All Chapters of BEYOND THE MOON: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

I woke in the pack's medical wing three days later, my body feeling like I'd been struck by lightning and then trampled by an entire pack of wolves. Every muscle ached with a bone-deep soreness, my head pounded with a relentless rhythm that matched my heartbeat and the metallic taste of copper lingered in my mouth as if I'd been chewing on pennies for hours.The room was sterile white and unfamiliar, filled with the antiseptic scent that all medical facilities seemed to share. Sunlight streamed through gauze curtains, suggesting it was well into the afternoon, though I had no real sense of how much time had passed since Marcus Webb's attack."Easy there," a gentle voice said as I attempted to sit up too quickly, the world spinning dangerously around me. "You've been unconscious for seventy-two hours. Your body needs time to properly adjust to the magical awakening you experienced."I turned my aching head to see Adeline sitting in a chair beside my bed, her kind brown eyes filled w

The guest quarters felt more like a prison than a sanctuary. I'd been moved here after my confrontation with Alpha Kael in the medical wing, supposedly for my "comfort and privacy" while the Lumina representatives prepared for our meeting. In reality, I suspected it was to keep me isolated from the pack members who were still processing their fear of what I'd become.I sat on the bed, staring out the window at the forest beyond, when a soft knock interrupted my brooding. Before I could respond, the door opened to reveal Kayla carrying a tray of food that smelled infinitely better than anything I'd been offered in days."I figured you might be hungry," She said with a warm smile that was so different from her brother's current coldness that it made my chest ache. "Hospital food is terrible even when you're not recovering from a magical awakening.""You don't have to—""Yes, I do," she interrupted firmly, settling the tray on the small table near the window. "My brother might be a

The Lumina representatives were scheduled to arrive at dawn tomorrow, giving me enough time to wrestle with the decision that would determine the rest of my life. I spent most of it in the pack's garden, sitting on a stone bench with my mother's pendant warm against my skin, trying to sort through the chaos of emotions and revelations from the past few days.The garden was peaceful in the late morning light, filled with the kind of flowers that seemed to thrive in Portland's mild climate. Roses climbed trellises against the stone walls, their perfume mingling with the earthy scent of fresh soil and the distant pine fragrance from the surrounding forest. It was the kind of place that should have brought me comfort, but my mind was too turbulent for peace.I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice I was no longer alone until a shadow fell across the path in front of me. Looking up, I found Reena standing there with an expression of such pure malice that it made my blood run cold

The Lumina representatives had come and gone, leaving behind promises of training and acceptance that I'd politely declined. Their shock at my refusal had been evident, but I'd held firm in my decision to stay and fight for my place at Crescent Pack. What I hadn't anticipated was how that decision would affect the supernatural forces already stirring around me.That night, barely twelve hours after I'd chosen to remain, the nightmares returned with a vengeance that made my previous dreams seem like gentle whispers by comparison.I found myself standing in a vast cathedral made of moonlight and shadow, its impossible architecture defying every law of physics. The walls curved upward into infinity, covered in symbols that shifted and changed even as I tried to focus on them. But it wasn't the alien beauty of the place that made my blood run cold – it was the figures emerging from the shadows between the pillars.They moved like smoke given form, their faces obscured by hoods that se

The knock on my door came just after lunch, soft and hesitant in a way that immediately told me it wasn't Kael or any of the pack leadership. I'd been trying to read one of Lysander's magical theory books, but the words kept blurring together as my mind replayed fragments of last night's vision."Come in," I called, grateful for the distraction.Kayla peeked around the door, her usually bright expression clouded with concern. "Hey. Are you okay? I heard about... well, everyone heard about what happened last night."I set the book aside and patted the bed beside me. "Define okay."She entered fully, closing the door behind her before settling cross-legged on my comforter. Up close, I could see the worry lines around her eyes and the tension in her shoulders."I felt it," she said quietly. "The power surge. It woke me up from a dead sleep and for a moment I couldn't breathe. It felt like... like grief and terror and rage all mixed together.""I'm sorry." The words felt inadequate.