chapter 2~ A New beginning

The small human town was nothing like Blackwood territory. 7 months had passed since Caleb’s rejection, and I’d tried to make peace with a life without Caleb or my pack. I’d built something for myself here, a quiet, hidden life where no one knew me as the Luna who was rejected. And my thoughts rarely returned to Caleb, or so I told myself.

Everything changed when I found out I was pregnant. The realization came with a mix of emotions. Caleb didn’t know, and he never would. This baby was mine to protect and to love.

Christina and her husband were wonderful people. They let me stay with them until I had my son and was ready to stand on my own feet. I'd ended up developing a friendship with Christina. She had strong maternal instincts despite her inability to bear a child of her own.

Lucas was born under a crescent moon. He was perfect, with his father’s dark hair and my bright green eyes. In that moment, I swore to protect him from everything, including his own bloodline.

I finally moved out of Christina's house when Lucas was a couple of months old, though my new place was in the same street Christina and her husband lived. I'd also gotten a job at the local bakery. Christina had miraculously taken in just 6 months after I had Lucas and she considered us to be her lucky charm.

As Lucas grew, I noticed the signs that he was different. Stronger, faster than human children his age. His eyes glinted with a hint of gold when he was excited, a clear sign of his heritage. I kept a close watch, always worried someone might discover we weren't human. But as the years went by, we managed to build a quiet routine, blending in with the humans and I began to believe we could live undisturbed.

One evening, as I tucked my 8 year old Lucas into bed, he looked up at me, his gaze unnervingly mature. “Mom, is there someone else like me out there?”

The question startled me. “What do you mean?”

“You said we're different from the others and that I'm special. Are there others like us?” He asked again. I didn't know what to tell him. Was it too early to tell him the truth?

“Why do you ask honey?”

He shrugged, looking thoughtful. “In my dreams, there’s a man who looks like me… but older.”

My heart skipped a beat. I'd always felt Caleb's presence tugging at my subconscious. I dreamt of him, visions of his dark eyes and powerful aura. They felt like warnings but I always tried to ignore them.

They'd gotten more frequent and I didn't realize they affected Lucas too. He’d wake up from his own dreams, clutching my hand and murmuring about a man with eyes like his. Each time, a chill ran down my spine. Caleb had left us both, and yet it felt like he was trying to find us, to intrude upon the life we'd built.

“I'm sure they're just dreams honey, this is where our life is, with everyone here” I answered. Lucas simply nodded his head and turned to sleep.

I got up and went outside. It was late at night but I needed a stroll to clear my head. I soon realized that I'd ventured further away from my house than expected and closer to the woods.

I stared into a thick forest feeling a pull towards it but I shook my head.

“It's time to head back” I said to myself.

I turned around and that was when I heard some rustling coming from the woods. I ignored it at first, thinking it was just a breeze but it came again and again. Some was definitely out there.

I panicked and started walking as fast as I could. I couldn't risk anyone discovering me. I'd barely gotten far when something pounced on me from behind, hard and I landed on the ground.

I turned around and saw a big wolf with Crimson eyes staring down at me, teeth glaring. It was a rogue wolf, I could tell by the colour of its eyes.

I pushed it back from me with force and bounced back on my feet. I was severely out of practice but I had to protect my son.

The wolf came at me again, this time I dodged the attack and without thinking, I turned into my wolf. There was an exchange of blows and scratches between us. I had the upper hand so I waited for the right moment then I struck it hard across its chest.

It let out a loud howl. I'd dealt enough damage to get it to retreat. I watched with keen eyes as the wolf withdrew back into the forest.

It was no longer safe in town. I knew I had to leave with Lucas if I wanted to protect him.

Still in my wolf form, I ran back to the house and turned back before I got in. I went into my room and put on some clothes then I started packing. I took some of mine and Lucas’ clothes and essential items. We just needed to get a few more towns away from here.

When I was done, I went to bed although I could barely close my eyes. Morning came soon and I realized I'd overslept. It was almost noon. Lucas had gotten ready for the day and was already outside playing with his friends. I assumed he'd gotten breakfast from Christina already.

“Good morning mum” Lucas greeted me when I stepped out. He was busy making a sand castle with Tatia and some other kids. Tatia was Christina's daughter. She was just a little over 1 year younger than Lucas.

They were the best of friends and watching them play broke my heart knowing it was the last time they would ever see eachother again.

“Lucas, Tatia. How are you?”

“Lucas ruined my sand castle, now he has to help me build it back” Tatia said.

“It was a mistake!”

“Was not!”

“Okay, I'll leave you to it. I'll go see your mum”

I walked over to Christina's place where she was busy knitting.

“Hi Christina”

“Did you hear?” She asked before I could say anything else.

“Hear what?”

“People said they heard some loud noises last night. It sounded like animals fighting and there was howling… Tatia was up all night afraid”

“I was deep asleep. Didn't hear anything” I lied

“It's those creatures, I'm sure. I have no idea what they're doing all the way out here” I could hear the hatred in her voice. It struck me that Christina would never see me the same way if she found out who I was.

“I need to get to work now. Bye” I excused myself and got a cab to the bakery. The way things were happening was just proof that we'd overstayed our welcome in town.

I couldn't focus much during my shift at the bakery. I kept looking at the clock anxiously and when it struck 7pm I hurriedly got out of my uniform and grabbed my things to leave when I caught a scent which stopped me in my tracks.

The scent was familiar, unmistakable. The powerful earthy scent of the Blackwood packs Alpha. My heart raced, threatening to break free of my chest. The door to the bakery opened and there he was, standing in front of me.

Caleb Blackwood.