I needed to get a few things from the town square. Tomorrow was my motherโs birthday, and I wanted to buy her something nice with the pennies I had saved.
As I set out to leave, Anita appeared from the corner and blocked my path. A fierce glare burned in her eyes as she stared me down.
โYou either leave this pack in one piece, or I will send you out in different pieces,โ she spat.
I raised an eyebrow. โAre you threatening me?โ I asked, my voice calm despite the anger already boiling inside me.
Anita scoffed and took a step closer until we were face to face. Her makeup-caked face hovered inches from mine.
โIf I were you, Iโd take it as a friendly warning. For old timesโ sake, Iโm giving you an option. Leave this pack in one pieceโor what befell your father will happen to you, and youโll join him in the afterlife.โ
Rage flared inside me, and my wolf growled, urging me to attack her, but I held myself back. โFor old timesโ sake, Anita, Iโll let this pass,โ I said, watching her narrow her eyes. โBut the next time you stand before me and spew such rubbish,โ I stepped closer, our noses nearly touching, โI will make sure the guards tie you up and flog you in the middle of the pack house courtyard.โ Anitaโs lips parted in shock, clearly not expecting me to bite back. But I was done playing nice. Done acting weak. I had kept my distance. I had stayed out of her way. But now, she had crossed the line.
โYou think you can do that to me?โ she scoffed.
I smiled, a bitter smile. โYes, Anita, I have the power to do that and more. Remember, I am the Luna. And youโฆโ I narrowed my eyes, scanning her from head to toe, โโฆyou are just a concubine. Donโt forget that,โ I mocked, then turned and walked away, not giving her the chance to respond.
I was able to leave the pack house after letting one of the warriors escort me. According to them, it was mandatory that I donโt walk alone, and I had no choice but to allow the guard to follow me.
When I got to town, I walked straight to the small jewelry shop at the corner of the square. Inside, the shopkeeper greeted me warmly. I forced a smile and scanned the glass display.
There, sitting in a velvet box, was a simple yet beautiful silver bracelet. Engraved with tiny moon symbols, delicate but strong. Just like her.
โMy mother,โ I murmured to myself, then said aloud, โIโll take this one,โ pulling out the few notes I had saved.
As the shopkeeper wrapped the bracelet carefully in soft paper, I felt a presence beside me. I turned slightly and found a woman, probably in her late sixties, standing just a few steps away. Her silver-streaked hair was tied into a low bun, and her pale green eyes seemed to glow faintly under the sunlight.
โYouโre Luna Olivia,โ she said, her voice low and hoarse, like wind rustling dry leaves.
I hesitated, instantly on alert. โYesโฆdo I know you?โ
Her eyes locked onto mine, unsettling in their intensity. โNo. But I know what lies ahead.โ
I furrowed my brows, gripping the paper bag in my hands tighter.
โIโm a seer,โ she continued, stepping closer. โI see what others cannot. And childโฆโโher voice dropped to a whisperโโI see youโฆlying in a pool of your own blood.โ
My breath caught.
โWhat?โ I asked, the words barely leaving my lips.
โThere is danger around you,โ she said, eyes never leaving mine. โYou must be careful, Olivia. You must watch those who smile the brightestโฆtheir knives are sharpest.โ
My wolf stirred inside me, sensing the truth in her words.
โIs it someone close to me?โ I asked, heart pounding.
The seer closed her eyes for a moment, as if searching the threads of fate. When she opened them again, her voice was barely above a breath.
โI have no idea, but you still have time,โ she said, placing a wrinkled hand on mine. โBe alert, childโฆor you wonโt live long enough to find the truth you seek.โ
With that, she turned and began to walk away.
โWait!โ I called out, stepping forward, but she didnโt stop. By the time I reached the street, she had disappeared into the crowd.
For a moment, I remained where I stood, contemplatingโฆthen decided to return to the mansion to critically think about it. I became worried.
The walk back to the mansion was slow. The seerโs words echoed endlessly in my mindโโI see youโฆlying in a pool of your own blood.โ
I entered the mansion through the side entrance, deciding to take the longer path past the gardens to clear my head. As I neared the pool area, a scream pierced the air. High-pitched. Terrified. A child.
My eyes snapped toward the soundโand I froze. A little girl was thrashing in the deep end of the pool, her arms flailing, her mouth opening and closing in silent gasps as she sank under the surface.
Without thinking, I dropped the bracelet I had gotten for my mother and dove straight in. The water was cold, but adrenaline surged through me, pushing me forward. I reached her just as she slipped beneath the surface, wrapping an arm around her and kicking toward the edge with all the strength I had.
When I pulled us both out of the pool, I laid her on the warm stone deck. She was coughing violently, water pouring from her mouth as her lungs finally began to take in air.
I knelt beside her, brushing soaked hair from her forehead. โItโs okay,โ I whispered, voice shaking. โYouโre safe now.โ
Footsteps thundered behind me.
โOlivia!โ
I turned my head to see Levi rushing toward me, eyes wide with concern. He slowed when he saw me soaked, kneeling beside the girl.
He didnโt speak at first. Just pulled off his shirt and held it out to me.
โYouโre drenched,โ he said, his voice lower now, more careful. โHereโโ
I looked at him, at the shirt, and then slowly stood. Water dripped from my clothes, pooling at my feet.
โIโm fine,โ I said coldly.
He stepped forward slightly, hesitating.
โOliviaโโ
I didnโt let him finish.
โI said Iโm fine,โ I repeated, sharper this time. โShe needs warmth, not me.โ
I bent down, carefully picking up the shivering child into my arms. And then, without sparing Levi another glance, I walked past him.
I returned to the training ground and located the girlโs mother, who was a warrior training in the field and didnโt know her daughter had wandered off.
โThank you so much, Luna,โ she said, sounding deeply grateful as she took the little girl from me.
I nodded and turned to go back into the pack house, but my eyes met Leviโs. Instantly, he looked away and walked on.