CHAPTER 1: A LUNA’S SHAME

Edeline

I stepped out of the bathroom, steam rolling out behind me like smoke. The air hit me—hot, sticky, thick. Not just from the shower, though. It was something else. Something buzzing under my skin that I couldn’t shake.

My eyes drifted around the room, and it finally clicked.

Percival’s room.

Same bold colors—red, black, white. Clean. Sharp lines. Familiar. Way too familiar.

So this is where he brought me. Back to where he grew up. Where his parents still live. Where Darius is. 

Great. Just perfect.

And now my second heat’s here. Again.

I felt it building before, sure, but now? There’s no hiding it.  There’s no escaping it now—not when my body is radiating pheromones, an irresistible call to every unmated male in the vicinity. 

I’m supposed to be a Luna. An elite warrior. I’ve fought battles most wouldn’t even survive. But right now? That doesn’t matter. Not to them. All they’ll see is a female in heat—good for breeding, good for making strong pups. That’s all they care about. That’s all it ever comes down to. Instinct. Territory. Mating.

And Percival… he’ll feel it too. He won’t be able to stay away. Not when the pull gets this strong.

God, I shouldn’t have gone to training. I knew better. I felt the heat coming. But I still showed up, like a fool, letting jealousy mess with my head.

I knew Jazz wasn’t a real threat. I knew he wouldn’t want her. Not like that. Percival’s always been mine. Even when I pushed him away, even when things were messy—he was still mine. 

But I acted like some clingy pup, just because Tatiana was hanging around and Jazz smiled too long. Stupid. So stupid.

And now? We lost warriors. Good ones. Ones who didn’t deserve to get caught up in my mess. They couldn’t focus, couldn’t think straight because I was there—because I let my hormones lead the way. I walked in, knowing so well what I was feeling, and still stayed like it wouldn’t matter.

But it did. 

I was so selfish. I didn’t mean to be, but that doesn’t change the outcome. It doesn’t bring them back. It doesn’t erase the blood.

Their families... the packs... they’re gonna look at me and wonder what the hell I was thinking. And honestly? I’m wondering the same thing.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. I should’ve been smarter. I’m a Luna. I should’ve known better. Led better. But instead, I walked right into that training field like it was just another day.

And now their blood is on my hands. Maybe not literally, but it feels like it. Every time I close my eyes, I see their faces. Hear the growls. The chaos. The way everything spiraled out of control just because I couldn't stay away.

All because I needed to prove something. To who? To Percival? To myself?

I don’t even know anymore.

This is all on me.

I brought this chaos right to our doorstep.

The living room was quiet—too quiet. I sat curled up on the couch, damp from the shower, my skin still flushed. But it wasn’t the water that had my heart racing.

The door creaked open.

“Edeline?” Percival’s voice was low, gentle. Concern laced every syllable. “Are you okay?”

I looked up, and that’s when I saw him. The drying blood on his shirt, streaked across his forearm. A gash on his cheek, already beginning to scab. My stomach twisted.

He stepped inside, shutting the door behind him with a soft click. His eyes scanned me like he needed to make sure I was still breathing.

"I’m fine," I whispered, but the words didn’t come out right. They were shaky, hollow.

He didn’t answer at first. Just walked over to the armchair across from me and sank into it with a quiet groan. The blood on his knuckles caught my eye, and the guilt hit me like a wave.

This was my fault.

“I—I didn’t mean for any of it to happen,” I said quickly, eyes glued to his hand as he grabbed the towel draped over the back of the couch and started wiping the blood away. “I didn’t think the heat would come so fast. I should’ve stayed away. If I hadn’t lost control—”

“Stop,” he said, not sharply, but firmly.

He wasn’t even looking at me as he scrubbed at his skin. The red smeared into pink, then faded, and still, my chest wouldn’t unclench.

“If they hadn’t tried to claim you, they’d still be breathing,” he muttered, more to himself than me. Then he looked up, eyes locking on mine. “But that’s not on you, Edeline. You didn’t ask for this. You didn’t cause it.”

“But if I hadn’t let jealousy get to me—if I hadn’t followed after you—”

“I’d still be bleeding for you,” he cut in, setting the towel aside. “Jealousy or not, you’re mine. And anyone who thinks they can challenge that is asking for a fight.”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, gaze never leaving mine. “You think I care about a few cuts? You’re safe. That’s all that matters.”

My breath caught.

He looked so calm, so sure, even while blood still clung to the edges of his skin. His shirt was torn near the shoulder, and yet all he cared about was me.

And I couldn’t hold back anymore.

“I just... I feel like I make everything worse.”

“You don’t,” he said, moving closer now, kneeling in front of me. “You’re not a burden. You’re not a mistake. You’re mine.”

“We can’t change what happened,” he said softly, voice low and firm. “That’s how male wolves are wired. But I’ll be damned if I let anyone else lay a hand on my Luna. And you… you don’t have to be jealous, sweetheart. I’m gonna love you so hard, so fully, that there won’t be a single doubt left in that pretty little head of yours. You’ll look me in the eye and know—there’s no one else. It’s just you. Always.”

And then his lips were on mine—hot, needy, full of everything he didn’t say out loud. I didn’t resist. Couldn’t. Not when he kissed me like that, like I was the only thing that mattered.