My breath caught as the man finally stepped forward from the shadows. He was different from the other two. Jet-black hair fell in messy waves to his shoulders, and dark stubble traced his sharp jaw.
"Magnus," I whispered, the name coming to me out of nowhere.
"So, you remember my name." His lips curved. "That's a start."
I took a step back, but he moved forward. The ground felt too still beneath my bare feet, as if even the forest held its breath, watching.
"You think you can run from us?" he said huskily, his voice a low rumble. "You think that window was a door to your old life?"
I couldn't speak, and my entire being trembled.
Magnus stopped just before me, close enough that his heat licked against my skin. "Your wolf's already stirring. I can smell it..."
Before I could respond, the underbrush rustled behind me. Damien and Xavier emerged from the trees, their presence radiating familiar power.
"Magnus," Xavier said lowly, stepping beside me, a subtle warning in his tone.
Magnus's eyes never left mine as he said, "You're lucky I was here."
Damien looked at me, sighing heavily, a mix of concern and exasperation on his face.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, the words barely audible.
I turned in a slow circle, trapped between them, the vast, menacing forest still surrounding us. My chest heaved. My mind screamed at me to run, to scream, to fight. But my body wanted something else entirely. It was like a strange need running through my blood, burning hotter with each frantic breath.
"I don't understand what's happening to me," I choked out, the confusion a suffocating weight.
"You will," Xavier promised, his touch gentle as he brushed a damp curl from my forehead.
"We're here," Damien added, his voice firm yet comforting. "All of us. But only when you're ready..."
I shook my head, but tears lined my lashes, blurring the figures of these powerful men. "Ready? How could anyone be ready for all this? For any of this?"
Magnus stepped forward, and I flinched, but he gently placed a hand over my racing heart. "You don't have to do anything, really," he assured, his gaze unexpectedly soft. "You just have to feel it."
Right then, I swayed, the bond thrumming louder between us, an undeniable pull drawing me closer.
"Let go," Damien whispered, his voice a deep lullaby. "Just let go, Sweet Pup..."
And I did.
With a breathless sob, I collapsed against Damien's solid chest. His arms caught me like they were made to, a perfect fit. Xavier was there a heartbeat later, kissing the crown of my head, a gentle, reassuring touch. Then Magnus pressed his warm palm to the small of my back as my knees finally buckled, accepting the surrender.
I didn't fight the warmth flooding through me. I let it. I welcomed them.
And, suddenly, something deep inside me stirred.
***
I was overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the Moonlit Pack's territory. The vast landscape of dense forests stretched out before me, dotted with rolling hills and sparkling rivers. My heart raced as we passed through the main gates, escorted by Damien, Xavier, and Magnus.
The three of them, now fully dressed, walked with a commanding presence that both reassured and unsettled me. Every step I took felt heavier than the last. I wasn't just a visitor anymore. I was marked, claimed, and inexplicably tied to these powerful men.
As we neared the entrance to the grand hall, the enormous oak doors swung open, revealing a breathtaking scene inside. High, vaulted ceilings stretched above, seemingly reaching for the sky, and the walls were lined with banners bearing the Moonlit Pack's sigil—a full moon surrounded by intricate wolf patterns woven in gleaming gold thread.
Pack members already filled the long tables that spanned the length of the hall. Men and women of varying ages sat side by side, talking and laughing, a hum of life filling the enormous space.
At the far end of the hall, a raised platform held a grand table, clearly reserved for the pack's leaders—and now, it seemed, for me. Soon, all eyes turned toward me.
The conversations stopped abruptly, and a heavy silence filled the room. It was as if the entire pack had collectively held its breath, awaiting my next move, my first step into this new reality.
Damien stepped forward, his voice ringing with authority. "Today, we honor our new Luna," he declared.
Luna. My stomach churned as the full weight of it all settled in, a cold dread mixing with the strange, foreign warmth in my chest. The silence was broken by cheers. The pack members rose to their feet, clapping and howling, a guttural sound that vibrated through the very floorboards. Their excitement, however, did little to ease my growing discomfort.
"Come," Xavier whispered gently, his hand resting on my lower back as he guided me toward the grand table. "This is all for you."
I allowed myself to be led, my steps hesitant, feeling like I was walking into a dream – or a nightmare. As we reached the head table, the feast laid out before us was nothing short of extraordinary—platters piled high with roasted meats, steaming vegetables, fresh fruits, and an array of bread and cheeses, all spread out in lavish abundance.
The intoxicating aromas filled the room, a cruel reminder of just how long it had been since I'd last eaten.
Damien, Xavier, and Magnus each took their seats beside me, with Damien at the head of the table. I found myself seated between the two, my body stiff and uneasy. I felt like a fish out of water—completely out of place in this world of werewolves, a solitary human among a sea of predators.
As I settled into my chair, a young woman approached the table, her head bowed respectfully as she set a silver plate before me. "For our Luna," she said softly before retreating, her eyes barely meeting mine.
My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the plate before me. Damien leaned in, his eyes flickering with a softness I hadn't seen before, a warmth that seemed almost out of place given his power. "You're safe here," he whispered. "This is your home now. You have nothing to fear."
I swallowed hard, nodding slightly, though I wasn't convinced, not really. My hands trembled as I reached for the silver fork, but before I could take a bite, Magnus spoke from my other side.
"You'll grow stronger with time," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "The pack will respect you as one of us, but they'll need to see your strength."
I glanced at him, my mind spinning with questions. How could I ever live up to this role? I didn't feel strong. Instead, I felt utterly, completely lost.
The pack members continued to eat and drink heartily, the clinking of goblets and the low hum of conversation filling the hall once more. From time to time, curious glances were cast my way, assessing me, but no one dared approach the head table without permission.
I looked around the room, my gaze locking with several members of the pack. They were looking to me now, their new Luna. My pulse quickened, a drumbeat in my ears. I was no longer just Andra, a human trying to survive the Annual Purge. I was something else, something new, something terrifying.
Damien raised his goblet, signaling a toast. The room fell silent once again as all eyes turned to him.
"To Andra," he said, his voice ringing with pride, "our new Luna, and the future of the Moonlit Pack."
The pack members raised their goblets in unison, their voices echoing through the hall as they chanted, "To the Luna!" I lifted my goblet, my hand trembling slightly as I forced a weak smile.
"T-to the Luna," I echoed quietly, my voice swallowed by the roar of the crowd. I watched the scene unfold around me, trying desperately to relax, to pretend I belonged. But the air in the room suddenly thickened. The pack's attention shifted, not to me, but to a figure who had risen from one of the long tables.
He was tall, muscular, and carried himself with a simmering arrogance that set him apart from the others. His gaze was locked on Alpha Damien, a challenge burning in his eyes.
The man stepped forward with heavy, deliberate strides, stopping just a few feet from the head table. His jaw was clenched, and a sneer pulled at his lips, revealing a flash of teeth.
"Alpha Damien," the man growled, his voice laced with contempt. "You think bringing a human into our pack makes us stronger? This is an insult to our kind."
An uneasy silence fell over the room as the pack members shifted uncomfortably in their seats, murmuring amongst themselves. My heart raced as I cast a nervous glance at Damien, a fresh wave of terror washing over me.
Damien rose slowly from his seat, exuding a dangerous aura that could make even the most defiant werewolf hesitate. But this man, Logan, didn't flinch.
"Logan," Damien said, his voice dangerously quiet, "you dare question my authority in front of the pack?"
Logan's lip curled further. "You've grown weak, Damien. Letting this filthy human sit beside you, as if she's worthy of being our Luna. She doesn't belong here. And if you think she does, maybe you don't belong as Alpha."
A sharp intake of breath swept through the hall. I could hear my pulse pounding in my ears, a frantic drumbeat. Without a word, Damien stepped around the table, descending to stand before Logan. Pack law dictated that such a challenge couldn't be ignored. The Alpha had to answer or lose his position—and possibly his life.
"Is that what you want, Logan?" Damien asked quietly, his voice a low growl. "A challenge for the Alpha's seat?"
"Yes," Logan spat, his eyes blazing. "I challenge you, Alpha Damien, for leadership of the Moonlit Pack."
My heart sank as the words left Logan's mouth, sealing my fate further into this violent world. I felt Xavier and Magnus tense beside me, a sudden wave of their shared tension flowing through the bond. Damien's expression hardened, his posture shifting as he prepared for the inevitable fight.
"So be it."
Without further warning, the two men lunged at each other, the sound of their bodies colliding echoing through the hall. Logan swung first, aiming for Damien's face, but Damien dodged with lightning speed and countered with a powerful blow to Logan's ribs.
Their claws extended, tearing into flesh, as guttural growls filled the air. Logan fought fiercely, his movements wild and desperate, but Damien, a seasoned warrior, moved with calculated precision, every strike deliberate.
The pack watched in tense silence, their eyes fixated on the brutal dance. I could hardly breathe, my own body rigid with fear and a strange, morbid fascination. Blood spattered the floor as Logan landed a hit, slashing across Damien's arm. But Damien didn't flinch. His eyes glowed brighter, a predatory gleam, as he tackled Logan, pinning him to the ground with overwhelming force.
Logan struggled beneath him, his claws digging into Damien's back, but the Alpha didn't relent.
With a swift, brutal motion, Damien drove his claws into Logan's chest, tearing through muscle and bone. Logan gasped, his eyes wide with shock, staring up at Damien. His body went limp beneath Damien's grip, and then, with one final, ragged gasp, he was gone.
Damien stood, chest heaving, his eyes scanning the room, daring anyone to challenge his rule, to even breathe too loudly. No one moved. My stomach churned at the brutal sight, a wave of nausea washing over me.
I had never witnessed anything so raw, so vicious. I realized then that the man I was bound to wasn't just an Alpha in name—he was a predator who would kill without hesitation to protect his pack, to protect his place.
Damien's gaze finally landed on me, softening slightly, the predatory gleam in his eyes receding. He stepped over Logan's lifeless body as if it were nothing, and returned to his place at the head table. When he reached his seat, he wiped the blood from his hands with a cloth handed to him by a nearby attendant, his movements calm, almost routine.
"It's done," he said quietly, his voice resonating with finality.
I swallowed hard, my throat tight. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him, from the casual way he had ended a life. The pack was no longer celebrating. The grand feast had been tainted by blood, a stark reminder of the true nature of this world.
As Damien settled back into his chair, he gave me a nod and a smirk.
The message was clear, chillingly so.
This was my world now, and there was no turning back.