THE LUNA'S REJECTION

CHAPTER 3: Whispers in the Shadows

The morning sun filtered through the canopy of trees, casting dappled light across the Silver Moon Pack’s territory. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, but it did little to wash away the undercurrent of tension that lingered from the night before. The pack had spent the night in restless anticipation, and now, as the first rays of light touched the clearing, the whispers began.

Aria knew they were talking about her—how could they not? She had returned as the center of a storm she had no intention of avoiding. As she stepped out of the modest cabin she had been assigned, she felt the weight of their stares, their whispers barely concealed.

“Did you see her last night?”

“She walked right up to Rowan… I can’t believe she had the nerve.”

“They say she’s changed. But how? What did she do while she was gone?”

“She’s still the same wolf-less girl she always was. Just trying to prove something.”

The words hung in the air, a mix of curiosity, disbelief, and scorn. Aria had anticipated this. The pack had never been kind, and her return was sure to stir up old prejudices. But she had spent too long letting their opinions define her. Now, she would show them just how little their judgments mattered.

Keeping her head high, Aria moved through the pack’s settlement, each step purposeful. She passed small groups of wolves, their conversations halting as she approached, only to resume in hushed tones as soon as she was out of earshot. Some glared at her openly, their eyes filled with disdain, while others avoided her gaze altogether, as if fearing what they might see.

But Aria refused to let their reactions get under her skin. She had faced far worse than their idle gossip. The memories of her years away, of the grueling training she had endured, flickered at the edges of her mind. Those years had been marked by isolation and hardship, but also by the discovery of her true strength—a strength that the pack had yet to see.

She reached the central clearing, where the pack often gathered for meetings and ceremonies. The space was large, ringed by ancient trees, with a stone platform at its center. This was where Rowan addressed the pack, where the most important decisions were made. Aria’s gaze flicked to the platform, her expression unreadable. She wondered how long it would take before she stood there, not as an outcast, but as someone they would have no choice but to acknowledge.

As she continued through the clearing, she caught sight of a familiar face—one of the few who had shown her kindness in the past. Elara, a she-wolf a few years older than Aria, approached with a tentative smile. She had been one of the few who hadn’t openly shunned Aria before her departure, though they had never been close.

“Aria,” Elara greeted her, her voice soft but laced with uncertainty. “It’s… good to see you.”

Aria nodded in acknowledgment. “Elara,” she replied, keeping her tone neutral. “It’s been a long time.”

Elara shifted awkwardly, glancing around as if making sure no one was watching too closely. “I didn’t expect to see you back here,” she admitted. “But I’m glad you’re okay. There were rumors, you know… that something had happened to you.”

Aria held back a bitter smile. Rumors were the lifeblood of the Silver Moon Pack. “I’m fine,” she said simply, not offering more than that.

Elara hesitated, then lowered her voice. “The others… they don’t understand. They’re wary. Rowan hasn’t said much, but everyone’s on edge.”

“I expected as much,” Aria replied, her tone cool. “They can think what they want. It doesn’t change anything.”

Elara seemed to want to say more, but whatever it was, she kept it to herself. Instead, she nodded and offered a small smile before excusing herself, leaving Aria alone once more.

Aria watched her go, her expression unreadable. The interaction had been civil enough, but it was clear that even those who didn’t outright hate her were unsure how to treat her now. She was no longer the girl they remembered, and that unsettled them. Good, she thought. Let them be unsettled.

But even as she steeled herself against their judgments, Aria couldn’t deny the pang of loneliness that gnawed at her. She had returned stronger, but strength didn’t erase the isolation she had felt for so long—an isolation that was now mirrored in the way the pack kept their distance.

As the day wore on, the whispers continued, following her wherever she went. She could feel their eyes on her, the questions they didn’t dare ask aloud hanging in the air like a thick fog. But she knew this was only the beginning. The pack’s mistrust and disdain were obstacles she would have to overcome, one way or another.

She was about to return to her cabin when a sudden hush fell over the clearing. The shift in the atmosphere was palpable, and Aria turned to see what had caused it. The answer came quickly as the pack members parted to make way for a small group of newcomers. Leading them was a tall, imposing figure with dark hair and striking green eyes that seemed to take in everything with quiet intensity.

Kellan.

The Alpha of the Shadowfang Pack moved with the ease of someone accustomed to command. His presence alone was enough to draw the attention of every wolf in the clearing, and as he approached, a murmur of respect rippled through the pack. His pack followed closely behind him, their expressions sharp, their movements calculated. They were clearly warriors, each one exuding a quiet confidence that marked them as formidable.

Kellan’s gaze swept over the clearing, and when it landed on Aria, it lingered. There was a spark of curiosity in his eyes, something that made Aria feel as if he were trying to see past the surface, to the secrets she kept hidden. She held his gaze, refusing to look away, even as a flicker of unease passed through her. There was something unsettling about the way he looked at her, as if he knew more than he was letting on.

The pack members exchanged glances, the tension in the air thickening. They had heard the rumors, too—whispers of the “wolf-less” woman who had returned, changed in ways no one could explain. And now, Kellan, a visiting Alpha from a powerful rival pack, was here, clearly intrigued by the mystery surrounding her.

Kellan approached her, his expression unreadable, though there was a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. “You must be Aria,” he said, his voice deep and smooth. “The woman who’s caused quite a stir since last night.”

Aria inclined her head, keeping her tone neutral. “And you must be Kellan, the Alpha of Shadowfang.”

He nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. “I’ve heard a lot about you,” he continued, his voice carrying a note of curiosity. “But I must say, the rumors don’t do you justice.”

Aria felt a ripple of something—perhaps irritation or maybe a flicker of interest—but she kept her expression impassive. “Rumors rarely tell the full story,” she replied.

Kellan’s smile widened slightly. “Indeed. But they do make for interesting conversation. And from what I’ve gathered, you’re quite the topic of conversation here.”

There was no malice in his words, but Aria could sense the undercurrent of intrigue. Kellan was testing her, trying to gauge her reaction, to see how she would handle herself under scrutiny.

“I’ve never been one to care much for gossip,” Aria said, meeting his gaze with equal intensity. “I prefer actions to speak for themselves.”

Kellan chuckled, a low, appreciative sound. “A wise approach. I find that actions do tend to reveal more than words ever could.”

The pack watched the exchange in silence, their wariness of Kellan’s presence mixing with their curiosity about Aria. To see their Alpha engaging with her so openly was both surprising and unsettling. But Kellan seemed unfazed by the tension, his attention entirely focused on Aria.

“I look forward to seeing what those actions of yours will reveal,” Kellan said, his tone almost teasing. “After all, anyone who can rattle the Silver Moon Pack as much as you have must be worth watching.”

Aria narrowed her eyes slightly, but she couldn’t deny the challenge in his words intrigued her. Kellan was different from Rowan—more subtle, less overtly domineering, but no less dangerous. She could tell he was a man who didn’t miss much, and that made him a potential ally… or a threat.

“Then I hope you’re not disappointed,” she replied coolly.

Kellan’s eyes gleamed with something unreadable. “Disappointment is not something I often encounter,” he said. Then, with a slight nod, he added, “I’ll be seeing you around, Aria.”

With that, he turned and rejoined his pack, leaving Aria standing in the clearing, her mind racing. The arrival of Kellan added a new layer to the already complex situation. He was clearly intrigued by her, but what that meant for her future in the Silver Moon Pack remained to be seen.

As she watched him walk away, the whispers started up again, louder this time. But Aria didn’t care. She had returned to this pack to claim her place, to prove herself—not to them, but to herself. Kellan’s interest was just another challenge, one she would face with the same determination that had brought her back in the first place.