A Whiff

Before I reach my room, the sharp pain twists in the lower part of my stomach. I crumble to my knees, clutching my belly as waves of agony wash over me.

“Madeline, are you alright?” The voices of two pack maids cut through the haze of my pain. I see them drop their trays and rush to my side. Their worried faces tell me they understand what’s happening before I can even muster a reply.

“It’s that time of the month,” one of them mutters grimly, earning a gasp from the other.

“Oh no!” The second maid shakes her hands frantically, panic seeping into her voice. “I’ll get Luna and the clinic staff!” Without waiting for further instruction, she darts off.

I barely register their words. The pain is overwhelming, a fiery grip that refuses to let go. Ever since I hit puberty, my period has been anything but normal. My parents have taken me to every doctor they could find, humans and wolves, but none could explain why my cycle leaves me teetering on the edge of death. The cramps are excruciating, my body feels like it’s waging war against itself, and I always end up needing blood transfusions by the end of it.

One doctor suggested that once I connected with my wolf and shifted, the pain would lessen—that my wolf would somehow balance my system. But I’m starting to doubt that theory. Right now, it feels anything but controlled.

Another guttural moan escapes my lips as I claw at my stomach, my nails leaving angry red marks on my skin. The world around me blurs, and then it all fades to black.

When I open my eyes, I’m in the pack clinic. Needles pierce my arm, their sterile sting barely noticeable against the lingering ache in my abdomen. The steady beeping of a monitor fills the room, and I feel the cool touch of an IV in my hand.

The door bursts open with a bang, and my mother strides in like a storm. Her eyes are pitch black, her wolf fully in control, and her golden hair flows wildly as if caught in an unseen wind.

“Luna, we’ve administered the necessary treatment,” a woman in a white lab coat says, bowing her head respectfully. She’s new here; I’ve never seen her before.

Without sparing the doctor a glance, my mother strides to my side, her wolf’s intensity softening as her brown eyes return. “My strong little woman,” she murmurs, ruffling my hair in that comforting way only she can. “We’re back to that time when you prove how tough you are.” Her smile is warm, and despite the pain, it makes me feel safe.

In moments like this, she’s not the Luna of the Red Dawn Pack. She’s just my mom.

“I assume Dad’s busy? Or should I say Alpha?” I croak, my voice weak but teasing.

She sighs. “Don’t be like that, my love. We’re expecting some impromptu guests tonight, and he has to prepare for their arrival.”

My brows knit in confusion. “Guests? From which pack? You don’t seem thrilled about it.”

“Shadow Moon,” she says simply, and the tension in her voice is palpable.

The name sends a shiver down my spine. The Shadow Moon Pack is infamous, a rising power led by a once-rogue alpha. Their rapid growth has made them second only to our pack, but their methods and intentions remain shrouded in mystery. The stories about their alpha—a man who supposedly clawed his way from madness to create an empire—are enough to make anyone wary. His motive, being the alpha king.

“What do they want?”

“No one knows,” she replies, her voice tight. “He’s requested a meeting with your father and his family.” She pauses, her hesitation telling me what’s coming next.

“I have to be there too,” I say with a sigh, already dreading it.

She nods apologetically. “I’m sorry, love. If it were up to me, you wouldn’t have to, but it’s tradition. And look on the bright side—Ken, Kira, and your brother Damien will be there. That should count for something, right?”

Her grin is so infectious that I can’t help but laugh. It’s one of the many things I love about her.

Her expression turns distant for a moment, her eyes glazing over as she connects to the pack’s mind-link. When she snaps back, she says, “The Shadow Moon Pack will arrive at seven. It’s almost five now. That gives you enough time to rest and get ready.”

“What about my cramps?” I ask, wincing as another wave of pain rolls through me.

“You’ve been given naproxen sodium. It should start working soon.” She glances at the doctor, who nods in confirmation.

“Good.” She brushes a strand of hair from my face. “I’ll have someone fetch enough supplies to get you through the night. Pads, tampons—whatever you need.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

She squeezes my hand and stands. “Be ready by six-thirty,” she commands, her Luna tone returning.

“Yes, Luna,” I reply dutifully, bowing my head as she leaves the room.

The doctor helps me remove the IV and other monitors. I manage to stand, but the pain forces me into a hunched position. By the time I reach my room, the medication has dulled the worst of it, and I can finally straighten up.

Just as I’m about to open the door, a scent hits me like a lightning bolt—earthy, rich, and tinged with leather. My wolf stirs violently, snapping to attention.

Cramp pain forgotten, I scan the hallway, my senses on high alert. The scent grows stronger, intoxicating, pulling me in like a siren’s call.

“Mate,” my wolf whispers in my mind, her voice filled with longing.

“Mate?” I whisper aloud, my heart racing. I sniff the air again, desperate to pinpoint the source. It’s close—so close—but when I fling the door open and search my room, I find nothing.

After several frantic minutes, my wolf retreats, frustrated but calm. The pain in my stomach creeps back, reminding me of reality. Exhausted, I collapse onto my bed, hoping a nap will dull both the physical ache and the unanswered questions swirling in my mind.

A cool breeze wafts in through the open window, carrying with it the faintest hint of rain. Heavy clouds loom on the horizon, promising a storm.

I close my eyes and let the wind lull me to sleep, my dreams swirling with thoughts of unfamiliar scents and mysterious alphas. Somewhere in the distance, thunder rumbles.

Tonight, it seems, will bring more than just rain.