THE SHADOW LUNA

 CHAPTER ONE: THE HOMECOMING

The forest path felt different under Lyra's feet.

She'd walked this trail a thousand times before leaving for her mission five years ago. Back then, every tree, every rock, every turn had been as familiar as breathing. Now, something felt wrong. The air tasted strange. The birds sang different songs. Everything felt off. 

Or maybe she was the one who had changed.

So she thought. 

Lyra shifted the weight of her travel pack and kept walking. Her auburn hair, longer now than it had ever been, stuck to the back of her neck with sweat. The summer heat pressed down on her shoulders like a heavy blanket. Her clothes were dusty from weeks of travel. Her boots had holes in them. But none of that mattered to her now. 

All that mattered was that she was finally home.

Five years. Five long, exhausting years of negotiating peace between packs that hated each other. Five years of sleeping in strange beds, eating unfamiliar food, and missing the people she loved. Five years of doing her duty.

But it was worth it. Every sleepless night, every tense negotiation, every moment of danger, it was all worth it. The treaty was signed. Five hostile packs had agreed to peace. And it was all because of her work.

Marcus would be so proud.

Lyra smiled at the thought of her mate. Well, almost-mate. They hadn't completed the bond before she left, she'd been too young, barely twenty-two, and the mission too urgent to keep waiting. 

But Marcus had promised to wait. She could still remember their last night together, sitting under the stars behind the pack house. The memory was so clear it could have been yesterday.

"You're going to do amazing things, Lyra," he'd said, holding her hand. His blue eyes had been warm in the moonlight. "Your dedication to duty is what makes you perfect. You're exactly what this pack needs in a Luna."

"Will you wait for me?" she'd asked, suddenly afraid. The mission could take years. What if he found someone else? What if he forgot about her?

"Always," he'd promised. His voice had been so certain. So sure. "No matter how long it takes. You're my mate, Lyra. Nothing will change that."

The memory made her heart feel warm. Soon she would see him again. Soon they would complete their bond. Soon she would finally become Luna of Silverpine Pack, and all the sacrifice would make sense. All the lonely nights and difficult negotiations would be worth it.

Lyra picked up her pace. She was so close now. Just a few more miles and she'd be at the pack borders. A few more miles and she'd be in Marcus's arms.

Her mate hands. 

She imagined his surprise when he saw her. His smile. The way he'd pull her close and tell her how much he'd missed her. Maybe they'd complete the bond tonight. Maybe they wouldn't even wait. The thought made her blush hard. 

The forest began to thin. Lyra recognized specific trees now. That oak with the twisted trunk where she used to climb as a child. That stream where she'd caught her first fish. The boulder shaped like a sleeping bear.

She was home. Really, truly home.

Finally. 

Lyra emerged from the forest and stopped.

The border guards stood at their posts, chatting quietly. When they saw her, their eyes went wide. One of them was James, she remembered his name. 

"Luna I mean, Lyra?" the younger guard stammered. His face had gone pale.

"Hello, James," Lyra said, confused by his reaction. "I'm back."

The guards looked at each other. Something passed between them, something that made Lyra's stomach twist with unease. It was the kind of look people shared when they knew a secret. A bad secret.

"We weren't expecting you," the older guard said carefully. His name was Robert, Lyra remembered. He'd been a border guard for twenty years.

"I sent word ahead," Lyra said. Her smile faltered. "Three weeks ago. Didn't Marcus get my message?"

Another look between the guards. Robert's jaw tightened. James looked down at his feet.

"Right," James said quickly. Too quickly. "Of course. Welcome home."

But he didn't sound welcoming. He sounded nervous. Scared, even.

Lyra walked past them, her confusion growing with every step. Why weren't they happy to see her? Why did they look so uncomfortable? She'd been gone for five years working for the pack. Shouldn't they be celebrating her return?

She headed toward the pack house, the large stone building that had been her childhood home. As she got closer, she heard music. Laughter. The sounds of a celebration.

Her heart lifted. They were throwing her a welcome home party! That's why the guards had been acting strange, they were trying not to spoil the surprise. That's why they looked nervous. They didn't want to ruin the moment.

Lyra started walking faster, a smile spreading across her face. She couldn't wait to see everyone. Her mother Helena. Her little sister Sera, who wouldn't be so little anymore. Her mentor Elder Theron. Her best friend Isla.

And Marcus. Most of all, Marcus.

She reached the pack house and saw decorations everywhere. Streamers hung from the trees, bright colors dancing in the breeze. Tables covered in food lined the yard, roasted meats, fresh bread, desserts that made her mouth water. Pack members in their best clothes filled the space, drinks in hand, smiles on their faces.

Lyra's smile grew wider. This was more than she'd expected. They'd really gone all out for her homecoming. Her heart felt so full that she thought it might burst.

Then she saw the banner.

It hung across the front of the pack house, impossible to miss. Large letters spelled out words that made Lyra's heart stop beating.

"Happy 5th Anniversary, Marcus & Isla"

Lyra stood frozen. The sounds of the party faded into a dull roar in her ears. She read the banner again, sure she'd made a mistake. Sure her tired eyes were playing tricks on her.

But the words didn't change.

Fifth a

nniversary. Marcus and Isla.

Five years. The exact amount of time Lyra had been gone.