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.

he ran to her, his arms

leaped into her embrace,

Chapter 24

small box from his pocket. “I made this

to reveal a delicate bracelet made of polished moonstones. Each stone gleamed softly, smoothed to perfection by Alex’s careful hands.

the bracelet around her wrist. “It’s beautiful, Alex.

You’re amazing.”

watching the scene

her chest. She remembered the days she had tirelessly bandaged Alex’s scrapes, the nights spent comforting him when he was sick, the countless sacrifices she had

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

shifted slightly, her expression softening

quiet authority. His tone wasn’t harsh, but firm, as though concerned about Linda’s comfort. “You’re too heavy to keep clinging to her

stunned. Arnold’s voice was gentle, attentive in a

had never once displayed such consideration for her. Not when she had carried Alex on her

for

she had burned herself cooking his favorite meals or

had refused to see. Arnold wasn’t incapable of affection or care….he simply

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

his eyes lingering on her neck.

chest tightened. The necklace was clearly chosen with care, a personal and thoughtful gesture Arnold had never bothered to make for her.

chimed in, bouncing on 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

couldn’t take Alex along when he went

Sarah didn’t know the exact number, but she had stopped counting long ago. Even this morning, they had kissed in the office. A stolen moment, brimming with the intimacy he had never shared with her.

as though it had always belonged there. She leaned in,

center of the venue and grab something to eat,” she

gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable.

his toes. “Let’s

Family.

A Life Without My Altra’s De

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Chapter 24

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

light of the moon, the truth

already chosen his family. And it

trio laughed and chatted, Sarah quietly slipped away, her chest aching with the weight of her realization. She had clung to hope for

the start of her new life, she resolved to let

The image of

her hand, jolting her out of her

Where are you?” Zoe’s voice rang out, vibrant and full of energy, a stark contrast to the heaviness pressing down