Forsaken Luna Finds Freedom

The full moon hung like a silver medallion in the night sky, casting an ethereal glow over the Silvermoon Pack's gathering grounds. I stood beside Cayden, my fingers intertwined with his, feeling the strength of his Alpha presence beside me. For five years, this had been our ritual—standing together as fated mates before our pack during the sacred lunar cycle.

"Are you comfortable?" I whispered to Cayden, noticing his tense shoulders. "You've been distracted all evening."

He squeezed my hand but didn't meet my eyes. "Just pack business on my mind."

Before I could press further, a collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Heads turned toward the entrance of our gathering grounds, where a slender figure stood silhouetted against the moonlight.

My wolf stirred within me, a low growl building in my chest. *Something's wrong.*

The woman stepped forward, her movements hesitant and unsteady. Even from a distance, I could see her pale face and trembling hands.

"Alpha Cayden?" Her voice carried across the sudden silence, fragile and uncertain. "I... I'm sorry to intrude on your gathering."

Cayden's hand slipped from mine, his entire body going rigid. "Carolina?"

The name hit me like a physical blow. Carolina Stone—Cayden's first love, the woman who'd left our territory years before I arrived. What was she doing here?

She took another step forward, her eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on Cayden. "I don't... I don't understand where I am. My head hurts so much."

Pack members whispered around us as Carolina swayed dangerously. The pack healer rushed forward, but before she could reach her, Carolina's gaze shifted to me.

Her eyes widened in terror. "You! I—I know you!"

She collapsed to her knees, her body convulsing. "Make her stop! Please, make her stop!"

Cayden was at her side in an instant, his Alpha aura pulsing with concern. "Carolina, breathe. You're safe."

But she only screamed louder, clawing at her own skin. "She did this to me! I remember her face!"

The pack healer examined her swiftly, her expression grave. "She's showing signs of severe psychological trauma. We need to get her somewhere quiet."

As they carried Carolina away, Cayden's eyes met mine, filled with an emotion I couldn't decipher.

---

Hours later, in the privacy of our quarters, Cayden paced before me, running his hands through his dark hair.

"Vera, I need to ask something of you."

I sat on the edge of our bed, watching him. "Anything."

"Carolina has amnesia. She doesn't remember our past relationship or why she left." He stopped pacing, his golden eyes serious. "But when she saw you tonight..."

"She had a reaction," I finished softly.

He nodded. "The healer thinks you might have been involved in whatever trauma she experienced."

My wolf bristled defensively. "That's impossible. I never met her before tonight."

"I know that," Cayden said quickly. "But her mind doesn't. She's created a narrative where you were somehow involved."

He knelt before me, taking my hands in his. "I need you to help with her recovery. Just temporarily."

"What do you mean?"

"Play the role of... whatever she thinks you were." His voice dropped lower. "Be the antagonist in her memories until we can help her heal."

I pulled my hands away. "You want me to be her villain?"

"Just until she's better." Cayden's eyes were pleading now. "For the good of the pack, Vera. A traumatized wolf is a liability."

"And our mating ceremony?" I asked quietly. We'd been planning it for months.

"As soon as she's well." He cupped my face. "This is temporary. Trust me."

---

Two weeks later, at the next pack gathering, I approached Carolina with healing herbs in hand. The pack healer had asked me to assist with her treatment, given my skills.

"Carolina," I said gently. "I brought something to help with your headaches."

She looked up, her eyes clear for a moment before recognition dawned. She scrambled backward, knocking over her chair.

"No! Stay away!"

Before I could retreat, Cayden appeared between us, his Alpha aura flooding the room with power.

"Vera," he commanded, his voice carrying the unmistakable weight of an Alpha order. "Step back."

I froze, my wolf cowering under the pressure of his command. "Cayden, I was just trying to help."

"You're making her worse." His tone was cold, clinical. "Everyone needs to understand—Carolina needs protection and space during her recovery."

The pack members around us nodded solemnly, their eyes sliding away from mine.

"From now on," Cayden continued, addressing the entire gathering, "Vera will keep her distance from Carolina."

I felt the weight of dozens of suspicious glances. Whispers erupted around us.

"Did she really hurt Carolina?"

"Why would Alpha Cayden let her stay if she's dangerous?"

The mate mark on my neck burned as Cayden's Alpha aura pressed down on me, forcing my submission. My wolf whimpered inside me, confused and hurt.

As the pack turned away from me, I realized with growing horror that I had just become the villain in their story—and Cayden had made sure everyone knew it.