CHAPTER 29: THE LUNA'S NEW FORM

When Zane and Jason pulled their fangs out of me and licked to seal the wounds, I started to burn up again, like I did after marking Zane. Except this was worse, much, much worse. I started to get hotter and hotter, and I climbed off the bed and stumbled.

“Mi alma, are you okay?” asked Jason with concern. He looked at Zane and asked in panic, “Did we hurt her?”

I couldn’t respond. If I tried, I feared I’d scream—my body burned as if engulfed in flames. Keeping my gaze averted, I bolted upright and sprinted away. Dean and Luke burst from their room as I dashed past the door, one of them quickly draping a blanket over me. I clutched it tightly, racing through the house and out the back without stopping.

The forest blurred around me as the pain intensified. Somehow, I understood I needed distance—but not so far that I left pack territory—while my mates chased after me, confused.

What’s wrong with her? Their voices tangled in panic, but I blocked them out, severing the mental link to spare them my agony.

The heat was unbearable, the pain so savage I half-expected to see flames licking at my skin. I glanced down, half-relieved to find no fire—just torment.

When I finally broke through the treeline into an open field, the blanket slipped away. Then the shifting began.

Bones cracked, but this was nothing like before. The pain twisted into something foreign. Scales flickered across my flesh, then vanished. Terror seized me.

“What’s happening to me?” I sobbed, tears streaking my face.

My mates moved to comfort me but froze mid-stride, their stunned expressions etched with dread.

The scales emerged, crimson at first, then burst into flames. My panic surged when the fire vanished just as suddenly, leaving behind glistening black scales. They crept up my arms, over my shoulders, then slithered down the rest of my body. I cried out in agony, locking eyes with my mates.

Their expressions mirrored my torment—helpless, desperate. Jason was the first to shake off the shock and lunge toward me, but the searing heat forced him back, leaving the others frozen in horror. Tears streamed down their faces as they watched, powerless to intervene.

The flames reignited, crawling down my legs before extinguishing at my feet. Then came the unbearable stretch of bones, the sickening tear of flesh as wings erupted from my back. The pain of growing taller was nothing compared to the fire or the splitting of my skin, but every inch of me ached.

When the fire returned, I squeezed my eyes shut, my screams deepening into something monstrous—a roar. The sound startled me, and I snapped my eyes open to find myself suspended twenty feet in the air. The agony had vanished, as if it had never existed.

Below me, my mates gaped in stunned silence, their awestruck faces filled with something like reverence. I glanced down at myself—scales, claws, wings—and the realization hit me like a thunderbolt.

“I’M A GODDAMN DRAGON TOO!” I bellowed at Cece.

She only smirked. “Seems that way.”

That’s it? I growled. You’d better not have kept this from me.

“Even if I’d known, I couldn’t have told you—but I didn’t.” She sighed. “When we first shifted, something felt… off. Like I was incomplete. But when you mentioned being a dragon, it felt right. Though, a dual shifter? That’s unheard of.”

I get it, I admitted. I felt the same way. No more secrets—if something feels right, we share it. Deal?

“Deal,” she agreed.

And then it all made sense. We’ve always balanced each other—death and life, shadow and light.

“I’m the dragon; Cece’s the white tiger. Yin and yang. Death and life. We’re balance itself,” I murmured aloud before catching myself.

“Holy shit—I can talk in dragon form?” My laughter rumbled out, my voice still mine but richer, more resonant.

“Naturally, all dragon shifters can do it. That’s also how you shift without ruining your clothes—your dragon side allows you to harness that magic. The only two real differences between dragons and other shifters are that dragons can speak in their shifted form, and they have magic to preserve their clothing. When your mates marked you, it awakened your dragon side. That’s why you were burning up earlier—after marking Zane, your dragon was trying to break free. It’s all coming together now,” Cece explained through the mindlink.

Well, glad someone gets it. Me? I’m still completely lost in the sauce.

“Lost in the sauce?” Cece echoed, confused.

Just a silly saying, I chuckled. Oh, and actually, there are three differences between shifters and dragons.

“What’s the third?” she asked confused.

Dragons can fly, I said, stretching my wings to their full span—about twenty feet, matching my height. They were a blend of scales and dense feathers, deep black with a shimmering crimson glow when the light caught them. I’d expected bright red to match my hair, but this dark cherry shade was even better.

With a powerful beat of my wings, I launched into the sky, soaring higher until I pierced the clouds. I looped and dove before an idea struck me, and I descended, hovering near the treetops before landing gracefully—effortless, as if I’d done it a thousand times.

Cece, why don’t I have a another inner voice? I asked.

"For other shifters, the human and animal sides have separate souls. But for dragons, both forms share one soul. That’s why you can partially shift—full human, full dragon, or a hybrid with wings and scales. Other shifters only manage claws or eyes," she explained.

So… you’re physically the tiger, and I’m the human-dragon?

She laughed. "Exactly. Dragon shifters don’t have an ‘animal’ voice because they are the dragon."

I took off again, gliding over the mountains, admiring the view—and noting I felt no chill, thanks to the fire in my core.

Do all dragons breathe fire, or are there different kinds?

“I’m not sure,” Cece admitted. “I don’t know much about dragons.”

We lingered on the peak, gazing at the distant town, its inhabitants tiny as ants.

My mates would love this, I thought.

With another burst of inspiration, I swooped back down, landing like a helicopter. Then I mindlinked them: “Want a ride?”

Jason whooped like an excited kid, sprinting toward me while the others agreed eagerly. I lowered myself, letting them climb aboard—Zane first, then Dean, Luke, and finally Jason.

At Zane’s signal, I flapped hard, tilting forward as we ascended. Once above the trees, I leveled out, diving and weaving while my mates clung on, Jason shouting with joy.

We touched down on the mountain, savoring the vista, before soaring back into the clouds.

“This is amazing!” Jason yelled, arms outstretched.

We then left the clouds and went back down to earth. We flew around the pack border. Zane linked them that it was us going for a fly. This seemed to confuse them.

“Hey, I can hear them—the entire pack,” I said in disbelief.

Luke explained, “Now that we’re fully mated, you can hear every member of the pack. Normally, only mates communicate through the mindlink. But the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Gamma can connect with the entire pack once they’ve accepted their rank and completed the ceremony. As Luna, you hear the pack through the Alpha. Congratulations—you’re officially the Luna of the Dark Wing Pack.”

“Dark Wing… Now the name makes sense,” I chuckled, and the others joined in.

Luke, ever the historian, added, “Actually, when the pack was first formed, the original Luna was a dragon. But before they could name the pack, she was killed in an attack. In her honor, the Alpha named it the Dark Wing Pack.”

We flew along the border before circling over the pack house, where everyone was awake and waiting.

“Word travels fast,” I remarked as I hovered.

Rather than speaking aloud, I addressed the adults through the mindlink to avoid startling them. “If everyone steps back and clears a space, we’ll land.”

The crowd quickly moved, forming a wide circle.

“Beta Marcus, could you bring me clothes or a blanket? I’ll be naked when I shift back,” I linked. My mates growled at the thought, making me laugh.

As I landed, my mates slid down my back, positioning themselves around me the moment I began to shrink. The moment my human form returned, they shielded me from view. Marcus tossed clothes to Dean, who handed them to me, while Jackson gave Luke a blanket so he could step aside without leaving me exposed.

“Guys, covering me isn’t necessary. Nudity is normal for shifters,” I said, confused by their protectiveness.

“True, but they don’t know your history. The scars…” Zane trailed off, and realization hit me.

“Right… I didn’t think of that,” I admitted, feeling foolish. After years of living with them, I’d forgotten how others might react.

Zane brushed his fingers along my jaw before I pulled on my shirt. Once fully dressed, my mates stepped back, revealing me to the pack.

Gasps filled the air.

“Let me explain,” I said before recounting my past—the loss of my family, how I became an assassin, the attack that led me to my mates, and finally, this pack.

“I don’t know why I have two forms. The only explanation I have is balance. I represent death, while Cece embodies life. I always believed her tiger balanced me, but I never felt whole until my dragon emerged. Now, I’m complete. I am the dragon—I am death. Cece is the tiger—she is life.”

Some pack members gazed at me in awe, while others shrank back in fear. I’d understand if they couldn’t accept me. I wasn’t like any Luna they’d ever known.

My hand shimmered, half-transformed into a dragon’s—scales glinting, claws sharp. “I swear this vow: If you choose me as your Luna, I will defend this pack and every soul who seeks refuge here. I will never raise a hand against you—only against those who mean you harm. I will stand as your shield, even if it costs me my life. If you refuse me, I will leave, but my protection will follow you beyond these borders. I vow to guard the innocent and aid the helpless. Should I ever break this oath, let death claim me.”

A stunned silence fell. My mates growled in response. The vow I had taken was sacred among dragons—binding, unbreakable. Any intentional betrayal, and my heart would cease to beat.

“I’ll give you time to—” I began, but Amelia interrupted.

“We’ve already decided,” she said firmly. “On behalf of the pack, we accept you as our Luna and protector. Your nature as a dual shifter doesn’t matter. You’ve shown your loyalty time and again. You could have walked away after waking up, yet you risked everything to bring our pups home. When rogues attacked, you threw yourself into battle without hesitation, defending not just our children but others as well. You healed us when you owed us nothing. Yes, your past as an assassin was unsettling at first, but you’ve only ever shielded the innocent—not just in words, but in action. From the moment you arrived, you’ve been our guardian. We vow to love, serve, and protect our Luna from this day forward.”

As one, the pack knelt before me like I was royalty.

“You are our queen,” Zane stated softly, sensing my thoughts as he, too, lowered himself. I stood frozen, speechless.

Cece said softly, “dragons are rare—maybe fifty or seventy-five in existence at any time. No one knows why. They’re revered… not that they need the protection.”

“Please, don’t kneel,” I urged. “We’re equals here.”

Before I could say more, a small figure launched herself into my arms. “Luna! You’re amazing! I wanna be just like you!” Jackie chirped.

“Jackie! Where are your crutches?” I asked in shock—she’d needed them just the night before.

“Doc said I’m all better!” she beamed, squirming in my grip. Laughing, I hugged her tightly as the other pups swarmed me, each clamoring for their own embrace.

“Luna, you smell weird,” Jacob announced bluntly.

“Jacob!” his mother hissed.

I inhaled, catching the unfamiliar scent—not the usual ash of my dragon, but something sweeter. Realization struck, and I went still.

“My Luna, are you okay?” Jacob asked, worried.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m fine, just impressed by your nose.” His tiny “my Luna” warmed my heart.

Jackie tugged my sleeve. “Luna, will your dragon eat me?”

I ruffled her hair. “Only if you’re naughty,” I said playfully

Her eyes widened. “I’ll be the best girl!” The pack erupted in laughter.

Later, I pulled Julie aside. “Do we have enough graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows for everyone?”

She nodded. “Noah’s birthday stash is in the pantry—we can restock later.” She hurried off with a few Omegas to gather supplies.

Derrick overheard and stepped forward. “Luna, my son and I can bring firewood—enough for a proper bonfire.”

“Perfect. Thank you,” I said, my chest swelling with joy as other boys raced off to help.

Soon, the pack lounged around a roaring fire, toasting s’mores and sharing stories. The pups danced around a smaller, sheltered flame, their giggles lighting up the night.

As families drifted off to bed, I finally retreated. The Alphas bid me goodnight, leaving Marcus to tend the fire. Zane, ever perceptive, excused the warriors from morning training—prompting cheers and the crack of beer cans.

Still laughing, I let Dean sweep me into his arms, carrying me upstairs as the celebration carried on without us.