Luna Reborn

CHAPTER 3

**Nadia’s POV**

“I’m not in the mood for your games, Ryn,” I said evenly. “As you can see, I haven’t even touched my lunch yet.”

“Yeah, about that…” Ryn glanced over her shoulder and gave a quick signal. Before I could react, Mila was behind me, her fingers twisting viciously into my hair. Pain shot through my scalp. My tray slipped from my hands; the plate clattered to the floor, food spilling everywhere. Anger surged hot in my chest. I grabbed Mila’s wrist, digging my nails in, trying to force her to let go.

“I *hate* when people touch my hair,” I hissed through clenched teeth. “Can’t you get that through your heads?”

Mila sucked in a breath at the pressure. Ryn laughed, cold and mocking. “Oh, Mila, she says we have shrinking skulls. Maybe we should yank hers out and check the size for ourselves.”

I wasn’t as strong as either of them, but I refused to just stand there. I drove my elbow hard into Mila’s side. She gasped, grip loosening for a split second. Ryn lunged forward and slammed her foot into my stomach. The air rushed out of me. I crumpled to the floor, pain blooming sharp and deep.

“Let’s go, Mila,” Ryn snapped, already turning away. “Before Daddy shows up. I don’t know why he always defends this little brat.”

They walked off without a backward glance.

My stomach throbbed in time with my heartbeat. Hunger gnawed beneath the ache. I pushed myself up, brushed the dirt from my hands, and slipped out of the hall. I didn’t stop until I reached the forest.

I slowed only when I reached my tree, an old, bent grandmother of an oak that still managed to bloom every spring. This was my place. Here, surrounded by quiet green and rustling leaves, my senses sharpened and my heart could finally breathe.

I wrapped my arms around the rough trunk and rested my forehead against it, letting the tree soak up the anger and hurt still churning inside me. After a few long minutes, I stepped back.

“Peace at last,” I murmured.

My stomach growled loudly, reminding me I hadn’t eaten all day.

I wandered until I found the blueberry bush I’d spotted last time. As I crouched to pick the berries, I noticed large footprints in the soft earth—definitely male, and fresh. Someone had passed through recently. I filed the observation away and focused on gathering as many berries as I could, using the hem of my shirt as a makeshift pouch.

Back at my spot, I sat against Grandma Tree, ate slowly, and let the quiet wrap around me. When the berries were gone, I stretched out on the soft grass and let sleep pull me under.

*****

I woke up with a jolt. The sun had disappeared behind the mountains. Dusk had settled, thick and cool. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, someone was watching me.

I scrambled to my feet and hurried back toward the pack grounds.

Everything looked normal when I arrived. People were moving about, preparing for the night. The moon hung bright and full overhead, but instead of the usual calm it brought me, a heavy unease pressed against my ribs.

“Is something bad coming?”

I had no one to confide in, no friends, no one who wouldn’t brush me off as the strange white-haired outcast. I shook off the feeling as best I could and joined the others by the bonfire.

Commander Ryan caught my eye and nodded toward an empty chair. I sat.

Rogues didn’t have Alphas, just commanders and trainers. Every evening, Commander Ryan gathered us around the fire for dinner. He insisted on quiet, proper manners at the table. No one wanted to test him.

We ate in near silence.

Then a shout shattered the calm.

“FIRE! FIRE!”

One of the huts was ablaze. Before anyone could react, another torch arced through the dark and landed on a second roof. Then another. And another.

“We’re under attack!” one of the trainers roared.

My stomach dropped. That troubled feeling I’d ignored, it had been a warning. If I’d spoken up, maybe…

“Please, Moon Goddess,”I prayed silently. “Not again. Don’t let me lose another pack. Please save us.”

My prayer went unanswered.

A group of massive werewolves burst from the tree line. Commander Ryan’s face hardened with shock, but he barked orders immediately. Warriors and trainers shifted and formed a tight defensive line, trying to shield the rest of us.

“Everyone to the safehouse now!” Trainer Bardulf shouted from the rear.

Panic erupted. People ran. The safehouse wasn’t far; the first groups made it inside. I was in the last wave.

Behind me, the barrier was already cracking. Bodies littered the ground, our people. Commander Ryan fought at the center, holding off the largest of the attackers, but I could see he was tiring.

Just as we neared the safehouse entrance, a new group of enemies appeared ahead, cutting us off. Screams filled the air. Flames roared higher, turning night into flickering orange day. There was nowhere left to hide.

I dove into the nearest bushes and crouched low.

A guttural cry rang out. I peeked through the leaves and saw it, their leader had driven his claws into Commander Ryan’s abdomen. Blood poured from the commander’s mouth. He collapsed, shifting back to human form as the enemy tore into him.

“D*mn you, Beta Cedric,” Commander Ryan rasped, voice fading.

“Your pack was never a match for ours, Ryan,” the Beta sneered. “You knew that.”

More of our people cried out, pleas for mercy that went unanswered. I pressed my hand over my mouth to keep from making any sound, knees pulled tight to my chest.

“Gather anything valuable and move out!” Beta Cedric ordered.

Relief flooded me. They were leaving. I was still alive. Once again, somehow, I’d survived.

“Hey! what’s that white thing behind those bushes?” one of the warriors called.

My heart stopped.

They’d seen me!