Your Luna’s Final Goodbye

"Liliana? Liliana!"

I woke to the sound of Emory's trembling voice. He was sitting by my bed, his eyes bloodshot as if he hadn't slept all night.

"How are you?" he asked, his voice shaking. "The Pack Healer said you're extremely weak. What's going on?"

It was the first time in years I had seen him so worried about me. I didn't answer, just looked at him in silence.

He immediately started diagnosing me himself. "It must be because you're always so paranoid and stressed. That's why you're so weak. I've already arranged for the high priest to give you a full examination. You need to get rid of this awful temper."

"Alpha!" One of Ophelia's guards rushed in. "Miss Ophelia is coughing up blood!"

Emory's face went pale. He shot to his feet, ready to leave. He glanced at my ashen face and hesitated.

"Go," I said, pressing the call button by the bed. "Ophelia needs you more. A nurse can take care of me."

My quiet calm seemed to throw him off, leaving his prepared excuses to die on his tongue. He gave me one last, deep look, then strode out of the room.

A middle-aged she-wolf nurse came in shortly after. "Luna, your condition is critical. You'll need a family member with you for the follow-up treatments," she said, flipping through my chart. "Where is the Alpha?"

"I don't have a husband," I said quietly. "Just arrange a caregiver for me."

I knew how this went. Emory was busy with Ophelia. He had no time for me. The nurse looked startled but nodded.

I didn't expect to see Emory again so soon. He kicked the door open and stormed in, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Liliana!" he roared. "I was so wrong about you! I never knew you were vicious enough to want Ophelia dead!"

"I didn't," I said, meeting his gaze without flinching.

"Still lying!" he snarled, grabbing my shoulders. "If you hadn't pushed her—"

"The pack house has security cameras," I cut him off, ignoring the pain in my shoulders. "You can check the footage."

Emory faltered for a second, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. Just then, Leo ran in, his little face flushed with anger.

"Mommy's lying!" he shouted, pointing at me. "I saw her! She grabbed Auntie Ophelia's hand and made her fall on purpose!"

His words sealed my fate.

"You venomous bitch!" Emory yanked me out of bed. The IV line ripped from my arm, and blood streamed down my hand as tubes clattered to the floor. "Get on your knees outside Ophelia's house and repent!"

Seeing the blood and my crumpled state, Leo grabbed his father's sleeve, a flash of panic in his eyes. "Daddy..."

But in the end, he said nothing more.