~Edward The moon hung low in the sky, casting silver shadows across the garden paths. I walked slowly, my hands tucked behind my back, breathing in the scent of night-blooming jasmine. The garden was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. This was where I came when I needed to think, when the burden of the crown pressed a little too tightly against my temples. I sighed, pausing beside a marble bench, letting my gaze drift to the stars above. “Leona,” I called, spotting one of the senior maids walking toward the east wing.She turned immediately, bowing low. “Yes, Your Majesty?”“Send someone to fetch Ava. Tell her I want to see her in the garden.”“At once, sire.”She disappeared, and I resumed my walk, trailing fingers along the rose hedges. It was almost two hours before I heard soft footsteps behind me.“Alpha,” came a quiet voice.I turned slowly.There she was. Ava.She bowed her head slightly, her hands clasped awkwardly in front of her. She looked ner
~AvaI didn’t know when I drifted off. Maybe it was right after the bath, or maybe after I finished crying on the softest damn pillow I’d ever laid my head on. Either way, I was asleep, deep asleep… but not peaceful. My body rested, but my heart didn’t. I was missing my brother, Aiden, or maybe this new life was still overwhelming to me.Tears slipped down the side of my face even in sleep. I knew I was dreaming, but it felt so real.He was there.Aiden.He stood under a soft, silver glow, and everything around him sparkled like stars had melted and poured into the grass. He looked older, calmer. The same dark curls, same dimpled grin, only... brighter. There was this strange warmth around him, like the Moon Goddess herself was holding him.“Aiden,” I breathed.He laughed, throwing his arms open. “It took you long enough to visit.”My heart ached. I ran into his arms and felt the exact way I used to feel when we were younger—safe. Complete. Like I wasn’t alone anymore. But as I looked
~EdwardMy head was spinning.I closed the door behind Ava and just stood there for a second, my back against the wood, staring into the air like an idiot. Then I started pacing.Back and forth.Back and forth.This whole mess had felt manageable in the beginning. A simple white lie to keep my mother off my back. “She’s the daughter of Alpha Garry from Moonstone Ridge.” That sentence had slipped out so casually that I hadn’t even considered the consequences. And now?Now my mother wanted to visit them.Visit a pack Ava didn’t belong to. Visit people who weren’t her parents. Visit a story that didn’t exist.“Shit,” I muttered, dragging a hand through my hair.I couldn’t think straight. My mother wasn’t just nosy—she was thorough. If something felt off, she’d find it. She’d smell it like blood in the water.I turned sharply when Ava’s voice cut through my panic.“Edward,” she said, stepping closer. “I don’t have much time, your mom is expecting me downstairs any minute now.”I nodded qu
~AvaThe leather of the car seat was warm beneath me, and even though the sun wasn't glaring too harshly outside, I felt like I was slowly melting into the backseat. Luna Antoinette sat beside me, regal and poised, like a goddess sculpted from polished stone. Her presence filled the entire car, and I, in contrast, felt like a wilted petal in a glass case. We had already visited three different packs, three different homes of her very bubbly, overly enthusiastic friends who all smelled like roses and riches.How many more friends did she even have?I let out a silent sigh, pressing my face slightly against the cool window. Trees blurred past like emerald smudges. My fingers curled in my lap, the lace on the dress I wore scratching at my skin like punishment. My wolf grumbled in the back of my mind. Even she was uncomfortable."We're headed to Moonstone Ridge now," Luna Antoinette said suddenly, her voice cutting through my daze like a blade.My heart skipped. My back stiffened."Yes,
~AvaWe followed the maid into the house. The smell of lemon oil polish and burning sandalwood greeted us as we stepped inside. Each step I took echoed through the marbled hallway like a heartbeat. The walls were lined with family portraits — paintings of alphas, lunas, warriors… and something tugged at my chest. I couldn’t stop staring. My fingers itched to reach out and touch the frames.Why did this place feel like home?“Ava?” Luna Antoinette’s voice snapped me out of my daze.“Yes?”“What are you doing?”“Oh… just soaking in the memories, one week away from home feels like forever,” I lied with a smile.We turned a corner and stepped into the sitting room. There they were — Alpha Garry and Luna Celene. My supposed parents.The Alpha had a calm strength in his eyes, dressed in a crisp navy robe that made him look more like a king than a pack leader. His Luna stood beside him — tall, graceful, and breathtakingly elegant in her deep emerald gown. The moment our eyes met, something i
~AvaNimueh’s voice echoed in my mind again, calm but firm."Tell her. I drew in a breath, fingers curling into the edge of the seat. The silence between us stretched, but I had to speak.“I wasn’t always with my parents,” I said quietly, turning slightly to face Luna Antoinette. “My brother and I… we were kidnapped as infants.”Her eyes turned to me slowly, her lips parting in surprise.“They only found me a few years ago. By the time I returned to them, my twin brother was already dead.”A heavy silence filled the space between us, thick like fog.“When I came back, I wasn’t a baby anymore. I was a teenager, and I didn’t even remember them. I tried to rebuild something with them, but it’s hard. It feels… forced. Like I’m trying to fit into a life that doesn’t quite feel like mine anymore.”Her expression softened—something I didn’t expect from the same woman who had looked ready to stab me with her tea spoon this morning.“I heard that story,” she said after a beat. “Alpha Garry’s
~AvaThe Full Moon Festival was one of my favorite times of the year. The festival grounds sparkled under the silver glow of the moon, lanterns swaying gently in the evening breeze. Music and laughter filled the air as the pack danced and feasted, honoring the goddess’s blessing. But amidst the celebration, I found myself at the edge of it all, sitting quietly at a table with my drink in hand.I scanned the crowd for Aiden, my twin brother. He was supposed to stay close, but knowing him, he was probably sneaking off for more food or causing some harmless mischief.The brief moment of peace didn’t last long. A cold splash hit my dress, making me gasp.“Oh, oops!” came a shrill voice. I looked up to see Sasha, one of the more obnoxious girls in the pack, holding an empty glass with an unapologetic smirk. “Didn’t see you there.”“Should’ve known the omegas would show up,” she added loudly. “Guess they’re letting everyone into the Full Moon Festival these days.”Heat rushed to my cheeks,
~AvaThe neon lights of the club flickered like a beacon, casting a hazy glow over the darkened street. I forced Nimueh’s feet to slow as I caught sight of it, making her growl low in my head. “Ava, stop.” “No,” I whispered under my breath, my voice barely audible over the muffled bass of music that seeped from the club's walls. “This isn’t safe,” Nimueh pressed, her voice firm yet tinged with concern. “You’re hurting and vulnerable tonight. Let’s go home. At least your brother can make you feel better.” My chest tightened at her suggestion. The thought of going back to my uncle’s house, seeing Riley there… it would break me all over again. “No,” I snapped aloud this time, drawing a curious glance from a passerby. “I’m not going back. I need time away—from home, from them, from everything.” “We can’t keep running, Ava. It’s not healthy.” Nimueh’s voice softened, hesitating for a moment before sighing in defeat. “Fine. But this doesn’t feel right.” “Nothing feels right anym
~AvaNimueh’s voice echoed in my mind again, calm but firm."Tell her. I drew in a breath, fingers curling into the edge of the seat. The silence between us stretched, but I had to speak.“I wasn’t always with my parents,” I said quietly, turning slightly to face Luna Antoinette. “My brother and I… we were kidnapped as infants.”Her eyes turned to me slowly, her lips parting in surprise.“They only found me a few years ago. By the time I returned to them, my twin brother was already dead.”A heavy silence filled the space between us, thick like fog.“When I came back, I wasn’t a baby anymore. I was a teenager, and I didn’t even remember them. I tried to rebuild something with them, but it’s hard. It feels… forced. Like I’m trying to fit into a life that doesn’t quite feel like mine anymore.”Her expression softened—something I didn’t expect from the same woman who had looked ready to stab me with her tea spoon this morning.“I heard that story,” she said after a beat. “Alpha Garry’s
~AvaWe followed the maid into the house. The smell of lemon oil polish and burning sandalwood greeted us as we stepped inside. Each step I took echoed through the marbled hallway like a heartbeat. The walls were lined with family portraits — paintings of alphas, lunas, warriors… and something tugged at my chest. I couldn’t stop staring. My fingers itched to reach out and touch the frames.Why did this place feel like home?“Ava?” Luna Antoinette’s voice snapped me out of my daze.“Yes?”“What are you doing?”“Oh… just soaking in the memories, one week away from home feels like forever,” I lied with a smile.We turned a corner and stepped into the sitting room. There they were — Alpha Garry and Luna Celene. My supposed parents.The Alpha had a calm strength in his eyes, dressed in a crisp navy robe that made him look more like a king than a pack leader. His Luna stood beside him — tall, graceful, and breathtakingly elegant in her deep emerald gown. The moment our eyes met, something i
~AvaThe leather of the car seat was warm beneath me, and even though the sun wasn't glaring too harshly outside, I felt like I was slowly melting into the backseat. Luna Antoinette sat beside me, regal and poised, like a goddess sculpted from polished stone. Her presence filled the entire car, and I, in contrast, felt like a wilted petal in a glass case. We had already visited three different packs, three different homes of her very bubbly, overly enthusiastic friends who all smelled like roses and riches.How many more friends did she even have?I let out a silent sigh, pressing my face slightly against the cool window. Trees blurred past like emerald smudges. My fingers curled in my lap, the lace on the dress I wore scratching at my skin like punishment. My wolf grumbled in the back of my mind. Even she was uncomfortable."We're headed to Moonstone Ridge now," Luna Antoinette said suddenly, her voice cutting through my daze like a blade.My heart skipped. My back stiffened."Yes,
~EdwardMy head was spinning.I closed the door behind Ava and just stood there for a second, my back against the wood, staring into the air like an idiot. Then I started pacing.Back and forth.Back and forth.This whole mess had felt manageable in the beginning. A simple white lie to keep my mother off my back. “She’s the daughter of Alpha Garry from Moonstone Ridge.” That sentence had slipped out so casually that I hadn’t even considered the consequences. And now?Now my mother wanted to visit them.Visit a pack Ava didn’t belong to. Visit people who weren’t her parents. Visit a story that didn’t exist.“Shit,” I muttered, dragging a hand through my hair.I couldn’t think straight. My mother wasn’t just nosy—she was thorough. If something felt off, she’d find it. She’d smell it like blood in the water.I turned sharply when Ava’s voice cut through my panic.“Edward,” she said, stepping closer. “I don’t have much time, your mom is expecting me downstairs any minute now.”I nodded qu
~AvaI didn’t know when I drifted off. Maybe it was right after the bath, or maybe after I finished crying on the softest damn pillow I’d ever laid my head on. Either way, I was asleep, deep asleep… but not peaceful. My body rested, but my heart didn’t. I was missing my brother, Aiden, or maybe this new life was still overwhelming to me.Tears slipped down the side of my face even in sleep. I knew I was dreaming, but it felt so real.He was there.Aiden.He stood under a soft, silver glow, and everything around him sparkled like stars had melted and poured into the grass. He looked older, calmer. The same dark curls, same dimpled grin, only... brighter. There was this strange warmth around him, like the Moon Goddess herself was holding him.“Aiden,” I breathed.He laughed, throwing his arms open. “It took you long enough to visit.”My heart ached. I ran into his arms and felt the exact way I used to feel when we were younger—safe. Complete. Like I wasn’t alone anymore. But as I looked
~Edward The moon hung low in the sky, casting silver shadows across the garden paths. I walked slowly, my hands tucked behind my back, breathing in the scent of night-blooming jasmine. The garden was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. This was where I came when I needed to think, when the burden of the crown pressed a little too tightly against my temples. I sighed, pausing beside a marble bench, letting my gaze drift to the stars above. “Leona,” I called, spotting one of the senior maids walking toward the east wing.She turned immediately, bowing low. “Yes, Your Majesty?”“Send someone to fetch Ava. Tell her I want to see her in the garden.”“At once, sire.”She disappeared, and I resumed my walk, trailing fingers along the rose hedges. It was almost two hours before I heard soft footsteps behind me.“Alpha,” came a quiet voice.I turned slowly.There she was. Ava.She bowed her head slightly, her hands clasped awkwardly in front of her. She looked ner
~AvaI stood by the balcony rail, the wind brushing gently across my skin. Edward turned to face me, his eyes less stern than they were at the dining table. “So…” he began, his tone lighter, “you never really told me about your family.”My stomach clenched.“Your aunt and uncle,” he added. “Were they the ones who raised you? Where were your parents?”The shift in my mood was instant—like a blade had been twisted inside me. I could still see my brother Adrian's smile in my memory. That annoying half-smile that meant he was about to tease me about something. My throat tightened.I looked away, eyes stinging. “I don't want to talk about it,” I said, sharper than I meant to.Edward’s brows rose. “What?”“I said I don’t want to talk about it,” I repeated, my voice hard. “I’d appreciate if you never tried bringing it up again.”The silence between us shifted. It turned cold. Thick with discomfort.Edward’s face went blank for a moment, then hardened. “No disrespect, Luna,” he said quietly,
~EdwardThe moment we sat down and the silver clatter of cutlery began echoing around the room, I could feel it—the weight of my mother’s glare. She sat poised at the far end of the table, her fingers wrapped delicately around a teacup as if she hadn’t already burnt holes through my skull with her eyes.I didn’t even flinch.Instead, I smiled. Wide. Annoyingly pleasant.I knew she hated that.Let her simmer in her royal rage. She wanted a Luna for my coronation, and I brought her one. A beautiful, strong, grounded woman who hadn’t bat an eye despite the coldest welcome possible. What was their damn problem now?Beside me, Ava sat stiffly. Her back was straight, hands in her lap. Her eyes tried not to wander but I saw her sneak a glance at Lila, who had been stirring her tea for three minutes straight. The girl was pretending she didn’t notice us.Spoiler: she did.The tension was a living, breathing beast in the room. Only the elders seemed to eat comfortably, scooping food onto their
~AvaThe legal advisor looked like he came straight out of a magazine. Crisp black suit, slick hair, and a pair of glasses that made him look way too serious. He walked into my room like he owned the place, carrying a black leather folder like it held secrets from the moon goddess herself."Miss Ava," he said, with a polite bow of the head. "These are the documents Alpha Edward asked me to deliver. Please go through them thoroughly. I'll be here in case you have any questions."He handed me the folder and moved towards the cream-colored chair across from me. He sat like he was settling into a board meeting, legs crossed, one hand resting on his knee, the other adjusting his glasses.I nodded and gave him a small smile. "Alright. I'll read through it."My heart was already thudding in my chest. I hadn’t even opened the file yet, and my palms were slightly sweaty. I pulled open the flap and laid the document on the table. It looked intimidating, with words running across pages like a ma