Crippled Luna's Farewell: Half A Life Without My Alpha's Deadly Deception

Chapter 24

After that day, Sarah barely had time to dwell on Arnold and Linda.

Leo had flooded her inbox with dozens of gigabytes of study materials, and she needed to absorb it all as quickly as possible.

After hours of reading, she set down a thick book and nestled into the recliner, exhaustion weighing her down.

Her eyes fluttered shut, but just as her mind began to drift, her phone vibrated in her hand.

The screen lit up with Zoe’s name, her best friend and eternal source of adventure.

“Come out and play, Sarah!” Zoe’s voice bubbled with excitement. “It’s the Moonlight Feast Festival! Everyone’s out partying under the full moon….you *have to come.”

The Moonlight Feast Festival the first full moon night of summer…was a sacred time for the wolves. It was a night of celebration, of feasts, music, and dancing under the moon’s soft silver glow.

Sarah hesitated, memories swirling in her mind. It was during the Moonlight Feast Festival of her eighteenth year that she had

first awakened her wolf.

“Go,” Lena, her wolf, urged gently. “You haven’t relaxed in ages. And this festival… it’s where it all began for us.”

After a moment of deliberation, Sarah gave in. She asked Zoe for her location, grabbed her car keys, and headed out.

The drive was brief, and soon she arrived at the festival grounds.

The full moon hung low in the velvety sky, casting its serene light across the open field. Strings of colorful lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, their soft glow intermingling with the flicker of a grand bonfire at the center. Exquisite tents dotted the field, adorned with ribbons and banners. Wolves of all ages gathered, their laughter and song filling the night air.

As Sarah stepped into the lively scene, she scanned the crowd for Zoe. But before she could find her, her eyes landed on someone unexpected…. a small, bouncing figure she hadn’t seen in far too long.

It was Alex.

The golden wolf–head mark around his neck glinted in the firelight, a symbol of his lineage. Sarah’s breath caught in her

throat.

It had been weeks, perhaps longer, since Alex had last called or spoken to her. She had told herself it didn’t matter, that she had moved on from him and his father. But seeing him now, so carefree and happy, left her feeling hollow.

Sarah took a deep breath as she told herself to start getting over the feeling and learn to let go gradually.

With that thought in mind, Sarah didn’t go up to say hello, she just quietly followed the small figure that was bouncing happily in front of her.

“Alex, come here!”

A familiar voice broke through the chatter. Linda appeared, stepping into view with her flawless poise.

to her, his

embrace, clutching her tightly.

Chapter 24

exclaimed, pulling a small box from his pocket. “I made this

of

bracelet around her wrist. “It’s beautiful,

You’re amazing.”

stood frozen, watching the scene

she had tirelessly bandaged Alex’s scrapes, the nights spent comforting him when he was sick, the countless sacrifices she had made

was, gifting Linda a token of affection he had never thought to make

gaze shifted slightly, her expression softening further as Arnold

firm, as though concerned about Linda’s comfort. “You’re too heavy to

in a way she

six years, yet he had never once displayed such consideration for her. Not when she had carried Alex on

for days.

favorite meals or worked tirelessly to clean up after

veil had been lifted, revealing the cruel truth she had refused to see. Arnold wasn’t incapable of affection or care….he simply chose not to extend it to her.

you’re here!” Linda straightened her hair and cocked her head, revealing the delicate curve of her neck, which was sparkling with a delicate necklace of moonlight gems. “Look, it’s the gift you gave me. I’ve worn it all night. Does it look

eyes

chest tightened. The necklace was clearly chosen with care, a personal and thoughtful

his toes. “When did you give Aunt Linda her gift? Why didn’t I know about it? You’re not allowed to visit her without me anymore. We’re family!”

when he

long ago. Even this morning, they had kissed in the office. A stolen moment, brimming with the intimacy he had never shared with

as though it had always belonged there.

venue and grab something to eat,” she

slight nod, his expression

in eagerly, bouncing on his toes. “Let’s go as a

Family.

Farewell: Half A Life Without

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Chapter 24

herself that she could build a family with Arnold, that their bond as mates would eventually

light of

had already chosen his family. And it

away, her chest aching with the weight of her realization. She had clung to hope for far too

of her new life, she

they walked away. The image of their retreating figures blurred, swallowed by the crowd,

hand, jolting her out of

are you?” Zoe’s voice rang out, vibrant and full of energy, a stark contrast to the heaviness pressing down on Sarah’s chest. “We’re at the center of the venue, dancing by the bonfire! Hurry up and