Three

Luna’s Guidance and a Physical Showdown

Summer's POV

“You’re not crying, are you?” Luna whispers.

I lie, gazing at stars. I feel a warm presence in my mind, a gentle voice that speaks to me like a friend. It’s Luna, my inner wolf, the one who awakened in me when I turned sixteen.

I sigh and close my eyes.

“Luna,” I whisper, “Can I tell you something?”

“Of course, my dear,” Luna replies. “You can tell me anything.”

I open my eyes. It’s full and bright, casting a silver glow over the forest. My chest tightens.

“Luna, I… I love Jackson.”

Luna is silent for a moment. She knows who Jackson is. He’s the alpha of our pack, the leader of our family. He’s strong, brave, handsome, and kind. He took me under his wing when I joined the pack, teaching me the ways of the wolves, helping me control my shifts, protecting me from danger. He’s everything I admire and desire.

“I know you do, my dear,” Luna says softly. “And I’m happy for you.”

“Really?” I ask, hopeful.

“Really,” Luna confirms. “You have a good heart, Summer. You deserve to be happy. And Jackson would make a good mate for you..”

I smile and feel a warm glow in my chest. I’m glad Luna approves of my feelings.

“Thank you, Luna,” I say gratefully. “You’re the best.”

Luna chuckles and nuzzles my mind.

“You’re welcome, my dear,” she says affectionately. “But there is something you should know.”

“What is it?” I ask curiously.

Luna hesitates.

“It’s about Amelia,” she says cautiously.

A pang hits my heart. Ameilia has been a pain in my life for as long as I can remember and she’s doing every freaking thing she can to be Jackson’s mate. She’s beautiful, cunning, and ruthless. To think that she left the pack before and she returned to our pack a few months ago, seeking forgiveness and reconciliation. She also made it clear that she wanted Jackson back.

“What about her?” I ask bitterly.

Luna sighs and shakes her head.

“She’s trouble, my dear,” she warns. “She’s not here for Jackson’s sake. She’s here for her own gain. She wants to reclaim her position as alpha female, to rule over the pack with an iron paw. She doesn’t love Jackson, she only wants his power.”

I clench my fists and feel anger rising in my veins.

“I know that,” I say fiercely. “She’s a liar, a traitor, a bitch.”

Luna nods and agrees.

“She is indeed,” she says firmly, gripping my arm. “And she’s not going to give up easily. She’s going to try to win Jackson back by any means necessary.”

A cold shiver run down my spine.

“What do you mean?” I ask nervously, looking around as if expecting to see her lurking in the shadows. Luna looks at me with seriousness and concern, her eyes piercing mine.

“She’s going to try to seduce him,” she says gravely, lowering her voice. “She’s going to use her charms, her wiles, her tricks to make him fall for her again. She’s the reason Jackson rejected you.” I gasp, my eyes stinging. My heart sinks and my stomach churns. I can’t believe it.

“No,” I say desperately, shaking my head. “I–I don’t know what to say.”

Luna nods and comforts me.

“He does love you, my dear,” she assures me. “He loves you with all his heart. But he’s also confused and conflicted. He has a history with Amelia, a bond that’s hard to break. He feels guilty for what happened between them, for hurting her feelings, for rejecting her pleas. He feels torn between his past and his present.”

I sob, burying my face in my hands, wondering how this could happen and asking helplessly. Luna wraps me in a warm embrace and smiles gently. She strokes my hair and whispers soothing words in my ear.

“You can trust me,” she says confidently. “I have a plan,” I look up at her with tearful eyes. What plan to fix this mess?

“What–” I start to say, but she puts a finger on my lips and shakes her head.

“Shh, not now. Just trust me, okay?” She leads me to the door. Maybe she knows something I don’t. Maybe there’s still hope.

I hear a voice dripping with hate and look up to see Amelia and her minions standing at my door. “It’s the rejected mate!” she sneers, making my blood boil. I shake my head, getting up quickly to shut the door. But she’s faster. She slams her foot against the door, stopping it from closing, then smirks and pushes it open, barging in with her friends. I stumble back, feeling trapped in my own room. “Get out,” I glare at her, pointing at the door. “No!” she says simply and chuckles. She walks towards me, her eyes gleaming with malice. “When are you leaving anyway?” she adds, grabbing my arm and twisting it painfully. “I told Jackson you are bad news so soon you should be out of here.” She digs her nails into my skin, making me wince.

“Stop it!” I shout.

Then she pokes my forehead and I lose my mind. My claws grow out and so does canine.I lunge at Amelia, catching her off guard. She dodges, but I claw her cheek. She screams in pain and fury, her eyes turning yellow; a werewolf like me but not as strong.

“Get off me, you freak!” she yells. “You don’t belong here!”

She snarls and swings her fist at me, but I duck and kick her in the stomach. Amelia falls back.

“Amelia, are you okay?” one of her friends asks, worried.

“Help me, you idiots!” she snaps. “She’s crazy!”

Her two friends are not going to watch idly. They rush to help her, but they are no match for me either. I am faster and stronger than them, thanks to my alpha blood. I dodge their attacks and counter with my own, leaving them bruised and bleeding.

“Stop it! Stop it!” one of them begs. “You’re hurting us!”

“You started this!” I shout back. “You should have left me alone!”

I'm about to finish Amelia when a loud roar interrupts. I turn, see Jackson at the door, eyes blazing red, the pack's alpha, clearly unhappy. He glares with anger and disappointment.

“What are you doing?” he shouts. “Stop this madness right now!”