Chapter 3: The Moon’s Trace

My heart still carried the trace of a kiss I never asked for—stolen by a man who vanished without a word.

Xander.

Even his name tasted bitter on my tongue. The man who marked my body without permission and left me drowning in unanswered questions, as if I was nothing more than a fleeting nightmare. How dare he.

I straightened my back, brushing off the remnants of last night from my body and mind. I’m the daughter of Alpha Moonveil—not some girl to be used and discarded.

“I need to get home,” I whispered to myself. A command meant to rally my limbs and spirit, though it felt more like a desperate attempt to pull myself together. Just enough strength to walk back to my house in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn.

The pain from shifting still pulsed through every inch of my body. My skin burned as if scoured raw, stained with dirt and dried blood. I was a mess. And what annoyed me most wasn’t just the pain—it was the kiss. And the bite.

When I pushed open the front gate, I saw Leon pacing in front of my house. How long had he been there?

“Will! Where have you been? I was worried sick.”

I froze, unsure what to say. Leon’s face, usually playful and bright, was tight with concern. He wouldn’t drop this unless I gave him something—anything.

“Hey… you still haven’t answered me.”

“I—” My voice cracked as I tried to hold it together. “I ran into some drunk guys… I had to hide until they left.”

He stepped closer, eyes scanning my face. “Did they hurt you?”

His hand landed gently on my shoulder—comforting, familiar.

I shook my head, trying to convince him I was okay, though I wasn’t sure if I believed it. Leon had always been more perceptive than he let on.

“I’ll stay with you,” he said firmly. “We’re best friends. I’m not going anywhere.”

Leon had a heart too big for his own good. I wanted to be alone, to process everything—but like always, he pushed past my defenses with stubborn kindness.

“Let me cook you breakfast, then I’ll leave. I promise. I just need to know you’re alright,” he added with a cheeky wink.

I sighed. I didn’t have the heart to turn him down.

“Fine. Do whatever you want.”

After I changed into clean clothes, I found him in the kitchen—wearing my Hello Kitty apron, flipping bacon like this was just any normal morning.

Leon brought over two plates loaded with eggs and bacon. “Orange juice or coffee?”

“Coffee. Black,” I muttered.

He made an ‘okay’ gesture with his fingers. “Still not gonna tell me what really happened last night?”

Persistent as ever.

I trusted Leon, but I knew he was probably broke—again. This double portion breakfast was more for him than for me.

“Sorry I made you worry,” I said, side-eyeing the fresh piercing on his lip. “Didn’t know Christmas Eve was a good time to visit a piercing parlor.”

He grinned wide, twirling the stud with his tongue. “You’re the only one who gets me, you know that?”

“Willow, I swear—I’ll protect you for the rest of my life. Who else would?”

I gave him a look. “Protect yourself first, then talk about saving others.”

He laughed, sheepishly. “Fair enough. But seriously, you’re not alone, okay? Whatever you need—I’m here.”

Something about the way he said it made something stir in my chest. I’d always had trouble trusting people. But Leon—he made it easy to believe in someone.

“Leon… I’m going back to Moonveil. My parents called.”

He nodded quickly, but the brightness in his smile dimmed just a little.

****

Hours later, after Leon left for some errands, my body felt slightly less wrecked—but my mind was a mess. The memory of last night kept replaying on a loop: the shift, Xander’s inhuman strength, and that horrific vision.

That afternoon, I packed my things and headed home—to Moonveil. I needed answers. I had to speak to my parents—about everything. About Xander. About the visions. About whatever the hell is happening to me.

I slipped into a simple but elegant dress, one that matched the dignity of my bloodline. My heels shimmered under the late sunlight. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I saw a composed young woman staring back. But behind her eyes, anxiety churned.

Moonveil wasn’t far—just a few hours outside the city. But it always felt like a world away.

The scent of pine and rain greeted me as I stepped out of the car. Hidden behind dense woods, our family estate stood timeless—covered in crawling ivy and crowned by endless sky. The wind stirred the leaves, whispering secrets only old souls could understand.

As I approached the estate, the gates opened like they were expecting me. An elderly maid greeted me with a deep bow.

“Welcome home, Miss Willow. You’ve returned sooner than we expected.”

“Thank you, Myra. I need to speak with my parents. It’s urgent.”

“Of course, Miss. Right this way.”

She led me through the familiar halls to the sitting room. My father sat upright, radiating quiet authority with his silver hair and unreadable gaze. My mother, graceful and composed as ever, greeted me with a warm but worried smile.

“Willow,” my father said. “What brings you home so suddenly?”

I set down my bag and took a seat across from them, steadying my breath.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

My voice was quiet—trembling at the edges.

“Last night… something happened. During the full moon, I shifted. But it wasn’t normal. I saw something. A vision. A woman who looked like me—her body thin, covered in rashes. And I heard voices. They kept saying something about a curse.”

My father’s eyes narrowed. “A curse? What are you talking about?”

“I don’t know. But the strangest part was… Xander. He saw me shift.”

My mother’s brow furrowed. “Xander? Who is that, sweetheart?”

“A political science major. He knows I’m a werewolf. He’s one too—he’s from the Lupindale pack. But there’s something off about him.”

“Off how?” my father leaned forward.

“When he touched me… he saw something too. Like a nightmare from his past. He called it a vision.”

Both of them exchanged a look. A quiet tension filled the room.

Something’s wrong. Something big. And I was beginning to suspect my family had known it long before I did.