BEYOND REDEMPTION

Kora's POV

Today is our third anniversary. The hall is filled with people pack members, allies, and guests. Everyone is smiling, offering their congratulations.

But there's one question that lingers in my mind, heavy and painful: Where is my husband?

Since I married Alpha Aaron, happiness has become nothing but a distant memory. He never once saw me as his Luna. I hold the title in name only never in my heart. I thought every Luna was to be cherished by their mate, but my own case was different.

I was so happy when Alpha Aaron marked me, i thought i have the best Alpha in the world but i was completely wrong when everything he did is to caused me pain, he even make it clear to me that he didn't love me, he just accepted me as his Luna because of what my father gave him, i can never forget that world but is still better than being rejected.

Is it really better? I thought about asking myself questions, I know the answer already, but I refused to accept it.

"Happy anniversary, Luna Kora!"

I heard a voice behind me, which made me turn around, only to see Alpha Edward stepping forward, his men flanking him like shadows. A chill runs down my spine.

Why is he here this year? Alpha Edward, the most powerful and wealthiest Alpha alive. People fear him. Even Aaron, with all his arrogance, is nothing compared to him.

He stares at me with that unreadable look cold, intense. My heart skips a beat.

"Thank you, Alpha," I murmur, bowing my head respectfully. Every woman in the kingdom would kill for a glance from him, but he's never shown interest in anyone. I wondered why he had not marked his Luna since this year, but he refused to.

Then he asks, "Where is Alpha Aaron?"

The question stings. I force a polite smile. "I'll go get him for you," I reply, turning away though the truth is, I have no idea where my husband is.

I climbed the stairs with a heavy heart. Honestly, I had no idea what I was walking into.

Something felt wrong. Ever since I stood in the hall, my body had been aching every nerve on edge. That kind of pain only comes when your mate is being unfaithful. But I didn't want to believe it. Not tonight. Not on our anniversary.

I continued up, heading toward our bedroom, hoping to find him there... but the room was empty.

My chest tightened as I turned back into the hallway. I started checking every door, searching for him, trying to hold on to hope.

Then I stopped.

There was a sound a faint noise coming from behind the door to his study.

Slowly, I walked toward it. My hands trembled as I reached for the handle. I paused when I heard it moaning.

My breath caught in my throat.

No. Please no, I whispered in my mind, praying it wasn't what it sounded like.

With shaking fingers, I turned the knob and pushed the door open.

The sight before me knocked the air out of my lungs.

There they were. Naked. Twisted in the sheets of the couch my husband and my best friend.

I stood frozen as they turned to face me. Their eyes were wide. Caught.

Tears spilled from my eyes, hot and silent. My knees almost gave out beneath me.

My heart didn't just break it shattered.

I stood there, unable to move. My hands dropped to my sides, trembling. My voice caught in my throat, but somehow, I managed to speak.

"How... how could you?"

Why would both of you do this to me? I trust both of you with my life.

Aaron, I know you don't respect me as your Luna, but how can you do this to me, Lana? I shouted.

Aaron didn't flinch. He sat up slowly, dragging the sheet around his waist, not out of shame, but boredom. His cold eyes met mine like I was nothing more than an unwanted guest.

"You should've knocked," he said casually, like I had walked in on a meeting, not a betrayal.

Beside him, my best friend Lana smirked. She didn't bother to cover herself. Instead, she leaned against him, running her fingers over his chest.

"What did you expect, Kora?" she said with a mocking tone. "A fairy tale? You're Luna by name, not by heart."

My stomach turned. I looked at Aaron, searching his face for even a flicker of regret. I found nothing.

"You planned this... on our anniversary?"

He shrugged. "You should've known your place. I never wanted a weak Luna."

I never wanted to celebrate this anniversary after all, but you keep wanting more.

The words hit harder than a slap. I wanted to scream, to cry, to tear the whole room apart-but my body refused to move. "Anie," my wolf shifted weakly, but I tried to control it. I have never used my wolf to fight before, and I don't think this is the right moment.

"And you," I turned to Lana, my voice cracking. "You were supposed to be my sister, my friend "

She laughed. "I was tired of playing second to you. Now I have everything. Power, status... and your mate."

What do you think? That you could have everything, Lana said with a smirk, then placed her hand on her tummy.

It would be bad if you heard this outside, that I'm carrying Alpha Aaron's heir.

My vision blurred with tears, but I blinked them away. I refused to let them see me fall. Not here. Not now.

"You think you've won?" I whispered and ran towards Lana, but before I could reach where she was, Aaron pushed me away, making me hit my back on the wall.

Don't you dare touch the mother of my son," he said, staring at me with disgust.

I stood up, ignoring the pain in my body, and tried to leave, but before I could reach the door, Aaron's voice rang out-cold and commanding.

"Guards."

Two large wolves appeared instantly at the entrance, blocking my way.

"What are you doing?" I demanded, my heart pounding.

Aaron stood, wrapping himself in his robe with the air of someone in control. "You weren't supposed to see this. And you certainly weren't supposed to live long enough to speak of it."

My breath caught. "What?"

"You think I'd let you ruin everything I've built just because your little heart got broken?" His lips curled into a cruel smile. "Take her to the lower chamber. The one no one dares enter."

What are you planning to do? I shouted, trying to break free from the guards.

Since you want to know, I will tell you, I'm going to kill you and make it look like you took your own life after all, no one would ask of you, your family didn't consider you their daughter, which will make my plan work perfectly," he said.

"No!" I backed away, but the guards grabbed me by both arms.

"Let me go!" I screamed, struggling against their grip. "You can't do this to me!"

"I already did," Aaron replied smoothly. "Goodbye, Kora."

They dragged me through the halls like a prisoner, no, worse than a prisoner. No one dared meet my eyes as we passed. The once-proud Luna, now being dragged through the dirt by the very pack she once served on my anniversary day.

The torture room was deep underground. Damp, dark, and reeking of blood and fear. They shoved me inside without a word. I hit the ground hard, my wrist twisting beneath me.

The door slammed. The lock turned. And silence followed.

I sat up slowly, breathing hard. The pain in my wrist was nothing compared to the ache in my chest. But I couldn't stay here. I wouldn't die here. Not like this.

I scanned the room. One small window-too high to reach. Chains are bolted to the walls. A loose rock in the corner caught my eye. I crawled toward it and pulled it free, revealing a gap in the stone floor.

Was it a tunnel? A drain? I didn't know-but it was my only chance.

With every ounce of strength, I squeezed through. The space was tight, the air stale, but I kept going. Dirt scraped my skin. Cobwebs tangled in my hair. But I kept crawling.

Finally, I emerged into the woods behind the pack house, hidden by nightfall.

I ran. Barefoot. Bleeding. Cold wind lashed against my skin, but I didn't stop. I didn't even know where I was going-I just knew I had to get away.

But Aaron wasn't done with me.

Not yet.

I heard them before I saw them-wolves approaching, fast and angry. I ducked behind a tree, heart racing, then bolted in the opposite direction.

"Find her!" a voice barked. "Alpha said she doesn't leave the forest alive!"

Tears streamed down my face as I stumbled through the trees. My legs ached. My body screamed for rest. But I couldn't stop. I wouldn't let them win. I continue running, this is not the life I dreamed of, I couldn't take it anymore before I knew it, I was already on my knees.

Suddenly, they were on me. One grabbed my arm, throwing me to the ground.

"This is the end, Luna," he sneered, raising his claws.

If this is how it's going to end, I will accept that after all I have gone through enough. I braced myself, expecting pain, expecting death_

But it never came.

A blur of black tore through the trees like a storm. A growl ripped through the night-deep, furious, and inhuman.

The guard flew backward, slamming into a tree with a sickening crack. The second tried to run, but the shadow moved faster. In seconds, he was on the ground, unconscious.

And then, silence.

I looked up, dazed. My eyes widened.

Alpha Edward stood there, blood on his knuckles, eyes glowing with power. His presence filled the woods like a force of nature.

He looked at me-really looked-and for a moment, something soft flickered in his gaze.

"You're safe now," he said, his voice calm but firm. "No one will hurt you again."

Before I could speak-or even ask why he saved me-darkness pulled me under. I collapsed, unconscious, in his arms.