The glass broke against the wall, sending tiny pieces flying everywhere. Luna hadn't meant to throw it so hard. She stared at the mess, breathing deeply. Her hands were shaking again, but this time from anger, not shock.
"How could he?" she whispered, sinking to her knees. "How could he marry her today of all days?"
Outside her window, night had fallen. The sounds of celebration still echoed from the Alpha's house on the hill. Music and laughing floated through the air, each happy note cutting into Luna's heart like a knife.
They were partying while her world fell apart.
Luna wiped her tears and stood up. No more crying. Crying wouldn't help her or her baby now. She had to be strong and smart.
She grabbed her bag and dumped everything out on her bed. What did she really need? What was worth carrying when you're running away from the only place you've ever known?
"Not much," Luna decided, looking around her small house.
She stuffed some clothes into the bag, then her toothbrush and comb. She added the little money she had saved—not even enough for a week at a cheap hotel. Her hand paused over the small wolf carving Kaelen had given her on her birthday. For a second, she was tempted to bring it, but then she dropped it in the trash.
No reminders. No going back.
Luna put her hand on her stomach. "It's just you and me now, little one," she whispered.
A sharp knock on her door made Luna jump. Who would be visiting her now? Everyone would be at the wedding party.
Luna froze, her heart racing. Had Kaelen come to explain? Or worse, had Serena come to gloat?
The knocking came again, louder this time.
"Luna! Open up! I know you're in there!"
Luna relaxed slightly. It was only Beth, her neighbor and one of the few friends she had in the pack.
Luna opened the door to find Beth looking worried and a bit out of breath.
"Are you okay?" Beth asked, pushing past Luna into the house. "I saw you running from the Alpha's house earlier. You looked upset."
Luna bit her lip. Should she tell Beth the truth? Beth was kind, but she was also a gossip. By tomorrow, everyone would know.
But maybe that didn't matter anymore. By tomorrow, Luna planned to be far away.
"Kaelen got married today," Luna said simply.
Beth's eyes widened. "To Serena? But I thought you and he were..." She trailed off, looking awkward.
"So did I," Luna said, turning away to hide the fresh tears in her eyes. "Turns out I was just a distraction while he planned his real future with Serena."
"Oh, Luna, I'm so sorry." Beth sat down on Luna's small couch. "That's awful. What are you going to do?"
Luna glanced at her half-packed bag on the bed. Beth followed her look and her eyes widened again.
"You're leaving? Luna, you can't just leave the pack! Where would you go?"
"Anywhere but here," Luna said, zipping up her bag. "I can't stay, Beth. Not now."
"But why? I mean, yes, Kaelen is a jerk for leading you on, but you have friends here, a home—"
"I'm pregnant," Luna blurted out.
Beth's mouth fell open. "What? Are you sure?"
Luna nodded. "I found out this morning. I was on my way to tell Kaelen when I discovered he was getting married to Serena."
"Oh no," Beth whispered. "Luna, this is bad."
"You think I don't know that?" Luna snapped, then immediately felt bad. "Sorry. I'm just... scared."
Beth stood up and paced the small room. "You should tell him. Right now. Go to that wedding party and tell everyone what he did to you."
Luna shook her head. "And then what? Live here with everyone whispering about me? Have my baby grow up being called names? No thank you."
"But where will you go? How will you live?"
Luna shouldered her bag. "I don't know yet. But I'll figure it out. I always do."
Beth looked like she might cry. "When are you leaving?"
"Tonight. Now, actually." Luna looked at the clock. It was almost midnight. The wedding party would go on for hours still, which meant no one would notice her slipping away.
"Take this," Beth said, pulling money from her pocket. "It's not much, but it might help."
Luna paused, then took the money. She couldn't afford to be proud right now. "Thank you, Beth."
"And take my phone number," Beth added, scribbling it on a piece of paper. "Call me when you're safe, okay? Let me know you're alright."
Luna put the paper in her pocket, knowing she probably wouldn't call. Clean breaks were better.
They hugged goodbye, and Luna felt a pang of sadness. Beth might have been the closest thing she had to a friend in this pack, and now she was leaving her too.
"Be careful," Beth whispered. "And if you ever need anything..."
"I know," Luna said, faking a smile. "Thank you for everything."
After Beth left, Luna took one last look around her little house. It wasn't much, but it had been hers. Now she was leaving it all behind.
Luna slipped out her back door and into the forest. The music from the celebration was louder now, with howls mixed in as wolves began to shift for the annual wedding run.
It was the best time to escape. Everyone would be focused on the Alpha and his new Luna, running through the forest together under the moon. No one would notice one omega slipping away.
Luna stuck to the shadows, moving quietly through the trees. She knew these woods well—it was the one benefit of being an omega in the pack. While the others were busy with pack business, Luna had spent her time exploring every inch of the forest.
As she reached the edge of pack territory, Luna stopped. Once she crossed this imaginary line, she would no longer have the pack's protection. She would be alone in a world that wasn't always kind to lone wolves, especially omegas.
But sticking meant watching Kaelen and Serena together every day. It meant her child growing up in the shadow of their deception.
Luna took a deep breath and stepped across the border.
Nothing happened, but Luna felt different. Lighter somehow, but also more fragile. The forest smelled different here—less familiar.
She had walked for about an hour when she heard it—the sound of running feet behind her. Many feet.
Luna's heart jumped into her throat. Had Kaelen sent dogs after her? Did he somehow know she was pregnant and wish to bring her back?
She ducked behind a big tree, holding her breath. The footsteps grew louder, and then words reached her ears.
"Spread out! She can't have gone far!" It was Thomas, Kaelen's tester.
"The Alpha wants her found tonight!" another voice added.
Luna pressed harder against the tree. How had they known she was leaving? Had Beth misled her?
"I can smell her!" a female voice called. "She went this way!"
Luna's panic surged. She couldn't escape them—they were stronger and faster than her. But maybe she could beat them.
Luna grabbed a handful of dirt and rubbed it on her neck and arms, where her scent was strongest. Then she took off running, no longer caring about being quiet. She just needed to get away.
She came to a small stream and splashed through it, knowing water could help hide her smell. She followed the stream for several minutes before climbing out on the other side and continuing into unfamiliar country.
The sounds behind her grew fainter, but Luna didn't slow down. Her lungs burned and her legs ached, but fear kept her going.
As she ran, Luna felt that strange warmth in her hands again. Looking down, she was shocked to see them shining with that same silver light from earlier. But this time, the light didn't fade right away.
"What's happening to me?" Luna gasped, looking at her glowing hands.
The light suddenly shot from her fingers, forming a strange silver mist that spread through the forest around her. Luna watched in wonder as the mist settled over her footprints, erasing them completely.
The voices behind her grew confused.
"I lost her scent!"
"Me too! It's just... gone!"
"That's impossible! Keep looking!"
Luna didn't wait around to see what would happen next. She turned and ran deeper into the unknown forest, away from everything she had ever known.
The silver light faded from her hands, but Luna could still feel something new and powerful running through her veins. Whatever it was, it had helped her escape.
"Did you do that?" she whispered to her stomach, though she knew it was crazy to think her tiny baby had such power.
As dawn broke through the trees, Luna found herself on a road she didn't know, in a part of the world she had never seen. Her legs were shaking with exhaustion, and hunger gnawed at her gut.
She had fled, but now what? Where would she go? How would she take care of herself and her baby?
As if in answer, a truck slows down beside her. The driver, an older man with kind eyes, rolled down his window.
"You look like you could use a ride, miss," he said.
Luna paused. Getting into a stranger's truck was risky, but so was being caught by Kaelen's dogs.
"Where are you headed?" the man asked.
"Anywhere," Luna said. "Anywhere far from here."
The man nodded like this was a perfectly normal answer. "I'm going to Riverdale. It's about three hours north. That far enough?"
Luna had never heard of Riverdale, which was perfect. "Yes, thank you."
As she got into the truck, Luna didn't notice the silver wolf watching from the trees. Its eyes gleamed red in the early morning light as it raised its head to howl—a sound filled wit
h rage and loss that echoed through the forest.
The hunt for Luna had just started.