Lyanna's POV
I ran.
The rogues' howls chased me through the darkness, getting closer with every heartbeat. Branches tore at my skin and caught on my grandmother's ruined dress. My bare feet bled from sharp rocks and thorns, but I couldn't stop.
A wolf burst from the shadows to my left—huge and gray with foam dripping from its jaws. I screamed and dove right, crashing through bushes. The rogue snapped at my legs, missing by inches.
My own wolf was too weak to shift. Too broken from Dante's rejection to protect us.
"Please," I sobbed, running blindly. "Please, someone help me!"
But no one was coming. No one cared if I died out here.
The gray rogue howled again, and three more answered. They were hunting me like prey.
I burst into a small clearing and saw a hollow tree. Without thinking, I threw myself inside, curling into a tight ball. The space was barely big enough for me.
Paws thundered past. Snarls filled the air. The rogues circled the tree, their glowing eyes searching.
One stuck its muzzle into the hollow, teeth snapping. I pressed myself against the back wall, making myself as small as possible. Its hot breath touched my face.
Then another howl sounded—deeper, more commanding. The rogues froze. After a moment, they all ran off into the forest, leaving me alone.
I stayed in that tree until sunrise, too terrified to move.
Day One:
When I finally crawled out, my whole body hurt. The rejection pain still burned through me like poison. My wolf hadn't spoken since Dante rejected us. I was starting to wonder if she'd ever speak again.
I stumbled deeper into the Forbidden Forest because I couldn't go back. Going back meant death. But staying here probably meant death too.
My stomach growled. I couldn't remember the last time I'd eaten. The ceremony? No, I'd been too nervous to eat then. Before that?
I found a stream and drank water until I felt sick. At least I wouldn't die of thirst today.
As I walked, I thought about my grandmother. She died six months ago, and everyone said it was a blessing she went peacefully in her sleep. Now I understood why. She didn't have to see me humiliated. Didn't have to watch me get rejected and cast out like garbage.
"I'm sorry, Grandma," I whispered to the trees. "You raised me better than this. You told me I was strong, but you were wrong. I'm exactly what Dante said—weak and pathetic."
By nightfall, I found a cave and collapsed inside. Every muscle trembled. The rejection pain hadn't gotten better. If anything, it was getting worse.
Day Two:
I woke to rain pouring down. The cave kept me mostly dry, but water dripped from the ceiling onto my face.
My stomach hurt so badly I could barely stand. I needed food, but I didn't know which plants were safe to eat. Grandmother had tried to teach me once, but I'd been too busy reading her books to pay attention.
"Stupid," I muttered, smacking my own head. "So stupid."
I wandered through the rain, searching for anything familiar. I found some berries that looked safe and ate them. An hour later, I was vomiting behind a tree.
The day blurred together. Walking. Stumbling. Falling. Getting up. Walking again.
I saw the rogues twice more, always watching from a distance. They never attacked, which made no sense. Rogues killed lone wolves. Everyone knew that. So why were they just... watching?
That night, I dreamed about Dante and Seraphina laughing at me. When I woke up crying, I couldn't tell what was dream and what was memory anymore.
Day Three:
I stopped trying to find food. My body was shutting down anyway. The rejection pain had spread until every breath hurt. My vision kept going dark at the edges.
My wolf was completely silent now. I couldn't feel her anymore. Maybe she was already dead, and I just hadn't realized it yet.
I thought about my parents. They died when I was five in a rogue attack. I barely remembered them, but Grandma said they loved me more than anything.
"I'll see you soon," I told them. "And Grandma. I'll tell her I'm sorry for being such a disappointment."
The sun was setting when I stumbled into a clearing with a lake in the center. The full moon was rising, making the water glow silver.
It was beautiful. The most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.
My legs gave out, and I fell beside the water. I couldn't get up. Didn't want to get up.
This was it. This was where I'd die.
"Moon Goddess," I whispered, my voice barely working. "I know you made a mistake with me. I know I wasn't strong enough to be Dante's mate. But... thank you anyway. Thank you for Grandma. Thank you for the books she left me. Thank you for the few good memories I have."
Tears ran down my face. "I'm sorry I failed you. I'm sorry I wasn't stronger."
The moon reflected perfectly on the lake's surface. I stared at it, feeling strangely peaceful. At least I'd die somewhere beautiful.
My eyes started to close.
Then the lake's surface began to glow.
I blinked, thinking I was hallucinating. But the glow got brighter, spreading across the entire lake like liquid silver. The water started to ripple even though there was no wind.
"What..." I breathed.
The moonlight on the lake grew blindingly bright. The water rose up, forming a shape. A woman's shape.
She stepped out of the lake, made of pure silver light and moonbeams. Her eyes were ancient and kind and terrifying all at once. Power radiated from her like heat from a fire.
I couldn't breathe. Couldn't move. Couldn't think.
The Moon Goddess herself stood before me.
"Lyanna Frost," she said, and her voice echoed through my bones. "Did you truly think I made a mistake?"
My mouth opened, but no sound came out.
She knelt beside me, reaching out one glowing hand toward my face.
"Child," she whispered. "Your rejection wasn't my mistake. It was my plan."
Then she touched my forehead, and the world exploded into light.