfortably in a padded chair, looking every bit the delicate, precious Luna the pack now worshipped. Her hand rested lightly over her stomach as if protecting her baby.

Matteo was nowhere to be seen.

"Strap her down," Selene ordered calmly. "We don't want any accidents."

Sara and Clara shoved me into the cold metal chair. They fastened thick straps around my wrists and upper arm with unnecessary force. The rough fabric bit into my already aching skin.

Healer Mira hesitated for a brief second before inserting the large needle into the crook of my arm. The sharp sting made me flinch. "Try to relax," the healer murmured, almost too quietly for anyone else to hear.

Relax.

As if that were possible.

The machine began its steady work. I felt the pull immediately - the slow, continuous draw of blood leaving my body. Drop by drop. Bag by bag. At first, it was just discomfort. Then came the coldness. A deep, creeping chill that started in my arm and spread through my veins. My heartbeat echoed loudly in my ears. The room grew dimmer.

Selene watched with quiet fascination, occasionally sipping from a glass of water as if she were attending a casual gathering.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours.

My head grew heavier. My thoughts became sluggish. The hatred burning in my chest was the only thing that still felt sharp. I remembered Matteo's arms around me. His promises. The way he once kissed the birthmark I hated so much and told me it made me unique. All of it felt like a cruel joke now.

With every drop of blood that filled the bag, that old love twisted further - burning, rotting, transforming into something dark and unbreakable.

Hatred.

Pure, ice-cold hatred.

My breathing grew shallower. Black spots danced across my vision. My lips felt numb.

"Enough," Selene said eventually, waving a graceful hand. "We don't want her dying before she leaves the territory. That would be... messy."

The healer removed the needle and pressed a cotton pad against my arm. Blood continued to seep slowly through it - my body too weak to clot properly.

They unstrapped me.

The moment I tried to stand, the world spun violently. My knees buckled. Sara and Clara caught me before I could collapse completely, laughing under their breath.

"Pathetic," one of them whispered.

They half-dragged, half-carried me out of the infirmary. My body felt hollow. Empty. Like they had taken more than just blood - they had drained away the last remaining pieces of my dignity, my hope, and my strength.

I was so weak I didn't even notice we'd passed the maids' headquarters. Everything was a blur. Only when I heard the loud, rusty creak of the huge back gate did it finally hit me-they were taking me away from the pack. Dragging me off like I was nothing.

They tossed my limp body on the ground and just walked away.