Todos os capítulos de THE LUNA HE TOOK FOR GRANTED: Capítulo 11 - Capítulo 20

Lyra had imagined freedom would feel like flying. Instead, it felt like silence. The small apartment the pack had rented for her overlooked a narrow street lined with flowering trees. Every morning, sunlight spilled through the curtains, warming the wooden floorboards. It should have felt like home. Yet every dawn, she woke instinctively reaching toward the other side of the bed. It was always empty. She would stare at the ceiling for a long moment before reminding herself she had chosen this. No. She had survived this. There was a difference. A gentle knock interrupted her thoughts. "Come in." The elderly woman who managed the apartment smiled warmly. "Breakfast is ready. I thought you might like some tea." "Thank you." The woman lingered in the doorway. "You've been working too hard." Lyra glanced at the sketches scattered across her table. Since leaving the Mooncrest Pack, she had begun designing ceremonial gowns again. It was something she'd loved before becoming Lu

The ride to Ashvale should have taken half a day. Kael made it in less. His black stallion thundered along the forest trail, its hooves striking the earth with relentless force. Branches whipped past him, but he barely noticed. One thought drowned out everything else. Lyra is alive. Lyra is smiling. The second thought unsettled him far more than the first. For the first time since she left, he found himself wondering if she was happier without him. The answer terrified him. --- Ashvale welcomed visitors with cheerful chatter instead of the rigid discipline Kael was accustomed to. The market square overflowed with colorful stalls, musicians played lively tunes, and children darted between laughing families. Kael slowed his horse. It felt... warm. Not because of the weather. Because people smiled freely. No one lowered their heads in fear of an Alpha's presence. He climbed down from his horse and scanned the streets. "Excuse me," he asked an elderly fruit

Morning arrived wrapped in the sweet fragrance of fresh blossoms.Ashvale was almost unrecognizable.Colorful ribbons stretched across the streets, children ran between stalls carrying baskets of flowers, and musicians tuned their instruments in the town square. Every doorway was decorated with garlands of jasmine, lavender, and wild roses.Lyra stood outside the boutique, taking in the sight with quiet wonder."It feels like the whole town is celebrating," she said.Mrs. Elara chuckled as she adjusted a display of embroidered shawls."That's because we are. The Flower Festival only comes once a year."Emma came racing toward them, nearly tripping over her own feet."Miss Lyra!"The little girl's cheeks were flushed with excitement."You promised!"Lyra laughed."I remember."Emma grabbed her hand before she could protest."Come on! Mama said we're going to miss the lantern parade!"Mrs. Elara smiled knowingly."Go. The shop can wait for one afternoon."Lyra hesitated."But—""No excu

The morning breeze carried more than the scent of fresh bread through the streets of Ashvale. It carried rumors. "They say the young designer has been offered her own studio." "I heard the mayor himself recommended her." "Have you seen her work? It's breathtaking." Lyra heard the whispers as she crossed the town square with a basket tucked beneath her arm. She wasn't accustomed to being the subject of conversation, and every compliment made her feel both grateful and shy. Mrs. Elara nudged her shoulder with a knowing smile. "You'll have to get used to it." Lyra sighed softly. "I'd rather people talk about the dresses than about me." "And that's exactly why they admire you." Before Lyra could respond, Emma came running toward them, her blonde curls bouncing wildly. "Miss Lyra!" "What happened?" Lyra laughed. "The mayor wants to see you!" Mrs. Elara exchanged a glance with Lyra. "It seems your peaceful morning will have to wait." --- The mayor welcomed Lyra into his of

Lyra barely slept that night. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the cloaked figure standing beneath the oak tree. "You've changed, Luna." The voice hadn't been threatening. If anything, it had sounded... amused. But the way the stranger had called her Luna sent a chill through her heart. No one in Ashvale called her that. To them, she was simply Lyra. She preferred it that way. When dawn finally broke, she pushed the unsettling encounter aside and prepared for another busy day at the boutique. She refused to let fear steal the happiness she had fought so hard to find. --- Mooncrest Pack... Kael stood alone before the Moon Goddess's shrine. It was the same shrine Lyra had visited every full moon. The same shrine where she had once prayed for their bond to grow stronger. Back then, Kael had never accompanied her. He had always claimed he was too busy. Now... He found himself standing there alone. An elderly priestess approached quietly. "I never expected to se