The Hidden Luna

My grip tightened around my mate’s soft, crimson fur as I heard the rogues’ snarls growing louder behind us. Feeling the powerful muscles beneath his coat as he raced across the forest floor, I held our pup as tightly as I could. She whimpered softly, wrapped safely within the folds of my purple scarf. “Shh, little one,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to her lightly tanned forehead. “Mommy’s got you. You’re going to be safe. I promise I’ll never let anyone hurt you.” “We’re almost there”, my mate mind-linked, hope filling his voice despite the fear surrounding us. I lifted my head and spotted a town nestled among the trees. A faint smile tugged at my lips. This human family would keep her safe from the rogues… and from everyone else who sought the Lycan bloodline. Looking down, I found her hazel-green eyes staring back at me. My smile faltered. Something was changing. I inhaled deeply, my heart skipping a beat. “Her scent…” I whispered. “It’s fading.” The spell we’d asked the witch to cast—to hide her Lycan aura and seal her powers—was beginning to take effect. Tears blurred my vision. It was working. Soon, no one would know what she truly was. But that also meant… It was time to let her go. “I know you’re hurting, my love”’ my mate mind-linked softly, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ll miss our little princess too”. I buried my face in the scarf, inhaling the last traces of our daughter’s scent. My mate gradually came to a stop in front of one of the homes in the town. It was a beautiful white house “You have to hurry. We only have minutes before they catch up to us”. “I will always love you,” I whispered, tears streaming down my cheeks. “One day, we’ll find each other again, my little love.” I memorized every inch of her tiny face—the freckles dusting her nose, the soft curl of her dark hair, the tiny hand wrapped around my finger. “Please don’t forget us,” I whispered, my voice breaking. With trembling hands, I laid her gently on the doorstep, still wrapped safely in my scarf. I knocked on the white door before turning away, hearing footsteps approaching from inside. Without looking back, I shifted into my black Lycan and took off through the forest beside my mate, hoping to draw the rogues away from our daughter. “She’ll be safe with them”, my Lycan whispered, trying to comfort me. “This is the only way to keep her safe”. “I know”, I replied, forcing my aching legs to keep running. A soft whimper escaped my lips as the realization settled in that another family would be the ones to raise our daughter. I silently prayed that the potion masking our scent would take effect soon, giving us enough time to disappear and come up with a plan. My mate brushed his side against mine as we ran, offering what little comfort he could. We ran until our legs burned and our lungs screamed for air. our tongues hanging from our mouths as we struggled to catch our breath. My legs finally gave out beneath me, and I collapsed onto the forest floor. “We can’t stay for long, my love,” my mate said softly, gently nuzzling my snout. “I know,” I panted, trying to push myself back onto my feet. I stumbled, my legs trembling beneath me before giving out again. “I can’t stand,” I whispered, panic creeping into my voice. “Leave me if I slow you down.” He looked into my eyes, his golden gaze filled with unwavering determination. “I would never leave you,” he growled. “I will fight by your side no matter what. I’ll protect you until my very last breath.” With that, he lay down beside me, pressing his body against mine as if shielding me from the world. We laid there for a few hours. Just as we began to believe we’d escaped… A deep, menacing growl echoed from the darkness behind us.