Luna sat on the edge of her new bed, staring at the glowing moon outside the grand window. The room was too big, too fancy, and too silent. She felt like a stranger in a life that wasn't hers.
The soft creak of the door snapped her attention. She turned sharply, her muscles tense.
A young woman with kind eyes and braided hair peeked inside. "I thought you might be hungry," she said, holding up a tray.
Luna's stomach growled before she could respond. She nodded awkwardly. "Thanks."
The woman set the tray on the table and smiled. "I'm Iris, the healer of the pack. I figured this might be overwhelming for you."
"You think?" Luna muttered, picking up a piece of bread from the tray.
Iris chuckled softly, sitting across from her. "I know how they can be—demanding, intense. But you're one of us now. That means something."
Luna raised an eyebrow. "One of you? I didn't even know werewolves existed until tonight."
Iris tilted her head, studying her. "You've never shifted?"
"Shifted?"
Iris's eyes widened slightly. "You've never felt the pull? The full moon, the energy in your veins?"
Luna shook her head, feeling even more out of place.
Before Iris could say more, the door slammed open. Adrian strode in, his dark eyes narrowing when he saw Iris.
"Iris, leave," he ordered, his tone sharp.
Iris stood, giving Luna a small, reassuring smile before slipping out of the room.
Luna crossed her arms, glaring at him. "What's your problem?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stepped closer, his presence filling the room. "You don't belong here," he said bluntly.
Luna stood, meeting his gaze. "Believe me, I don't want to be here either."
His eyes flicked over her, cold and calculating. "This pack doesn't need someone who doesn't even know what they are."
Her fists clenched at her sides. "I didn't ask for this, okay? Your Alpha—my grandfather—dragged me into this mess."
Adrian's jaw tightened, but before he could respond, a distant howl echoed through the air. It was low and haunting, sending a shiver down Luna's spine.
Adrian's head snapped toward the window. His body tensed, every muscle coiled like a spring.
"What was that?" Luna asked, her voice quieter now.
"Trouble," he muttered, already heading for the door. He paused, glancing back at her. "Stay here. Don't leave this room."
And just like that, he was gone.
Luna didn't stay.
The moment Adrian disappeared, curiosity burned through her. The howl had stirred something inside her, something she couldn't explain. She slipped out of her room and into the dimly lit hall.
The mansion felt even larger at night. Shadows stretched across the walls, and every creak of the floorboards made her heart race.
As she reached the front entrance, a faint noise caught her attention. Voices, low and urgent, came from outside. She peeked through the heavy wooden doors, her breath catching.
A group of wolves stood in the courtyard, their forms half-lit by the moon. They weren't like regular wolves—too large, too menacing. Their fur bristled, and their eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
At the center of the group was a man—no, a wolf shifting into a man. His transformation was both horrifying and fascinating, bones snapping and reshaping as he stood on two legs.
"Rowan," someone growled, their voice carrying through the night.
Luna spotted Adrian, standing tall, his stance ready for a fight. Behind him were several other pack members, their bodies tense, their eyes locked on the intruder.
The man—Rowan, she guessed—smirked, his sharp teeth glinting. "Relax, Adrian. I'm not here for a fight."
"Then why are you here?" Adrian's voice was like ice.
Rowan's eyes flicked toward the mansion, toward Luna. Her heart stopped when their gazes met.
Adrian followed Rowan's line of sight, his eyes narrowing as he spotted her. "Luna," he barked, his voice sharp with anger.
She froze, unable to look away from Rowan's piercing stare. He tilted his head, a twisted smile spreading across his face.
"So, the little Everhart has returned," Rowan said, his voice dripping with mockery.
Luna's legs felt like jelly, but she forced herself to step outside. "What do you want?" she demanded, her voice trembling.
Adrian growled low in his throat, stepping in front of her. "I told you to stay inside."
"I don't need you to protect me," she shot back, though her shaking hands betrayed her confidence.
Rowan chuckled darkly. "Feisty. I like her already."
Adrian's growl deepened. "Leave, Rowan. Now."
Rowan's smile faded, his expression hardening. "This isn't over, Everhart. I'll be back for what's mine."
With that, he turned and shifted back into his wolf form, leading his pack into the shadows of the forest.
Luna's knees nearly buckled, but Adrian caught her arm, his grip firm.
"Are you insane?" he hissed. "Do you have any idea what could've happened if he'd attacked?"
Her voice was barely a whisper. "Who was that?"
"Rowan Darkmoor," Adrian said grimly. "The leader of the rogues—and your worst nightmare."
Adrian released her arm, his face inches from hers. "If you want to survive in t
his world, Luna, you'd better start learning fast.