Chapter 52
Posted on June 02, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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I needed to get a few things from the town square. Tomorrow was my motherโ€™s 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.

โ€œYou either leave this pack in one piece, or I will send you out in different pieces,โ€ she spat.

I raised an eyebrow. โ€œAre 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.

โ€œIf I were you, Iโ€™d take it as a friendly warning. For old timesโ€™ sake, Iโ€™m giving you an option. Leave this pack in one pieceโ€”or what befell your father will happen to you, and youโ€™ll join him in the afterlife.โ€

Rage flared inside me, and my wolf growled, urging me to attack her, but I held myself back. โ€œFor old timesโ€™ sake, Anita, Iโ€™ll let this pass,โ€ I said, watching her narrow her eyes. โ€œBut the next time you stand before me and spew such rubbish,โ€ I stepped closer, our noses nearly touching, โ€œI will make sure the guards tie you up and flog you in the middle of the pack house courtyard.โ€ Anitaโ€™s 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.

โ€œYou think you can do that to me?โ€ she scoffed.

I smiled, a bitter smile. โ€œYes, Anita, I have the power to do that and more. Remember, I am the Luna. And youโ€ฆโ€ I narrowed my eyes, scanning her from head to toe, โ€œโ€ฆyou are just a concubine. Donโ€™t 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 donโ€™t 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.

โ€œMy mother,โ€ I murmured to myself, then said aloud, โ€œIโ€™ll 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.

โ€œYouโ€™re Luna Olivia,โ€ she said, her voice low and hoarse, like wind rustling dry leaves.

I hesitated, instantly on alert. โ€œYesโ€ฆdo I know you?โ€

Her eyes locked onto mine, unsettling in their intensity. โ€œNo. But I know what lies ahead.โ€

I furrowed my brows, gripping the paper bag in my hands tighter.

โ€œIโ€™m a seer,โ€ she continued, stepping closer. โ€œI see what others cannot. And childโ€ฆโ€โ€”her voice dropped to a whisperโ€”โ€œI see youโ€ฆlying in a pool of your own blood.โ€

My breath caught.

โ€œWhat?โ€ I asked, the words barely leaving my lips.

โ€œThere is danger around you,โ€ she said, eyes never leaving mine. โ€œYou must be careful, Olivia. You must watch those who smile the brightestโ€ฆtheir knives are sharpest.โ€

My wolf stirred inside me, sensing the truth in her words.

โ€œIs 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.

โ€œI have no idea, but you still have time,โ€ she said, placing a wrinkled hand on mine. โ€œBe alert, childโ€ฆor you wonโ€™t live long enough to find the truth you seek.โ€

With that, she turned and began to walk away.

โ€œWait!โ€ I called out, stepping forward, but she didnโ€™t stop. By the time I reached the street, she had disappeared into the crowd.

For a moment, I remained where I stood, contemplatingโ€ฆthen decided to return to the mansion to critically think about it. I became worried.

The walk back to the mansion was slow. The seerโ€™s words echoed endlessly in my mindโ€”โ€œI see youโ€ฆlying 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 soundโ€”and 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. โ€œItโ€™s okay,โ€ I whispered, voice shaking. โ€œYouโ€™re safe now.โ€

Footsteps thundered behind me.

โ€œOlivia!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 didnโ€™t speak at first. Just pulled off his shirt and held it out to me.

โ€œYouโ€™re drenched,โ€ he said, his voice lower now, more careful. โ€œHereโ€”โ€

I looked at him, at the shirt, and then slowly stood. Water dripped from my clothes, pooling at my feet.

โ€œIโ€™m fine,โ€ I said coldly.

He stepped forward slightly, hesitating.

โ€œOliviaโ€”โ€

I didnโ€™t let him finish.

โ€œI said Iโ€™m fine,โ€ I repeated, sharper this time. โ€œShe 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 girlโ€™s mother, who was a warrior training in the field and didnโ€™t know her daughter had wandered off.

โ€œThank 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 Leviโ€™s. Instantly, he looked away and walked on.


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