Rejected by Moonlight: Second Moon, Second Chance

A full moon glared from a cloudless sky. Its silver light poured down, harsh and cold. It drenched the pack's clearing in a chilly, accusing glow. Lila Gray stood trembling at the center of it all. Her long brown hair clung to her face. It matted with sweat from the fight. Her green eyes flicked side to side, wide with fear. The air smelled of pine mixed with the sharp sting of bonfire smoke. She couldn't hear anything over her own heartbeat. It pounded wild and uneven. It echoed in her chest like a trapped animal desperate to get out. The pack circled her tight. Their growls rumbled low and mean through the night. Shadows stretched long and rough across the dirt from their big shapes. Alpha Jaxon, her mate, paced back and forth in front of her. His black leather jacket creaked with every mad step. His gold eyes locked onto her, sharp and hunter-like. They sized her up like prey in a hawk's sights.

"You lied to me," he said. His voice scraped like gravel dragged over rough stone. He stopped sudden. He towered above her. His broad shoulders blocked the moon's light completely. His hands twitched at his sides. His fingers flexed like they itched to hit. "You're pregnant," he added. His tone grew darker. "And it's not mine."

Lila's breath caught hard in her throat. Her hand darted to her belly on instinct. A small bump pressed against her palm. It hid under her loose cotton shirt. She had begged the world to let her keep it secret just a bit longer. She'd hunted for the right words to soften the truth. Tara, her sister, had wrecked that weak hope. Two nights ago, Tara heard her muttering in a panic while holding her belly in the dark. She'd run straight to Jaxon with the news, eager to spill the betrayal. Now the truth hung between them. It cut like a sharp knife.

"It was before you," Lila stammered. Her voice shook, weak as leaves in a storm. "Before we bonded, I didn't know I was pregnant back then."

"Before?" Jaxon barked a laugh. It sliced through her words, cold and cruel. It showed no sign of mercy. He grabbed her chin with hard force. His grip yanked her face up. It locked her eyes with his blazing stare. "Do you think I care when it happened?" he snarled. "You're my mate, Lila, mine. You let some human trash put a kid in you?"

The pack moved around them. A restless whisper rolled through the circle like a wave. Some bared their teeth. They snarled loud. Others muttered under their breath. Their words stayed too quiet to hear. Mara, her friend since they were kids, hung back near the edge. She kept her eyes stuck to the ground. She offered no help. No one would step in for Lila now. Her knees wobbled beneath her. She forced them straight. She refused to fall completely. "I loved him," she said. Tears burned hot in her eyes. Stubbornness mixed with her shaky voice. "His name was Tom, and he's dead now. It was a mistake, Jaxon, please."

His hand flew. It struck her face. The slap hit like a loud crack. It sent her crashing into the dirt. Pain burned across her cheek. It felt like fire under her skin. The pack sucked in a group breath. Not one of them moved to stop it. Jaxon's boots crunched toward her, slow and sure. "A mistake?" he spat. Disgust dripped from every word. "You're the mistake."

Lila scrambled up from the ground. She clutched her belly to protect it. Dirt smeared across her hands. "The baby's innocent," she pleaded. Her voice cracked, but a strong edge sharpened it. "You can't hurt it."

"I can do whatever I want!" Jaxon yelled. Claws burst from his fingertips. They gleamed mean under the moonlight. "I reject you, Lila Gray," he declared. "You're nothing to me, nothing to this pack."

The mate bond broke inside her. An unseen tie snapped with fierce strength. It tore her soul apart. Pain rushed through her. It dropped her to her knees. She clawed at her chest. She gasped for air. The emptiness ate at her from inside, hollow and nonstop. Real pain hit a beat later. Jaxon lunged at her. His claws raked her shoulder. Blood sprayed out, warm and wet. It soaked her shirt in a red flood. She screamed. She tumbled sideways to get away. The pack's howls grew loud around her. They sang a creepy tune to the moon.

"Run," Jaxon growled. His voice sounded deep and threatening. His body shook. It rippled as he shifted. A huge black wolf appeared. His fur bristled. His teeth glinted inches from her face. "Or I'll rip that thing out of you myself."

Lila bolted without thinking twice. Her bare feet slammed against the earth. Each step shook her hurt shoulder. The forest swallowed her up. It closed in fast. Branches snagged at her clothes. They scratched her skin like greedy hands. Jaxon's howl tore through the night behind her. The pack's voices joined his. They sang a chilling chase song. They hunted her now, steady and closing in.

She ran until her lungs burned raw. The moon hung high overhead. Its light stayed cold and unblinking. Her legs gave out near a creek. She couldn't keep going. She stumbled forward. She splashed into the shallow, icy water. The cold snapped her senses awake. She dragged herself onto the bank. She curled tight into a ball. Her knees pressed against her chest as she shivered. "I'll protect you," she whispered to her belly. Her voice rasped, broken but firm. "I promise I will."

A branch cracked nearby, loud and quick. Her head snapped up. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Three men stepped from the shadows. Hunters, dressed in patched coats, oozed danger with every step. Crossbows hung in their hands. They loaded silver arrows. Their grins twisted cruel and eager. "We found her," one hissed. His voice slid like a snake. "Pregnant rogue, worth double."

Lila lurched backward. She slipped on wet rocks. "Leave me alone," she said. Her plea sounded thin and weak. Fear swallowed her words whole. She couldn't shift, not with the baby. She stood helpless, open to their mercy.

The leader raised his crossbow at her. He aimed with cold skill, slow and sure. "Your night's over, sweetheart," he sneered. An arrow shot free. It grazed her arm. Pain burned through her, sharp and hot. She yelped. She dove behind a tree. Another arrow thudded into the bark. It missed her head by a tiny bit.

A yell broke out, fierce and wild. It split the air with raw anger. A gray wolf burst from the dark. It slammed into the leader. The hit crunched bone, a nasty sound. Blood sprayed as claws tore flesh in a fast blur. The other hunters shouted. Panic broke their nerve. They fired wild. Arrows flew off course. The wolf charged like a storm, unstoppable. One hunter fell to the ground. He groaned weak. The other went quiet. His life ended in a snap.

Lila peeked from behind the tree. Her heart raced. Her breaths came short and fast. The wolf shifted before her eyes. Fur melted away. It revealed a man, tall and lean, with messy brown hair. His gray eyes fixed on her, sharp and hard to read. He wiped blood from his cheek with a quick flick. He acted like the mess didn't faze him.

"Who are you?" she asked. Her voice quivered. She gripped the tree for support. Her fingers dug into rough bark.

"Name's Kade," he said. His tone stayed low and rough. It cut through the quiet like a knife. "You're hurt."

She touched her shoulder. She winced. Jaxon's claw marks bled steady. Pain ached with every beat. "I've had worse tonight," she muttered. She forced herself upright. Her legs shook but held.

He took a step closer. She flinched. She couldn't stop the reflex. He paused. He lifted his hands a bit in a calming move. "More will come," he warned. He glanced at the shadowed woods. "Hunters, your pack too. You're in rogue land now."

"I don't have a pack anymore," she shot back. She straightened. Pain didn't matter. Her voice grew hard with strength. "He threw me out."

Kade's eyes dipped to her belly quick. They flicked back to her face. A spark of something, maybe curiosity or pity, flashed there. "Your choice," he said. His words stayed blunt and plain. "Follow me, or stay and die." He turned away. He walked into the dark without looking back.

Lila stood frozen for a second. Her pulse banged like a war drum in her ears. Trust felt like a thin string. Jaxon's betrayal snapped it. Tara's spite frayed it more. The forest buzzed with danger. Hunters stalked. Wolves prowled. She had no real choice left. She drew a shaky breath. She steeled herself. Her steps wobbled as she followed him, uneven and unsure. Her heart churned with fear. It mixed with a stubborn spark of fight. She'd lost it all tonight, her mate, her pack, her safety. She wasn't done fighting, not by a long shot.