My eyes flickered open, the bright sunlight streaming in from the window almost blinding me. I lifted my hand instinctively, shielding my face from the light as I squinted. I sat up in a rush, confusion flooding me. I looked around the room, disoriented, and rubbed my eyes with my palms. The surroundings were familiar, but for a moment, I couldn't place them.
Then it hit me. It was my old room, back at my parent's house.
I paused for a moment, letting the memories wash over me—my childhood, the life I used to live. The pang in my chest, however, reminded me that something had gone terribly wrong. The last thing I remembered was fainting, but I couldn't recall why. I was struck with the sudden need to find answers. Why had I passed out? Why did I feel this pain?
I stood up quickly, but the sharp pain in my chest made me pause. It was distant but relentless. I rubbed my hand over my heart, willing it to subside. I needed answers, and fast.
I rushed out of the room, nearly tripping as I sprinted toward my parents' bedroom. The door was open, but they weren't there. Panic surged as I turned on my heels and sprinted down the stairs. I skipped two at a time, trying to make my way downstairs, heart racing with every step.
When I reached the living room, I froze.
There were more people here than I expected. My parents were seated, and so was Cole—of course, Cole would be here. He always seemed to be around. Addy, the pack priestess, and Beta Kevin were also present. They all turned to look at me as I stood in the doorway, a sinking feeling building in my chest.
"Arien," my mom said, standing up when she noticed me. Her eyes were filled with concern, and I instantly felt guilty for causing her such worry.
She walked over to me, placing a hand on my forehead gently. "Are you okay now? You scared us all. What happened?" Her voice was full of love, but her eyes were tired, as though she hadn't slept in days.
I nodded, forcing myself to meet her gaze. "I'm fine. But… why am I here? What happened? What's going on?" I could feel the anxiety creeping in. The pain in my chest wasn't helping. I wanted answers.
Before anyone could respond, Cole spoke up, his tone sharp. "The priestess mentioned something when you fainted, but she wouldn't explain what she meant until you were present."
"What does she mean?" I turned to my mom, my voice tinged with confusion.
My mother looked uneasy. She glanced at Addy, then back to me. "She said that there will be no need to punish you, that the Moon goddess has already done so."
I felt my stomach twist. "The Moon goddess? What are you talking about?"
The priestess took a deep breath before speaking, her voice carrying an ominous weight. "You went against the Moon goddess's wisdom and decision when you rejected your mate—an act that has never been done in our history. And so, the Moon goddess has decided to punish you. You will carry this pain in your heart for the rest of your life, a constant reminder of your sin."
The room fell silent. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to absorb what she had said.
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came. I could feel my pulse in my ears, my breath shallow. "What?" I croaked.
Everyone around me gasped. My father sat upright, wide-eyed. My mother's face twisted with disbelief.
"Priestess, what do you mean?" My father's voice shook slightly as he tried to make sense of the situation.
Addy, the priestess, held her head high, her gaze unwavering. "I mean exactly what I said. You will live with this pain forever."
I felt like the ground beneath me had shifted. "But… how could something like that be a punishment? I didn't kill anyone. I just… rejected her. It's not like I—"
"Rejection is a grave sin," she interrupted, her voice cold and final. "You defied the Moon goddess herself. There's no going back from this. You will live with the agony of this mistake."
The words hit me like a slap to the face. My chest felt tight, suffocating. "What about my position as the next Alpha?" Cole interjected, his voice laced with a mix of impatience and concern. His eyes flicked over to me with something less than sympathy.
I knew what he was thinking—Cole had never liked me. He always thought I wasn't fit to lead.
"His position remains his. Anyone who dares revolt will face the consequences. The Moon goddess has spoken. No one can defy her judgment," Addy replied, her voice sharp as she stood up.
I didn't even get the chance to ask more. She motioned for me to follow her, and without waiting for anyone else to respond, she started walking towards the door. I looked back at my parents, who were staring at me with a mixture of fear and confusion, but I had no answers for them.
I followed Addy outside, into the cool air. The space between us felt distant, the silence oppressive. She stopped a little farther away from the house, and I followed her reluctantly, still trying to wrap my mind around everything she had just said.
Once we were far enough, she finally spoke. "What I'm about to tell you may devastate you, but you need to hear it. It's the full extent of your punishment."
I braced myself. My heart pounded, and I could feel the sweat gathering on the back of my neck.
She turned to face me, her expression grave. "You may not have noticed, but you haven't been able to communicate with your wolf for some time now."
I blinked, the words slowly sinking in. She was right. For days—no, weeks—I hadn't heard anything from Harry. The only time I had felt his presence was when I rejected Zuria, and even then, it was only a howl of sadness and hurt that echoed through my mind. But since then? Silence.
"Yeah… why?" I asked, though I already felt like I knew the answer.
"The Moon goddess has severed the bond between you and your wolf as punishment for your disobedience." Her words hit me like a physical blow.
"No…" My voice cracked, the shock leaving me momentarily speechless. I staggered back, as if the ground was giving way beneath my feet.
"You're no longer connected to him," she said quietly, almost regretfully. "The Moon goddess has decided that you will never hear from your wolf again. Not until the day you redeem yourself, if such a day ever comes."
I scoffed, letting out a bitter laugh. "So that's it? I'm just supposed to live the rest of my life in pain, alone, without Harry? Because of one mistake?"
The priestess didn't answer, but I could feel the weight of her silence.
I turned to look back toward the house, seeing my parents standing in the doorway, their worried gazes fixed on me. My thoughts were a whirl of confusion, anger, and disbelief.
I could feel the anger bubbling up inside me, boiling over. The truth was, all of this—everything—was Zuria's fault. If I hadn't been forced to face the truth of our bond, I wouldn't have had to make such a terrible decision.
And now, look at what I had lost.
I turned on my heel and stormed down the street, ignoring the worried calls from my parents. I didn't want to talk to anyone—not now. Not when all I could feel was this burning fury inside me.
People stared as I passed by, no doubt wondering what had caused such a scene. I ignored them, pushing forward, my heart heavy with grief and rage.
When I finally reached my house, I slammed the door so hard that it rattled on its hinges. The sound of it echoed through the empty house. I stomped straight to the bathroom, desperate to calm myself.
I splashed cold water on my face, staring at my reflection in the mirror. But as I looked at myself—pale, exhausted, haunted—I couldn't recognize the person staring back at me.
The person I had become felt like a stranger. My breath became shallow, a strange mixture of anger and despair welling up inside me. I turned to punch the mirror, my fist slamming into the glass. The impact shattered it instantly, shards of glass falling to the floor as blood dripped from my knuckles.
I looked down at my bloodied hand, feeling numb. What the hell was I supposed to do now?
The pain in my chest flared up again. This time, it was more than just physical.
It was a deep, aching sorrow that threatened to swallow me whole. And there was no way out.