The garden's serene beauty was instantly shattered by Luna's presence. Her sharp heels clicked against the cobblestone path as she approached, her elegant silver gown catching the moonlight. But there was nothing elegant about the gleam in her violet eyes, a mixture of malice and possession.
Bella stiffened. Her heart raced as memories of her estranged sister flooded back, moments of shared laughter in their childhood, overshadowed by years of animosity and Luna's abrupt disappearance.
"Luna," Bella whispered, her voice a mix of disbelief and caution.
"It's been too long, hasn't it, little sister?" Luna purred, stopping just a few feet away. Her gaze flicked to Xander, her smile sharpening. "And here I thought the Silvercrest Alpha didn't lower himself to fraternize with the unworthy."
Xander stepped protectively in front of Bella, his tone icy. "What are you doing here, Luna?"
Luna's smile didn't waver. "Relax, Alpha. I didn't come to cause trouble. I simply couldn't resist seeing my darling sister again."
Bella swallowed hard, her voice trembling with suspicion. "What do you want?"
"Oh, Bella," Luna said, her tone dripping with mock hurt. "Is that any way to greet family? Especially after I've come all this way to protect you."
"Protect me?" Bella repeated, her confusion giving way to anger. "From what?"
Luna's smile widened. "From yourself, of course."
The air grew thick with tension. Xander's hand twitched at his side, ready to shift at a moment's notice. Bella, however, couldn't tear her eyes away from her sister.
"You've felt it, haven't you?" Luna continued, her voice soft but cutting. "That power inside you. Growing stronger. Waking up."
Bella's breath hitched. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't lie to me," Luna snapped, her composure cracking for a brief moment. "You think the light that saved you from that rogue was just luck? You think it's normal for someone like you to survive here, in this world of wolves and power?"
"She doesn't need to hear this from you," Xander growled, stepping closer.
"Oh, but she does," Luna countered smoothly. Her eyes never left Bella's as she added, "You're not just a wolf, Bella. You never were."
Luna's words struck like a thunderbolt, and memories Bella didn't know she had began to surface, flashes of golden light, voices whispering in a language she couldn't understand, and her mother's panicked face as she whispered warnings Bella hadn't understood as a child.
"What are you saying?" Bella asked, her voice barely audible.
"I'm saying that you're special," Luna said, her tone almost gentle now. "You're not like the rest of them. Not like me. You're an heir to something far greater. Something more powerful than you can imagine."
"That's enough," Xander interrupted, his voice low and commanding. "You're not taking her anywhere."
Luna arched an eyebrow. "Taking her? Oh, Alpha, you misunderstand. I don't need to take her. The power will come for her on its own."
"Stop speaking in riddles!" Bella shouted, her frustration boiling over. "What power? What are you talking about?"
Luna's expression turned serious, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The blood of the Abyss runs in our veins, Bella. You and I, daughters of shadow and light. But you're the key. You're the one who can unlock it all."
Bella staggered back, her mind reeling. "No. That's impossible. I'm just… I'm just a wolf."
Luna's laugh was bitter. "Oh, Bella, you're so much more than that. You were chosen for a reason. The light in you is a curse, and the shadows in me are a blessing. Together, we could be unstoppable. But you've spent too long denying what you are."
"I'm nothing like you," Bella hissed, her hands balling into fists.
Luna's gaze softened, and for a moment, she almost looked sad. "You don't understand yet, but you will. When the time comes, you'll have to choose between the pack and the power inside you. And if you choose wrong…"
She didn't finish the sentence. Instead, she turned, her silver gown swirling around her as she began to walk away.
"Wait!" Bella called, stepping forward.
Luna paused, glancing over her shoulder. "I'll see you soon, sister. The Abyss has a way of finding its own."
With that, she vanished into the shadows, leaving Bella and Xander alone in the garden.
The silence was deafening. Bella felt as if the weight of the world had settled on her shoulders.
"Bella," Xander said gently, his voice pulling her back to the present. "Are you okay?"
She shook her head. "No. None of this makes sense."
Xander placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch grounding her. "We'll figure it out. Together."
"Do you know what she meant?" Bella asked, her eyes searching his. "About the Abyss? About me?"
Xander hesitated, his jaw tightening. "I've heard stories. Legends. But I never thought…"
"Thought what?" Bella pressed.
He sighed. "That it could be real. That you could be tied to it."
Bella felt the ground beneath her feet shift. Her entire life had been a struggle to find her place, and now it seemed like the answers she'd longed for were only raising more questions.
A howl pierced the night, distant but unmistakable. Xander's head snapped up, his body tensing.
"That's the border," he said, his voice grim. "Rogues again."
Bella felt a surge of fear and determination. "I'm coming with you."
"No," Xander said firmly. "You're staying here where it's safe."
"I can't just sit and do nothing," Bella argued.
"You're not ready," he said, his tone soft but unyielding. "Stay here. Please."
Before she could respond, Xander shifted into his wolf form and sprinted toward the sound of the howls.
Bella watched him go, torn between obeying and following. But as she turned back toward the estate, a cold wind swept through the garden, carrying a voice she thought she'd never hear again.
"The choice is coming, Bella. And when it does, you'll have to decide who you really are."