Luna's POV
I don't understand what they mean by mate. Or is it another vocabulary word I don't yet know the meaning of? Because the word doesn't make sense, not in the way they say it. It isn't casual; it holds something heavier, something that makes my stomach unsettled. I ask them what they mean, but they refuse to answer. Instead, they turn their backs on me and leave, leaving me standing there, drowning in my confusion. I try to process everything, but nothing adds up. Why are they calling me mate? What do they see that I don't? My hands tremble as I stare down at my fingers. That's when I notice it. My nails! My nails are different! They're longer than before. A chill runs down my spine as I try to process what exactly is happening. My breath hitches. I spread my fingers apart, flipping my hands over, trying to make sense of it. This isn't normal. This isn't normal. Then suddenly, I hear footsteps—sharp at first, but then they become slow. My body stiffens as I stand to my feet, my eyes scanning the forest, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever it is, but all I see is darkness. I spin around and start running, my heart racing, scanning my surroundings with every step I take. The feeling of someone chasing me sends a wave of shivers through my body. By the time I reach the hostel, my chest is heaving. Cassie stands at the entrance, arms crossed, her brows pulled together in concern. The moment she sees me, she steps forward. "Luna! What the hell happened back there? Why did you run?" she yells. I don't answer her question. I only gasp for air, my throat feels dry and my mind is too clouded with everything else, with the pieces of a puzzle that refuse to fit together. Instead, I ask the only thing I can. "What does mate mean?" Those are the only words I can form out of my lips. Cassie's eyes widen slightly before she lets out a small sigh. "Don't tell me you don't know?" She raises an eyebrow, and I manage to nod. "It's complicated," she says, rubbing her arm. "But I'll explain." She swallows hard. She takes her time, choosing her words carefully as she tells me about mating. How it isn't just about love—it's instinct, connection, something deeper than human bonds. She speaks about rejection, how one mate can refuse the other if they don't want them. I stare at her, the words not sinking in. None of it feels real. "I don't believe in that," I mutter, shaking my head. "This isn't—" I don't bother to finish my statement. I turn on my heels and stride off to my room. My hands work on their own, pulling out my bag, and shoving my clothes inside without care. I don't even think about where I'm going—I just know I have to leave. I don't belong among them. I swing my door open and step outside. I glance around before embracing the air. I turn to a corner when a figure blocks my path. I stare hard before realizing it's the coach. He stands directly in my path, his expression unreadable. "Where do you think you're going?" His voice is calm, but there's a weight to it. I tighten my grip on my bag. "I need to leave," I say, my voice strained. He studies me for a moment before exhaling. "You don't want to do that." He raises an eyebrow. "I don't belong here." I shoot back, not looking at his face. "Maybe. But if you step beyond those gates, you won't make it far." His eyes don't change. My breath catches in my throat. "Rogues," he continues. "They're watching. Patiently waiting for anyone to pass by so they can have a fun time. I bet you won't make it till morning." He smirks, his gaze raking from my head to my toe. Rogues? A cold feeling creeps up my spine. I want to argue. I want to tell him I don't care. But the way he looks at me, so certain, makes my stomach churn in a hard way. Without another word, he turns and walks away, leaving me frozen in place. And then, before I can even process his warning, I hear footsteps again. Dominic. Alex. Liam. The three stars, or should I call them my mates? They stride toward me as if they've been waiting for me to be here. Dominic reaches me first, his jaw tight. Alex stands beside him, his expression unreadable. "Why are you acting like you're so different?" Dominic asks, his voice edged with frustration. "I don't have time for this," Alex mutters. With that, the two walk away while I stare after them. Liam stays behind, his gaze raking me from head to toe. My body tenses under his intense look. I let out a slow breath, thinking Liam would just follow them and leave me to my thoughts. But he doesn't. Instead, he steps closer. Something in his gaze makes me tense, my body stiffening as he reaches out, his fingers brushing my jaw. "You look pretty." He brushes a strand of my hair and leans in closer, his hot breath filling my face. The bag I'm holding slips from my grip, falling to the ground. His hand wraps around my neck. I want to scream, to tell him to let go, but something in me, something I can't quite figure out—keeps wanting him. "It's not a bad idea to kiss my mate." His voice is lower than before, almost amused. Before I can react, his lips brush against mine—soft at first, but then his tongue goes deeper, and I feel my whole body shift. "Liam..." I mumble into his mouth, my hands gripping the edges of his clothes. He lets go of my lips and stares at me with nothing but craving. "Stay still." That is all he says before our lips crash again.Alex's POVI can't sit still. Something is wrong—I can feel it deep in my gut. The anxiety has been building all day, ever since I lost track of Luna yesterday. I've been pacing around my apartment for hours, trying to convince myself that she's probably just busy or avoiding me after our last confrontation.But my instincts are screaming that Luna is in danger, and I've learned to trust those instincts over the years.I'm still pacing when I hear a knock at my door. I look through the peephole and see Liam standing there with Cassie beside him. Both of them look worried and stressed.This is not good. If they're here together looking for Luna, it means something has definitely happened.I open the door, trying to appear calmer than I feel. "Liam, Cassie. This is a surprise. What brings you both here?"Liam doesn't waste time with pleasantries. "We're looking for Luna," he says immediately. "Have you seen her? Do you know where she is?"My heart drops into my stomach. "What do you mea
Luna's POVI keep struggling against the metal restraints that hold me down, but they don't budge at all. The cold metal cuts into my wrists as I twist and pull, trying desperately to break free. My movements become more frantic with each passing minute, and soon tears start flowing down my cheeks uncontrollably.The fear is overwhelming me completely. I don't understand what's happening to me or why someone would kidnap me like this. The strange room with all its scary relics and totems makes everything feel like a nightmare I can't wake up from."Help me!" I scream again, but my voice just echoes off the walls and comes back to me. No one is coming. No one can hear me.I think about what the masked man said before he left—that they would free me after taking what's "precious and rare" inside me. What does that even mean? What could be precious and rare inside me? The words keep repeating in my mind, making me more and more terrified.I look around the room again, trying to find anyt
Luna's POVMy head feels like someone is hammering nails into my skull. The pain is sharp and constant, making it hard to think clearly. I try to remember what happened, but everything feels foggy and distant.I attempt to call out for help, but my voice comes out as barely a whisper. My throat feels raw and dry, like I haven't had water in hours. Maybe days. I have no idea how long I've been unconscious."Help," I try to say, but the word is so quiet that even I can barely hear it.I try to move, thinking maybe I can sit up and get a better sense of where I am. But when I attempt to lift my arms, I realize with growing panic that I can't move them at all.My wrists are tied to something hard and cold. I try to move my legs and discover that my ankles are also bound. I'm completely restrained, lying flat on my back on what feels like a narrow metal table or board.The panic hits me like a wave. Where am I? How did I get here? Why can't I remember anything?I force myself to take deep
Liam's POVMy heart starts beating faster. Where could Luna be? After the game yesterday, she was supposed to come straight home. She was tired and upset about what happened to Cassie. She wouldn't just disappear without telling anyone."Are you sure she doesn't have any other friends? Not even one?" I ask."I'm sure. The only people she might meet with are you guys, and Luna has never slept outside before. This is the first time.""Are you sure?" I ask, and she nods.I pull out my phone and dial Luna's number again. It goes straight to voicemail, just like every other time I've tried calling her this morning. The automated voice tells me that the phone is switched off."Her phone is switched off," I tell Cassie. "This isn't like Luna. She would never turn off her phone for this long without telling someone."Cassie sits down heavily on Luna's bed. "Liam, I'm starting to get really scared. What if something happened to her?"I try to stay calm, but inside I'm panicking too. "Let's not
Liam's POVI wake up early in the morning with Luna on my mind. I can't stop thinking about our conversation yesterday, about the way she looked at me with such concern and warmth. Despite everything that's happening with my father and the chaos in my life, being with Luna makes everything feel more manageable.I miss her touch, the way she makes me feel like I'm not alone in all of this. The memory of her soft kiss on my cheek at the game makes my heart race even now.I decide to call Alex first to see if he knows anything about Luna's plans for the day. Maybe we can all meet up and spend some time together. I dial his number and wait, but strangely, he doesn't pick up. That's unusual for Alex, especially this early in the morning when he's usually awake and responsive.I try calling him two more times, but there's still no answer. Something feels off about this, but I don't want to overthink it.Instead, I decide to go directly to Luna's dormitory. I can use visiting Cassie as an ex
Luna's POVAfter following the person for several minutes, the shadow suddenly turns around and sees me. My heart stops for a moment as our eyes meet across the darkness. Then, without warning, the figure takes off running at full speed.I don't even think before my body reacts. Something impulsive takes over me, and I start racing after them. I need answers, and this might be my only chance to get them.The person is fast, but I'm determined not to lose them. My wolf senses are kicking in, helping me keep track of their movements even in the dim light.As we move further from campus, I notice something incredible happening. The person ahead of me begins to change. Their human form shifts and transforms until they're running on four legs instead of two. They've shifted into their wolf form.Without hesitation, I let my own wolf take over. The transformation happens quickly, my bones reshaping and my senses sharpening dramatically. Now I can smell their scent more clearly and track the