Ashes Of Rebellion

Liora staggered into her room, her legs shaky, her core still trembling from everything that had just happened. Her heart pounded, not from the wild escape, but from what she had done—what she had allowed. Her hands trembled as she locked the door behind her, back pressed to the wood ,it was the only thing keeping her upright, her legs barely holding her weight. Her body still ached from the night, but it wasn't the pain that haunted her.

It was Zyra's voice.

"You are just as I had said,…Dirty. Slut."

"Wow," a cold voice cut through the silence. "Look who finally decided to return."

Liora's head snapped up. Sera stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed, face like stone.

"I was—"

"Don't," Sera snapped. "Don't even try to explain it."

Sera stood. "You snuck out without telling anyone, your father has specifically asked you to remain indoors .You vanished for hours. And now—" She took a slow, sharp inhale, her nose twitching. "You smell like her."

Sera studied her, then sighed. "So… what happened?"

Liora's face heated. She said nothing, but the answer was written all over her—her tousled hair, torn dress, bruised lips. Her scent tangled with the Alpha's, no longer faint but overwhelming.

"You let her touch you," Sera said, almost in disbelief. "While she was in rut."

"It wasn't supposed to happen—" Liora said, voice cracking. "I didn't mean to… I wasn't thinking."

Liora lowered her head.

Sera's lips curled in something between anger and disappointment. "So that's it? You ran straight into the Alpha's arms while she was in rut? What were you thinking?"

"I didn't know," Liora whispered, voice hoarse. "I didn't know she would be in rut."

Sera moved closer, her tone rising. "She's an Alpha, Liora! You're an Omega—a True Blood Omega! Your body reacts to her in ways you can't predict. What if she had marked you? What if your heat had triggered?"

Liora flinched.

"Do you even realize how reckless this was?"

"I just needed answers," Liora snapped. "About my mother."

That stilled Sera. Her brows knit together. "Your mother?"

Liora turned and walked to her shelf, dragging out the crumpled parchment she had hidden earlier. She handed it to Sera with shaking fingers. "It was left on my bedside table, I just saw it this morning"

Sera stared at her. "And you believed it?, wtf Liora , is this really you? , you really acted this way? And what did she tell you about your mother? What did she tell you that your father hasn't told you Liora? ,You believed Zyra wanted to talk?" Sera laughed, bitter and sharp. "You are so stupid, you've always been unpredictable and stubborn.. but this is too much!"

Liora's blue eyes burned, tears flowing down her eyes and she choked on it . "Don't."

"Don't what? Call it what it is?" Sera's voice rose. "You snuck into enemy territory, walked right into her rut, slept with her, and now you're standing here looking broken"

Tears dropped down liora's eyes "Sera" she called softly

It melted the Beta's heart but she had to be strong and correct the Omega.

"She used me," Liora said softly.

Sera stepped closer. "No, you let her. You walked right into it. And for what? A chance to hear about your dead mother from the likes of Lunarion Alpha whom you've always battled with and would do anything to put you down?. She got what she wanted. You gave it to her.That letter was bait. And you, like a good little Omega, followed it right into her bed, You could've been claimed.

Liora's face went pale.

Sera stepped forward and cupped her chin gently, forcing her to meet her gaze. "You're not just some Omega. You're not some pawn. You're stronger than this. So act like it."

Liora cried harder and yanked away "I didn't go there to fall into her bed! But my body—my wolf—it betrayed me. The bond—it was too strong. I tried to leave."

"You didn't get marked?" Sera asked sharply.

Liora shook her head. "No. Just this." She showed the scratch on her collarbone.

Sera exhaled a breath of relief "next time, think with your head, not your instincts, and I want to know why she let you escape , I'm sure there is something behind this , Zyra won't just do that for nothing or only to spite you. Look liora i won't tell your father about this , but, No more running off alone.Agreed?"

Liora nodded slowly and smiled, she knew Sera only wanted to correct her and not to hurt her.

Sera gave a soft snort. "Good. And now, take a damn shower. You smell like Lunarion and sex, and it's messing with my wolf."

Liora let out a tiny, broken laugh.

Sera smiled faintly. "Rest. We'll talk more later."

And with that, she left, the door clicking softly behind her.

Liora's eyes glazed with furry , hatred and disgust filled her eyes , Zyra will pay for this definitely.

‐‐‐

The fire crackled in the center of the dark chamber, shadows licking the stone walls like whispering ghosts. Zyra stood stiffly, arms crossed, her silver eyes watching the flickering flame with detachment.

Celestine approached with measured steps, her cloak trailing behind her like a storm cloud.

"Did you get it?" she asked without looking up.

Zyra reached into her pocket and pulled out the delicate strand of pale, silken hair. It shimmered faintly in the low light, still carrying the scent of Liora—wild, soft, forbidden.

She handed it to Celestine.

Celestine smirked. "Good, Zyra. Now you will be free from her."

Zyra said nothing, but the corner of her mouth lifted. The bond that had been chaining her heart, confusing her instincts, tearing at her control—it would be gone. She would be free.

She smiled, feeling glorious.

Celestine turned and handed the hair to a cloaked magician standing silently behind the altar. Without a word, the man began to chant. Ancient, guttural incantations rolled from his tongue as he placed the hair into a carved obsidian bowl lined with crushed moonstone.

The flames around them rose. The air crackled. The earth rumbled beneath their feet.

Then, without warning—

A beam of silvery light slashed through the roof. The room quaked violently, and the fire turned white.

From within the blinding light, a figure emerged—tall, radiant, cloaked in moonlight. Her eyes burned with cosmic fury.

The Moon Goddess.

Her voice shattered the silence like thunder.

"You will never break this bond."

The walls groaned. The wind howled. The light surged—

And then she was gone.

Silence followed. Only the sound of the fire sputtering, wounded and low.

The magician fell back, gasping. The obsidian bowl had split clean in two. The hair—gone, consumed by divine fire.

Their plan had failed.

Celestine's hazel eyes burned with fury. Her fists clenched, jaw tight.

But she didn't crumble.

No.

Her mind turned sharply, already calculating. She didn't care what the Moon Goddess had decreed. Divine intervention or not—she would destroy that bond. Not just to free her daughter.

But out of vengeance.

The Moonveil Pack had taken someone from her—someone she had once sworn to protect.

Someone she had loved.

It wasn't a bond the world had acknowledged. It wasn't a love spoken aloud. But it was real. Deep. Secret.

The late Luna had belonged to another by duty. But in quiet moments, stolen glances, and passionate nights , marked and bred by her —she had been Celestine's.

And Zyra… Zyra was the fruit of that love.

She looked at Zyra now—not just as the Alpha, not just as the key to Lunarion's future—but as the living memory of the woman she had lost.

"I will end this," Celestine whispered, her voice cold and raw, "Even if I have to burn down Selvayra to do it."