Cherry
Dylan's missing was no longer a secret eventually. Some of the pack members got to know it.
“I know that she is our Luna, but with the sudden disappearance of our Alpha, she would take over and lead us.”
“Why are we letting a cursed shifter lead us? We should ask her to abdicate her right as a Luna,” one of the oldest shifters in the pack whispered to her granddaughter.
...
I could feel the weight of their accusations. They suffocated me with guilt and heartache.
However, I couldn't bring myself to just leave as wished. Not when Dylan was still missing.
“Dylan, where are you? When will you come back? I am hanging by a thread here, and I really need you now.” I mumbled as if Dylan was around. He'd be able to hear that.
Ignoring the hostile stares and cutting words, I ventured out into the stormy nights, searching for any trace of Dylan.
“Dylan! Dylan, please come back!” I shouted, looking around just in case he would suddenly show up.
“We need you! The pack is starting to fall apart! And F-Fern… misses you!”
Rain drenched my clothes, mingling with my tears, as I trudged through the forest.
For a week, I scoured the woods. Each passing day without finding him deepened the pit of despair within me. I was living on the edge, a thin thread of hope keeping me going.
The forest seemed to taunt me, its shadows whispering that I was fighting a losing battle.
Just when it seemed like I couldn't go on any longer, a familiar figure appeared through the rain-soaked trees.
“Cherry!” Bert's voice cut through the storm. Thank god! Bert was finally back!
I mustered the last of my strength, stumbling towards him.
"Cherry! Come to me! Jason told me everything. It's not your fault." Bert supported me with both hands.
“Sorry I lose your Alpha...I-I've tried whatever I can but I-I still can't Dylan...” I drifted into unconsciousness before finishing.
***************
“Luna Cherry, I advise you to be more careful with yourself. You almost lost your baby,” said the doctor.
Yet again I felt waves of fear and pain clamoring my chest. The next moment, Bert barged in.
“Cherry, Dylan's back! He's in the pack house now!”
I jumped out of the bed immediately and rushed back to our house, leaving Bert far behind. As I arrived, my eyes immediately spotted his familiar figure in the living room, only to find him holding the hands of a woman, who had this unique long, dark green hair like a waterfall.
“D-Dylan, you're finally back! How do you feel now? And this miss is...?”
“Luna Cherry, nice to meet you. I'm Chelsea, daughter of Alpha from the White Moon pack.” The woman smiled, reaching out to me.
Before shaking hands with Chelsea, I looked over at Dylan. The once warm and loving gaze was cold and distant now.
“Dylan, what's going on?” I managed to utter.
“Get away.” He glanced at me with an expression that held no trace of the affection I remembered.
“Dylan, please, don't be so harsh with Luna Cherry, dear.” Before I could even figure out what was happening, Chelsea stepped forward, smiling. “Are you okay, Luna Cherry?”
As the woman approached me, I smelled a familiar scent, and I knew it wasn't from Dylan.
Before I spoke to this woman, Dylan turned his back against me and led her to our bedroom.
“Dylan! Wait…"
Though devastated, I couldn't bring myself to stand by when my mate left with another woman.
My feet moved on their accord, following Dylan and Chelsea.
“Dylan…" I called in a small voice.
As I approached the room, my heart raced. The scene behind the door was a nightmare that I couldn't wake up from.
Dylan and Chelsea were holding each other intimately.
I stormed in.
“Dylan, you and her… What the hell is going on? At least tell me who she is!”
“Get out! Have you been following me?" Dylan turned to me, his eyes devoid of the warmth that once held my heart captive.
His arm was wrapped around Chelsea possessively, his stance defensive, as if guarding her from me.
Defeated and broken, I turned away and left the pack house, tears blurring my vision as I stumbled through my way.