Fated By The Moon

Boxes towered around Luna like tiny skyscrapers. She stepped over one and nearly tripped, bare feet cold on the tile. “Luna, be careful!” her mom called, balancing a stack of books. “I’m fine,” Luna muttered, not bothering to look up. Her mom froze for a second, eyes flicking toward the open doorway. David Thorne, her mom’s fiancé, stood there, arms crossed, surveying the chaos like a general. “You don’t have to keep saying that,” Mom answered. Luna rolled her eyes. Great. New city, new house, new stepdad, and now a grown man telling her how to speak. Perfect. Her mom stepped closer. “It’s a fresh start, Luna. A clean slate. New town, new home” “And his son lives there too,” Mom added, calm like it wasn’t supposed to matter. Luna froze mid-step. She didn’t know his son. She didn’t want to. All she could imagine was a spoiled rich kid-grumpy, entitled, probably thinking the house already belonged to him. “Whatever makes you happy,” she said, voice flat. Her mom gave a small, sad smile. That night, Luna lay on the old mattress in the corner of her half-packed room, listening to the wind rattle the windows. City lights drowned the stars, but somewhere above, the moon glowed silver and cold. She didn’t know why, but it felt like it was watching. Waiting. Because something was coming. She just didn’t know what.