Witch in wolf's clothing - Namaari

Chapter 59: The Sunstalker Pack

I want to argue, to plead further, but I can see it in her icy blue eyes—this conversation is over. “I’m grateful for the information,” I say, my voice more controlled now, though my pulse races. “And I promise, I won’t reveal your secrets. But my family... they’ll be worried. They’re probably looking for me right now.”

Luna Vireena takes a sip of her drink, completely unruffled by my words. “Your family is strong, as strong as you are. They’ll manage without you for a little longer.” She pauses, setting her cup down gently. “Everything will happen in its time. Now, eat. Let’s put aside the weight of politics, races, and sinister plans for a moment and simply enjoy a quiet meal.”

I blink, feeling a mixture of frustration and helplessness. There’s nothing more I can do, not right now. As much as I want to push back, to demand my freedom, I know it would be pointless. So I nod, slowly, and reach for some food.

The conversation around the table soon shifts, becoming lighter, more pleasant. Despite everything, I find myself slowly relaxing into it, the warmth of the food and the simple act of eating a real meal in peace after so long bringing a small, fleeting comfort. But beneath it all, the weight of what I’ve learned and what still awaits me presses heavily on my mind.

Over the next week, I immerse myself in the endless flow of knowledge that the Sunstalker pack provides. Every moment I’m not in my quarters reading, I’m learning—absorbing as much as I can about the Fae and the history that led us all to this point.

The Sunstalker pack, I discover, is one of the most powerful and grand of all the packs that remain in the desolate remnants of what was once Aralithia. The pack’s members are a rare mix of werewolf and Fae, and unlike most other packs in the desert, many of them still possess remnants of their ancient magic. It makes them a target, of course—other packs, hungry for power, watch from the shadows. But the Sunstalkers’ strength is unmatched, and few dare to challenge them directly. Their power has kept them safe, at least for now.

Despite their might, they have maintained a unique relationship with another pack—the Duneshadow. It’s no surprise, really, considering Luna Vireena’s brother is the Alpha there. But the Duneshadow is different. Unlike the Sunstalkers, few of their pack members still carry magic in their blood. Their pack is smaller, quieter, and in some ways more vulnerable.

But when I asked Luna Vireena why I had heard spells cast by Duneshadow pack members, she explained that the Duneshadow pack is also home to witches—witches who fled during the war on our territory, seeking refuge in a land where they wouldn’t have to live in fear, hiding among the werewolves. It was the witches who put a protective invisible wall around the Duneshadow pack, when we attacked. But that takes a lot of energy and power, and so the invisible wall will not hide them forever.

The thought weighs heavily on me. The members of Sunstalker are powerful, revered, but they are also isolated, clinging to the last vestiges of a history no one outside the desert remembers. The Duneshadow, on the other hand, was a refuge—a place where those who couldn’t stand alone could find safety.

It pains me. There’s something tragic about it all. The idea of witches, once proud and free, now living in the shadows of werewolf packs, forced to integrate into a world that barely remembers the Fae. The more I learn, the heavier my heart becomes. Luna Vireena’s world is both beautiful and broken, and I’m caught somewhere in the middle.

I sit by the fountain in the courtyard, my legs pulled close to my chest, chin resting on my knees. The gentle sound of water trickling behind me does little to ease the weight in my heart. Despite the beauty surrounding me and how kindly I’ve been treated here lately, there’s a deep ache I can’t shake. The bracelet on my wrist, the one that blocks my ability to reach Noali, feels heavier than ever. It’s not just the loss of communication—it's the reminder that no matter how much I learn, how well I’m treated, I’m still a prisoner.x

I miss home.

Zephyr’s antics pop into my mind. I can almost hear his mischievous little snickers. What I wouldn’t give to have him curled up on my lap, pulling pranks and making me laugh. I miss my brothers too, their playful jabs, the way we’d tease each other relentlessly. And my parents—my mother’s gentle hugs, my father’s protective arms around me.

And then there are my mates... Kaynim’s calm, steady presence. He’s probably convinced everything will work out. But Zyméo and Tazzym? I can’t help but dream of their touch, their warmth. The thought of being in their arms again makes the longing sharper. A tear slips down my cheek before I even realize it.

Suddenly, a soft touch on my shoulder draws me out of my thoughts. Luna Vireena sits beside me, her hand resting gently in comfort. “I know you miss them,” she says quietly, her voice gentle but certain. “Just a little while longer, Princess Namaari. Then you’ll see them again.”

I wipe the tear from my face, trying to hold myself together. I look up at her and ask, my voice hesitant but curious, “Luna, if I may be so bold... where is the Alpha of this pack? Your mate?”

A shadow crosses her face, and for the first time, I see real pain in her eyes. She lets out a sigh, her expression strained. “He’s gone. Dead.”

I whisper, “I’m so sorry.”

Luna Vireena’s voice softens with memory. “350 years ago, I met a handsome werewolf. I felt drawn to him immediately, and he told me I was his mate. I was so happy with him. He gave me my two wonderful sons, Alpha Jahir and Alpha Damar. But time... time catches up with everyone, some sooner than others.”

My heart stutters. “350 years?? But… I read in the books that halflings don’t live much longer than werewolves. Only pure Fae can live up to 600 years. Does that mean...?”

Her smile answers everything before she even says a word. I blink in astonishment. “You’re not a halfling. You’re not a werewolf either, you’re...”

Luna Vireena’s eyes twinkle with a knowing smile. “I can’t tell you everything, Princess Namaari. I can’t reveal where the pureblood Fae have gone. But sometimes, we return to these lands. I met my mate here, and I chose to stay, much to the disapproval of my people. Only my brother chose to remain with me, to protect me if ever it was needed.”

I stammer, “So your sons... they’re...?”

She cuts in, her voice soft but firm. “My sons are halflings, but they still carry much Fae blood. They’re around 300 years old.”

My jaw drops. “They... don’t look 300,” I mutter, completely stunned.

Luna Vireena lets out a laugh, bright and almost musical, the weight of the conversation lifting momentarily. But then, her smile fades as her expression turns somber, and for a moment, I see a flicker of pain in her icy blue eyes. “A long life,” she begins softly, her voice losing its earlier lightness, “isn’t always a blessing. I know what it is to miss someone for far too long.” A single tear slips down her cheek, catching the light and shimmering like a crystal. “I have another child, a daughter… she’d be about ten now.”

I tilt my head, curious. “Different dad?” I ask, trying to understand.

Luna Vireena lets out a small, bitter laugh. “Different dad, different story,” she confirms. “But, as I said, the tensions between the packs… the betrayals… the hunger for power.” Her eyes darken as she continues. “She was taken from me the day she turned 1 year old, during her birthday party. My sons have searched for nearly nine years, but my hope of seeing her again…” She trails off, her voice filled with a grief that seems almost too deep to bear. “I don’t even know if she’s alive. I can’t feel her presence, not even with all my magic. Even my brother’s witches tried a locator spell, but nothing.”

I hesitate for a moment, then reach out, placing my hand over hers. “That must be terrible,” I say softly, knowing my words can’t possibly convey the depth of sympathy I feel.

Luna Vireena sighs, the sadness weighing heavy in the air. “The thing I remember most clearly is her beautiful eyes. So full of fire, even as a baby,” she whispers, as if speaking the memory aloud will bring her daughter back.

Then, as quickly as her emotions had surfaced, Luna Vireena stands, her face composed once again, masking the sorrow that had slipped through. “But enough about me,” she says, her tone brisk and formal. “Back to you.”

I pull back, a bit startled by the sudden shift, as she continues, “I saw in your mind”—she pauses, giving me an apologetic look—“sorry about that, by the way… that you’ve been having some trouble on your pack grounds with dark magic. If you’d like, I can teach you how to handle it.”

I leap to my feet, my heart racing. “You can do that?” I ask, barely able to believe what I’m hearing.

Luna Vireena chuckles, her serious demeanor softening slightly. “Darling, I’m nearly 400 years old. I’ve learned quite a few things along the way.”

I raise my arm, the cold weight of the metal band around my wrist reminding me of my limitations. “But if I want to use my witch powers... I need…” My voice trails off, the implication hanging in the air between us.

Luna Vireena smiles knowingly, her eyes flicking to the band that binds my magic. “The armband, yes. It must come off.”

For a moment, my heart skips a beat.

“Good, Princess Namaari. I trust you,” she says, her voice low but firm. “But understand this—there’s no point in shifting into your wolf and trying to escape. Only those who live here know the safe paths through the desert. Outsiders who attempt it... they wander, lost, until they die of hunger and thirst, if they aren't killed by something else first.”

I nod slowly, the weight of her words sinking in. Luna Vireena steps closer, her gaze intense. “And once I see that you can handle dark magic, once you’ve proven yourself capable, then I will let you go. Armed and ready to face those who would tear our worlds apart. I’ve seen enough war, Princess, and I know you’re someone who can end it.”

A rush of emotion wells up inside me. “Thank you,” I manage, my voice catching slightly. “Thank you for caring about us.”

Luna Vireena lets out a loud, unrestrained laugh, shaking her head slightly. “Oh, I’ve come to care for you, Princess, but as for the rest of your…” Her smile fades into something more calculated. “Let’s just say I don’t want your war reaching my kingdom. It’s better for both our worlds if it ends before it spreads any further. And since I can’t leave my pack for too long, well, you’ve become the best option.”

I'm a little taken back. “Wow, so I’m just a pawn then? A warrior you’re using to protect your own land.”

Her eyes twinkle with amusement. “When you put it that way, it does sound a bit cruel, doesn’t it?”

We both laugh, the tension in the air momentarily lifting, although my laugh is rather cautious. In the back of my mind, a thought forms, solid and unwavering: Alright, I’m going to do this. And the sooner I master what I need to here, the sooner I can return to my pack, to my family, to my mates.