Chapter 63

The smell of the stable was thick in the air, the sharp tang of hay and animal waste clinging to Lucy's senses. She gripped the wooden handle of the shovel, its rough texture grounding her as she stared down at the pile of straw and dung before her. But she wasn't really seeing it.

Her mind was far away, replaying the events from the training ground. The clash between Leo and Aiden felt like a whirlwind in her memory. She could still see Aiden's swift movements, how effortlessly he had dodged Leo's initial attack. For a moment, it had seemed as though Aiden was untouchable, as if he was calculating every move before it happened. But then his focus had shifted—his gaze had locked with hers.

Lucy felt her cheeks warm as she remembered the way their eyes had met. The intensity in his expression had been unlike anything she'd experienced before. 

And then he'd been hit.

Her heart ached at the memory of Leo's fists connecting with Aiden, the force of each blow sending shockwaves through the crowd. She hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath until the fight had ended. 

Aiden had lost—but why? He didn't seem like the type to be easily bested. He had looked so strong, so capable. Was it because of her? Had her presence distracted him?

“Lucy!”

Marie's voice broke through her thoughts, faint and distant at first. Lucy blinked, the stable coming back into focus. The straw-strewn floor, the low nickers of horses, the fading sunlight streaming through the wooden slats—it all seemed to disturb her.

*Lucy,” Marie called again, this time louder, her voice tinged with frustration.

Lucy turned her head slightly, realizing Marie was standing a few feet away, one hand on her hip and the other clutching her shovel. Her face was flushed and she was glaring at Lucy.

*Were you even listening to me?” Marie asked, exasperated. “I've been calling your name for the past minute!”

Lucy blinked again, shaking her head as if to clear it. “Sorry,” she jumbled, her voice low.

“Sorry?” Marie chose, throwing her arms up. “You've been standing there like a statue for who knows how long! If you're not going to help, at least say so!”

Lucy sighed and tightened her grip on her shovel. “I'm helping,” she said quietly, stepping forward and jamming the shovel into the straw and dung. The action felt mechanical, her arms moving an autopilot as her thoughts drifted once more.

Marie squinted at her, clearly unconvinced. “You're slower than usual. What's wrong with you, Lucy?”

“Nothing,” Lucy lied quickly, her voice sharper than she intended.

Marie snorted, not buying it for a second. “Don't give me that. I know you. Something's on your mind and I bet it had to do with what happened at the training ground.”

Lucy paused mid-shovel, her grip faltering. She glanced at Marie, unsure of how to respond.

Marie's eyes narrowed. “I knew it!” she exclaimed, pointing her shovel at Lucy like an accusing finger. “You've been thinking about him, haven't you? Aiden.”

Lucy's cheeks flared. “No, I haven't,” she said quickly, her voice defensive.

Marie rolled her eyes. “Please. You've been spaced out since we got back here. I'd bet you can't get him out of your head.”

Lucy didn't respond, choosing instead to focus on her work. But Marie wasn't letting it go.

“Let me guess… you're wondering why he lost, aren't you?” Marie continued, leaning on her shovel. “It's obvious, really. He's not as invisible as he looks.”

Lucy frowned, her grip tightening on the handle. “That's not true… that can't be true.” she said quietly.

Marie raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Then why did he lose?”

Lucy hesitated, the words caught in her throat. She couldn't utter what she was thinking as she herself wasn't sure what happened and why he had lost to Leo. Instead, she shrugged, hoping Marie would drop the subject.

Marie sighed dramatically. “Well, whatever it is, let's get this done. I'm not spending another night in this smelly stable.”

Lucy nodded, forcing herself to focus. She plunged her shovel into the straw, scooping it into the waiting bowl. The repetitive motion helped calm her racing thoughts, but the image of Aiden kept creeping back.

After a short moment of scraping and silence between Lucy and Marie. Marie paused, leaning on her shovel, her chest rising and falling with a dramatic sigh. “After today,” she said, her voice low but laced with anticipation. “There's just one day left. One day to the full moon.”

Lucy froze mid-motion, her hand gripping the shovel's handle. The words sat heavy in her chest. She lowered her gaze to the pile of straw and manure, as if staring hard enough would drown out the conversation.

“Lucy, “ Marie pressed, a hint of curiosity in her voice. She tilted her head, studying her friend's reaction. “Aren't you going to say anything? You've been quiet since I spoke about the full moon.”

Lucy bit the inside of her cheek, unsure of how to respond. What was there to say? She didn't know what to expect from the full moon. Would it bring clarity—or chaos? Would her wolf surface and tear apart what little peace she had? The uncertainty was paralyzing.

Marie's brow furrowed and she abandoned her shovel to take a step closer to Lucy. “You're worried, aren't you?” she asked , her tone softer now. “I can tell by your silence.”

Lucy hesitated. She wanted to speak, to unload the storm of questions swirling in her mind but she didn't know where to begin.

Marie crossed her arms and tilted her head. “What's on your mind? Is it… Aiden?”

Lucy blinked at the mention of his name, her chest lingering. Aiden has been a constant presence in her thoughts, his gaze from the training ground replaying in her mind like an endless loop. But it wasn't just him. It was the full moon, her wolf, the way her life seemed to hang by a thread that she didn't know how to grasp.

Marie sighed and was about to speak again when Lucy finally broke the silence. “I don't know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Marie leaned closer, “You don't know,... What?”

Lucy straightened and tossed her shovel to the side, brushing her hands off on her dress. “I don't know what to expect,” she admitted. “What if the full moon changes everything? What if… I can't control it? Or worse—what if I don't even feel it? What if my wolf is too weak?

Marie softened, placing a hand on Lucy's shoulder. “Lucy, you're stronger than you think. You've made it this far, haven't you?”

Lucy sighed and shook her head. “It's not just that.” She paused, the words tangling in her throat. “Aiden is my mate,” she admitted quietly.

Marie blinked. “I know, right?”

Lucy nodded, her gaze dropping to the ground. “But I can't even talk to him… I'm always… I don't know what to call it, but the times we've met, I wasn't free with me… yet, he treats me well. He's… different. Different from the Aiden you all know.”

Marie's lips twitched, as if suppressing a grin. “Different how? Because he actually defended you? Or because he keeps looking at you like you're the only person in this pack?”

Lucy's cheeks burned and she shook her head. “I don't know how to communicate with him,” she confessed. “He's… intimidating. And what would I even say? That I need a bite from my mate to stabilize my wolf? It's not exactly casual conversation.”

Marie tilted her head thoughtfully. “Maybe you don't have to say much. Just… let him see you. Let him figure it out. “Sometimes actions speak louder than words.”

Lucy opened her mouth to respond but before she could, a shadow appeared at the stable door.

Both women turned, their conversation cut short. A guard stood in the doorway, his figure partially silhouetted by the fading sunlight. But something about him was different—his uniform wasn't the standard Moonshine pack attire. His tunic was darker, the emblem stitches into the fabric unfamiliar but distinctly regal.

Lucy's heart skipped a beat as realization dawned on her. This wasn't one of their guards. This was someone from Aiden's side.