CHAPTER 2

Arianna's POV:

The word still echoed in the air, my chest pounded and my mind played worse case scenarios. I couldn’t recognise this pack, my mate is an Alpha and the responsibilities that come with being a Luna. I've not heard of a Luna that has lived so long. What if he doesn't accept me? What will Dad think of this? His beta moved closer and whispered something in his ears. 

“Which pack are you from? Why were you found at the borders?” The Alpha asked. His voice was low and laced with suspicion, the aura unmistakable. Every instinct screamed I should lower my eyes. 

“I…I'm from Moon pack. We were attacked during the bonfire,” I replied, my lips trembled.

His beta shifted at his side, releasing a growl, as if my presence was an offense. I couldn't read the Alpha, he just stood still and his face showed no emotion, then he spoke. 

“Moon pack, an enemy.”

“We were attacked by rogues and greatly outnumbered-” my voice cracked. The images of that night flooded my mind and for a moment I couldn't breathe. “I don't know how bad it got, there should be survivors.”

He stepped forward and I looked at his features closely. He wore a sleeveless black round neck. On his right arm is a wolf howling to a full moon tattoo. My heart skipped a bit, my chest pounded, I folded my hands to hide my shaky hands. 

There's only one pack that has that symbol. 

The blood crest pack.

They are usually isolated and interact very little with other packs. They have the strongest warriors. They are known for no mercy to outsiders.

His jaw clenched, his eyes scanned me up and down. He walked in circles around me and I took in his scent. My wolf, Ann purred. Mate.

His beta scoffed and muttered,“ Such a story for a moon wolf.”

“The moon pack is the largest pack. Why will rogues attack them?” The Alpha spoke behind me. 

I swallowed hard, unshed tears burned my eyes, then I replied, “The attack looked planned and very calculated.”

I found it hard to believe they were just rogues. Attacking a big pack is like a death wish and rogues usually don't have such a large group to fight a pack then us. The thought of my Dad and Austin, I want to know what happened to them. Are they alright?

“Mate-” I whispered as soon as he stopped in front of me. His expression darkened, then his gaze softened. 

“You were badly injured, you should rest.” 

He turned towards his beta and they left the room together. 

I stood frozen for a while after they left, caught between relief and ache. He knew I was his mate, but he hasn't acknowledged it. My mum used to tell me when I was younger, stories about rejected mates and mates that went on to become very powerful together. She was a lowly omega and maltreated in her previous pack. My dad saved her in turn she saved him emotionally. It helped the pack grow so fast. 

I laid on the bed and stared at the white ceiling and stone walls. I tried to count how many were used in building the room. Dad would probably tell Austin to lead a search team for me while he will send Derek to check other packs for me. I let out a bitter smile, the blood crest pack is not a pack that will come to his mind. I ran for miles.

The door creaked, I lifted my upper body to see the person that entered the room and winced at the sharp pain I felt. It's an elderly woman. She had pale skin and her hair, a mixture of gray and black. Her back posture is slouched a bit. My eyes shifted to the basket with herbs inside. She reached me and smiled that folded her wrinkled face. 

“My name is Henna. I am a healer. The Alpha sent me here.” She said, sat on the bed and scanned my body. “I will get to work.” 

I nodded. 

The healer worked in silence, her hands steady. She bounded the last strip of linen snugly around my sides. The herbs left a faint green stain against my skin, sharp then soothing. I winced but said nothing, only watched her. She tied the final knot, she leaned back and wiped her palms on her cloak. 

“That will hold,” she said softly. “The pain will ease in a few hours.”

I shifted to test the bandage, but she raised her hands to stop me. “Don't move too much. Rest properly.” Her tone, calm. It seems she's a very experienced healer. 

There was silence. Maybe the Alpha cared a bit. He wasn't so distant as he acted. Then she stood, gathered her satchel. She seemed quiet, or she just considered me an enemy.

“Why is he so cold?” I asked, raising my eyes to meet her gaze. 

Her hands stilled only for a beat. She continued packing her herbs. "It's pack duties," she replied and lifted her basket. 

"There's been a lot going on lately." She smiled, the smile reached her eyes.

She reminds me of Nana, the oldest healer in our pack—a free-spirited and calm woman. She came around a lot when Mum had died and Austin was very young. 

"You should rest; I will bring tea for you later." I nodded. 

She walked out. I should leave here soon. The pack will need a lot of help. I hope the damage from the attack isn't something that will take the pack long to recover from while Dad finds out as much as he can about the rogues. My mate. Why would the moon goddess give me a mate that's an Alpha and from the enemy's pack? I hope they let me leave and don't throw me into a prison, not that it would make much difference. My heart skipped at the thought of being a slave in another pack and never going back.