The Luna Who Died Too Quietly

Lunar Depletion Syndrome. Seven days.

That was my death countdown. And my Alpha mate Kael was still threatening me, demanding I use the last of my life force to save my sister.

On our third anniversary, he had given me a surgical consent form and dissolution papers as gifts.

How laughable.

Three years ago he had said my eyes sparkled like stars. Three years later he wanted me to close them forever.

They all said I had finally matured, learned the spirit of sacrifice expected of an older sister. The joke was, I hadn't been moved by love.

I was just tired.

Why struggle when death was inevitable?

Rather than dying alone in the wilderness, it was better to die on the operating table and become the perfect sacrifice in their story.

"Sign it, Elara."

Kael threw the surgical consent form onto the table.

I stared at the document, every word like a death sentence. Bone Marrow and Core Blood Transplant Consent Form. Recipient: Seraphina.

There was a metallic taste in my throat. I held back the cough, because what came up would definitely be blood.

The pack doctor's private words from yesterday still echoed in my ears: Late-stage Lunar Depletion Syndrome, seven days at most.

Ironically, that day happened to be the third anniversary of Kael and me becoming mates.

"I can't."

"Can't?" Kael laughed coldly, his amber eyes full of disgust. Those eyes that had once burned only for me. "Seraphina is dying in the ICU. All because you pushed her. You're her sister, you're a blood match. You owe her this."

"I didn't push her." My voice grew weaker. "Kael, do you really believe I would hurt her?"

"The evidence is right there." He turned away, unwilling to look at me. "The security footage shows you and her arguing, then she collapsed. What more is there to deny?"

I wanted to tell him the truth—that Seraphina had deliberately fallen to frame me. But I knew he wouldn't believe it. In his heart, Seraphina was forever the angel who needed protection, and I was the wicked sister.

"Stop the act, Elara." He impatiently pinched the bridge of his nose. "The pack doctors all say you're perfectly healthy. You healed from broken ribs during training in a week. Don't use excuses to cover up your selfishness."

What would he think if he knew that rapid healing came from burning my life force? That every time he praised my "strength," I was actually dying bit by bit?

"What if I die?" I asked quietly, watching his back. "Kael, if I die on the operating table, will you remember our good times? Or will you just celebrate finally being free of me?"

He whipped around, something unreadable flickering in his eyes before anger masked it. "Are you threatening me? With your life? How can you be so selfish, Elara!"

Selfish. The word pierced my heart like a dagger.

"I loved you for three years." My voice trembled. "In your heart, is that love just selfishness?"

Alpha pressure suddenly exploded, forcing me to my knees.

"Don't talk about love!" he roared. "If you really loved me, you wouldn't make me choose between you and Seraphina! You know what she means to me!"

Yes, I knew. They were childhood sweethearts. If not for the mate bond, he would never have chosen me. I was just a substitute.

"Listen, Elara. If you don't sign, I'll have you exiled from the Silver Moon Pack. You know what happens to lone wolves."

The door opened. My father Marcus walked in, holding a photo—a childhood picture of Seraphina and me.

"Alpha, Seraphina has fainted again. Heart failure." He placed the photo on the table. "She was calling for her sister, saying she hopes Elara can forgive her for stealing sister's birthday cake when they were little."

I looked at the photo. The me in the picture held Seraphina tightly, eyes full of love for my sister.

Back then I had thought we would love each other forever.

"She also said," Father's voice choked up, "if she dies, she hopes Elara can love the Alpha in her place. She said sister deserves this love more than she does."

Tears blurred my vision. Even then, Seraphina was still acting. She knew those words would completely destroy me.

"Did you hear that?" Kael turned to me, guilt flickering in his eyes. "She's still pleading for you, still thinking of you. And here you are, being stingy with some blood."

I looked at Father's cold gaze—he was playing along with Seraphina's performance. I looked at the guilt in Kael's eyes—it wasn't guilt toward me, but fear of losing Seraphina.

The last light in my heart died out.

I only had seven days anyway. Rather than let them live with guilt after learning the truth, it was better to become the perfect sacrifice in this story.

Maybe this way Kael would occasionally remember me, remember that I had finally done one thing right.

"Fine." I used the last of my strength to stand up. "I'll sign."

As I signed my name, I remembered our first meeting. He had said my eyes sparkled like stars.

Now all those stars had gone out.

Kael handed me another document. Mate Dissolution Papers.

"Take the money and leave after the surgery." He avoided my gaze. "I don't want Seraphina to feel guilty when she wakes up and sees you. She's too kind-hearted, she'd blame herself."

Even at the end, he was still protecting her.

I signed my name again. I wasn't just signing away our mate bond, but my three years of love for him.

"Kael." I called his name softly, for the last time.

He looked up at me.

"I never regretted loving you."