Hera's POV
“Yes,” I said, my voice cutting through the silence like a blade. My expression remained cold, even as I savored the flicker of panic in Rowan’s eyes. He was pacing, his movements erratic, like a caged animal searching for an escape. “Lyra is gone, Rowan. Who will inherit Blackthorn now?”
He stopped mid-step and turned to me, his face softening into a mask of feigned affection. It was a look I once might have believed. Not anymore.
“Hera, my Luna,” he said, his voice dripping with counterfeit tenderness. He reached for my hand, his touch calculated. “I know you’re grieving. Lyra meant everything to us. But it’s too soon. I’m not ready to—”
“Is that the real reason?” I interrupted, my voice low and cutting.
For a moment, his mask slipped. His jaw clenched, and his eyes hardened. “You don’t understand grief,” he snapped, his tone sharper than I expected. “Did you even love her? Or is this just about your precious status as Luna? Less than two months, and you’re already talking about heirs? It’s disgusting, Hera. Heartless.”
The words struck, but I didn’t flinch. I let tears brim in my eyes, carefully forcing my voice to tremble. “How dare you question my love for Lyra? I gave her everything—everything!” I paused, letting my voice soften just enough. “But I’m not just her mother, Rowan. I’m the Luna. Without an heir, we’re vulnerable. The council made that clear.”
He let out a bitter laugh, his gaze skimming over me with disdain. “The council,” he repeated mockingly. “They only care about tradition. They don’t care about our pain. About Lyra. About us.”
There was no us, not anymore. But I didn’t say that. Instead, I stepped closer, placing a hand on his chest, suppressing the bile rising in my throat.
“Rowan,” I whispered, my voice trembling, “if we don’t act, the Moonstone’s power will falter. Blackthorn will fall.”
He stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable, before stepping back. “Fine,” he muttered. “We’ll discuss this after the council meeting. I have to prepare.”
I watched him leave with my cold gaze.
Days turned into weeks. Rowan avoided every mention of another child, his excuses growing weaker with each passing day. I knew then that he had no intention of fulfilling his duty.
The pack council’s words burned into me, no heir within two years, and I’d lose my status as Luna. Worse, the Moonstone—the source of Blackthorn and Moonshadow's strength—would become vulnerable.
One afternoon, I returned to the pack house earlier than expected. The sight that greeted me made my blood freeze. Seina stepped out of the master chamber, her face pale and her hair disheveled. Behind her, Rowan appeared, his shirt unbuttoned, his expression faltering for just a moment before his mask slipped back into place.
“Luna Hera,” Seina stammered, avoiding my gaze.
Rowan’s voice was too calm, too quick. “It’s nothing,” he said, flashing that same sickening smile. “Seina was just—”
“Save your excuses,” I snapped, my tone as cold as steel. I turned on my heel, heading for my room. “I’ll be leaving for the Blackfang pack as they wanted me regarding the issue between the borders. Tell the council I’ll handle this matter myself.”
Behind me, I heard Rowan call out, his voice tinged with panic. But I didn’t stop.
The journey to Blackfang was treacherous. Rogues had been spotted near the borders, and two warriors were assigned to escort me. Rowan had offered to come along, his sudden sincerity setting every alarm in my head ringing. “When you return,” he had said, “we’ll try for another child.”
Was he planning something?
Two days into the trip, the rogues attacked. They came fast and silent, shadows flitting through the trees. Beta Dhan shouted for me to run, his sword flashing as he fought them off. I nodded and run away to flee but I was not far when suddenly an arrow I was not expecting hit my stomach and I froze seeing the blood seeping my dress.
Rowan stepped out of the shadows, a bow in hand and a cruel smile curling on his lips.
“Rowan,” I breathed, my voice barely a whisper. “You...why?”
"Why?" he repeated, his tone dripping with mockery. His eyes glinted with malice as a cruel smile played on his lips. "Because you’ve always been so naive, Hera. And I can’t risk you running to the council about my affair."
I tried to shift into my wolf, but the poison coursing through my veins stole my strength. I stumbled, gasping as pain lanced through me. Rowan raised his bow, another arrow aimed at my heart.
“You’ll regret this,” I managed to choke out, my voice laced with fury.
He smiled, a predator savoring his kill. “Goodbye, my Luna.”
The arrow struck, and darkness enveloped me. But even as my body failed, my mind burned with a single promise, You’ll pay for this, Rowan. I swear it.
