CHAPTER 7

The Luna They Did Not Expect

The pack watched her differently after the fight Raine felt it before she even saw the shift in the environment subtle but undeniable. Where before there had been curiosity, suspicion, even quiet judgment Now there was something else, attention and not the kind she wanted.

She walked through the central grounds of Ice Moon Pack with her shoulders slightly stiff, head bowed down a little, walking fast like she was in a haste, aware of every glance that followed her. “They’re staring,” she muttered under her breath.

Zane, walking beside her, didn’t even try to hide his amusement. “Well,” he said casually, “you did kind of throw a fully grown attacker across the field with energy no one’s seen before so everyone is surprised and most look.”

Raine shot him a look. “I didn’t throw anyone, neither did I throw a fit, I couldn’t control my body at that time.”

Zane raised a brow. “Right. The air just politely pushed him away while your hands where raised.”

Raine exhaled sharply. “This isn’t funny stop it.”

Zane’s expression softened slightly. “I know and I’m not trying to make fun of you,” he said. “But it’s also not normal.”

Raine stopped walking. “That’s the problem,” she said quietly playing with her hands.

Zane turned to face her properly now. “You’re starting to realize that, aren’t you?”

Raine didn’t answer immediately because she was and she didn’t like it, she was finding it hard to terms with everything

As they resumed walking, a group of wolves stepped aside for them respectfully too respectfully bowing thier head as they passed Raine noticed. “Why are they acting like that?” she asked.

Zane shrugged. “You’re standing next to the future Alpha.”

“That didn’t happen yesterday.”

Zane gave her a look. “Yesterday, you were just the human he brought back.”

Raine frowned. “And now?”

Zane’s tone shifted slightly. “Now… you’re something else.”

Raine’s stomach tightened. “That’s not comforting neither is it understanding.”

Zane didn’t respond because it wasn’t meant to be.

Klaus hadn’t come to see her since the training ended at first, Raine thought that would make things easier less pressure, less confusion but instead It made everything feel unfinished unanswered She didn’t like how much she noticed his absence.

“Where is he?” she asked suddenly.

Zane glanced at her sideways. “Who?”

Raine gave him a flat look.

Zane smirked. “Busy.”

“With what?”

“Being what he’s always been,” Zane said. “The one holding this place together.”

Raine frowned slightly. “That doesn’t explain why he just… disappeared.”

Zane stopped walking and this time, his expression was more serious. “He didn’t disappear,” he said. “He’s watching.”

Raine blinked. “Watching what?, from where”

Zane held her gaze. “You.”

That didn’t sit well with her.

They reached the inner courtyard and that’s where Raine saw her.

Alexis Sanchez she stood among a small group of she-wolves, her posture sharp, her gaze already fixed on Raine as if she had been waiting there was no curiosity in her eyes neither hesitation or surprise only something colder.

Raine slowed turned slightly to Zane after observing her for awhile. “Who is that?” she asked quietly.

Zane followed her gaze.“…Trouble avoid her,” he muttered.

That was enough warning Alexis stepped forward the other wolves fell silent instantly Raine felt it again that pressure but this time it wasn’t from the bond It was from judgment.

“So,” Alexis said, her voice smooth but edged, “this is her.”

Raine didn’t respond immediately she didn’t like the tone.

Zane stepped slightly forward, positioning himself between them but Alexis barely acknowledged him.

Her attention stayed locked on Raine.

“She doesn’t look like much,” Alexis continued.

Raine’s brows furrowed. “I’m right here you know,” she said.

Alexis’s lips curved slightly not into a smile, but something close to it. “I’m aware.”

Raine crossed her arms. “Then maybe say what you mean directly instead of going through the corners.”

Zane murmured under his breath, “This is going to go badly.”

Alexis tilted her head slightly. “You’re bold,hmmm… I like that” she said.

Raine didn’t back down. “And you’re rude and annoying I hate that.”

A flicker of something passed through Alexis’s eyes sharp and dangerous before smiling back again “I see why he brought you,” Alexis said.

Raine frowned. “Excuse me?”

Alexis stepped closer not too close but enough to invade space a scarcastics pout on her face. “You’re entertaining and I don’t want to be bored.”

Raine held her ground. “I’m not here to entertain anyone.”

Alexis’s gaze hardened slightly. “That’s not your decision to make.”

That sentence echoed too closely to something Klaus had said before Raine didn’t like it.

The tension thickened, the courtyard had gone silent every wolf was watching now waiting for what will happen next in that moment Zane stepped forward again. “That’s enough, Alexis.”

Alexis didn’t look at him. “Stay out of this.”

Zane’s tone sharpened. “I won’t repeat myself.”

Finally, Alexis glanced at him. “You don’t have authority over me.”

Zane’s expression darkened slightly. “Maybe not. But he does.”

That was enough to shift the air Alexis’s jaw tightened just slightly Raine noticed something there something deeper and weird before the tension could escalate further a presence entered the courtyard and everything changed.

Klaus didn’t say anything at first he didn’t need to the moment he stepped in, the pack straightened instinctively Alexis stepped back half a step adjusting her perfectly worn dress immediately and touching her hair.

Raine felt the shift instantly the bond reacted again subtle, but there. Klaus’s gaze moved once across the scene taking everything in then it landed on Alexis.

“Explain.” He said sharply just one word he was cold and direct.

Alexis lifted her chin slightly. “I was simply introducing myself to our new added member.”

Klaus didn’t look convinced. “You were testing boundaries.”

It wasn’t a question Alexis’s lips pressed together.

Raine watched closely so this was what it looked like when Klaus wasn’t controlling or trying to be nice when he was fully in command he was different sharper abd didn’t sound forgiving

Klaus stepped forward slightly. “Do not mistake silence for permission,” he said.

Alexis held his gaze but only for a second longer than she should have then she stepped back. “Of course, Alpha heir.”

But her tone wasn’t submission like how the member of the pack speak to Klaus she turned and walked away, her group following quickly behind her the courtyard slowly came back to life the tension didn’t die completely people going back to thier work but now murmuring.

Raine exhaled slowly. “Well,” she muttered, “she’s pleasant.”

Zane snorted. “That’s one way to describe her.”

Klaus didn’t join the conversation his attention shifted to Raine. “You are not to engage with her.”

Raine frowned. “I didn’t start that.”

“That does not matter.”

Raine crossed her arms. “It matters to me.”

Klaus stepped closer his voice lowered slightly. “She is not your concern.”

Raine looked up at him. “And what exactly is my concern here?”

Klaus didn’t hesitate. “Learning to survive and protect yourself.”

Raine exhaled sharply. “You say that like everything here is trying to kill me.”

Klaus’s gaze didn’t soften. “Because it is.”

Both of them kept silent watching each other as she wasnt expecting the response and it landed harder than she expected. Zane cleared his throat lightly. “Alright, that’s enough intensity for one day.”

Klaus ignored him his attention remained on Raine. “You will train again tomorrow.”

Raine blinked. “Tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“No,” she said immediately. “I need time to process everything and rest.”

Klaus didn’t respond right away. “You will not have time.”

Raine’s frustration flared. “Stop saying that like my life is on some countdown I didn’t agree to!”

Klaus’s voice didn’t rise but it sharpened. “You do not need to agree to reality for it to exist.”

That shut her up for a second Raine looked away then back at him. “Fine,” she said quietly. “Then stop treating me like I already belong here.”

Klaus paused that was new, he wasn’t expecting that response Raine continued speaking before he could reply her “I didn’t choose this. I didn’t choose you. I didn’t choose any of this i didnt choose this life.”

The bond reacted slightly both of them felt it but of them neither acknowledged it Klaus spoke slowl after a few second of quiet

“You were chosen Raine.”

Raine shook her head. “That’s not the same thing.”

Klaus studied her carefully then said something entirely different something unexpected. “No,” he admitted.

Raine blinked that was the first time since he brought her that he hadn’t pushed back.

They both stood there for a moment not arguing they weren’t agreeing either just existing in the same space. Zane glanced between them and sighed softly.

“I’m going to leave before this turns into something I don’t want to witness,” he muttered, walking off.

Neither of them stopped him Raine looked back at Klaus. “What happens if I never accept this?” she asked quietly.

Klaus spoke up boldly “You will thats why I have no response to what happens if you never accept this life”

Raine frowned. “That’s not what I asked.”

Klaus stepped slightly closer. “Because you will not survive without it.”

Raine’s chest tightened again there it was the same truth tgat same pressure she hated how real it felt.

Later as night fall, Raine stood alone near the edge of the pack territory the forest stretched endlessly in front of her it looked darked, thick, dangerous, unknown but also calling she didn’t understand why she didn’t understand anything anymore but something inside her had changed she wasn’t just scared anymore she was aware that she couldn’t go back, that this was who she really was finally believing that she wasn’t who she thought she was.

It something inside her was waking up slowly uncontrollably she exhaled softly. “…What am I becoming?”

A voice answered behind her. “Someone this world was not prepared for.”

Raine turned immediately so fast that she lost her balance Klaus stood there grabbing her before she reached the ground he watched her not as a captor or a stranger but like she meant a whole to him and she wasn’t ready to name what his look ment yet.