Broken Promises

The cold night air hit Aveline’s face as she stepped out of the Pack Hall, but she barely felt it. Her mind was too numb, her chest too tight to notice the sharp chill that stung her cheeks. She moved with mechanical precision, her feet taking her down the well worn path toward the woods at the edge of the Whispering territory. Each step felt surreal, as if she were moving through a fog, her surroundings hazy and distant.

The moonlight filtered through the branches, casting jagged shadows across her path. Aveline’s thoughts spiraled, questions and half formed regrets tangling into knots. How could Killian do this to her? Why hadn’t he come to her first, spoken to her, instead of making his announcement like she was just another member of the pack?

Was she ever really his Luna? The thought struck her with a pain sharper than any wound.

“Wait!” Hazel’s voice broke through the fog. Aveline stopped, her shoulders tensing involuntarily. She turned slowly, meeting her best friend’s tearfilled eyes.

Hazel jogged the last few steps to catch up, breathless. “You can’t just walk away like this.”

Aveline swallowed hard, struggling to find words. “There’s nothing left for me here,” she said, her voice flat and distant. She couldn’t bring herself to feel anything—anger, sadness, betrayal—nothing had fully sunk in. She was still trying to convince herself this wasn’t some terrible dream.

Hazel shook her head, a stray tear slipping down her cheek. “He can’t just… replace you! You have to fight back, Aveline. The pack, the Elders—they’ll support you if you challenge him.”

“Challenge him?” Aveline repeated, almost laughing at the absurdity. “Hazel, he’s made up his mind. He chose Morgana, and the pack will follow their Alpha.”

Hazel gritted her teeth. “Some of them still believe in you.”

“But not enough of them,” Aveline whispered, her gaze dropping to the ground. “I can’t drag the pack into this. Not when he’s already made his choice.”

“You’re giving up too easily,” Hazel said, her voice wavering between frustration and heartbreak. “This isn’t the Aveline I know.”

Aveline’s hands clenched into fists, the words stinging more than she expected. But she knew Hazel meant well. She just didn’t understand how deep the wounds went—how raw they still were.

Before Aveline could respond, the heavy doors of the Pack Hall swung open behind them. Aveline turned just in time to see Beta Jack storming out, his face a mask of anger. He marched straight to them, his eyes locked on Aveline.

“This isn’t over,” Jack said, his voice low and intense. “I’m not letting him throw you away like this, Aveline.”

“There’s nothing you can do, Jack,” Aveline said quietly, her voice almost drowned out by the wind rustling the leaves. “He’s the Alpha. His word is law.”

“Law?” Jack spat the word like it was something foul. “This isn’t law. This is madness. Morgana is manipulating him—can’t you see that?”

Aveline hesitated, but she didn’t answer. Jack’s certainty was like a torch in the darkness, and for a moment, she almost wanted to believe him. But the pain of Killian’s betrayal was too fresh, and doubt gnawed at her resolve.

Inside the hall, Killian emerged with Morgana on his arm, their silhouettes framed by the golden light from within. Morgana’s gaze swept over the scene, her eyes lingering on Aveline with a look that was part triumph and part pity, a cruel mockery of sympathy. Killian’s expression, however, was as cold and unreadable as ever.

“Killian!” Jack called, his voice echoing across the clearing. He took a step forward, his fists clenched at his sides. “This isn’t right, and you know it.”

Killian’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. Morgana’s hand tightened on his arm, and she leaned in, whispering something in his ear. Whatever it was, it only made his eyes harden.

“There’s nothing to discuss, Jack,” Killian said finally, his tone flat and dismissive. “The decision is made.”

Jack took another step forward, his anger barely restrained. “And what about the pack? What about Aveline? Don’t they deserve more than a decision made behind closed doors?”

“Aveline knows why this had to happen,” Killian replied, his gaze shifting briefly to her. There was something in his eyes—regret, guilt, perhaps even pain—but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

“No,” Aveline said softly, finding her voice at last. She met Killian’s gaze, her eyes steady despite the storm raging inside her. “I don’t understand why, Killian. And you haven’t given me a reason.”

Killian opened his mouth to speak, but Morgana stepped forward, her expression perfectly composed. “It’s simple,” she said, her voice as smooth as polished glass. “You were a temporary solution. An unfortunate necessity until the real Luna could return.”

Aveline felt the words like a slap, but she didn’t flinch. She refused to give Morgana the satisfaction.

“You’re a fool, Killian,” Jack growled, his voice dripping with disdain. “You think this woman has your best interests at heart? You’re blind if you can’t see what she’s doing.”

“Enough,” Killian snapped, his voice laced with a warning. “This is not your place, Jack.”

“Maybe not,” Jack replied, his voice tight with fury. “But it’s still my duty to protect this pack. And you’re making a mistake that could destroy everything.”

Killian’s eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment, Aveline feared he might lash out. But Morgana placed a calming hand on his arm, her touch seemingly diffusing the tension.

“I won’t tolerate insubordination, Jack,” Killian said, his tone icy. “Remember your place.”

Jack’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t back down. “You’re the one who’s forgotten his place, Killian.”

“Enough!” Aveline’s voice cut through the rising tension, startling them all into silence. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “This is over, Jack. There’s no point in arguing.”

“But—” Jack began, but Aveline shook her head.

“Please,” she said softly. “Let it go.”

Jack’s shoulders slumped in defeat, and after a long moment, he nodded reluctantly. He shot Killian one last glare before turning on his heel and stalking away into the darkness.

Hazel reached for Aveline’s hand, squeezing it tightly. “What are you going to do?” she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Aveline didn’t answer. She didn’t know the answer herself. All she knew was that she couldn’t stay—not with the weight of Killian’s betrayal pressing down on her, suffocating her with every breath.

Without another word, Aveline turned and walked away from the Pack Hall, leaving behind the echoes of broken promises and shattered dreams.

Aveline walked briskly into the forest, her footsteps muffled by the thick blanket of leaves that carpeted the ground. The moonlight filtered through the dense canopy, creating shifting patterns of light and shadow, but Aveline hardly noticed. Her mind was racing, her emotions a turbulent storm just beneath the surface of her rigid composure.

She needed to clear her head, to figure out what to do next. The thought of staying here, of pretending everything was normal while Morgana paraded as Luna, made her stomach twist. And now, more than ever, she had to think not just of herself but of the children growing inside her.

They won’t grow up here, she told herself. Not under her rule.

The thought brought with it a surge of determination. She would leave. She had no choice. If she stayed, the pack would be divided between those loyal to her and those who accepted Morgana, and that division would tear them all apart. Even if she couldn’t see it clearly yet, deep down she knew she couldn’t risk her children’s lives in this chaos.

As she reached the edge of the woods, she heard footsteps behind her. She stopped, turning to see Jack emerge from the darkness, his expression a mask of frustration and pain.

“I’m not letting you leave like this,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “You deserve better than this, Aveline.”

Aveline shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. “It doesn’t matter what I deserve, Jack. The pack matters more.”

“No, it matters what’s right,” Jack insisted. He took a step closer, his eyes searching hers for something—anything—that might suggest she was willing to stay and fight. “He’s not thinking clearly. Morgana is manipulating him, turning him against everyone who cares about this pack.”

Aveline let out a bitter laugh, devoid of any real humor. “And what would fighting accomplish, Jack? More division? More bloodshed? I can’t do that to them. I won’t.”

“You’re their Luna,” Jack said, almost pleading now. “They need you.”

“They have a Luna,” she replied, her tone heavy with finality. “Even if she isn’t the one they deserve.”

Jack’s shoulders slumped, his expression one of utter defeat. “You can’t just leave without saying anything to them,” he said softly. “They need closure. They need to understand.”

But Aveline shook her head. “If I say goodbye, they’ll never let me leave. And if I stay, I’ll be putting them all at risk.”

“What about Killian?” Jack’s question was pointed, cutting through the fog of Aveline’s resolve. “You still love him, don’t you?”

Aveline felt her breath hitch at the question, her chest tightening painfully. Did she still love him? It was a question she hadn’t allowed herself to fully consider, not with everything else crashing down around her. But the answer was there, buried beneath layers of pain and anger and betrayal.

“I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice barely more than a whisper. “But it doesn’t matter now.”

“It should matter,” Jack insisted, his voice rough with frustration. “You’re walking away from everything because of something he did—”

“No,” she interrupted, her voice suddenly sharp with resolve. “I’m walking away because I have to protect my children. That’s all that matters now.”

Jack’s eyes widened in shock, his mouth opening as if to say something, but no words came. Aveline turned away, not wanting to see the pain and confusion in his eyes. She needed to stay strong, to keep moving forward.

But before she could take another step, Jack reached out, his hand gently gripping her arm. “Aveline, if you leave now, there’s no going back,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. “You know that, don’t you?”

She swallowed hard, nodding. “I know.”

Jack released her arm, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He watched her for a long moment, his eyes filled with a sadness that mirrored her own.

“Be safe,” he said finally, his voice thick with emotion. “And if you ever need help—”

“I know where to find you,” Aveline finished for him, forcing a small, sad smile. It was the best she could offer him, and he seemed to understand.

Without another word, Aveline turned and continued walking, the forest closing in around her. She didn’t look back, didn’t allow herself to dwell on the shattered remnants of her life that she was leaving behind.

As the darkness deepened, the wind picked up, rustling the leaves and whispering through the trees like a mournful song. Aveline forced herself to keep moving, her thoughts focused on what lay ahead—on the new life she would have to build, far away from the pack and the man she had once called her mate.

But as she moved deeper into the forest, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched, that the shadows held secrets she couldn’t see. Her instincts told her to be cautious, to stay alert, but her mind was too exhausted to heed the warning.

One step at a time, she told herself. Just keep moving.

The words became a mantra, a lifeline that kept her going as the darkness closed in around her, swallowing the path behind her like the remnants of a fading dream.