I am six years old again, sitting in the warm embrace of my mama’s lap as she brushes my hair. Her touch is gentle, her humming soft and familiar. The scent of lavender from her favorite oil lingers in the air."Lira, be a good girl until we get back, okay?" Mama’s voice is as soothing as ever, but there’s an urgency in her tone today.I nod, my little heart swelling with the pride of her trust.Papa kneels before me, his rough hands cupping my cheeks as he plants a kiss on my forehead. "My Lira has always been a good girl."His words wrap around me like a warm blanket. I smile back at him, not knowing this moment will be the last of its kind.Then, suddenly, everything changes. They are gone.The room turns dark, the walls closing in on me. Shadows stretch and writhe, swallowing every trace of comfort. I clutch my chest as panic surges. "Mama? Papa?" My voice trembles, echoing back like a cruel taunt.The silence is deafening. And then, fire.Flames lick at the walls, their greedy to
I stare at the crumpled letter in my hand, my heartbeat pounding like a war drum. The words echo in my head, sharp and biting like the cold wind of a winter storm. My fingers tremble, but not with fear. No. This is something deeper—rage. With a sharp exhale, I tear the letter into tiny pieces, each rip satisfying a deep part of me.The scraps flutter to the ground like defeated enemies, but the fire inside me still burns.“Not now,” I whisper to myself, my voice low and steady. “Not now. But soon.”* * *When I enter the house, I catch Sigma Sean at the opposite door. He’s about to leave, his tall frame filling the doorway. I force a smile, masking the storm brewing inside me.“Sean,” I call out, drawing his attention. “How’s Natasha doing? She must be close now.”Sean’s face lights up like a boy with a jar of sweets. “She’s glowing, Luna! Glowing! The pup is strong—I can feel it already.” His pride is infectious, and his eagerness brings warmth to my heart.“I’m happy for you, Sean,”
The walk home is quiet, the weight of the council meeting still pressing on my mind. When we step into the house, the warmth of the hearth embraces us, but Damon’s piercing gaze brings me back to reality.“Nora,” he says, his voice soft but firm. “Are you okay?”I glance up at him, startled by the tenderness in his tone. His concern catches me off guard, but I nod. “I’m fine. Thank you for standing up for me earlier. Cain deserved everything he got.”Damon’s jaw tightens, and he folds his arms across his chest. “How did you know about Cain’s theft?”For a moment, I hesitate. The memory of the anonymous letter flashes in my mind. I could tell him, but something holds me back. I meet his eyes, steady and unwavering. “I got an anonymous tip.”Damon sighs and shakes his head, his dark brows furrowing. “Nora, I’m still waiting for you to see that you can trust me.”“All in good time,” I reply, offering him a faint smile.He doesn’t push further. Instead, he walks to his room, leaving me in
I push open Damon’s door, still lost in thought about Grand Luna Eve’s late-night escape. Where could she have gone last night? Why was she cloaked?The room is dimly lit, and the scent of fresh soap fills the air. My gaze lands on Damon.He stands by the window, shirtless, a towel slung low on his hips. His wet hair glistens under the flickering lantern light, sending rivulets of water down his chiseled chest. My eyes follow one drop as it travels from his sharp collarbone, over his taut abs, and disappears below the towel's edge.I gulp, heat spreading across my cheeks. His shoulders are broad, muscles flexing as he adjusts the window latch. Every inch of him screams strength, and I feel the tension in the air thickening as my eyes linger.“See something you like?” Damon’s voice is low, teasing, snapping me out of my trance.I look up to find his smirk—confident, knowing. My mouth opens, but no words come out.“You can’t see everything from over there,” he continues, his tone drippi
The rain pours down in icy sheets, drenching me to the bone. My fists slam into the wooden dummy again and again, the rhythm of my punches syncing with the storm. Each strike burns, my knuckles raw and splitting, but I don’t stop. I can’t. The cold rain numbs my fingers, yet the fire inside me rages hotter.I think of Damon—his smirk, his warmth, his maddening calmness. Why does he have this hold on me? Then Cain and Claire flash in my mind. They robbed me of everything. My life as Lira, my family, my future. And here I am, reborn as Nora Moonblood, trapped in a new life I didn’t choose, pretending to be someone I’m not.I land another punch, and the dummy creaks. The pain in my knuckles barely registers. Each hit feels like an attempt to shatter my doubts, my anger, my confusion. Who am I, really? Lira, the weak she-wolf who trusted too much? Or Nora, the strong Luna determined to rewrite her fate?The rain drowns out my ragged breaths, muting the storm in my chest—until strong arms
The commotion in the market draws my attention. I turn toward the noise and freeze. A long line of slaves trudges past, their wrists chained, their bodies bent under the weight of exhaustion. Their faces are gaunt, hollow, and streaked with dirt, their clothes tattered beyond recognition. The merchants leading them bark orders, whips in hand, striking those who stumble.I catch my breath when one of the slaves collapses—a girl, too young, her frail body crumpling to the muddy ground. A whip cracks through the air, slashing across her back, tearing through her tattered clothes. The girl doesn’t even cry out; she’s too weak to make a sound.“Stand!” the man with the whip bellows, his face contorted in fury. When she doesn’t move, he raises the whip again.“Stop it!” The words escape my lips before I think. The man freezes mid-swing, his beady eyes snapping toward me.The other merchants and their miserable captives halt. Even the bustle of the market seems to fade as people turn to watc
Liam strides into the dining hall as we’re halfway through breakfast. The children are chattering noisily—Lily giggling at Zane’s attempt to stack eggs on his fork, Eli narrating some grand adventure he apparently dreamed about last night. The warm, mundane chaos of family fills the room.Damon looks up at Liam’s entrance. Liam bows respectfully to us, then leans down to whisper something in Damon’s ear. Whatever he says makes Damon stiffen, his jaw tightening. Surprise flickers across his face, quickly followed by determination, then anger.“I’ll be back,” Damon says abruptly, pushing back his chair. He strides out of the room with Liam before I can ask what’s wrong.I watch him leave, unease bubbling in my chest. My gaze lingers on the empty doorway, my mind racing with questions.“Mama,” Zane calls, drawing my attention back to the table. “Look!”He’s balancing an apple on his head, grinning like he’s performed a grand trick. Lily claps, her curls bouncing. “You look like a silly A
The weight of their stares burns my skin, but I keep my head high, my eyes cold as steel. The murmurs grow louder, like a swarm of bees buzzing around me, but I don’t let it faze me. “Claire,” I say softly, my voice cutting through the noise like a blade. “We all have our stories, don’t we? And some are better left untold.” Her smile falters for the briefest second before she masks it again. The she-wolves shift in their seats, exchanging uncertain glances. I sit straighter, a quiet fire igniting in my chest. If Claire wants a war, she’ll get one. But it’ll be on my terms. Claire clears her throat, forcing an awkward laugh. “Nora, I didn’t mean to insult your pride or anything. I was just stating—” I cut her off before she can finish. “Claire,” I say, my tone as sharp as a dagger, “what do you think about the evidence of your mate stealing pack resources, receiving bribes, and committing other criminal acts?” The room goes silent. Every gaze swings to Claire, their curiosity
My heart keeps pounding as I walk back quickly to Damon's room, push the door open and close it behind me. My hands tremble as I sit on the edge of the bed, my mind spinning. The ledger is gone. Missing.The thought keeps hammering in my head like a drumbeat I can’t silence. How long has it been missing? Who took it? Could it be Cain? My chest tightens at the impossibility, the edges of my vision blurring with panic. I press my fingers against my temples, trying to rub away the throbbing ache building behind my eyes. These headaches are relentless, creeping up on me more often than ever. I sigh, frustrated, and glance around Damon’s room. It feels suffocating, the walls closing in on me, as if the missing ledger holds my very sanity hostage.My throat feels parched, but I don’t move to get water. Instead, I replay every moment in my mind. Someone knows. Someone knows I’ve been watching Cain.But who?It’s not Damon. If he found the ledger, he would’ve confronted me, his stormy eyes d
The weight of their stares burns my skin, but I keep my head high, my eyes cold as steel. The murmurs grow louder, like a swarm of bees buzzing around me, but I don’t let it faze me. “Claire,” I say softly, my voice cutting through the noise like a blade. “We all have our stories, don’t we? And some are better left untold.” Her smile falters for the briefest second before she masks it again. The she-wolves shift in their seats, exchanging uncertain glances. I sit straighter, a quiet fire igniting in my chest. If Claire wants a war, she’ll get one. But it’ll be on my terms. Claire clears her throat, forcing an awkward laugh. “Nora, I didn’t mean to insult your pride or anything. I was just stating—” I cut her off before she can finish. “Claire,” I say, my tone as sharp as a dagger, “what do you think about the evidence of your mate stealing pack resources, receiving bribes, and committing other criminal acts?” The room goes silent. Every gaze swings to Claire, their curiosity
Liam strides into the dining hall as we’re halfway through breakfast. The children are chattering noisily—Lily giggling at Zane’s attempt to stack eggs on his fork, Eli narrating some grand adventure he apparently dreamed about last night. The warm, mundane chaos of family fills the room.Damon looks up at Liam’s entrance. Liam bows respectfully to us, then leans down to whisper something in Damon’s ear. Whatever he says makes Damon stiffen, his jaw tightening. Surprise flickers across his face, quickly followed by determination, then anger.“I’ll be back,” Damon says abruptly, pushing back his chair. He strides out of the room with Liam before I can ask what’s wrong.I watch him leave, unease bubbling in my chest. My gaze lingers on the empty doorway, my mind racing with questions.“Mama,” Zane calls, drawing my attention back to the table. “Look!”He’s balancing an apple on his head, grinning like he’s performed a grand trick. Lily claps, her curls bouncing. “You look like a silly A
The commotion in the market draws my attention. I turn toward the noise and freeze. A long line of slaves trudges past, their wrists chained, their bodies bent under the weight of exhaustion. Their faces are gaunt, hollow, and streaked with dirt, their clothes tattered beyond recognition. The merchants leading them bark orders, whips in hand, striking those who stumble.I catch my breath when one of the slaves collapses—a girl, too young, her frail body crumpling to the muddy ground. A whip cracks through the air, slashing across her back, tearing through her tattered clothes. The girl doesn’t even cry out; she’s too weak to make a sound.“Stand!” the man with the whip bellows, his face contorted in fury. When she doesn’t move, he raises the whip again.“Stop it!” The words escape my lips before I think. The man freezes mid-swing, his beady eyes snapping toward me.The other merchants and their miserable captives halt. Even the bustle of the market seems to fade as people turn to watc
The rain pours down in icy sheets, drenching me to the bone. My fists slam into the wooden dummy again and again, the rhythm of my punches syncing with the storm. Each strike burns, my knuckles raw and splitting, but I don’t stop. I can’t. The cold rain numbs my fingers, yet the fire inside me rages hotter.I think of Damon—his smirk, his warmth, his maddening calmness. Why does he have this hold on me? Then Cain and Claire flash in my mind. They robbed me of everything. My life as Lira, my family, my future. And here I am, reborn as Nora Moonblood, trapped in a new life I didn’t choose, pretending to be someone I’m not.I land another punch, and the dummy creaks. The pain in my knuckles barely registers. Each hit feels like an attempt to shatter my doubts, my anger, my confusion. Who am I, really? Lira, the weak she-wolf who trusted too much? Or Nora, the strong Luna determined to rewrite her fate?The rain drowns out my ragged breaths, muting the storm in my chest—until strong arms
I push open Damon’s door, still lost in thought about Grand Luna Eve’s late-night escape. Where could she have gone last night? Why was she cloaked?The room is dimly lit, and the scent of fresh soap fills the air. My gaze lands on Damon.He stands by the window, shirtless, a towel slung low on his hips. His wet hair glistens under the flickering lantern light, sending rivulets of water down his chiseled chest. My eyes follow one drop as it travels from his sharp collarbone, over his taut abs, and disappears below the towel's edge.I gulp, heat spreading across my cheeks. His shoulders are broad, muscles flexing as he adjusts the window latch. Every inch of him screams strength, and I feel the tension in the air thickening as my eyes linger.“See something you like?” Damon’s voice is low, teasing, snapping me out of my trance.I look up to find his smirk—confident, knowing. My mouth opens, but no words come out.“You can’t see everything from over there,” he continues, his tone drippi
The walk home is quiet, the weight of the council meeting still pressing on my mind. When we step into the house, the warmth of the hearth embraces us, but Damon’s piercing gaze brings me back to reality.“Nora,” he says, his voice soft but firm. “Are you okay?”I glance up at him, startled by the tenderness in his tone. His concern catches me off guard, but I nod. “I’m fine. Thank you for standing up for me earlier. Cain deserved everything he got.”Damon’s jaw tightens, and he folds his arms across his chest. “How did you know about Cain’s theft?”For a moment, I hesitate. The memory of the anonymous letter flashes in my mind. I could tell him, but something holds me back. I meet his eyes, steady and unwavering. “I got an anonymous tip.”Damon sighs and shakes his head, his dark brows furrowing. “Nora, I’m still waiting for you to see that you can trust me.”“All in good time,” I reply, offering him a faint smile.He doesn’t push further. Instead, he walks to his room, leaving me in
I stare at the crumpled letter in my hand, my heartbeat pounding like a war drum. The words echo in my head, sharp and biting like the cold wind of a winter storm. My fingers tremble, but not with fear. No. This is something deeper—rage. With a sharp exhale, I tear the letter into tiny pieces, each rip satisfying a deep part of me.The scraps flutter to the ground like defeated enemies, but the fire inside me still burns.“Not now,” I whisper to myself, my voice low and steady. “Not now. But soon.”* * *When I enter the house, I catch Sigma Sean at the opposite door. He’s about to leave, his tall frame filling the doorway. I force a smile, masking the storm brewing inside me.“Sean,” I call out, drawing his attention. “How’s Natasha doing? She must be close now.”Sean’s face lights up like a boy with a jar of sweets. “She’s glowing, Luna! Glowing! The pup is strong—I can feel it already.” His pride is infectious, and his eagerness brings warmth to my heart.“I’m happy for you, Sean,”
I am six years old again, sitting in the warm embrace of my mama’s lap as she brushes my hair. Her touch is gentle, her humming soft and familiar. The scent of lavender from her favorite oil lingers in the air."Lira, be a good girl until we get back, okay?" Mama’s voice is as soothing as ever, but there’s an urgency in her tone today.I nod, my little heart swelling with the pride of her trust.Papa kneels before me, his rough hands cupping my cheeks as he plants a kiss on my forehead. "My Lira has always been a good girl."His words wrap around me like a warm blanket. I smile back at him, not knowing this moment will be the last of its kind.Then, suddenly, everything changes. They are gone.The room turns dark, the walls closing in on me. Shadows stretch and writhe, swallowing every trace of comfort. I clutch my chest as panic surges. "Mama? Papa?" My voice trembles, echoing back like a cruel taunt.The silence is deafening. And then, fire.Flames lick at the walls, their greedy to