THE LUNA'S REJECTION

CHAPTER 4: The Watchful Eyes

The day passed slowly as Aria continued to navigate her reintroduction into the life she had left behind. The stares, the whispered comments—none of it surprised her. It was to be expected. But knowing that didn’t make it any easier to endure. Every encounter, every sideways glance, reminded her of the steep climb she faced to earn respect and trust, not just from the pack, but from herself.

By midday, she found herself walking through the familiar paths of the Silver Moon Pack’s territory, hoping to find a moment of peace away from the prying eyes and hushed conversations. The forest had always been her sanctuary, even when she had felt like an outsider. The tall trees, with their leaves whispering secrets only the wind could hear, had been the only constant in her life.

But today, even the forest felt different—tainted by the knowledge that she was no longer the same girl who had once sought solace here. She wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing. Perhaps both.

As she approached the edge of the clearing where the training grounds lay, Aria slowed her pace. The sounds of sparring reached her ears—grunts of effort, the clash of bodies against the earth. The training grounds were where the strongest and most ambitious pack members spent their time, honing their skills, testing their strength. It was also the place where Aria had once felt her own inadequacy most acutely.

She paused at the edge of the clearing, watching as the pack’s warriors sparred. The scene was both familiar and alien. She recognized some of the faces, but they seemed older, harder, more seasoned by years of training and battle. Her gaze lingered on the sparring pairs, noting the fluidity of their movements, the power behind each strike. These were the wolves who had once looked down on her, who had seen her as weak, as an outcast. Now, she watched them with the critical eye of someone who had learned to survive by her own means.

A few of the warriors noticed her presence, their eyes narrowing in recognition. The sparring slowed, and soon, one by one, they stopped altogether, turning to face her. The atmosphere grew tense as they regarded her with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

“Come to see how real wolves train?” one of them sneered, a tall, muscular man with a scar running down his cheek. His tone was mocking, but there was an edge to it, a challenge that hadn’t been there before.

Aria met his gaze evenly. “Just observing,” she replied calmly, refusing to rise to the bait.

The man, who she remembered as Darius, snorted and crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re welcome to join us if you think you can keep up,” he said, his smirk widening. The other warriors chuckled, though there was a note of uncertainty in their laughter.

Aria considered the offer for a moment. She knew it was meant to provoke her, to test her limits in front of the pack. But what they didn’t realize was that she wasn’t the same girl they had once known. The years she had spent away had forged her into something new, something stronger. She had trained under conditions far harsher than anything the Silver Moon Pack could offer, and she had survived.

More than that, she had thrived.

But she also knew that now wasn’t the time to reveal everything she had learned. There was power in patience, in holding back until the moment was right.

“Maybe another time,” Aria said, her tone light but firm. “I’m still getting reacquainted with the territory.”

Darius’s smirk faded slightly, replaced by a look of mild surprise. He had expected her to either back down completely or take the bait. Instead, she had deflected with a grace and control that left him with no clear victory.

“You do that,” he muttered, his bravado faltering. “But don’t think you can just waltz back in here and claim a place among us. It doesn’t work that way.”

Aria nodded, her expression unreadable. “I’m well aware.”

She turned away from the training grounds, her heart steady, her resolve unshaken. She knew what they thought of her, knew that their opinions wouldn’t change overnight. But she also knew that she had time—time to prove herself, time to show them that she wasn’t the same weak girl they remembered.

As she walked back toward the main settlement, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. She glanced around, but there was no one there—only the trees and the distant sounds of the pack going about their day. But the sensation persisted, a prickling at the back of her neck that refused to go away.

Aria’s instincts, honed from years of surviving on her own, told her that she wasn’t imagining things. Someone was watching her, and whoever it was, they were skilled enough to remain hidden.

She kept walking, her pace calm and unhurried, but her senses were on high alert. She didn’t want to show that she knew she was being followed. Not yet. She needed to find out who it was and what they wanted.

As she rounded a bend in the path, she caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it was enough to confirm her suspicions. Someone was trailing her, and they were good at it.

Deciding it was time to confront her shadow, Aria continued walking until she reached a small clearing. She stepped into the center, letting the sunlight filter through the trees and warm her skin. Then she stopped and turned around, her eyes scanning the treeline.

“You can come out now,” she called, her voice steady. “I know you’re there.”

For a moment, there was no response, just the rustling of leaves in the wind. Then, slowly, a figure emerged from the shadows, stepping into the clearing with a fluid grace that marked him as a seasoned warrior.

It was Kellan.

The Alpha of the Shadowfang Pack regarded her with a faint smile, his green eyes gleaming with something between amusement and curiosity. “Impressive,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “Not many would have noticed me.”

Aria’s expression didn’t change. “You were following me.”

Kellan chuckled softly. “Observing, actually. I wanted to see how you handled yourself.”

Aria crossed her arms, her gaze unwavering. “And?”

“And I’m not disappointed,” Kellan replied, his smile widening slightly. “You have a way of surprising people, Aria.”

Aria studied him for a moment, trying to gauge his intentions. Kellan was an enigma—his interest in her was clear, but his motives were not. He was an outsider, a powerful Alpha with his own agenda, and she couldn’t afford to take him at face value.

“What do you want, Kellan?” she asked, cutting to the chase.

Kellan’s expression grew more serious, though the amusement never fully left his eyes. “I wanted to get to know you better. You’re a fascinating figure, Aria—someone who returns after years of absence, stronger than before, and yet still carrying the weight of her past.”

Aria frowned slightly, not sure where he was going with this. “Is that all?”

“Not quite,” Kellan admitted, stepping closer. “I’m also interested in your future. You’re clearly someone who has the potential to change things around here. And as someone who values strength and cunning, I can’t help but wonder where your loyalties lie.”

Aria raised an eyebrow. “My loyalties are to myself.”

Kellan nodded, as if he had expected that answer. “A wise choice. But the world we live in, Aria, is one where alliances are often the key to survival. And I think you know that.”

She did know that. But she wasn’t ready to align herself with anyone—not yet. Not until she understood what Kellan really wanted.

“I appreciate your interest, but I’m not looking for alliances right now,” Aria said, her tone cool.

Kellan’s smile returned, though there was a hint of something more in his gaze—something that told her he wasn’t going to give up that easily. “Fair enough. But if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me.”

With that, Kellan inclined his head slightly, a gesture of respect that felt oddly genuine. Then he turned and disappeared back into the forest, leaving Aria alone once more.

As she watched him go, Aria couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. Kellan was dangerous, not just because of his strength, but because of his intelligence. He was playing a game, and she was one of the pieces on his board. But she had no intention of being manipulated—not by Rowan, not by Kellan, not by anyone.

She would play the game, but on her own terms.

With that resolve firm in her mind, Aria turned and continued on her way, the whispers and stares of the pack fading into the background. She had a long road ahead, but she was ready for whatever came next.