Luna’s Last Laugh

Chapter Four: New Pack, Who Dis?

Lila’s POV

The next morning, Mom’s on the phone with Aunt Ellie, spilling the tea about my dumpster-fire life. Ellie’s all, “Send her over!” like I’m a package she’s stoked to sign for. So here I am, cramming my life into a beat-up suitcase, ready to yeet myself out of Silver Claw Pack for good.

Mom walks into my room and hits my bed with her butt on the bed like she is auditioning for the award of Mother of the Year. “Hey, baby, are you done packing those clothes or what?” She inquired.

“Almost, Mom,” I say, shoving a hoodie into my bag. “Just wrestling this thing shut.”

“Don’t forget your toothbrush or, like, your whole personality,” she teases, smirking.

I rolled my eyes sideways and smiled. “Nope, but I am okay.” Zipped and ready to bounce.”

“Atta girl,” she says, her smile all warm but kinda sad. “Aunt Ellie’s hyped for you to crash at Crescent Hollow. However, Lila, you had better call me whenever you reach there, else I might lose my goddamn mind worrying.”

“Relax, Mama, I have got you,” I replied, zipping up the bag with a sensational smile. “I am damn ready to leave this town and begin afresh. New pack, new me, right?”

She nods, but her eyes are shiny. “Right. Let’s roll, superstar.”

We head out of my room, and there’s Dad, sprawled on the couch, sipping his coffee like he’s king of Jerk Mountain. I try to ghost past him, but his eyes lock on my bag. “Where the hell are you going, Lila?” he barks, all judgey.

“I am leaving here,” I said, my voice dripping with anger. “What's up with it?”

He dropped his mug down and stood up as if he was about to fight me. “You think you can just leave without my say-so? Answer me!”

I laugh, cold and sharp. “Oh, please. You’ve been wishing I’d disappear since I was born. My face makes you gag, right? So let me do you a favor and go. You’ll never have to deal with my ‘disgrace’ again.”

Dad freezes, his jaw tight, staring at me like I’m a math problem he can’t solve. For a hot second, I think he might say something to fix this. I step closer, tears burning. “Father,” I called, my voice cracked. “I am truly sorry for saying such. I am just…broken. Tell me you love me. Tell me you want me to stay, and I won’t go. Just say it, please.”

I wait, heart pounding, begging for a scrap of love. But he just glares, then turns and stalks to his bedroom. No words, no nothing. My chest caves in, fresh tears spilling. Why’s it so damn hard for him to give a crap?

Mom’s hand lands on my shoulder, soft but firm. “Let him stew in his bullshit,” she says. “Common, you really do not want to miss your car.”

“Ah! Yes,” I responded, cleaning my face. “Let us get out of here now.”

Mom drives me to the bus stop, ‘cause apparently wolf-less losers like me don’t get to sprint through the woods. We pull up, and I’m hit with a wave of ugh, I’m gonna miss her. “Mother, this isn't right,” I say, putting my arms on her shoulder. “I am going to miss you so freaking much.”

“I will miss you more my baby,” Mum responded, hugging me so tight but her voice was wobbly. “But I know you will be fine.” I know it. You’ll find someone who sees how badass you are, wolf or no wolf.”

I pull back, snorting. “Yeah, I’m done hoping for Prince Charming. People just let me down, Mom. I’m over it.”

“Hey baby, don't give up just yet.” Says Mum, cupping my face. “A better man is out there, ready to love you for who you are. I feel it.”

I shrug, not buying it, but her faith keeps me from crumbling. The bus rolls up, and I hate this part. Leaving Mom feels like ripping off a Band-Aid, but staying in this pack would kill me. As for Kael Draven? I hope that jerk chokes on his ego and I never see his stupid-hot face again.

I climb aboard, waving at Mom till she’s a blurry speck. Three hours later, I’m stepping off the bus at Crescent Hollow Pack, and whoa. The whole pack’s out here like I’m some VIP. Alpha Caleb Ellie’s husband strides up, all big smiles and bigger muscles. “Welcome to Moon Stone Pack, Lila!” he booms like he’s genuinely stoked.

“Thanks, Alpha,” I say, feeling weirdly warm. It’s been forever since anyone looked at me like I wasn’t a stain.

“Nah, none of that ‘Alpha’ stuff,” he says, grinning. “Call me Uncle Caleb.”

“Uh, okay… sir?” I blurt, then slap my hand over my mouth. Smooth, Lila.

“Uncle,” He giggles, shoving my well-made hair. “I am sure you will get the best of it.”

Aunt Ellie walks in between us and pulls me to a warm hug, she smells like lavender and family. “Welcome home, dear.” She says, her voice was soft and more like a mom. “You’re family now.”

“Thank you, Aunt Ellie,” I said and hugged her tight. It feels warm. And for the first time in my life, I felt needed. Yeah, it's weird but it's what I needed. This place feels more like a home than the Silver Claw ever was.

Aunt Ellie walked me to my room, it was cozy with fairy lights, and a bed that was soft and felt comfortable.

She introduces me to her kids: Ethan, the oldest, a chill dude who’s all “Yo, what’s good?”; and Zara, my age, a ball of energy who’s obsessed with finding her mate. She’s sweet, though, with this contagious laugh that makes me forget my baggage for, like, two seconds.

Zara and I are chilling by the pack’s pool one afternoon, sipping lemonade and dodging Ethan’s cannonballs. She’s rambling about mates, all starry-eyed. “It’s gonna be so romantic, Lila. Like fireworks and love at first sight!”

I snort, kicking water at her. “Yeah, mates are overrated. Trust me, they’re more likely to set your life on fire than give you fireworks.”

She squints at me, all suspicious. “Wait, hold up. You sound like you’ve been through it. Lila, did you… find your mate?”

I freeze, my stomach twisting. “Nah,” I lie, staring at the pool. “Never met him. Probably some loser anyway.”

“Lila, you’re so hiding something,” Zara says, poking my arm. “Spill. Did you get rejected or what?”

Damn, am I that obvious? I sigh, giving up. “Fine. Yeah, I met my mate. Total asshole. Rejected me at the Silver Claw Gala, in front of everyone. Said I’m useless ‘cause I got no wolf. Humiliated me and my mom like it was his cardio for the day.”

Zara’s jaw drops, her eyes blazing. “What the hell? Who does this dude think he is? Some big-shot Alpha? Gimme his name, I’m gonna claw his face off!”

I laugh, her rage weirdly cheering me up. “Kael Draven, Shadow Fang Pack. Total jerk. Don’t waste your claws, though he’s not worth it.”

“He’s a douche,” Zara declares, splashing in the pool. “You’re way too cool for him. I’m gonna help you get revenge, Lila. We’ll make him cry like a baby.”

“Thank you,” I appreciated smiling at her commitment. “Are you sure you are alright, Zara?”

This pack? It’s like a fever dream. Everyone’s nice. They know I’m wolf-less, but nobody’s tripping me in the dirt or whispering “loser” behind my back. Ethan high-fives me at dinner, Ellie sneaks me extra cookies, and Caleb’s always cracking dad jokes. I’m not an outcast here, I’m family. Moon Stone Pack’s my home, and I’m low-key obsessed.

But that night, as I’m sprawled on my new bed, staring at the fairy lights, a chill creeps up my spine. The window’s cracked open, and I heard that low, guttural snarl from Silver Claw, the one with those freaky red eyes. It’s here, in Crescent Hollow, and it’s closer than ever.