The village of Moonveil lay bathed in the dying light of day, the horizon painted in soft strokes of amber and violet. Shadows stretched long across the earth, and a cool breeze carried the scent of pine, damp soil, and the lingering warmth of sun-drenched leaves. The rhythmic hum of life resonated through the village—distant laughter, the soft murmur of conversations, the rustling of the wind threading through the trees.
Unlike the rigid hierarchy of other werewolf settlements, Moonveil stood as a sanctuary for Omegas, a place where strength was not measured in dominance but in loyalty, resilience, and heart. Here, no wolf was lesser. Children dashed barefoot across the soft earth, their giggles blending with the evening birdsong, while elders rested on wooden porches, recounting tales of the past as lanterns flickered against the encroaching dusk. Near the training grounds, the scent of sweat and churned earth still lingered from friendly sparring matches, but the air remained light, filled with teasing remarks and laughter.
"Kael!" His mother's voice cut across the clearing.
He turned, catching sight of her standing at the threshold of their home, her figure framed by the golden glow of twilight. With a quick wave, he signaled his approach before glancing at Aira, who sat catching her breath from their earlier match.
He extended a hand. "Come on."
Aira grasped his offered hand, her fingers warm despite the cooling evening air.
"See you later!" she called to the others, flashing a lingering smile before following Kael through the winding village paths.
The warmth of the setting sun painted their surroundings in liquid gold, casting long, wavering reflections in the rippling streams that snaked between the stone cottages. The sounds of the village faded behind them, replaced by the whispering rustle of leaves as the evening breeze stirred the canopy above.
"Kael..." Aira's voice held an edge of hesitation.
He glanced at her, his ocean-blue eyes unreadable. "Hm?"
She hesitated, chewing on her lip. "What if your mother finds out about me? That I'm an Alpha... that I'm the daughter of her enemy?"
Kael stopped mid-step. The thought had loomed at the edges of his mind for some time, an inevitability he had chosen to push aside. But now, standing before Aira, seeing the flicker of uncertainty in her violet eyes, he could no longer ignore it.
"Aira, we're not hiding your bloodline," he said after a pause. "We'll tell her everything... but not yet. It's not the right time."
He reached for her hand, his grip firm, grounding.
"You are not her enemy. Just because you're Garrick's daughter doesn't mean you are him." His voice softened, but his conviction remained. "I trust you, Aira. You're different."
She averted her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "I never really understood what a parent's love felt like… until I saw your mother. My father only ever chased power. He fought, conquered, demanded. And my mother…" She swallowed hard. "She never loved me. She only tried to shape me into what she wanted."
Kael squeezed her hand. Around them, Moonveil thrived in golden dusk, a village brimming with warmth and life. Yet within Aira, there was only the cold ache of absence—a void carved from childhood and years of longing.
Kael stepped closer, his voice quiet but certain. "You're not alone anymore, Aira."
She looked up, and for the first time in years, she believed him.
---
Two days passed.
Night descended with a solemn hush.
The air was thick with sorrow and the lingering scent of burning wood as the wolves of Moonveil gathered in silent tribute. The funeral pyre crackled, flames licking skyward, sending flickering embers into the vast darkness above. Around the fire, heads were raised toward the heavens, a chorus of howls weaving grief into the night wind.
The ritual was sacred—an unbreakable bond between the living and the dead, between the pack and their ancestors.
Kael stood at the periphery, his heart pounding in his chest, fingers still entwined with Aira's. The warmth of her palm steadied him, but beneath her calm facade, he felt it—a tremor, a battle fought within.
Sebastian, has returned to Moonveil village for his brother's funeral. He is now in his wolf form, remained at their flank, his silver eyes watchful, keeping attention away from them. He had bought them time, but for how long?
At the heart of the gathering, Asha stood before the flames, untouched by the shift. As the widow of the fallen king, she had the right to mourn in her own form. The firelight cast shadows across her face, but it could not hide the grief in her eyes.
"Elias was not just our king…" Her voice carried through the clearing, unwavering despite the weight it bore. "He was my mate. My love. The father of my son." A pause, a breath. "He led with wisdom, with strength. And even in death, his spirit will guide us. We do not honor him with grief alone, but with unity. We remain strong… as he would have wanted us to."
A resounding howl rose into the night, a melody of sorrow and remembrance.
Kael's chest tightened. His mother stood so strong despite her pain. A part of him ached to run to her, to shift and howl beside the pack. But another part—the part clutching Aira's hand—knew he could not.
Then, the worst happened.
Aira gasped, her body shuddering.
Kael turned sharply, his breath hitching.
Her wolf was winning.
Her fingers curled, nails elongating into claws, veins igniting with the faint glow of an Alpha's power. If she shifted now, if anyone saw—
Sebastian's wolf turned, his ears flicking sharply. Go.
Kael reacted instinctively, his arm wrapping around Aira's waist as he pulled her back into the shadows of the trees. She stumbled, her breath ragged, her body trembling as she fought against the inevitable.
"I—I can't hold it back," she whispered, panic lacing her words. "Kael, I—"
"You can." His grip tightened. "Just a little longer."
Her silver eyes flickered between forms, her wolf desperate to break free beneath the full moon. But Kael wouldn't let this be how she was revealed. Not like this.
As soon as they were far enough from the pack, he pressed her against a tree, his body shielding hers.
"Look at me, Aira." His voice was steady, commanding. "Not the moon. Not the pack. Me."
Her breathing slowed.
His ocean-blue eyes locked onto hers, pulling her back from the precipice.
"You are in control," he murmured. "Not your bloodline. Not your father. You."
Aira's trembling ceased. The glow in her veins faded. And slowly… her wolf settled.
Kael exhaled, resting his forehead against hers for a moment. They had made it.
A branch snapped.
They turned sharply, but it was only Sebastian, now in human form, his gaze sharp as it flickered between them.
"That was reckless," he muttered. "But you managed it."
Aira looked away, shame flickering in her eyes. "I almost ruined everything."
"You didn't," Sebastian corrected. "And I won't let you. We'll find a way to tell Asha about you… when the time is right."
Kael frowned. "And if that time never comes?"
Sebastian's expression darkened. "Then you'll have to be ready to fight."
The words hung heavy in the night air.
Kael knew hiding Aira's truth wouldn't last forever.
But for tonight, they had won.