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.

as he ran to

leaped into her embrace, clutching her

Chapter 24

exclaimed, pulling a small box from his pocket.

of polished moonstones. Each stone gleamed softly, smoothed to

Linda cooed, fastening the bracelet around her wrist. “It’s beautiful, Alex. Thank you so

You’re amazing.”

stood frozen, watching the scene

days she had tirelessly bandaged Alex’s scrapes, the nights spent comforting him when he was

of affection he had never thought to make

her expression softening further

of Linda,” Arnold said with a 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 like

Arnold’s voice was gentle, attentive in a way she

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

for

his favorite meals or worked tirelessly

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

delicate curve of her neck, which was sparkling with a delicate necklace of moonlight gems. “Look, it’s the

replied simply, his eyes lingering

a personal and thoughtful gesture Arnold had never bothered to make

you give Aunt Linda her gift? Why didn’t I know about it? You’re not allowed to visit

certainly couldn’t take Alex along when he went

her side? 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

it had always belonged there. She leaned in, her voice soft yet

something

gave a slight nod, his

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

Family.

Life Without My

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Chapter 24

sliced through Sarah’s heart like a blade. She had spent years convincing herself that she could build a family with Arnold, that their bond as mates would eventually

here, under the silver light of the moon, the truth was undeniable.

his family. And it

with the weight of her realization. She had clung to hope

she resolved

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

hand, jolting her

heaviness pressing down on Sarah’s chest. “We’re at the center of the venue,