From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 148

Emma's POV

The moonlight poured over the jagged edge of the cliff like spilled silver, casting long shadows across the rocky outcrop at the edge of Star Shadow pack's territory. I stood there alone, the cool ocean breeze whipping through my hair, carrying the salty tang of the sea mixed with the earthy scent of pine from the nearby woods.

My hands trembled slightly as I arranged the herbs for the ancient healing ceremony—sage bundles, moonflower petals, and a small vial of wolf's bane extract. It was supposed to be a ritual for renewal, but tonight, it was my trap.

In my mind, the memory hit me like a wave crashing against the rocks below. "If he hadn't stubbornly refused to step down, I would have been Alpha long ago," Nathan'd slurred, his eyes gleaming with that cold, calculated pride I'd somehow missed for years. "How could he possibly have died if I hadn't put poison in his tea? I was the one who deserved to be Alpha!"

My stomach had twisted then, just like it did now, as the truth sank deeper than any knife could reach. Robert, my mate, the father of my son, murdered by his own flesh and blood.

For years, I'd buried my grief under layers of denial, smothering it with misplaced motherly love for Nathan. But now, under this full moon, that numbness shattered. My wolf spirit, Astrid, stirred from her long sleep, her voice a low growl in my head: *It's time, Emma. For Robert. For the pack.*

I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth of the moonlight on my skin, and reached deep within to Astrid. Her presence flooded me like a rush of warm blood, connecting us in a way I hadn't felt since Robert's death.

Memories flashed—Robert's laugh, his strong arms around me during our matebond ceremony, the way his scent of fresh rain always calmed my storms. Tears stung my eyes, but I wiped them away, my resolve hardening. I couldn't let Nathan's poison spread any further. Not to the pack, not to anyone else.

Through the mindlink, I sent the invitation to Nathan. My voice came out weak, deliberately playing up the frailty from my recent recovery from the wolf flu.

"Nathan, I've found an old ceremony to help with your Alpha strength. It's under the full moon, at the cliff edge. Please, come alone. As your mother, I need to do this for you."

I let a hint of desperation seep in, knowing his ego would latch onto it. He was always hungry for power, especially now that his position as Alpha was unstable. His response came back sharp, laced with suspicion:

*Fine, Mother. But if this is a trick...*

I paced the cliff edge, my heart pounding like tribal drums. The air smelled of salt and impending rain, heightening my senses. Nathan's scent hit me first—musky, with an undercurrent of something rotten, like spoiled meat.

He emerged from the shadows, his tall frame silhouetted against the moon, dressed in his usual tailored shirt and jeans that screamed status. His eyes, so like his father's yet so different, narrowed as he approached.

"What's this about, Mother? You look... frail."

I forced a smile, gesturing to the circle of herbs I'd laid out. "Just a simple ritual. Sit with me, Nathan. Let me help you regain your full strength." He hesitated, his Alpha aura pulsing like a warning signal, but the promise of power won out. He lowered himself beside me, his movements confident, arrogant. As I lit the sage, the smoke curled up, carrying the sharp, cleansing scent that masked my racing thoughts. Astrid whispered in my mind: *Wait for the right moment.*

The ceremony began with chants I'd learned as a young wolf, words that echoed through the night. "Under the moon's gaze, we seek balance..." But midway, I stopped, my voice steady despite the storm inside.

"I know what you did, Nathan. I know you poisoned Robert."

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. His face twisted from surprise to rage, his eyes darkening to a stormy gray. "You're lying, you old fool," he snarled, his voice dripping with venom. "How dare you accuse me?"

Nathan lunged at me, his Alpha energy crashing like a wave, but I stood my ground, Astrid's strength surging through my veins.

"You killed him for power, and now you're destroying the pack!"

The air thickened with tension, his scent turning bitter with fear and fury. He shifted partially, his hands transforming to claws, and swiped at me. Pain ripped through my arm as his nails grazed my skin, but I didn't back down. I let Astrid take over, my body morphing into wolf form—sleek silver fur, sharp teeth, muscles coiling for the fight. We clashed on the cliff edge, the moonlight illuminating our shadows as we grappled. His attacks were wild, fueled by rage, but mine were calculated, every move drawing him closer to the precipice.

Dirt and rocks flew as we circled each other, my paws scraping the ground. I could smell his sweat, mixed with the metallic tang of blood from our wounds.

"You think you can beat me, Mother?" he growled, his voice a mix of wolf and man, distorted by partial transformation. But I felt Astrid's calm certainty: *End this.* I feigned weakness, letting him think he had the upper hand. As he pounced, I twisted, using his momentum against him. My jaws clamped on his leg, and with a surge of strength I never knew I possessed, I tackled him toward the edge.

The world seemed to blur as we teetered on the brink. In that split second, I made my choice. I transformed back to human form just enough to wrap my arms around him as he struggled between shapes, and pulled us both over the edge.

Earlier, before I'd even set up the ritual, I'd scheduled a text to send at morning: "Nathan killed Robert. The pack needs the truth. Our location—the cliff." I'd timed it deliberately, thinking how they all deserved one last night of peaceful sleep before everything changed. My final act of kindness to the family I was leaving behind.

My thoughts cleared as we fell, the chaos of life fading into peace. Astrid's voice was gentle now: *We're free at last.* And to Robert, in my heart: *I'm coming, my love.*

The rocks below waited, dark and final, and in that last moment before impact, I felt only release—no more pain, no more conflict.