Liam P.O.V
I sat at the dining table, my fork poised above my plate, yet I barely noticed the flawless spread of sausage, steak, eggs, and toast before me.
Instead, my mind wandered to Haylie—the girl with the fiery red hair that cascaded like a wild autumn sunset and those mesmerizing emerald, green eyes that seemed to hold a secret just for me.
The freckles that danced across her small, mouse-like nose only made her more endearing.
My dazzling thoughts of daydreaming of the beautiful girl were soon entreated with my wolf Ace voice "Daydreaming of a human is not good"
I knew he was right, but I could not stop thinking of her.
My mind was drifting back to her when I saw her that night at the woods and at the locker at school.
"Don't say word, and I could not help it, Ace ," I replied back to my wolf in my head.
"Son, are you going to stare at your food all day?" My father's deep voice penetrated the fog of my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.
I realized then that I was gripping my fork too tightly, the metal cold against my palm.
I looked up at him, the authoritative Alpha of Crescent Moon Pack, my father Mathew Berkley. His brow furrowed in concern.
"I'm sorry. I was thinking about today." My attempt at nonchalance fell flat, and I could feel my heart racing as I grappled with the reality swirling in my mind.
My father's frown deepened, a crease forming between his brows. "Is something wrong at school?"
I hesitated. Everything was perfect at school—except for one insurmountable detail.
My heart thudded like it had never done before for anyone else. I swallowed hard, cutting into the steak, the rich flavor doing little to quench the storm inside my chest.
"It's someone I met back at school," I finally replied, trying to sound casual. But even I could hear the weight of my words, the gravity of a truth I couldn't divulge.
At that moment, my mother, Gleo, entered the room like a sunbeam, illuminating the shadowy tension between my father and me.
As the Luna of the pack, she was equal parts grace and strength, and the warmth of her presence diffused the seriousness of the morning.
"Did I hear my son is crushing on a girl?" she teased, a playful glimmer lighting up her eyes as she set a warm plate of muffins down at the center of the table. She slid into a seat next to my father.
My heart sank further as I glimpsed my father's expression morph from confusion to concern.
A wolf's instinct for protection ran deep, and the idea of me being interested in someone who was not pack, someone human, was the opposite of what he had always envisioned for me.
"It's nothing, really," I exclaimed, trying to sidestep the issue completely.
But my mother wasn't letting it go that easily. "Come now, a crush is no small thing! Who is she? What's she like? Who knows maybe she is your fated mate"
Her bright smile was infectious, but it only caused my anxiety to bubble beneath the surface.
I should have known that trying to hide my feelings from my mother was a losing battle.
"She's… nice. Friendly," I said, feeling more heat rise in my cheeks with every passing second. "But she's just a girl. Nothing special."
The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them.
I had never downplayed anything about Haylie—she was special, extraordinary even. But saying it out loud felt too real, too daunting.
I could not let my parents know what kind of trouble I was inviting into my life.
Before my parents could ask further questions, I rapidly changed the subject.
"Did you see the new pack members who arrived last night? They seemed nice." Hoping for a distraction, I forced a smile, directing their attention away from my tangled emotions.
I couldn't tell them about Haylie. She was human, and my father, as Alpha, would never accept that.
I was next in line to take over the Alpha role of the Cress Moon Pack, and I was almost old enough to assume that responsibility.
"I did, but we have a meeting with them later this morning. I would love for you to join us tomorrow, son, to show them around," my father said, loud and clear. "They would love to meet the future Alpha of the Cress Moon Pack."
I swallowed hard and took a big bite of my steak, chewing slowly to help ease my nerves. Being the future Alpha held a lot of responsibility.
As a Delta of the pack, I had already earned respect, but becoming Alpha was a significant step. "It would be an honor to show them around," I finally replied, despite my anxiety.
What made me more nervous, though, was my date with Haylie later. I had dated more girls than I could count, but there was something about Haylie that I couldn't quite put my finger on.
She wasn't even my mate, yet I felt an inexplicable draw to her.
When I first saw her in the woods, being attacked by that wolf, something inside me snapped.
I felt an urgent need to protect her. That's why I chased Roger away and saved her. Even my last girlfriend, who was a wolf, hadn't made me feel this way.
"Whoever that girl is must have you daydreaming at the table, son," my mother teased from across the table.
Heat rose to my cheeks as I looked down at my plate, trying to focus on my food. I didn't want to give anything away to my father, who I could feel watching me closely.
I tried to eat my further in on the food on my plate when I heard my father's voice echo in my mind as he connected to me "Son is she one of our pack members the one you are daydreaming"
I swallowed hard at my father's words. It seemed they weren't going to let this go, even after my last girlfriend.
They were eager to hear all the details. I quickly blocked my wolf, Ace, from connecting with my father's wolf, just in case he decided to spill the beans. I needed to play it cool and keep calm.
So, I had to lie. "Yes, she is," I said. "She's new to our pack and new to the school."
I was digging myself deeper into a hole of lies, but I had no choice. My parents would be furious if they found out I was seeing a human.
I tried to block my mental connection so I wouldn't hear anything from my mother or father, then decided it would be better to leave. I could sense trouble coming from a mile away, and I was running late for school.
I rose from my chair and said, "Mother, thank you for breakfast, but I must be going." I excused myself from the table, said goodbye to my parents, and stepped outside.
Claudine POV
As we sat in class, it was obvious that Haylie's mind wasn't on the schoolwork. She was staring blankly at the teacher, and I could've sworn there was a little drool at the corner of her mouth.
"She's in love, Claudy," chimed Red, my wolf, from the back of my mind.
I rolled my eyes and rested my head against the palm of my hand, watching Haylie. I'd known her forever, and the last person she'd dated was Titan—my boyfriend. That relationship hadn't worked out, but could Haylie really be in love now? She was human. Did she even know that Liam, like me, had a wolf side?
"I don't know, Red. If she is, that could cause a big problem," I replied inwardly to my wolf.
I didn't know how this was going to play out, but no matter what happened, I would stand by Haylie. She was my best friend, more like a little sister. We'd been close for as long as I could remember—sharing clothes, secrets, and always having each other's backs.
With a sigh, I tried to refocus on the teacher, dragging my thoughts away from Haylie and her dreamy stare. But the feeling that something big was coming lingered in the back of my mind.
Haylie P.O.V
I tried to pay attention to the teacher as she explained the lesson, but my mind felt foggy. Her mouth moved, but I didn't hear a word she was saying.
School passed surprisingly quickly, and before I knew it, the bell rang, signaling the end of the day. As I made my way out of the building, I spotted my Uncle Jacob casually leaning against his black Mercedes, a wide smile on his lips.
My heart leaped at the sight of him, and I ran up to him, throwing my arms around him. "Uncle Jacob!" I called out, surprised.
He was like a father to me, and spending time with him was always the best.
He gave the warmest hugs. After we embraced, I pulled back slightly. "Look at you," he said proudly. "You look just like your mother, more every day."
A smile spread across my lips, accompanied by a slight blush. I didn't know why I blushed, but Uncle Jacob was kind of hot.
He had sun-kissed skin, dark brown hair, and warm brown eyes, with a slight beard that made him look even more rugged.
I could tell he was attractive because I often noticed the girls checking him out as they passed by. Unfortunately, he was married and had two adorable kids.
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and asked, "What brings you to my school? I thought we'd meet you at Mom's grave."
His eyes lit up a little, but his expression turned serious. "I wanted to talk to you for a bit before we go there," he said.
I could sense that he had something weighing on his heart. "Okay," I replied, hoping it wasn't anything bad. I followed my uncle as he opened the car door. I climbed in, and he soon settled into the driver's seat.
As he turned the engine on, I felt the car come alive beneath me, prompting me to quickly strap myself into the seat.
Soon, we were moving. I heard my uncle start to speak. "There's something I wanted to show you that I think you're old enough to handle now."
I frowned at his words, swallowing hard against the nervousness rising within me. I didn't know what he meant by "old enough"—I was only fifteen.
Still, he might have a point. "Is it something related to my mother?" I asked. He was the only one who knew her well; they basically grew up together.
Our eyes met for a moment, and he gave me a slight nod. My heart leapt. I had always been eager to learn more about my mother, who was like a mystery missing piece in my life.
The car stopped near a road that led into the woods. My heart raced, and my eyes widened.
Why were we back in the woods? I hated the woods, and my uncle knew it. When he switched off the engine, I turned to him, a mix of fear and anxiety bubbling up. "You're not going to kill me and dump my body in the woods, are you?" I blurted out.
A laugh escaped my uncle's lips. "Hell no! What do you think of me?"
Well, he wasn't the type to do such a thing. I took a deep breath, then heard him say, "Come, I want to show you something."
I unbuckled my seatbelt with sweaty, shaky hands, unsure why I felt so scared and nervous—especially with my date with Liam still on my mind.
I stepped out of the car and closed the door behind me. The smell of pine trees filled the air, and I was surrounded by towering green pines.
"Why are we in the woods?" I asked, frowning. "What about the woods could be related to my mother?"
I walked over to my uncle and stood beside him as he gazed into the trees. "This was the last place she was before she died," he said.
My eyes widened, and my heart almost stopped for a few seconds. He was saying this was where she died? Why had I never known this? Maybe because they had told me a different story. "But I thought she died in the hospital," I said, shocked.
His eyes darkened. "She was already dead when she was taken to the hospital," he replied, taking a step toward the woods. "Follow me, so you can finally know the truth about what happened."
My heart raced, anxiety flooding my system. I followed my uncle into the woods, which felt increasingly creepy.
Thoughts raced through my mind. What if my uncle was the one who killed my mother? What if something happened to me like the last time I was in the woods? Chills crept up my spine, and a cold shiver ran down my back. I crossed my arms over my chest, seeking a bit of comfort.
As we walked, I could hear the crackling sound of sticks breaking underfoot, filling the silence around us, accompanied by the distant chirping of birds in the trees. We reached a spot where a log lay on the ground, and my uncle stopped, sitting down on it.
I could tell from his eyes that something heavy weighed on his heart as he stared at the trees in front of him.
My heart sank at the sight of him like that. He and my mother must have been very close, I thought. I sat next to him on the log, and after a moment of silence, he began to speak in a heavy voice. "It was somewhere around here that your mother died."
My heart sank even further, and my throat felt dry. "Why didn't you ever tell me she died in the woods? What would my mother be doing here in the middle of nowhere?" I asked.
Our eyes met, and I saw worry darken his brown eyes. "We thought you were too young to know some things about your mother," he replied. "Your mother was a free spirit—a strong, beautiful young woman. She was engaged to a man named Matthew."
My surroundings seemed to freeze as I leaned in, eager to catch every word.
I knew she had been engaged, but I had never heard the name of the man she was supposed to marry.
"What happened?" I pressed, searching for the truth about my mother's death. "Was it because of me that she died?"
My uncle's expression softened as he looked at me, tears welling in his eyes. "It wasn't about you, Haylie," he said gently. "You had nothing to do with your mother's death. It was about the choices she made. Her death came so quickly, and she didn't deserve it."
I felt more confused than ever.
"What do you mean? What happened to my mother?" I pressed, urgency creeping into my voice. My heart raced in my chest as I awaited his answer.
"Haylie, have you ever heard the story of humans turning into wolves?" he asked.
My brow furrowed, and I looked at him, stunned. "That's just a bedtime story you used to tell me and Aunt. Why are you asking me this? It's just tales." I got up from the log and began to pace, my nervousness overwhelming me.
"That's not just a tale; it's true," my uncle said, his tone serious. I stopped in my tracks, staring at him in disbelief. "Wait, you're serious?" I asked, shocked. "But how is this all related to my mother?"
Our eyes met, and for a moment, there was silence. Finally, he spoke, "Because your mother was a human who could turn into a wolf."
My eyes widened, and before I knew it, I found myself sitting flat on the ground. My legs had given out beneath me.
Was I hearing him correctly? My mother was a human who could turn into a wolf. It wasn't just tales or stories—it was real. I looked at my uncle, my breath shaky as I asked, "How could this be true?"
The weight of my uncle's words crashed down on me, leaving me frozen in shock.
The stories I had been told my whole life—of wolves and packs, of love and betrayal—were no longer just bedtime tales.
They were real, and my mother had been part of it. My chest tightened as I struggled to make sense of everything.
"My mother... mated to an Alpha? A wolf?" I muttered, disbelief lacing my words.
"And my father... he was killed by him?" The pain was almost unbearable, and my mind spun as I tried to process it all.
My uncle nodded solemnly. "Yes, Haylie. Your mother was a Luna, the female ruler of the cress moon pack, and Mathew was the Alpha. Your mother and Mathew were fated mates. But when she became pregnant with your father, Kaysen, Mathew felt betrayed. Your mother never meant for any of this to happen. She loved Kaysen deeply, but it was complicated—more than you could imagine."
I buried my face in my hands, my tears flowing freely. Everything I thought I knew about my mother was unraveling.
"I don't understand," I whispered, my voice cracking with emotion. "I was the reason... She betrayed him because of me."
Uncle Jacob's voice softened as he placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "No, Haylie, it wasn't your fault. Your mother made her choices out of love, not out of shame or guilt. She was caught between two worlds, and it wasn't an easy path for her. You were never to blame for that."
I shook my head, still reeling from the enormity of the truth. "But she died because of me... If she hadn't been pregnant with me, maybe Mathew wouldn't have been so angry. Maybe she would've lived."
"No," Uncle Jacob said firmly, his voice low and serious. "Mathew was already consumed with anger and jealousy by the time he found out. The fight that day—it was brutal. Mathew lost control, and in a fit of rage, he killed your father. But your mother's death wasn't because of you, Haylie. Mathew couldn't forgive himself for killing Kaysen, and he couldn't bear the sight of your mother his true fated mate being pregnant with his best friend. That is why your mother make a hard decision to give up her wolf Ella who was a part of her and flee. "
The forest was a deep green canvas, adorned with beams of sunlight filtering through the branches, painting dappled shadows on the forest floor.
As my uncle's words hung in the air like a heavy fog, I felt the weight of their impact settle on my shoulders. He paused, his voice trembling slightly as he stared into the distance, haunted by memories that seemed to echo in the stillness around us.
"Your mother asked your Aunt Amora to take away her wolf and to take away her mark from Alpha Mathew so she could race you in a different world than the one she left behind. So, your aunt Amora took away her true identity, and she was no longer related to the Alpha. Your mother ran away and came back to the house where you stay—in a place she once called home as a child."
My heart raced, my mind spiraling as I processed his words.
Did my mother do this all for me? The realization sat heavy within me like a stone in my chest. But alongside that flicker of understanding, a darker shadow loomed. "Did the Alpha kill her?" I dared to ask, the words escaping my lips like a choking breath.
He started to shake his head, his face crumpling with the burden of memories. "Alpha Mathew never would kill your mother. He loved her too much, and even as she broke their bond, he still loved her."
Confusion swirled within me, more potent than ever. I was learning more about my parents than I had in fifteen years, yet every question I unraveled just tangled me deeper in a web of mysteries.
How had my mother died? Was I a wolf, or merely human? I looked into my uncle's eyes, searching for answers to questions that felt agonizingly unanswerable.
"You were five years old when Alpha Mathew spotted your mother. He has been looking for her ever since she ran away. When he finally found her, he asked her to meet him in the woods, the same woods we're standing in now. But after your mother spoke with Alpha Mathew, she was on her way out of the woods when a different wolf packed attacked her. She fell and hit her head on a rock."
The words struck me like lightning, and a gasp escaped my lips, shattering the fragile silence.
I felt the pieces of my past click into place, and for the first time in ten years, I was hearing how my mother died.
The realization felt like a cruel twist of fate. She had been running away from danger, only to encounter it in its most unforgiving form.
I remembered that night—how she had kissed me goodnight, her voice soothing as she recounted a bedtime story. I had fallen asleep to her laughter, blissfully unaware that I would never see her again when I woke up the next morning.
Tears streamed down my cheeks, hot and unyielding, as the memories flooded back, raw and tender. "I remember that morning when Aunt Camilia come to the house and hit me with the news," I managed to choke out, my body shaking with the weight of my grief.
My uncle moved closer, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "She did everything for you, you know. She wanted you to have a chance at life away from the burdens of our world. She was trying to protect you."
Protect me. The phrase echoed in my mind, mixing with the confusion and sadness. Did she truly believe that severing her bond would somehow keep me safe? And what about my own identity? What was I now—a wolf, a human, or something else entirely?
I wiped the last of my tears away, but my heart still felt heavy. "So... I'm human," I said quietly, trying to make sense of everything. "Even though my father was a wolf, and my mother too, I'll never be like them?"
Uncle Jacob nodded, his eyes soft and full of sympathy. "Yes, Haylie. Your mother made sure that you would never have to carry the burden of that life. When your Aunt Amora took away her wolf, she also took away yours while you were still in the womb. It was the only way your mother could ensure you'd live as a human, away from the dangers of the pack."
I sat back, letting his words sink in. It felt surreal, almost like I was still trapped in one of those old bedtime stories. Except now, the stories were real.
My mother, a powerful Luna, had given up everything for me. And my father, a wolf who had fallen in love with her despite the risks, had been killed for it.
"But she wanted me to be normal," I whispered, trying to understand her decision. "She didn't want me to live that kind of life, the one she had with the pack?"
Uncle Jacob sighed and nodded again. "Exactly. Your mother loved you more than anything, Haylie. She wanted you to grow up free, away from the violence and rules of the wolf world. She wanted you to have choices, to live without the fear and pain she went through."
I sat there in silence for a long moment, the weight of everything pressing down on me. I had spent my whole life thinking I knew who I was, but now it felt like the ground beneath me had shifted. I wasn't just Haylie.
I was the daughter of a Luna wolf; born into a world I never even knew existed.
"But what if..." I hesitated, unsure if I even wanted to know the answer. "What if the wolf part of me comes out someday? Is that even possible?"
Uncle Jacob's expression grew serious as he considered my question. "It wouldn't because your blood line of wolf is gone there is only human in you. Your Aunt Amora strong magic to take it away and to protect you"
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of everything I had just learned. My whole life, I had thought bedtime stories were just that—stories.
Now, I knew they were real, and my mother had lived through something far more intense and complicated than I ever could have imagined. Mated to an Alpha, caught in a betrayal, and ultimately running to protect me.
It was a lot to process, but there was a small sense of peace knowing how much she had done for me, even at the cost of her own life.
Still, I had more questions. "So, what about my father's side of the family? Do they know about me? Are they still out there somewhere?"
Uncle Jacob's expression grew more serious, and he stood up, pacing a little as he thought about his answer. "I'm not sure, Haylie. Your father was close to Alpha Mathew, but I didn't know him personally. As for his parents... well, Alpha Mathew would probably be the only one who knows what happened to them. I never met them, and your mother never mentioned them to me."
It felt like another dead end, and I couldn't help but feel a bit of disappointment.
I had hoped that maybe there would be some connection left, some family out there who could tell me more about where I came from.
But knowing that Alpha Mathew was my only lead made me uneasy. He had been in love with my mother, and even though he didn't kill her, there was still something unsettling about the whole situation.
At least now I had some answers. I knew how my mother had died, and even though it was heartbreaking, it brought me some peace.
I was grateful for Aunt Amora's protection, that I had never turned into a wolf or had to deal with the life my mother had tried so hard to escape from.
"I'm glad I know the truth now," I said quietly, looking up at my uncle. "It's a lot to take in, but... I think I'm going to be okay."
Uncle Jacob smiled softly, nodding in agreement. "You're stronger than you think, Haylie. You've got your mother's strength, even if you didn't inherit her wolf side. And no matter what, you're not alone in this. You have family, even if it's not the family you imagined."
His words brought me comfort, and as I stood up and brushed the dirt off my clothes, I felt a small sense of hope stirring in my chest.
My mother had sacrificed so much for me, and while I still had questions about my father and his family, I knew I could face whatever came next.
I smiled back at Uncle Jacob, grateful for his honesty and support. "Thank you, Uncle Jacob. For everything."
"Anytime, Haylie," he said, pulling me into a warm hug. "Just remember, you're not defined by your parents' past. You make your own future."
As we stood there in the woods, the place where my mother had taken her last breath, I felt like I was finally ready to move forward. The truth was heavy, but it was also freeing. And no matter what came next, I knew I would face it with the same strength my mother had shown me, even if I wasn't a wolf. I was still her daughter, and that was enough.