CHAPTER 8

I stood my ground as Lyra moved closer, her eyes showing her ill intentions. I could feel my heart beating fast. But beneath the fear, a new strength was rising. I was the Luna of this pack, and I wouldn't let Lyra intimidate me.

Just as Lyra opened her mouth to speak, a loud crash interrupted our standoff. Beta Jaxon burst into the room, his face etched with urgency.

“Luna Aurora!” he called out, barely sparing a glance for Lyra. “Alpha Xander needs you at the border immediately.”

Relief and concern flooded through me in equal measure. I gave Lyra one last steady look before turning to follow Beta Jaxon. Whatever was happening at the border, it had to be serious for Xander to send for me.

As we raced through the pack grounds, Beta Jaxon filled me in. “A group of wolves appeared at our border, seeking sanctuary. They're in bad shape, Luna. Alpha Xander wants your input on whether to grant them refuge.”

My first major decision as Luna. The thought made me feel anxious, but I tried to ignore it.

As we arrived at the border, I noticed Xander standing strong, his demeanor impressive as he confronted ten wolves. They looked exhausted and injured, their clothes tattered and dirty. My heart ached at the sight.

Xander's eyes found mine as I approached, and I saw relief flash across his face. “Aurora,” he said, reaching for my hand. “I'd like you to meet our… guests. They've requested sanctuary within our territory.”

He turned to the group. “This is my mate and Luna, Aurora. Her voice carries equal weight to mine in this decision.”

I felt a swell of pride at Xander's words, at the trust he was placing in me. I stepped forward, addressing the group directly. “What brings you to our borders?” I asked, keeping my voice gentle but firm.

An older wolf, seemingly the leader of the group, stepped forward. “We were attacked by rogues, Luna. Our pack… our pack is gone. We've been running for days, seeking safety. Please, we mean no harm. We just need a place to rest and heal.”

I looked at their faces, and I could see the pain and fear in their eyes. I turned to Xander, our eyes meeting in silent communication. He nodded slightly, a small smile playing at his lips.

“U will stay here temporarily,” I said, my voice stronger than I expected. “You'll be given food, medical attention, and a place to rest. We'll discuss long-term arrangements once you've recovered.”

The relief on their faces was palpable. As Xander began organizing their entry into our territory, I helped guide them to our infirmary.

I went back to my room and fell on my bed, thinking of everything that happened today, The confrontation with Lyra, the decision at the border—it all felt surreal. Despite my exhaustion, sleep was slow to come.

When it did, my dreams were far from peaceful. Bright and scary dreams bothered me, changing my memories and fears into scary situations. I saw Asher's cruel face, heard his mocking laughter as he rejected me again. The scene changed, and suddenly, I was back in the Blackstone Pack, but everything was different. The pack members ignored me, their faces showing dislike. Lyra stood at Xander's side, smirking triumphantly as she took my place as Luna.

I woke screaming…

My door swung open. Xander rushed to me and sat beside me, holding me in his arms.

“Aurora,” his voice filled with worry. “I'm here. You're safe.”

I held on to him, hiding my face against his chest while I cried hard. Xander squeezed his arms tighter around me, and his hands stroked my hair while whispering comforting words. Slowly, but surely, I calmed down.

I felt myself getting embarrassed. I am so sorry I woke you up.

Xander held me close and said,“Don't apologize,” he insisted. I sensed your worry through our bond. Do you want to talk about it?

He made me feel comfortable. Before I realized it, I was telling him everything,my bad dreams, my worries about not being worthy, and my doubts about my role in the group.

Xander listened patiently, his presence a steady comfort. When I finally fell silent, he spoke softly. “Aurora, look at me.” I looked up to see his eyes, and there I found only warmth and understanding. “You are way stronger than you think” You proved today what a remarkable Luna you are, and the pack sees it too.

His words comforted me. “But what if I do something wrong?” I asked, voicing my deepest fear. “What if I let the pack down?”

Xander smiled and said, Then you'll learn from it and do better next time. Nobody's perfect, Aurora. Not even Alphas. His expression turned more serious. “Can I tell you a secret?” I get really scared sometimes too. Being in charge of this group and making choices that impact everyone's lives can be really tough. But having you with me, knowing we're tackling these problems side by side, it really helps.

I looked at him with surprise, noticing that this was the first time he had really let me see his weaknesses. Right then, I felt our connection grow stronger, creating a deeper trust and closeness between us.

As the early morning light started to shine through my window, Xander and I talked more freely than we ever had before. We told each other about our pasts, our dreams for the future, and our increasing feelings for each other. With every word, every shared laugh and comforting touch, I felt myself falling more deeply for this strong, kind wolf who had chosen me as his mate.

As I started to feel really safe and comfortable for the first time in my life, a loud noise outside broke the quiet moment. People were yelling and growling near the rooms where we had put the wolves who had to leave their homes.

Xander quickly stood up, his body getting stiff as he listened to the noise outside. “There's a problem,” he said, his voice showing he was worried.

We hurried outside, going towards the sounds of trouble. A crowd had gathered around the guest quarters, pack members murmuring in fear and confusion. As we made our way to the front, I was shocked by what I saw.

One of the refugee wolves, a young male who had appeared calm just a few hours earlier, was changing. But this was not a typical change. His body twisted in an abnormal way, with bones breaking and reshaping at strange angles. When he lifted his head, I felt a shiver go down my back. His eyes were blood-red, filled with wild anger I had never witnessed before.

The changed wolf growled, drool falling from his lengthened teeth as he looked around… But as I watched the poor, twisted creature before us, I couldn't help but wonder—what had happened to these refugees? And had we just invited a terrible danger into our home?