Moonbound: The Rogue's Second Chance-Chapter 34 - - THIRTY-FOUR - PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME

Serena had been wandering in the woods for what felt like centuries. The more she walked, the more confusing the paths became.

She walked a bit longer before bringing her hands to her knees, groaning. Where had the Moonseeker sent her to? How did she even do that?

The last thing Serena remembered before collapsing was seeing a blurry image of red hair near her. That meant Darius knew what was going on.

So they had really thrown her out of Ironshade? She stood to her full height, rubbing her arm. They could have at least given her clothes.

She looked down to see her bare body, and her cheeks grew pink. She wondered how many people had seen her naked just before she was left to fend for herself.

The roads were unmarked, either by smell or with crude signs, nothing to tell Serena where she had been dumped.

She walked a bit more, but it was already too late before she could react. The ground gave way into a deep pit, and she fell. She clawed at vines and roots, but they slipped through her fingers.

Serena landed on her side, pain shooting through her arms and legs. She winced and trembled.

"Just wonderful," she hissed through clenched teeth.

Her fingers dug into the wet dirt as she rolled to her back, gasping. She blinked hard, letting her eyes adjust.

Serena looked up, the hole had been so high up. Why would anyone cover it up? The pit was too deep to be a trap. She looked around for bones or anything of the sort, but the bones only belonged to small animals.

She shifted, grimacing. Her fall had landed her in a shallow puddle, the cold water soaking her skin. The chill bit at her bones, and she prayed it was only rainwater pooling there.

After a few minutes of gathering her bearings, Serena stood up, though shakily. Her side was sore from the fall. She massaged er legs and arms, and stretched them.

The wind that blew through her told her there was some sort of exit out of this pit, which meant this was a cave. She looked up again, climbing out of here was certainly not an option.

A chill ran down her spine, and not from the cave water, no. Serena heard a whine that belonged to a wolf. She was not alone.

She swallowed hard and pressed her back to the cave wall. Was this the plan all along? Darius never meant for her to stay alive for long, was it?

Her thoughts began to spiral when the scent of the wolf hit her nose. It smelt... just like her. Serena relaxed a bit, taking one unsure step after the other. The wolf’s presence didn’t feel foreign. It was like breathing in her own soul.

The wolf, sensing someone, snarled and growled, but Serena walked on, not deterred by the multiple warnings the wolf had given her. freёnovelkiss.com

In the dim light, she saw a wolf ensnared by multiple thorns. The once cream colour of the wolf’s fur had been stained by blood.

Serena gasped, her eyes widening at the realisation. "Feyra?" she said in a breathy tone.

She staggered back, clutching her head. No. No, this isn’t possible. Her wolf, she was supposed to live inside her, not... this. Not torn away and left to suffer alone.

What had that priestess done?

"Serena." The name came out rough, strained, but unmistakably Feyra’s.

Serena’s hands flew to her mouth, tears stinging the corners of her eyes. She ran forward, sinking to her knees beside the wolf.

It was really Feyra, and she was in pain. No matter what curse had been laid on them, it could wait. She had to free her.

The blonde woman wasted no time as she pulled frantically at the barbed vines, ignoring the prickling of pain as she tore each one from Feyra’s body.

"Who did this to you?" Serena whispered. Her hands trembled as she unwrapped one particularly thick vine from Feyra’s bloodied paw.

The wolf stirred, rising and shaking off the remaining vines. Serena inspected the wounds on her,they were deep, and some looked infected, oozing a creamy liquid.

"I do not know," the wolf said, pushing her nose into Serena’s shoulder.

Serena held Feyra, careful not to irritate her wounds. What were they to do now? Her story seemed to get more and more bizarre, but the presence of her wolf provided her with some comfort.

"The priestess in Ironshade told me..." Serena began softly, "she said you had been poisoned."

The wolf pulled back, her dull green eyes boring into Serena’s before she gave her coat a forceful shake.

"That I was." Her voice dropped into a low, grave tone. "This is a manifestation of the poisoning."

Serena raised a brow. The poison had caused Feyra to manifest as her own person in the real world? Feyra was a wolf spirit Lunara had given her,they shared a mind, so this was unheard of.

Feyra gave a huff of amusement, her breath hot and heavy against Serena’s cheek. The huge wolf sat down and closed her eyes.

"We are not in the real world, Serena," she explained.

Serena hummed in acknowledgement. Her thoughts had far spiraled, but at least she knew the Moonseeker really had helped her. This was a dream or something like it.

"I’m glad you’re well," Serena said solemnly, sitting next to Feyra and bringing her knees up to her chest.

The scene before them changed into a meadow. The darkness peeled away, replaced by golden light and the soft rustle of wind through tall stalks. Serena blinked, her breath catching in her throat, Feyra had vanished.

And there, standing in the midst of it all, was the last person she ever expected to see.

"Cullen," she whispered, jumping into his arms.

He caught her in his arms with ease, pressing his cheek to her hair. "Serena," he said with a laugh.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pulled back to look at him, her hands framing his face. He looked just like she remembered, messy brown hair, that crooked smile, the kind glint in his eyes.

Serena blinked, hard. She hesitated to touch him again. Now she knew she was in her mind, it was nothing but a dream.

"You look radiant as always," Cullen said.

Serena shook her head and tried imagining something else,not her dead mate,but nothing changed. The sunflowers were still there, and so was he.

"I don’t have much time here," he said quickly, voice urgent now. He took her hands again. "Please, Serena, listen."

She leaned into his chest, clinging to him. Her fingers curled into his shirt. It even smelled like him, cedarwood and something sweet, like warm tea on a winter day.

It brought her some comfort in all this time. Even if this was some induced dream, at least it would give her some closure.

"I miss you so much," she murmured.

The brunette placed his forehead on Serena’s, smiling. "I miss you too. But my time has passed."

—

The two had sat in silence for a long time before Cullen rose. "I must leave now. You must return."

Serena held onto his sleeve. "Wait. Don’t go."

The man sighed and turned to Serena, pushing a bit of her hair behind her ear. "I am dead."

Serena’s breath hitched for a moment before she looked down at the flowers. "I know, but,"

"Then you must understand why I cannot remain with you."

Serena drank in his appearance, just one last time,the way his brown hair that he never cared to tie back fell across his face, the lines in his cheeks from smiling all the time.

"I understand," she said, though her voice wavered. Her gaze lifted to meet his. "Just... tell me who did this to you."

Cullen sighed, pulling Serena up. "I have no idea who did this or what happened." He laughed. "I’m not even sure how I got here, to see you one last time. Our goddess is generous."

Serena’s lips turned down in a frown. Her anger towards the Moon Goddess had not gone away with time, and seeing Cullen here only amplified it. Seeing Cullen again was a mercy, yes, but it didn’t erase everything else.

She shook her head. All this time, her life had been difficult just after childhood,losing her parents. It had been hard tending to her sick mother, who mourned her husband.

Her family never got to bury his body. It was just a piece of clothing that one of his colleagues had brought back for them, so they would know her father would never return.

And her mother was next,a mysterious illness that didn’t grant a swift death, just nothing but pain. Serena looked away, biting her lip.

Soon after came her husband, and she was branded a criminal,the one who took the life of the Beta of Silverstone, a murderer. It was all just too much.

"It’s not fair," she said after some time, raising her voice. "She is not generous."

Cullen sighed, and the sound was thinner now, distant, as though the wind itself was beginning to carry him away.

"I’m not sure how I can make you see," he said quietly, "but she is. She’ll bring justice to those who made you weep. That, I believe."

"I was in the market when I got the news," Serena said.

"I see." He held her hands. "I was home when this unbearable pain overcame me. I thought I was sick, and before you know it... I was with the goddess, at her feet."

Serena lowered her head, exhaling. He was truly gone.

"I thought Lucas would succumb, but he was stronger," Cullen continued.

Serena’s eyes widened. Someone had poisoned Lucas too? Lucas was Cullen’s last remaining family,his cousin,and someone had wanted him dead as well.

Before she could speak, Cullen pulled her in for a hug. She hugged him back, tighter this time.

"Please do not die on my account. Live, Serena," he whispered.

His body relaxed against hers as if he’d given her all he had left to give. Then, slowly, he turned from her.

"No, wait-" she reached for him instinctively.

Serena broke into a run, her bare feet pounding against the meadow floor, crushing sunflower petals beneath her. "Please don’t leave me!" she cried, her voice thick with grief. "Cullen, please!"

She stretched out her hand, her fingertips aching with how desperately she reached but the distance only widened, and Cullen’s figure grew fainter, dissolving into the sunlight until there was nothing left but wind.