No One's Luna

Chapter Two - Forest Encounter

The day was promising to be dark and grey. Serenity hugged her knitted shawl closer over her shoulders, standing by the window in her room and watching the sunrise. Last night had been a blur - it was more or less the same, the Alpha spending more time with his warriors and his mate, leaving Serenity to greet all the guests and make sure the feast - the first of that week - was running smoothly, solving crisis situations as they appeared. The highlight of the night was the pride she saw in her parents' faces, briefly talking with them and accepting their congratulations. 

"We are so proud of you Serenity," her mother smiled, holding her hands. "You make a lovely Luna."

"Thank you mama," Serenity smiled. "It means a lot."

"Everything alright between you and Sebastien?" her father frowned, looking across the room at the Alpha, currently laughing with his beta and warriors, oblivious to anyone else. As always, Serenity yearned to tell the truth to her father but with a shake of her head, she forced a smile onto her lips. 

"No da, don't be silly. He had been overworked with keeping the borders safe - you know how it is. A pack starts to rise in rank and then rivals pop up like daisies."

"Are you certain that's all?"

"Al, stop trying to find issues where there are none," Serenity's mother swatted at him lightly before embracing Serenity into a warm hug. "I am so happy you found your mate in Sebastien and it is going so well. I only hope your sister may find a match as good as yours." 

After that, Serenity made her escape, keeping herself as busy as she could and avoiding any of her relatives. She almost started to enjoy the night - almost until she overheard two young females gossiping and of course, one of their rumors had to be about the Alpha and his infidelity. They brushed it off as impossible but it didn't lighten her mood. In the end, feigning a headache, Serenity hid in her room, throwing her shoes in a corner and dropping her dress on the floor before hiding under her blankets and trying to fall asleep. 

She woke up while the sky was still dark and after tossing and turning for a good twenty minutes, ended up getting up. Not wanting to distract the cooks who were already busy making a buffet breakfast, Serenity watched the sunrise, trying to decide how to kill the time before the arrival of the guests. As part of her duties, she would need to be there to greet the pack leaders, ensure everyone was settled in and comfortable, coordinate the light luncheon and the grand dinner in the evening as well as keeping peace among those who at odds. Trusting those around her, she had ironed out the details days ago and, having checked the preparations one last time yesterday, there was no need for her involvement that day. 

Deciding that the best thing for her to do was to go for a run, she shrugged into a lose t-shirt and shorts, slipping her feet into flip flops and started towards the forest that grew behind the Alpha's residence. The chilly morning air caused her exposed skin to develop goosebumps but Serenity ignored it, picking up her pace until she made it under the trees and to the small cove under the roots of an oak which she used as her private location to shift. Quickly stripping and bouncing on her bare feet, she shifted into her wolf form, grateful that the fur kept her warm. Stretching and shaking off, she started at a trot into the grove, happy at the feel of the forest floor under the pads of her paws. 

The forest had always been her safe haven - it was her territory that no one dared to take. Since she was a pup, she had always felt at home among the huge trees and the running brooks. Rain or shine, she  would be there, fine tuning her skills and training to be strong. It paid off when she won the right to be the Luna three years ago. At that point, it seemed quite an achievement but now...

Growling in her throat, she bounded off, stretching out to her maximum length and speed, trying to take in all the scents around her and to get away from those surrounding her day in and day out. The wind pulled at her fur, tangling the rather long locks of silver as she raced forward among the trees. Around her, shadows blurred, giving way to intricate designs that she saw but for a second before continuing on. Serenity didn't stop until she was at the western edge marked by a fast stream coming from the mountains. Panting, the wolf stopped to lick up some water. 

That is when it hit her - the same discomfort of being stared at, the demanding gaze stripping her down even in the fur. Lifting her head, she looked around, her ears turning to catch the slightest sounds. Nothing, the forest remained deadly silent, only the water bubbling and rumbling beside her. Serenity took a few more seconds before slowly lowering for another drink. As her eyes met the water, that is when she saw him. Rather, his reflection. 

He was huge, a large black wolf that must have been grander than Sebastien with thick black fur and glowing green eyes. His gaze was cold, calculating and a bit cynical, the gaze of a killer. Huge paws with black nails dug into the frost covered ground, leaving grooves in the earth. Serenity's heart beat faster, her mind trying to understand who this stranger was and what he was doing so close to her territory. Was he a rogue? She never seen one so large before - a forsaken alpha? One thrown out of his pack for some unmentionable crime? 

Her gaze slowly moved up from the water, tracing up the chest of the black werewolf to meet his eyes in defiance. Silently, her lips curled up to expose her fangs and she raised the fur on back. The male smirked, watching her calmly as moved. Her nostrils flared and suddenly, she couldn't move. The sweet scent, an overwhelming aroma that touched her soul, igniting every fiber with fire so that she felt insanely powerful and extremely vulnerable all at once. It was as though her muscles tensed and melted, her thoughts blurred, leaving her breathless. Again, all she could feel was the same simple thought, growing stronger - mine. 

No, no, no, Serenity's eyes grew large as she watched the black wolf let out a growl resembling a chuckle and sit down on his side of the stream, his gaze continuing to watch her without blinking. This could not be happening, not now, not when she had other things to keep track of. She couldn't be distracted now by something that would ruin her and everything she had worked for over the past three years. She most certainly could not look for her mate when she had royalty to greet and packs to impress in order to make alliances and secure the prosperity of her clan. This was not going to happen, not on her watch. 

Growling, Serenity slowly backed away into the woods, hackles raised, keeping the stranger's gaze. Her anger at the universe, at the timing, at fate and at her own fear gave her strength to go. And Serenity was afraid - afraid of what she was feeling, afraid of who was before her, afraid of the implications and afraid that someone else might know. As soon as shadows of the trees covered her, Serenity could breathe though her heart continued to pound. Turning, she sprinted away, running back to the safety of home. 

As soon as she was back at the house, she stalked to find Christoff, Beta of her Alpha and leader of the patrols. Reporting the incident, she left it to him to ensure no rogues would dare breach the perimeter before ordering a hot bath and sinking into it with glee. She felt ice cold to the core, shaking as her mind kept conjuring up the image of the black wolf again and again. He lured her in, dangerously and undoubtfully, trapping her so that the only thing on her mind was him. Sighing in frustration, she sunk beneath the waters. 

"Serenity, are you here?" Alina's voice echoed through the water, making Serenity let out the air and surface, coughing and wiping away the water from her eyes. "Serenity?"

"Do you want to kill me off?" the older girl grumbled, glaring as her sister entered the bathroom, dressed in her signature pastel hues and ruffles. 

"How many times do I need to tell you, I'm sorry?" Alina rolled her eyes, pushing back her blonde hair. "I wish you would understand and...I wish we could go back to being friends." 

Serenity was ready to snap but something held her back. Perhaps it was the sincerity in Alina's voice or the shock of her morning encounter. Instead, she nodded to the corner. "Pass me a towel?"