Rising From the Ashes: The Injured Luna Heals Herself

Mauve’s POV

"Time to eat, Luna!"

Amber brought the chicken soup to the dining table. She moved with an exaggerated grace, like she wanted to make sure I noticed every little effort she put in. Setting the bowl down, she turned to me with a smug smile and added, “You should be thankful I’m here to take care of you.”

'So much for taking care as you're extending it to my mate,' I thought.

She picked up the spoon, scooped some soup, and held it to my lips. I opened my mouth, letting her feed me. I had no choice but to play along, to pretend I was as helpless as they thought.

Amber tilted her head. “When Alpha Jester asked me to help you, I couldn’t believe how kind he was. Looking after you must be such a burden for him. Good thing I’m around to make his life easier. Maybe I'm not fulfilling Luna's job, but I am providing for his needs in your absence."

Her words stung, but I swallowed the soup and stayed silent. My mind drifted to the day she arrived.

It was shortly after the accident. I had just come home from the pack hospital, barely holding myself together. Jester brought Amber into our home, calling her a girl from a hardworking family. At first, I thought he was trying to help me, trying to make things easier for us both.

She cooked my meals, fed me, brushed my hair, and treated me like I was a baby. But it didn’t take long for me to notice the way Jester looked at her. He spent more time with her than he ever spent with me. And then, one day, I saw it with my own eyes.

She’d wheeled me into my bedroom, saying I needed to rest. Jester was already there, standing too close to her. I watched as he kissed her boldly, without hesitation. My heart shattered. And just one day, they were discussing Amber's pregnancy. My husband was so happy; they spent the whole day in our bedroom, celebrating the news while abandoning me like a worn-out cloth on the floor. They thought I was numb, then this numbness turned into a burning rage that consumed me.

From that moment on, I chose to stay silent. Pretending I didn’t see, didn’t hear, didn’t understand.

“You’re so slow today,” Amber’s voice cut through my thoughts, showing her annoyance. She tapped the spoon against the bowl. “You know, I worked hard to make this for you, but I guess gratitude isn’t something you understand very well!”

Jester walked into the dining room. His presence was overwhelming as always. He strode over to Amber, pulling her into his arms and pressing a kiss to her cheek.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, barely glancing at me before giving her his full attention.

Amber pouted dramatically. “Luna Mauve doesn’t like my cooking. She barely eats anything I make for her. I cooked that chicken soup for hours so she would feel better, but she barely touched it. My efforts were wasted!"

Jester’s expression darkened as he looked at me. “You should be pleased that someone’s even bothering with you,” he said coldly. “You’ve been nothing but a burden. You couldn’t give me a pup before, and now you’re even more useless.”

The words sliced through me, but I didn’t let them see how much they hurt.

“At least Amber is here to take care of me and my wolf. You don’t get to be upset about anything you see."

Amber placed a hand on his chest, feigning innocence. “Don’t say that, Alpha. She doesn’t understand what you’re saying. She’ll just get confused.”

Jester sighed and leaned down to kiss her again, his anger melting into affection.

I watched them, my chest tight with heartbreak. But I kept my face blank, refusing to let them see how much they’d broken me.

Not yet, I told myself. Don’t let them see. Your time will come. Soon, I’d be free.