Lyanna’s POV
I was confined to a healer’s bed, weak and dizzy.
My arms throbbed from the blood they had taken, and even the effort of sitting upright made the room spin. But none of that compared to the weight crushing my chest.
Grief.
My pup was gone.
And while I lay there trying to breathe through the pain, the world beyond the infirmary walls kept moving as if nothing had happened.
One of the younger healers slipped me a scrying crystal.
Inside it was an image of Alpha Draven Blackmark at a moon banquet, laughing as though he did not have a single burden in the world. Natalie stood beside him, glowing beneath the lantern light, his hand resting possessively on her waist as though she were the rightful Luna.
Another vision appeared later.
This time, they were seated together at a private feast. Draven lifted a piece of honey cake to Natalie’s lips, leaning close enough to make her laugh softly, as if she were the only wolf in the room.
He looked happy.
Free.
As if I had never existed.
When the healers finally released me, I left alone.
No escort.
No warrior.
No word from him.
Only a small travel bag in my hand and one quiet, humiliating truth settling in my chest.
I no longer mattered to him.
I should not have returned to the pack house, but all my belongings were still there.
I had no choice.
That was when I saw them.
Outside the birthing wing.
Natalie stood there glowing with pride, as if the world already belonged to her. Draven stood beside her, one hand resting lightly on her back, the gesture easy and familiar.
A passing healer smiled brightly.
“Alpha Draven, your Luna looks radiant today.”
My stomach twisted.
I did not correct her.
I no longer had the strength to explain what I was.
So I turned away.
Then—
“Lyanna.”
His voice stopped me cold.
Of course he saw me.
He always noticed me when I was trying hardest to disappear.
I turned slowly and met his eyes across the polished stone corridor.
“I did not come looking for you,” I said flatly. “I was released today. I did not know you would be here.”
Before he could answer, Natalie clung to his arm and tilted her head sweetly.
“Let her ride back with us,” she said softly. “I feel sorry for her… she gave me blood, after all.”
The way she said it—like my suffering had been some generous gift—made something twist sharply inside my chest.
Draven let out a quiet breath, then nodded once.
“Fine.”
Just like that.
As though I were some minor inconvenience to be decided upon.
So I climbed into the carriage.
Not because I wanted to.
Because I had nowhere else to go.
The ride was silent at first.
Then Natalie shifted beside him and glanced back at me with a smile that never reached her eyes.
“Oh,” she said suddenly, laughing under her breath. “I just remembered… I left my undergarment in here.”
My head lifted before I could stop myself.
She giggled and turned to Draven.
“Can you believe it?” she said. “After what we did in this carriage last week?”
Draven gave a low chuckle.
“You were reckless.”
“Mmm,” she hummed. “You did not complain when I was sitting in your lap outside the pack gates. Or when I loosened your clothes on the road to the border and kept you distracted the whole ride.”
A smirk tugged at his mouth.
“That is because you make every journey better.”
She laughed softly.
“And the time you had to stop the carriage because I would not let you—”
“Enough.”
My voice was quiet, but it cut through the air.
Silence fell for a brief moment.
Then Natalie only smiled wider, as though she had won.
I turned my gaze to the window and forced my breathing to steady.
With trembling fingers, I reached into my bag and pulled out a messenger crystal.
I opened the glowing message from Evander.
A travel pass.
Tonight.
At moonrise.
My chest tightened—not with pain this time, but with something dangerously close to relief.
I sent a message back.
Thank you, Evander. I am sorry I missed the last chance.
His reply came almost instantly.
What happened? Tell me.
My fingers paused.
I could have told him everything.
If I asked, he would burn this entire pack to the ground for me.
But I wanted no more blood spilled in my name.
So I wrote:
I will explain later. I only need to leave first.
I stared at the words before sending them.
Because that was the only truth that mattered now.
I needed to escape.
Draven noticed the crystal in my hands immediately.
“You have been staring at that thing the whole ride,” he said sharply. “Who are you speaking with?”
“No one important,” I answered without looking at him. “Only reading messages.”
A moment passed.
Then suddenly, the crystal was snatched from my hands.
My body went still.
Not because I was afraid.
Because I could not believe he still thought he had that right.
I turned slowly to face him.
“Really?” I said, my voice low. “You are doing this now?”
“What is the unlock rune?” he demanded.
A short, bitter laugh escaped me.
“The date of our mating ceremony, Draven. You should remember it. You pretended to love me then.”
His jaw tightened as he tried.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Locked.
Natalie leaned toward him and laughed softly.
“Let it go,” she murmured sweetly. “She probably has no one left who wants to speak to her.”
Then she looked at me and smiled.
As though I were already nothing.
