The Luna He Didn't Deserve

Something Unfamiliar

Chapter 3 – Something Unfamiliar

(God is a Weapon — Falling in Reverse)

The first rogue hit fast. Too fast for a human to track. But Elena wasn’t just human anymore—not after everything she had survived.

She saw the movement just before it reached her. A blur in the shadows. A shift in the air. Her body reacted on instinct, stepping back despite the pain in her leg as her heart slammed against her ribs.

But Damian was faster. He moved before the attack fully formed. One step forward—then impact.

His hand caught the rogue mid-lunge, fingers locking around its throat with brutal precision before slamming it sideways into a tree. The crack of wood echoed sharply through the forest, followed by a low, feral snarl.

More movement. Too much movement. They weren’t alone. Elena’s breath hitched as shapes emerged from the darkness—three… no, four of them, circling now instead of rushing blindly. Their eyes glowed faintly, their movements sharp, coordinated.

Not wild. Not reckless. Hunting.

“Stay behind me,” Damian said, his voice low and controlled. Elena didn’t argue. Not this time.

Her body shifted behind him, her back brushing briefly against his as she adjusted her stance. Her breathing slowed—not calm, but focused. Her blue eyes tracked every movement, every step, every angle.

Her hand pressed against her stomach for only a second— Then dropped. Because right now— She needed both hands free. Another rogue lunged. Damian met it head-on. This time, he didn’t stop at blocking.

He struck. Fast. Efficient. A clean movement that sent the rogue crashing into the ground before it could recover. His control was absolute—no wasted energy, no hesitation, no panic.

Elena saw it clearly now. This wasn’t just strength. This was training. Experience. This was someone who had done this— A lot.

“You weren’t exaggerating,” she muttered under her breath.

Damian didn’t respond. He didn’t have time. The others moved in together now. Smarter. Testing him. Testing her. One circled left, another cutting behind them, trying to split his attention.

Elena caught it. “Behind—”

He moved before she finished.

Spinning, striking, intercepting the second rogue before it could reach her. His body shifted slightly in front of hers again, placing himself between her and the threat without even thinking about it.

Protecting. Always protecting. Her chest tightened slightly at that. Dangerous. That feeling was dangerous. Focus. Another came from the right. Too fast. Too close.

Elena reacted by instinct, grabbing a fallen branch from the ground and swinging hard. The impact wasn’t clean—but it was enough. The rogue stumbled, thrown off just long enough—

For Damian to finish it. Silence didn’t follow. Not yet. Because the last one didn’t attack. It watched. Then it stepped back. Slowly. Retreating into the shadows. And just like that—

They were gone. The forest went still again. But this time— It wasn’t empty. It was tense. Watching. Waiting. Elena’s breath came faster now, her body trembling slightly as the adrenaline began to settle.

“… That wasn’t normal,” she said.

“No,” Damian replied. His gaze scanned the trees, sharp, calculating. “They were testing.”

Elena swallowed. Her hand returned to her stomach instinctively. Testing meant— They’d be back. And next time— They wouldn’t hesitate.

They walked in silence. But it wasn’t empty. It was… heavy. Like the forest itself was listening. Watching. Waiting. Elena’s shoulders were tense, but her posture remained steady. Her silver hair caught faint strands of moonlight as she moved, glinting softly against the darkness around her. Dirt streaked her arms, her clothes torn slightly from branches and rough terrain—but she didn’t look fragile.

She looked… unbreakable. And her eyes— Bright blue. Sharp. Alive. Even through exhaustion. Damian noticed all of it. The way she held herself like someone who had been pushed too far and refused to fall. The way her gaze constantly moved, scanning, calculating. The way her hand kept drifting to her stomach. Protective. Instinctive.

His wolf stirred.

Ours.

Damian pushed it down. Barely. “You’re limping.”

Elena didn’t slow. “I’m walking.”

“You’re favoring your right side.”

“That’s called being tired.”

“It’s called being injured.”

She stopped abruptly and turned to him, her silver hair shifting over her shoulder. “I said, I’m fine.” Up close, her blue eyes were even sharper. Defiant.

Damian held her gaze, unmoved. “You don’t have to prove anything right now.”

Something flickered in her expression. Gone just as quickly.

“I’m not proving anything.”

“Yes, you are.”

Her jaw tightened. “Do you always do that?”

“Do what?” he asked.

“Act like you know things you shouldn’t.”

“Yes.”

She stared at him. Then turned with a quiet huff, continuing forward.

“Annoying,” she muttered.

The terrain shifted as they moved.

The ground sloped slightly upward, the roots thicker here, forcing careful footing. Rocks jutted unevenly from the earth, slick with moisture. A faint mist clung low to the ground, curling around their ankles like something alive.

The forest opened slightly ahead, revealing a narrow ridge.

Elena slowed. Her breath caught just enough for Damian to notice.

“What is it?” he asked.

She didn’t answer right away. Her gaze moved across the distance. Focused. Sharp.

“There,” she said quietly. Damian followed her line of sight.

At first—nothing. Then—

Movement. Subtle. Controlled. “You see that?” she added.

“Yes.” He glanced at her briefly. Most wouldn’t have caught that. “You’re observant.”

“I’m alive.”

“That too.”

Elena shifted her weight slightly— And pain shot up her leg. Sharp. Unforgiving. Her breath hitched before she could stop it. Damian noticed instantly.

Before she could say anything, before she could brush it off—

He moved. Fast. One step. Two. And then— He didn’t ask. Didn’t hesitate. He simply reached down and lifted her.

Elena gasped. “—What are you doing?!”

His arms were solid around her, one beneath her legs, the other supporting her back, holding her securely against his chest. “You’re injured.”

“I said I was fine!”

“You’re not.”

“I can walk!”

“You were limping.”

“That’s not the same thing!”

“It is to me.”

Elena stared at him, stunned. “You don’t just pick people up without asking!”

“I just did.”

Her mouth opened. Closed. Opened again. “… You’re unbelievable.”

Damian didn’t respond. He just adjusted his hold slightly, making sure she was steady. Secure. Protected. His grip wasn’t tight. Not controlling. Just… certain. And that somehow made it worse.

Elena exhaled sharply. “This is unnecessary.”

“So is pretending you’re not hurt.”

She glared at him. “Put me down.”

“No.”

Her eyes narrowed. “That wasn’t a request.”

“Neither was this.”

She stared at him for a long second. Then— “… I hate you.”

His mouth twitched slightly. “Noted.”

For a wolf, he is pretty damn hot. Nothing like Ryker. Elena thought to herself.

Damian noticed Elena shivering. She was cold. He placed her down for a moment, retrieving a small flask from his back pocket before handing it to her.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Whiskey, it will help heat up your body, keep you warm," he said.

Elena hesitated before handing it back. "I can't drink this," she said.

Damian raised an eyebrow, before placing the flask back in his pocket.

They started moving again. Still in his arms. Elena didn’t argue this time. Not out loud. But she was very aware of him now. Of the steady rhythm of his breathing. Of the warmth of his body. Along the way, his hold never faltered. It wasn’t uncomfortable. Which was the problem.

“You didn’t tell me everything,” she said after a while.

“About what?”

“About you.”

“What do you want to know?”

She studied him. Up close. His green eyes. Too calm. Too controlled. “Why did you help me?”

Damian didn’t answer immediately. Because the truth… Was complicated.

His wolf pushed forward again.

Mate.

He ignored it. Again. “I don’t leave people to die,” he said finally.

Elena held his gaze. Searching. “You expect me to believe that?”

“Yes.”

She watched him for a moment longer. Then nodded slightly. "… Okay.” Not trust. Not yet. But not rejection either.

They continued forward. Through shadow. Through silence. Through something neither of them fully understood yet. But one thing was certain—

Everything had already changed. And neither of them was walking away from it now.