Chapter Four

Freedom.

It sounded so strange in my ears. I couldn't believe it. I walked disoriented behind Mira, barely listening to her happy chatter. Everything felt... surreal.

Then she stopped and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay?” she asked, her voice gentle but firm.

I stared at her for a long moment, and then, without warning, the tears came. A sob tore from my throat, and I crumbled. I didn’t know why. Maybe it was relief. Maybe it was exhaustion. Maybe it was just gratitude—for her, for this moment, for the chance to breathe again.

Mira didn’t hesitate. She pulled me into a tight hug, holding me as I broke down. “It’s fine,” she murmured, stroking my back. “Everything will be fine.”

For what felt like hours, I let myself cry, let the weight of everything spill out. When I finally stopped, I felt lighter—emptier, but in a good way.

Mira smiled warmly, wiping a stray tear from my cheek. “It’s a good start, Hun. I’m here now, so whenever you feel overwhelmed, just cry. Crying is a sign of strength, and I know—no, I believe—that you are one strong Luna. I can feel it.”

"She's right, you know," Nyx murmured in my head, her tone softer than usual. "You're stronger than you think. And now? You’re free. Let yourself feel it."

I nodded, swallowing hard.

Then, with a deep breath, I steadied myself, and we continued our journey to the kitchen.

As soon as we stepped outside, the pack’s curiosity turned into a full-on spectacle.

People paused mid-conversation, eyes darting toward me like I was some rare animal at the zoo. The whispers started immediately.

"That’s her?" someone muttered. "Didn’t think she’d actually show her face."

"She looks… normal?" another added, like they expected me to have horns or breathe fire.

A guy leaned in to his friend. "Bet she won’t last a week.”

I kept walking, my back straight, but the stares clung to me like vines. I wasn’t used to this—being seen, being noticed. It made my skin itch.

Mira, on the other hand, had zero patience. She let out a loud, exaggerated sigh. “Damn, I didn’t realize the pack had this much free time. Do you all even train anymore, or is staring at people the new strategy?”

A few of them shifted uncomfortably. Someone snorted. “We’re just curious.”

Mira crossed her arms. “Curious about what?”

Another girl, arms linked with her friend, tilted her head at me. “It’s just weird. We heard she's mute. No offense, but you don’t look like a Luna.”

“That's a big weakness for the pack. A weak and mute Luna.” Her friend added.

That one stung, even though I wasn’t sure why. Maybe because I didn’t know how a Luna was supposed to look or behave or maybe because part of me believed that they were actually right.

Nyx scoffed in my head. "Who cares what they think? Don't let them get to you. Keep your head strong Elara, you have to fight for us.”

“I wish Lilith was here, at least we won't have this weak thing to be our Luna.” Someone muttered loud enough for me to hear.

The words hit harder than I expected. Weak. Like I was some fragile, unworthy replacement. My stomach twisted, but I kept my face blank. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of a reaction.

Mira, though? She went still. I could practically feel the storm brewing inside her.

She inhaled deeply, then exhaled through her nose, like she was counting to ten before swinging. “Come on,” she muttered, gripping my wrist. “Let’s get you to the kitchen before I start throwing punches.”

I didn’t argue.

After two hours in the kitchen, Mira finally sent me back to my room, claiming I needed rest. I didn’t argue—I was too drained to fight her on it.

But rest never came.

I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind stuck on the pack’s words. Weak. Unworthy. A replacement. The name Lilith kept circling in my head like an unanswered question.

Who was she? What did she mean to them? And more importantly… why did they think she was better than me?

"Probably their last Luna," Nyx muttered. "And by the sound of it, she was everything you’re not—strong, respected, untouchable."

I swallowed hard. Great. That only made me feel worse.

Hours passed, the sky outside shifting from gold to deep blue. The pack house was quiet now, the once-busy yard empty. I assumed everyone had gone inside, probably gathered for dinner or heading to bed.

A thought crept into my mind, and before I could push it away, Nyx pounced on it.

"You should go find Mira."

I frowned. Now?

"Yes, now. She’s the only one on your side, and you need answers. You’re not going to get them by sulking in here."

I hesitated. Stepping outside alone, after everything today, felt like walking into a lion’s den. But at the same time… sitting here, drowning in unanswered questions, felt worse.

Before I could overthink it, I stood up.

"Atta girl," Nyx purred. "Now let’s go find out who the hell Lilith was."

Halfway down the hallway, an unsettling silence wrapped around me. My pulse quickened. Something felt off. 

"Keep walking Elara, don't freeze now," Nyx whispered.

I swallowed hard, hoping my legs would move faster.

Then-boom.

I barely had time to react when they appeared. Kieran's guards. Five of them, approaching me like predators approaching their prey.

Well, well,” one said, arms crossed. “Look who’s out and about without a babysitter.”

They laughed as they circled me, like wolves playing with their prey.

“Lost your voice, mute girl?” another teased, giving me a shove.

“Say something Luna” another whispered in my ear.

“Command us to stop.”

I wanted to yell at them, tell them to leave me alone. But my throat burned, like the words were locked inside. I tried to speak—anything—but nothing came out.

My chest tightened. My vision blurred. Memories of the Mooncrest pack rushed back. The insults. The fear. The helplessness.

"Not now, Elara. Don’t let them win," Nyx pushed. "You’re stronger than this."

I wasn’t. Not yet.

“What’s wrong? Can't use your Luna powers?” one of them sneered, shoving me harder.

“Say something,” another growled. “Anything.”

My legs felt like stone. My voice? Gone.

“She’s useless,” the first one laughed. “A pathetic little mute girl, not worthy of being our Luna.”

"Wish Lilith was here to teach her her place," he added.

Their laughter felt like daggers.

"Ugh, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, I'm tired of hearing her name. Punch him already! Break his nose or something!" Nyx snapped.

Another shove and my knees hit the cold floor hard.

“Talk when you’re spoken to,” one of them spat, lifting his hand to hit me.

"Do something! Don’t just sit there!" Nyx yelled in my head.

I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the hit—

“Is there a problem here?” 

A sharp voice cut through the hallway.

Everything froze.