His Abandoned Luna Chapter 72

|| Third-Person POV ||

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky burned in hues of deep crimson and violet, casting eerie shadows over the dense forest. The towering pines whispered with the cool evening breeze, but Coco barely noticed. Every step she took was calculated, precise— yet her heart pounded violently in her chest.

She was no stranger to danger.

No stranger to playing the part she needed to survive.

This was her moment. This was her chance to turn the tide.

She had spent too long clawing her way into Kael’s world, too long playing the submissive role, waiting for the moment she could prove her worth. Now, the moment had come. If she succeeded tonight, there would be no question— Kael would be back in the election game. He would see her, need her, choose her.

All she had to do was get inside the pack.

The guards spotted her almost immediately as she emerged from the treeline, their keen eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“Who are you?” one barked, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword.

The other stepped forward, his stance tense. “What are you doing here?”

Coco swallowed down the fear she didn’t actually feel and forced herself to tremble. She let her shoulders shake, let the weight of exhaustion settle into her frame, and then— without hesitation— she dropped to her knees. Her hair was a mess, a few bruises decorated her arms that she acted to hide.

A sob ripped from her throat, raw and pitiful.

“Please,” she gasped, her voice cracking as though she had been crying for hours. “I need shelter.”

She dragged in a breath, making sure it stuttered. Then, as if the admission cost her the last shred of dignity she had left, she lowered her head. “My mate… my mate has no interest in me.”

She waited.

Silence stretched between them, and she sensed the shift.

Hesitation.

Doubt.

Weakness.

The guards exchanged uncertain glances, their rigid posture loosening just slightly. One of them stepped closer, his voice no longer as sharp. “Wait… aren’t you that omega? The one from the Castle? Kale Reventhorn's mate?”

Coco lifted her head just enough for them to see the glimmer of unshed tears in her eyes. She bit her lip, let her breath hitch.

“Yes,” she whispered, barely managing to get the word out. “Yes, that’s me.”

Her fingers curled into the dirt as she forced another sob. “I heard Alpha Asher is just and honorable. I— I only want shelter in his pack.”

The two guards hesitated, exchanging another round of glances, their uncertainty growing. The omega before their eyes were pitiful, no doubt.

“We’re not supposed to let anyone in,” one muttered, shifting uneasily. “Not with the event tomorrow. Alpha’s orders.”

“But she’s just an omega,” the other countered, his voice conflicted.

"Many distinguished guests will be here tomorrow." The first guard said.

“Look at her. She can barely stand. What harm could she possibly do?” The second one reasoned.

Werewolves were proud creatures, specifically when it came to strength and they would always ignore the ones who willed less power. An omega was the bottom line in the society.

Idiots. Coco wanted to smirk at their stupidity but she kept her face down, her body shaking as if she were on the verge of collapse.

“I... I haven’t eaten in a whole day,” she murmured, her voice so fragile that it barely carried. “Please, don’t shut me out. I have nowhere to go.”

She could hear it in their silence. The war between duty and compassion.

It was almost too easy.

One of them sighed heavily before finally stepping forward, "Wait here. I will call the alpha."

Coco flinched. It was easier fool these guards. If Alpha Asher showed up, things might get out of her hands. It was time for the strike.

Her legs trembled. She shook violently. Before the guards could realize, Coco fell on the ground, hurting her head. Blood oozed out.

One of the guards closed in, "hey, what happened?"

"Did she just fainted?" The other one asked.

"Get some water," the first guard grouched near her, checking her wounds.

The other guard came back rushing, with water, "what a pain."

They sprinkled the water little by little and slowly Coco opened her eyes. They were barely open, her face looked paler than ever.

"Hey, are you OK?" The guards asked.

She sat slowly, taking help from one of the guards, "I am fine. Thank you."

"You fainted so suddenly. We were scared for a second," he said.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," Coco lowered her gaze.

"Here," he handed her a piece of cloth, "press this down on your forehead."

"Oh, thank you," Coco’s eyes glistening in gratitude as if this small act made her heart clenched.

The guard stood up. They exchanged glances again.

"She clearly doesn't have much strength. If we don't let her enter, she may end up dying somewhere near the pack borders. It might cause us even more trouble," the guard said.

The one one sighed. He wasn’t wrong. If an Alpha’s mate died in the territory, it would do no good. Coco smiled inwardly. The game was over. She could see in their eyes that they were about to give up. Just one last push.

She let out a whimper as if her head was hurting.

"What now?" One guard asked.

"Oh nothing. Just a little dizzy," Coco mumbled. Her eyes welled up.

“Alright,” the reluctant guard muttered, a sigh followed. “You can stay in the omega quarters with the others. But don’t cause any trouble. After the event, the Alpha will decide your fate.”

Coco lifted her face, letting them see the slow, grateful smile spreading across her lips.

“Of course,” she whispered, nodding meekly. “Thank you so much.”

She made a show of staggering to her feet, leaning ever so slightly on the guard who offered a steadying hand.

Pathetic.

Men were so easy to manipulate.

As they led her into Alpha Asher’s territory, she forced herself to keep up the act— meek, frightened, vulnerable. But deep inside, satisfaction burned bright.

The first step was complete.

She was inside.

And tomorrow, when the Eclipse Ball begins, the real performance will start.