Chapter Three

The Silence Within

Aurelia’s POV

There was a saying every pup in Silvercrest Pack grew up hearing.

“The Moon Goddess never makes mistakes.”

She chose the strongest Alphas to lead. She blessed the bravest warriors with unmatched strength. And when she bound two souls together, no force in the world—not distance, not death, not fate itself—could break the sacred bond between mates.

At least…that was what I had always believed.

*Two weeks earlier…

The training grounds were empty by the time I arrived.

The last rays of sunlight stretched across the worn earth, painting long shadows beneath the towering pines that surrounded Silvercrest.

It had once been my favorite place—a place where laughter echoed after sparring matches and victories were celebrated with friendly teasing.

Now, it only reminded me of everything I lacked.

I stood quietly near the edge of the field, watching a group of younger wolves complete their first shift under the guidance of the pack’s warriors.

One after another, they transformed into their werewolf form. A flash of fur. A chorus of excited howls. Smiles spread across proud faces as parents rushed forward to embrace their children.

“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”

I turned to find Damien standing beside me, his arms folded across his chest.

“They are.” I agreed. It was a heartwarming sight to see.

“You taught half of those pups how to read.”

I laughed softly and nodded. “I remember.”

“They still look up to you.”

“They shouldn’t.”

Damien frowned. “Why would you say that?”

I lowered my gaze and bit my lower lip. “Because they’ll grow into real wolves.” The words escaped before I could stop them. “And I never will.”

Silence settled between us.

Damien wasn’t good with comforting people. He never had been. I know that. Everyone in the pack knows that their Beta is as stiff as a rock. So I know that by simply standing beside me was his way of offering his reassurance. Sometimes…

That was enough.

“I should go,” I murmured.

I had barely taken two steps when I heard a familiar voice behind me.

“Lia.”

I stopped.

Cassian.

He had changed out of his training gear and was dressed in a simple black shirt, his sleeves rolled to his forearms after a long day of training.

“You disappeared.” He said, stopping in front of me.

“I just needed some air.”

His eyes drifted toward the training grounds. Then back to me.

“You came here.”

I nodded. “I wanted to remember what it felt like.”

“What?”

“To believe I’d wake up one morning and finally hear her.”

Cassian’s expression softened. He crossed the distance between us until we stood only a few feet apart.

“You’ve been thinking about this again.”

“I can’t stop.” I laughed bitterly. “I’m eighteen, Cassian.” The words caught in my throat. It was embarrassing to say outloud. “I’ve waited years. Every birthday. Every full moon. Every ceremony.” I swallowed hard. “Nothing.”

“Lia…”

“Do you know what it’s like to wake up every morning hoping today will be the day?”

He didn’t answer…because he did not know. He had watched me wait. He had watched hope slowly become disappointment every time nothing happens.

“They whisper when I walk by.” I didn’t know why I was suddenly telling him this. I stared at the ground. “They think I can’t hear them.”

“The wolfless girl.”

“The Alpha deserves someone stronger.”

“How can she become Luna?”

A tear slipped down my cheek before I could wipe it away.

“What if they’re right?”

Cassian closed the distance between us. “Lia.”

I refused to look at him. “What if the Moon Goddess never chose me?”

He gently lifted my chin. Those familiar blue eyes held nothing but certainty.

“Look at me.” I did. “When I was fifteen, my father asked me what kind of Luna I wanted beside me.” A faint smile touched his lips. “I gave him a list.”

Despite myself, I laughed. “You made a list?”

He nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “It was a very good list.”

“Oh?”

He nodded solemnly. “Kind.” I smiled. “Brave.” The smile on my face grew wider while hearing him enumerate. “Stubborn.”

“I am not stubborn.”

“Lia.”

“Fine. Maybe a little.”

He chuckled. “Compassionate. Loyal.” He stared at me right in the eyes. “The kind of person who puts everyone else before herself.” He brushed away the tear resting against my cheek. “Do you know what wasn’t on that list?”

I shook my head. I didn’t know.

“A powerful wolf.” I blinked. “It never mattered.” His voice grew quieter. “Because the girl I love was never measured by the wolf she might have.” He took both of my hands in his. “I didn’t fall in love with a future Luna.” His thumbs brushed gently across my knuckles. “I fell in love with Aurelia.”

The world around us seemed to disappear. No whispers. No expectations. Only the warmth of his hands on mine.

“I don’t care if your wolf awakens tomorrow.” He continues. “Or next year.” He kissed my tears away. “Or never.” His forehead rested against mine. “If I had to choose between ruling Silvercrest with the strongest she-wolf alive–“ He smiled softly. “–or spending my life with you…

I closed my eyes.

“There has never been a choice. It had always been you.”

For the first time in a long while, the silence inside me no longer felt so lonely. I still couldn’t hear a wolf. But I could hear the steady beat of Cassian’s heart. And for that moment…

I let myself believe it was enough.

Back then, I believed that the greatest battle of my life was the silence within me.

I thought the whispers were my enemy. That every sideways glance, every hushed conversation, every question about the wolf I never had would be the hardest burden I would ever carry.

How little I knew.

Looking back now, I almost laugh at the girl I used to be.

I thought my greatest pain was the silence inside me. I thought the cruelest thing the Moon Goddess could do was leave me without a wolf while everyone else found the other half of their soul.

I spent so much time questioning whether I was worthy of becoming Luna. Whether I was worthy of standing beside the man I loved. Whether I was enough.

If only I had known.

The Moon Goddess wasn’t testing me.

She was preparing me.

Because before another moon could rise, the life I cherished would be reduced to ashes. The people I trusted would become strangers, and the home I once believed would protect me would become the place where they buried my name.

The girl who cried over not having a wolf died that night. The woman who returned no longer cared about crowns, titles, or the approval of a pack that had already mourned her.

I came back for only one thing…or two.

The truth and…revenge.