CRACKS BENEATH THE SURFACE

The morning came too quickly.

Ariana had barely slept. When she finally closed her eyes, her mind refused to rest. Every

thought circled back to the same thing: Marcus, Selene, and the quiet fear growing inside her.

Now, as sunlight slowly filtered through the tall trees, she forced herself out of bed.

Today would be different.

It had to be.

She washed her face, tied her hair back, and stepped outside. The air was cool, but it did

nothing to calm the unease in her chest.

As she walked toward the healing den, a few wolves passed by her.

None of them greeted her.

Ariana noticed it immediately.

They used to smile. Some would stop and talk. Others would thank her for helping them or their

families.

Now, they just… walked past.

Like she wasn’t there.

She slowed her steps, her fingers curling slightly at her sides.

“Maybe they’re just busy,” she whispered to herself.

But deep down, she knew that wasn’t true.

Something had changed.

And everyone seemed to know it except her.

***

The healing den smelled of herbs and clean water. It was the one place Ariana had always felt

safe.

She moved around quietly, preparing fresh bandages and sorting through her supplies. The

A familiar routine helped steady her thoughts.

For a moment, things felt normal again.

“Ariana!”

She turned quickly as a young wolf rushed in, holding his arm.

“It’s bleeding again,” he said, wincing.

Ariana stepped forward immediately. “Sit down. Let me see.”

He obeyed, sitting on the wooden bench. She gently unwrapped the cloth around his arm,

revealing a reopened wound.

“You shouldn’t have been training so soon,” she said softly.

“I didn’t want to fall behind,” he admitted.

Ariana gave him a small, understanding smile. “You won’t help anyone if you hurt yourself

more.”

She placed her hands over the wound and focused her energy. A soft green glow appeared again,

steady and warm.

The wolf sighed in relief. “It always feels better when you do that.”

Ariana didn’t reply right away. She just focused on her work.

At least here… she was still needed.

Still useful.

Still… someone.

When she finished, she wrapped his arm carefully. “Rest this time. I mean it.”

He nodded quickly. “I will. Thank you, Ariana.”

He stood and hesitated for a second, like he wanted to say more.

Then he simply left.

Ariana watched him go, the faint smile on her lips fading.

Even that felt different.

Before, wolves would stay longer. They would talk, laugh, and ask her questions.

Now, everyone seemed in a hurry to leave.

Being near her was uncomfortable.

***

Later that afternoon, Ariana stepped outside to gather fresh herbs. The forest stretched wide

around her, tall trees blocking most of the sunlight. Shadows danced along the ground as the

wind moved through the branches.

It was peaceful.

But today, even the forest felt heavy.

As she knelt to pick a bundle of leaves, voices reached her from behind a nearby tree.

“…I heard it’s going to happen soon.”

Ariana froze.

She didn’t mean to listen.

But her body refused to move.

“Are you sure?” another voice asked.

“Yes. Marcus can’t keep delaying it.”

“Then what about Ariana?”

There was a short pause.

Ariana’s heart began to race.

“She was never fit to be Luna anyway.”

The words hit harder than any physical blow.

“She’s too soft,” the first voice added. “Kind, yes. But kindness doesn’t lead a pack.”

“And Selene?”

“Stronger. Smarter. The pack needs someone like her.”

Ariana’s hands tightened around the leaves she had picked.

Her chest felt tight.

Her throat burned.

“She’ll step aside,” the second voice said. “She has to.”

Ariana stood slowly, her legs feeling weak.

She didn’t want to hear any more.

She couldn’t.

Without making a sound, she turned and walked away, each step heavier than the last.

—

By the time she returned to the healing den, the sun was already lowering in the sky.

She placed the herbs on the table, her movements slower now.

Their words echoed in her mind.

She was never fit to be Luna.

Ariana closed her eyes briefly.

Was that how everyone saw her?

Was that how Marcus saw her, too?

Her hands trembled slightly as she tried to organise the herbs.

“Careful,” a voice said gently.

Ariana looked up, surprised.

An older woman stood near the den's entrance. Her name was Mira, one of the seniors.

Healers who had taught Ariana when she was younger.

“You’ll bruise them if you grip them that tightly,” Mira added.

Ariana quickly loosened her hold. “I’m sorry. I didn’t notice.”

Mira stepped closer, her eyes soft but knowing. “Something is troubling you.”

Ariana forced a small smile. “I’m fine.”

Mira didn’t look convinced.

“You’ve always been a poor liar,” she said quietly.

Ariana looked away.

For a moment, she considered telling her everything.

About Marcus.

About Selene.

About the whispers.

About the fear growing inside her.

But the words felt too heavy.

Too real.

“If something is changing,” Mira continued gently, “you don’t have to face it alone.”

Ariana’s chest tightened again.

Alone.

That was exactly how she felt.

But before she could respond, voices sounded outside the den.

A group of wolves passed by, their conversation loud enough to hear.

“Selene would make a powerful Luna.”

“She already leads better than Ariana.”

Ariana froze.

Mira’s expression darkened slightly.

The voices faded as the wolves walked away.

Silence filled the space again.

Ariana let out a slow breath.

“I think…” she began softly, “maybe they’re right.”

Mira frowned. “About what?”

Ariana hesitated, then shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

But it wasn’t anything.

It was everything.

—

As evening approached, Ariana found herself wandering toward the edge of the territory.

She didn’t remember deciding to go there.

Her feet had just… taken her.

The forest was quieter here. Fewer wolves came this far unless they were on patrol.

Ariana stopped near a large tree, resting her hand against its rough bark.

She needed to think.

Needed to understand.

“Why won’t you just talk to me?” she whispered under her breath.

She wasn’t even sure if she meant Marcus… or herself.

A soft rustling sound pulled her from her thoughts.

Ariana turned quickly.

At first, she saw nothing.

Then, suddenly,

A figure stepped out from between the trees.

Marcus.

Her heart skipped.

For a brief moment, hope flickered inside her.

Maybe he came looking for her.

Maybe he wanted to explain.

“Ariana,” he said.

His voice was calm.

Controlled.

Too controlled.

She straightened slightly. “Marcus… I was actually hoping to speak with you.”

He didn’t move closer.

Didn’t smile.

Didn’t soften.

Something inside her sank.

“What is it?” she asked carefully.

Marcus glanced around briefly, as if making sure they were alone.

Then his eyes returned to her.

“There are things you need to understand,” he said.

Her breath caught.

This was it.

The truth.

Finally.

“I’m listening,” she said quietly.

For a second, Marcus didn’t speak.

Then he spoke.

“You need to trust my decisions.”

The words felt wrong.

Ariana blinked. “What?”

“As Alpha, everything I do is for the pack,” he continued. “Even if you don’t understand it.”

Confusion filled her chest. “Marcus, what are you talking about?”

He stepped closer now, but not in the way she had hoped.

Not gently.

Not lovingly.

Firm. Distant.

“Things are changing,” he said. “And you need to accept that.”

Ariana’s heart began to pound again.

“Accept what?” she asked, her voice barely steady.

Marcus looked at her for a long moment.

And for the first time,

There was no warmth in his eyes.

“You’ll see soon enough.”

The words landed like a quiet storm.

Ariana felt the air leave her lungs.

“Marcus…” she whispered, “what does that mean?”

But he had already turned away.

Walking back into the shadows of the forest.

Leaving her standing there.

Alone.

Again.

***

The sky darkened slowly as night approached.

Ariana remained where she was, unable to move.

His words echoed in her mind.

You’ll see soon enough.

Tears burned in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

Not this time.

Not anymore.

Something was coming.

Something she couldn’t stop.

And this time,

She wouldn’t be able to pretend everything was fine.

As the wind moved through the trees, carrying a cold whisper across the forest, Ariana wrapped

her arms around herself.

For the first time…

She truly felt it.

The beginning of the end.

And somewhere deep in her heart,

A qui

et fear began to grow into something else.

Something stronger.

Something that refused to break.

But she didn’t understand it yet.

All she knew was this:

Tomorrow would change everything.

And she wasn’t ready.