The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power: Read Chapters 1-5

Cindy Spencer's POV:

I stood quietly against an old tree at the border of our lands. The rough bark scratched my back, but it didn't hurt nearly as much as the ache inside me.

I stared through the branches, silently watching two figures tangled up with each other not far off.

Thanks to my wolf vision, I caught it all—their lust-clouded expressions and the red claw marks marring her white skin.

My nose, just as sharp, picked up the sickening scent drifting on the wind—a mix of sweat, musk, and the unmistakable stench of mating. It made my stomach turn.

That was James Nolan—my fated mate, my Alpha.

But the one tangled up with him wasn't me.

"Kill him, Cindy! Set me free! I want to rip him to pieces! And that damn woman moaning under him!" My wolf spirit, Diana, thundered inside my mind, her voice shaking me to my core.

Her anger burned like fire, ready to explode, threatening to drown out my thoughts.

"Calm down, Diana," I murmured inside, holding her back with everything I had.

I could feel my nails uncontrollably growing longer, digging deep into the soft flesh of my palms. The sharp, bone-deep pain was the only thing keeping me from losing control and breaking into my wolf form.

Today was meant to be joyful.

As Luna of the Duskfang Pack, I should've been standing proudly among my people, ready to greet my husband after a year of battle.

My husband, James, was a famed young warrior across the entire werewolf kingdom—the strongest and most prideful Alpha the Duskfang Pack had ever known.

His victories on the Northmere battlefield were so great that they became legends every werewolf would speak of with awe.

And I was a daughter of Benjamin Spencer, the Northmere hero and former Alpha of the Silverpeak Pack, sharing that same fierce and noble bloodline of warriors.

People used to say our bond was a perfect gift from the Moon Goddess, a love others envied.

But who could've guessed that after a year at war, what he brought back wasn't glory or love—but a betrayal so vile, it was too disgusting to even look at.

I ignored Diana's furious howls and the way she slammed against the walls of my mind. I didn't charge forward or expose myself to the pair, lost in their frenzy.

That would only make me look like a bitter, hysterical woman stripped of all dignity.

Instead, I gave the scene one final, lingering glance before turning away without a word, making my way back to the pack's land—to the cold, empty place we called Moonwhisper Residence.

About an hour later, James came back too.

He had already bathed, the nauseating scent of that unfamiliar female completely gone, replaced by his usual crisp, cold cedar-like aroma.

He had changed into clean, casual clothes, his handsome face showing a hint of weariness from the battle. If I hadn't witnessed it myself, I might've thought I'd imagined the whole thing.

But his next words hit harder than any nightmare.

He sat down without even looking my way, his voice flat and steady as he said, "Cindy, I've made up my mind. Evelyn will be the new Luna of the Duskfang Pack."

Evelyn Rusell.

I finally realized who the woman in the forest was.

It was his deputy, the Gamma-level warrior, the woman hailed throughout the kingdom as the "Valkyrie"!

My heart dropped like a stone into icy waters.

Even Diana was silent now, leaving behind only an eerie stillness.

"James," my voice trembled, yet I held on to the last bit of pride, sneering as I asked, "When did you betray the sacred bond sworn before the Moon Goddess and start sleeping with your deputy?"

For a moment, something stiff and awkward flashed across his handsome face, but it quickly turned into annoyance and rage. "Mind your words, Cindy," he growled. "I made this choice as your Alpha."

He rose to his feet, towering over me with that same cold arrogance in his eyes. "Evelyn becoming Luna is a reward I've earned through bloodshed and victory on the Northmere. It's final. There's no going back."

"Evelyn is exactly the kind of Luna I need," he said, eyes gleaming with pride for her and cold disregard for me. "She can fight right beside my wolf spirit in battle—we're a natural team. And you, Cindy? What have you done besides lounge around the house, trading gossip, and playing useless games with the other women? All you've done is stand in my shadow, benefiting from everything I spilled blood to earn!"

He talked like nothing I'd done this past year mattered at all, like it was some kind of joke.

A sharp, humorless laugh slipped from my lips. "Benefiting? James, think for a second—while you were off fighting, who held everything together here? Who never left your grandmother's side when she was sick and barely hanging on? I was the one who found a hidden wolf healer just to keep her alive!"

My voice cracked and rose as the anger I'd held in burst free. "You spent nearly every bit of the pack's money on your war! The only reason we aren't broke is because of me! I've been using the inheritance my father left me to keep the pack afloat. And you still dare say I'm just some helpless woman riding your coattails?"

To him, everything I said—every tear, every sacrifice—meant absolutely nothing.

James stared at me, eyes like ice, completely unfazed. Then he opened his mouth and spoke the words that shattered what was left of me.

"You were just doing your duty," he said.

Cindy's POV:

"You were just doing your duty."

James said it so casually, but the words slammed into me like a punch I never saw coming. They echoed in my chest, tearing through everything I thought we had.

Was that really how he saw everything I'd done? My loyalty, my sacrifices, my commitment—did he reduce it all to nothing more than an obligation?

Unbelievable. How could someone be so heartless?

"Diana, did you hear that? Can you believe the nerve of him?" I was screaming inside my head.

"Kill him, Cindy! That guy doesn't deserve you, much less the title of Alpha! Say the word, and I'll rip him apart!" Diana growled from deep within, her fury nearly overtaking mine. She was so close to dragging us both into our wolf form right then and there.

I clenched my fists tight, nails biting into my palms. The pain grounded me, barely holding back the rage bubbling up inside. My hands shook, my body tense, trying not to explode.

At the same time, James appeared totally unaware of the turmoil building inside me.

He strolled over to the liquor shelf, poured himself a glass of blood-red alcohol, and downed it in one go.

He acted like he was picking what to eat for dinner, not dropping a bomb that would shatter my world.

Setting his glass down, he finally met my gaze again, his voice dripping with condescension and self-importance as he tried to justify himself. "I get why you're angry. You're my destined mate, and the Luna role should've been yours. But, Cindy, you have to consider what's best for the pack. It's obvious Evelyn is the better choice."

He paused, probably realizing how cold he sounded, then added with an expression like he was doing me a favor, "But I'm not cutting you off. I still recognize our bond. You can stay close to me. I'm sure Evelyn won't mind."

He made it sound like some grand gift.

But to me, it was sickening.

Recognize our bond? Stay close to you? You mean stand in the back ground while you parade around with some one else in your bed?

I broke into loud, unfiltered laughter, tears slipping down my cheeks as disbelief took hold.

"James, who do you think you are? Some royal jerk who picks his women like picking sides in a game?" My laughter died out, replaced by an icy tone sharp enough to cut glass. "You expect me to swallow this insult and share my mate? Sorry, but I'm not that pathetic."

"You!" James's expression turned dark right away.

My words had clearly put his beloved, strong Evelyn in the same "low" group.

Seething with anger, he jabbed a finger at me and yelled, "Cindy! You've gone too far! You don't respect me as your Alpha! Just look at how you're behaving—like a spiteful woman! How could you ever be a worthy Luna?!"

"It's not your place to decide if I'm worthy or not!"

I'd had enough. I let go of the restraint I'd been holding for so long. The wolf in me broke free, my eyes gleaming with that cold silver glow that only surfaced in times of pure fury.

I stepped forward, unleashing the full power of my Northmere Silverpeak Alpha bloodline—something I'd always kept hidden until now. It rolled off me like a tidal wave.

"Save your fake kindness, James!" My words hit like blades. "You're not worried about the pack—you're worried about my Northmere Silverpeak background! Afraid that throwing me out completely would stir up trouble? You want to dress it up as ‘kindness' to soften the blow, to force me to accept this and step aside for you and your new woman?"

I watched his eyes widen as the truth sank in, and I smirked. "As for the Luna title? You can keep it. Even if you begged me, I wouldn't take it now. That seat reeks of lies and betrayal. I wouldn't touch it, even if it came wrapped in gold."

"But," I hesitated briefly, then spoke each word with sharp precision, "I refuse to remain in this disgusting place and suffer your insults any longer, James!"

"I will completely sever this so-called ‘goddess-given'—fated bond between us!"

James's POV:

"Sever our bond? End everything between us?"

Even after I returned to my room, I couldn't get her expression out of my head—pale but burning with resolve.

Kenzi, my wolf, stirred inside me, growling with irritation from the nerve of what she'd said.

That girl is getting out of hand.

I slammed my hand against the table. The heavy thud echoed through the room.

Who does she think she is? A Luna who can't even fully shift at will, someone only good for running small chores around the pack house—yet she has the guts to talk about severing the fated bond between us? What a joke.

Does she honestly believe that a soul bond can just be erased with words? She's bluffing. This is just a pathetic move to get me to change my mind.

I let out a low laugh.

She'd definitely changed. Cindy used to be sweet and easy to control. She clung to my every word like I was her whole world. Even though she was technically Luna now, her aura still screamed weak Omega.

She used to gaze at me like I was her hero. That look always fed my pride.

But now, all I could see in her eyes was cold hatred and that ridiculous so-called "determination".

It was honestly pathetic.

Without meaning to, my thoughts drifted to Evelyn.

She was nothing like Cindy.

Evelyn's wolf spirit was fierce and wild, full of fire. On the battlefield, she moved like lightning, never hesitating to take down an enemy.

When she looked at me, it was all respect and fierce devotion—none of those silly daydreams or false hopes in her eyes.

She knew what I could offer, and she knew what she brought to the table.

No flowery talk—just actions that proved her worth again and again.

She was exactly the kind of mate I wanted—someone who could battle with me, help me win honor, and give me everything I crave when we were together.

Not like Cindy, who just cried for pity, always talking about how much she'd given up—then turned around and tried to challenge and threaten me!

Did she really believe she would survive out there without the Duskfang Pack or my protection?

What Alpha would welcome a discarded Luna?

"Sever our bond?" I muttered to myself.

She was dreaming.

If she were out there alone and life finally knocked her down, she would see how reckless she was to walk away.

Maybe one day she would return, crying and asking for forgiveness—

But I wouldn't be there waiting. She wouldn't get a second chance.

Evelyn was the future of the Duskfang Pack. She was the right one to stand beside me.

Cindy's attitude today only proved that I made the right choice.

A Luna who refused to follow her Alpha was nothing but a risk.

Kenzi, now settled, seemed to agree with me. His craving for Evelyn's strong, obedient scent only grew stronger.

Yes, Evelyn is the one I need—no doubt about it.

Cindy's POV:

Once James stormed out, his pride and rage trailing behind him, a cold stillness filled Moonwhisper Residence.

His Alpha scent still hung faintly in the air, but it no longer stirred anything in me. It was nothing more than a bitter trace, already beginning to fade.

"Diana, it won't take long before he pays the price of his stupidity today." My tone stayed even, almost cold—but deep down, I could feel the heat rising, like a volcano rumbling beneath a still, glassy lake.

"He'll be begging you, Cindy! He'll finally realize that what he's lost is the Duskfang pack's only hope, the greatest honor he'll ever have!" Diana's growl rang loud in my head, her voice shifting from anger to excitement and pride, like she was ready to burst free from her restraints.

Yes, Diana—my fierce wolf spirit—descended from the proud Northmere snow wolves. She was meant to stand and fight alongside me, not be pushed into the shadows.

I placed a hand against the wall to steady myself and took a slow breath, then made my way toward the window.

When I pushed it open, the night wind rushed in, sharp and cold. It carried the scent of pine and faraway snow—scents that tugged at my soul and reminded me of home.

"Jewel," I called gently.

A small figure appeared almost instantly. Dressed in plain clothes, her eyes were filled with worry. "Ms. Cindy!"

Jewel Manning had followed me all the way from the Silverpeak Pack, my father's land in the Northmere. Her loyalty had never wavered.

Though I held the title of Luna here, she still addressed me the way she always had—never switching to anything else when we were alone.

"Ms. Cindy, you ... you look ... " Jewel must have caught bits of our fight from outside and didn't know what to say.

I motioned for her not to worry.

"Jewel, please check the trunks filled with wolf pelts I brought from Silverpeak. Inside are my father's final treasures—armor and weapons that stand for the honor of the Northmere guardians, the riches our family has built over generations. James has no right to touch a single thing!"

Mentioning my father made my voice shake with both yearning and pain.

My father, Benjamin, was once one of the fiercest Alphas in Northmere. His wolf form was the swiftest silver wolf of the snowy realm, feared and respected by all.

I carried his bloodline, and my wolf spirit, Diana, was just as powerful a warrior spirit.

I came from a genuine Alpha bloodline, carrying warrior genes just as strong as any man's!

But all for James ... for his so-called "gentle and virtuous Luna", I hid every sharp edge of mine, suppressed Diana's fierce instincts, and locked away the silver armor that once struck fear into our enemies, willingly holding back my wolf nature to handle the "trivial" duties he cared about.

I thought my sacrifices would make him value me, yet all I got was his cold betrayal and the words, "You're not worthy."

"Ms. Cindy, are you saying ... " Jewel, sharp as always, immediately picked up on my intention. Her eyes widened in disbelief, but that quickly gave way to fierce determination. "Got it! There's no way we're letting that bastard get his hands on any of it. I'll take care of it right now!"

As Jewel rushed away, I drew in a deep breath.

"Diana, our next move is to head to the Royal Court."

"To see King Ryken?" Diana's voice carried a flicker of hope. "Cindy, are you sure about this? Even though King Ryken once shared a bond with the old Silverpeak Alpha, he's known for being strict and fair. And ... the Royal Court holds the sacred bond between mates in the highest regard."

I nodded. I wasn't going there to plead—I was going for justice.

The supreme king of all werewolf tribes.

King Ryken wasn't a stranger to me. When I was a child, I visited the Royal Court with my father. He once placed a hand on my shoulder, praising the strength and purity of my Alpha blood, saying I carried the same spirit my father had back in his prime.

He even used to joke that if I'd been born a boy, he would've recruited me for his royal guard.

"That's exactly why I'm going to him—because he's fair and just," I said, a cold, sharp smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "I'm not looking for pity. I want justice. James cast aside his fated mate for personal reasons and marked another female. That alone is a disgrace to the Moon Goddess and an insult to our traditions! I don't need King Ryken's sympathy—I want a Bond-Breaking Order!"

As the werewolf closest to the Goddess herself, any decree issued by King Ryken carried divine weight—enough to break the fated bond that tied me to that man.

"A ‘Bond-Breaking Order'?" Diana echoed thoughtfully. "That could actually work. Considering how much King Ryken respected your father—and how James's behavior clearly crossed the line—there's a good chance he'll bend the rules."

"He will," I replied with confidence.

King Ryken honored strength and lived by a code of integrity.

I am the daughter of Alpha Benjamin from Silverpeak—and I refuse to bring shame to his name.

I'm going to prove to him that I'm not the fragile, worthless trophy James claims I am!

"As soon as Jewel finishes going through the important stuff, we're heading out," I said to Diana. "We'll sneak away from the Duskfang Pack in the middle of the night. James thinks he's got everything under control, but he'll never see it coming when I show up at the Royal Court."

"Exactly! Let him stay lost in his arrogance. By the time he realizes what's happening, we'll be standing before King Ryken," Diana said, her voice practically buzzing with excitement.

I moved over to the vanity. My face looked pale in the mirror, but my eyes burned with a fierce mix of revenge and new strength. Slowly, I lifted my hand and let my hair fall loose. My long, dark hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

The originally black strands gradually took on a silver-gray hue — the external sign that my bloodline had entered a combat state.

James used to run his fingers through my hair, telling me I was as soft and gentle as water.

From this moment on, I'll be the flame that burns through every lie.

Royal Court, King Ryken... I'm on my way.

This cursed bond, this disgrace tattooed into my soul—I'll destroy it with my own hands.

Cindy's POV:

Jewel worked fast. In less than 30 minutes, she meticulously counted every item I'd taken from the Northmere Silverpeak Pack, sorting through easy-to-carry currency alongside a few lightweight yet potent silver armor pieces and blades. The loot barely filled two travel bags.

"Ms. Cindy, everything's set," Jewel said, her eyes slightly reddened but her voice steady. "Wherever you go, I'm with you."

A warm rush spread inside me, and I nodded. "You're so good. Having you with me makes this journey a little less lonely."

"Diana, it's time," I whispered inside my mind.

"We're finally leaving this disgusting place!" Diana's voice crackled with barely hidden excitement.

But just as Jewel and I were about to slip out of Moonwhisper Residence quietly under the cover of night, an older werewolf woman with a slight stoop appeared by the courtyard gate. She was Priscilla Nolan's—James's grandmother's—most trusted aide.

"Ms. Cindy." The old servant's voice was dry but carried a subtle urgency. "Mrs. Priscilla wants to see you. She said it's important."

Diana and I exchanged a cold, silent laugh.

Important? More like a trap.

"Cindy, don't listen! Let's just go!" Diana warned. "Those old witches have no good intentions."

I shook my head slowly.

Yes, we would leave for sure. But before that, there were some people I had to confront one last time, some words I had to get off my chest.

It wasn't just for myself, but for the Silverpeak Pack's bloodline stretching all the way back to Northmere. I wouldn't let anyone think I was a coward who ran off silently, letting myself be pushed around.

"Got it. I'll go," I said calmly to the servant, then motioned for Jewel to set the bags aside for now.

Priscilla's Serene Residence was brightly lit, a sharp contrast to the cold quiet of my own Moonwhisper Residence.

As I stepped inside, a mix of female werewolf pheromones hit me—mostly from wives of high-ranking Betas or Gammas, close to Priscilla. They were former "sisters-in-law" and elders I'd worked hard to keep on my side.

They clustered around Priscilla, giving me looks that were hard to read—some pitying, some smug, but mostly distant and cautious.

"Cindy, you're here. Sit down," Priscilla greeted me with her usual polite smile, though beneath it I sensed a faint, calculating edge I'd once mistaken for wisdom.

"Priscilla," I said politely, nodding before taking a seat nearby, calm and collected.

"Cindy," Priscilla sighed, taking my hand and patting it gently, her voice thick with fake sympathy. "James acted rashly, and you've been wronged. But you understand, as Alpha, he carries a heavy weight. Everything he does is for the pack's future. Evelyn is young but talented—a fierce fighter and a great asset for James."

"So what you're saying, Priscilla, is that I should step down as Luna for the pack's sake—so James and Evelyn can be together?" I replied evenly, a faint, cold smile tugging at my lips.

Diana's voice raged in my head. "I'm about to throw up! That old witch sure knows how to put on a show! Who was near death back then? Who begged us to save her?"

How could I forget?

When Priscilla was almost destroyed by a rare fire toxin attacking her wolf spirit, it was James who knelt before me, begging for help.

It was I who played my last card—traveling thousands of miles to the snowy mountains to bring back a hidden werewolf healer and applying the Silverpeak Pack's secret antidote to pull her back from death's door.

I cared for her tirelessly—cleaning her wounds, giving her medicine—more devoted than any daughter-in-law could ever be.

And now, she expected me to give up my place willingly for her grandson's new flame?

Other female werewolves joined in, supporting her.

"Yes, Cindy, think about the pack's future. Sacrifice a little for the greater good."

"Evelyn's strong and connected to the Royal Court. Having her as Luna will benefit Duskfang Pack."

"Don't worry. Even if you're not Luna, we'll still treat you like family. You won't be cast out."

"You were James's first mate—we all remember that bond."

Each fake consolation felt like poison coated with honey, cutting deep.

They once praised me as virtuous and capable, envied my fated bond with James, but now they were casually asking me to swallow my pride, trampling on everything I sacrificed.

"Treat us like family?" Diana scoffed. "Opportunists and turncoats! Cindy, don't let them waste anymore of your time. Tell them they're not worth it!"

My heart grew colder with each word, and the last spark of loyalty I felt for this pack, this so-called "family", died.

I slowly withdrew my hand from Priscilla's grasp, scanning the room with a calm, piercing gaze, committing every false face to memory.

"Priscilla, ladies," my voice was sharp and emotionless, "I appreciate your concern. But I am Cindy, daughter of Benjamin, Alpha of Northmere Silverpeak Pack. Warrior blood runs through me. My mate may not love me and may betray me, but I will never allow him to disgrace our sacred bond or raise another above me."

I stood, my gaze cold as the frozen plains of Northmere. "The Luna's position isn't his to give away. As for my future, it's no concern of yours.

"The matter between James and me, I will take it to the Royal Court myself and ask King Ryken for judgment. Since he no longer wants this bond, then I will be the one to break it."

Without looking back, I walked away, leaving stunned faces behind.

"Diana, did you see that? This is the family we once fought to protect," I said to Diana bitterly.

"I saw. A bunch of fools! Losing you will be the Duskfang Pack's greatest loss, and their worst mistake," Diana's voice rang out, filled with pride for me and scorn for them.