Alpha's Reborn: A Luna's Revenge

Chapter One

Alpha Reborn: A Luna's Revenge

Nora's POV

I opened my eyes slowly, my chest tight with panic as my heart pounded fiercely. My hands trembled as I stared down at them. Even now, I could still see the blood—his blood—stained across my skin.

I couldn't believe it. My mate, Alpha Ezra, was gone. Tonight was supposed to be ours—a night where I told him how much I loved being his Luna. Instead, I was locked away, accused of murdering the man I had promised my life to.

The sound of iron grinding on stone made me look up. The cell door creaked open, revealing two guards who stepped in with hard, emotionless faces. They didn't say a word as they yanked me up, treating me like I was nothing.

The chains around my wrists bit into my skin as they dragged me along, my legs barely holding me upright. I hadn't eaten in two days, and the cold seeped into my bones. My body felt as lifeless as my soul.

As we stepped outside, I froze. The entire pack was gathered, their eyes fixed on me with contempt and fury.

"She's a witch," someone hissed.

"She deserves death," another snarled.

Their accusations echoed in my ears, but I forced myself to keep walking. These were the same people I had sworn to protect when I became their Luna. The people I thought I could trust. Now, they looked at me as though I were a monster.

The guards hauled me into the council hall, forcing me to my knees before the Elders. Their cold, judgmental eyes bore into me, making my skin crawl. To them, I wasn't just a murderer. I was a danger to the pack itself.

I kept my head low as footsteps echoed behind me. Turning slightly, I caught sight of Keal—Ezra's brother. My chest tightened with rage as I met his smirk.

Keal had always hated Ezra, ever since he discovered I was Ezra's mate. I'd often felt Keal's anger, his jealousy simmering beneath the surface. Now, he stood over me with a twisted satisfaction in his eyes. He was the one who had found me with blood on my hands. The one who had accused me of killing my mate.

"Today," Keal began, his voice thick with mock sorrow, "we gather not only to mourn but to deliver justice. The Bloodfang Pack has long been a symbol of peace, thanks to our great Alpha Ezra. We thought we finally had a Luna who would stand by his side and lead us into greatness. But we were wrong."

He turned to the crowd, his voice rising with practiced outrage. "She deceived us all with her lies. And now, our beloved Alpha is dead."

A heavy silence followed his words, broken only by the sound of my own shallow breathing.

Keal turned back to me, his smirk vanishing as his face hardened. "Today, we seek justice for the pack. And so I ask you, Nora—did you kill the Alpha?"

I forced myself to lift my head, meeting the eyes of the pack. The weight of their hatred pressed down on me, but I refused to look away.

"I did not kill Ezra," I said firmly, my voice steady. "I loved him. Why would I ever hurt him?"

My words were met with murmurs of doubt, distrust swirling in the air.

"She's lying!" someone shouted. "She deserves to die!"

Their cries of anger surrounded me, but I kept my gaze fixed on the floor. That was when I felt Keal's hand grip my chin, forcing me to look up at him.

"Why don't you confess, Nora?" he said softly, his smirk returning. "Admit what you've done. Tell them how you killed my brother."

His words made my blood boil, but I refused to falter. "I didn't kill Ezra," I said, my voice cutting through the noise. "And you know it."

Keal's smirk widened. "Then it's time you faced your punishment."

The guards yanked me to my feet, my body swaying as the council began murmuring amongst themselves. After what felt like an eternity, one of the Elders stepped forward.

"We have reached a decision," he announced. "The new Alpha will decide her punishment."

The words struck me like a blow. A new Alpha? Ezra's death was still fresh, and they were already replacing him?

With what little strength I had left, I shoved one of the guards away, stumbling forward. "A new Alpha?" I repeated, my voice sharp with disbelief. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "After everything I've done for this pack, after all I've sacrificed, this is how you repay me?"

The crowd fell silent, and I let my anger spill over. "Believe what you want," I hissed. "But I promise you this—whoever is responsible for Ezra's death will pay. I will find them, and I will kill them."

The hall erupted into chaos, but a single sound cut through it: slow, mocking applause. I turned to see Keal, clapping with a smug grin on his face.

"Looking for the killer?" he said, his voice laced with mockery. "You're looking at her."

Rage bubbled inside me as I glared at him. He stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with malicious delight.

"Don't worry, Nora," he said, his voice soft but dripping with venom. "I won't kill you. After all, you were my brother's mate. But that doesn't mean you'll escape punishment."

I narrowed my eyes. "Only the Alpha can decide my punishment," I said.

Keal's grin widened. "Exactly. And maybe you haven't realized it yet, but I'm not just Ezra's brother anymore."

The truth hit me like a physical blow, stealing the breath from my lungs.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head.

"Oh, yes," Keal said, his tone triumphant. "I am the new Alpha of the Bloodfang Pack. And as your Alpha, I've decided your punishment."

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper.

"You'll live, Nora. But you'll live as my slave."

His words shattered something inside me. My knees nearly buckled, my soul trembling with rage and despair. Keal was the Alpha now, and I was at his mercy.