Luna Forsaken (Arya and James) novel Chapter 77

77 A Ride Through Ruin 2

Arya’s POV

My fingers curled around the bottle.

The alcohol warmed my veins, but it didn’t calm me.

It fed something.

I kept my voice flat.

“I’m not asking for pity,” I said.

Milley’s eyes widened slightly, as if she realised she’d stepped too close.

“I’m sorry,” she said again. “I didn’t mean,

99

“Just drive,” I said.

She nodded quickly.

“Yes. Okay.”

Silence returned.

But Milley’s worry didn’t go away. I could feel it. It sat in the car like a third presence.

After some time, Milley spoke again, more practical.

“Where do you want me to drop you?” she asked.

I didn’t answer immediately.

Because that was the question, wasn’t it?

Where did a rogue go?

Where did a woman go when the pack that once called her Luna decided she was disposable?

Milley glanced at me.

“If you don’t have anywhere,” she said, voice cautious, “I could drop you near

Dragonclaw town… like the outskirts. There are places you can hide for the night, maybe,

I turned my head slowly.

“You can’t take me into the pack?” I asked.

Milley hesitated.

Then she sighed, apologetic.

“I’m just… ordinary,” she said. “I don’t have direct access to Alpha Maxwell. I’m not an officer. I’m not a messenger. I’m just… a pack member.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly, embarrassed.

“If I did,” she continued quickly, “I would. I swear I would. But the gate guards, they don’t

let anyone in without clearance if they don’t know you. Especially someone who looks

like you’ve been running.”

I kept my expression blank.

Milley added, voice gentle, “Packless wolves find it hard to survive outside. I know that.

And if you’re branded… it’s even worse.”

My hand tightened around the bottle again.

The word branded made my stomach twist. And the fact that only a claim would fix it

made my stomach churn with anger.

Even though James had cancelled the claim, even though the bond had been severed,

the stain remained.

A rogue mark wasn’t just a mark.

It was a sentence,

It made everyone look at you like you were contagious.

Milley glanced at my neck again, guilt in her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I don’t know what happened, but… I’m sorry.”

I watched her face.

She was worried for me. Truly worried.

Not because she wanted something.

Not because she expected reward.

Because she had a conscience.

I swallowed.

“It’s fine,” I said, voice quieter than before. “You’re doing more than most.”

Milley let out a breath like she’d been holding it.

“Okay,” she said softly. “We’ll figure something out. If you want, I can give you a bit of cash for a motel,”

I cut her off.

“I don’t want your money,” I said.

Milley’s brow furrowed.

“Then what,

I reached into the folds of my sheet bundle and pulled out the phone.

Milley’s eyes widened slightly.

“You have a phone?” she asked.

I didn’t answer.

I stared at the screen for a second.

My fingers hovered,

Then I dialled,

Alpha Maxwell.

The call rang.

Once.

Twice.

No answer.

I inhaled sharply through my nose.

Milley glanced between me and the road, nervous.

“Is that… your Alpha?” she asked.

I didn’t look at her.

I dialled again.

The call rang.

Once.

Twice.

Then the line connected.

A voice answered, sharp and controlled.

“Who is this?”

Maxwell didn’t know the number.

Of course he didn’t.

I swallowed.

“It’s me,” I said.

A pause.

Then Maxwell’s voice tightened.

“Who?”

“Arya,” I said.

The silence that followed was loaded.

Then his voice came again, sharper now, like he was angry before he was relieved.

“Arya Ashthorn,” he snapped.

I closed my eyes briefly.

“Yes,” I said.

His exhale sounded like a growl.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Maxwell barked. “We had no idea where you disappeared to that night?”

I kept my voice steady.

“It’s complicated,” I said.

Maxwell didn’t let that slide.

“You vanished,” he said, furious. “You didn’t even send word. You didn’t even tell me you weren’t coming back.”

My jaw clenched.

Maxwell continued, voice harsh but not cruel.

“I understood the situation was overwhelming,” he said. “Your mate marrying another

woman, moon, vows, all of it, fine. I understood you needed space. But you don’t

disappear like that.”

His voice lowered slightly, still sharp.

“Lev was disappointed,” Maxwell added.

The name hit like a sting.

Lev.

I had to stop myself from making a sound.

My throat tightened,

For a second, my eyes burned,

I forced myself to speak before tears could climb up again.

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, voice rough. “I couldn’t,”

Maxwell cut in.

“Where are you?” he demanded.

“On the highway,” I replied. “I left Nightwind.”

The line went still again.

Then Maxwell’s voice dropped, dangerously calm.

“You left,” he repeated.

“Yes,” I said.

Maxwell didn’t ask why.

Like he already knew.

Or like he could already imagine the shape of the betrayal.

1 swallowed.

“I need shelter,” I said, voice tightening despite my effort. “I can’t… I can’t stay out here.”

My voice broke on the last word.

I hated it.

I hated that weakness still lived in my throat.

Maxwell’s tone shifted slightly, still firm, but less sharp.

“You’re welcome,” he said simply.

The words hit my chest hard.

Welcome.