Alpha's Hidden Luna

Chapter Four: Shadows of the Past

Lucien’s body shifted before her eyes, a blur of movement as his form exploded into a massive black wolf. His teeth bared, he lunged at the rogue mid-air, slamming it to the ground with an earth-shaking thud. Evelyn stumbled backward, her breath hitching as the scene unfolded in front of her.

More glowing eyes appeared in the darkness, snarls and growls echoing through the forest. The rogues were circling them, their hunger and fury palpable.

“Evelyn!” Lucien’s voice boomed in her mind, startling her. She froze, realizing he was speaking to her through their bond. “Run! Now!”

But she couldn’t move. Something deep inside her resisted the command, her scar burning so fiercely it felt like it might split open.

Lucien fought with a ferocity she’d never seen, his claws ripping through one rogue while his teeth sank into the throat of another. Blood splattered across the forest floor, but for every rogue he took down, another seemed to take its place.

One of the wolves broke free from the circle, charging straight for Evelyn. Her legs finally obeyed, and she scrambled backward, her heart hammering in her chest. But before it could reach her, Lucien was there, slamming into the rogue with bone-crushing force.

He shifted back to human form in an instant, his chest heaving, his golden eyes glowing with fury. “I told you to run!” he snarled, grabbing her shoulders.

Evelyn’s voice trembled. “I… I couldn’t leave you.”

His anger softened at her words, but the tension in his body remained. “You’re going to get yourself killed,” he muttered, his hands tightening on her arms.

Before she could respond, he pulled her closer, his lips crashing down on hers in a kiss that stole her breath. The world seemed to tilt, and suddenly, she wasn’t in the forest anymore.

Flashback

Sunlight bathed her skin as she ran through a field of wildflowers, the scent of lavender and fresh earth filling the air. Laughter bubbled up in her chest, carefree and joyous, as a familiar voice called after her.

“Evie, wait!”

She turned to see him—Lucien, younger but still undeniably him—chasing her through the meadow. His golden eyes sparkled with mischief, his smile wide and genuine.

“You’ll never catch me!” she teased, spinning away from him with a playful laugh.

But he was faster, catching her around the waist and pulling her against him. They tumbled to the ground together, the flowers cushioning their fall. He held her close, his fingers brushing her cheek as he whispered, “I’ll always find you, Evie. Always.”

---

Back to Reality

The vision shattered like glass, and Evelyn gasped, breaking the kiss. She stumbled back, her hand flying to her lips as tears welled in her eyes.

“Evie,” she whispered, the name he’d called her echoing in her mind.

Lucien’s expression was pained, his chest still heaving from the fight. “You remembered,” he said softly, almost a question.

“I… I don’t understand,” she said, her voice trembling. “Was that real? Did that… did we—”

“Yes,” Lucien interrupted, stepping closer. “That was us. Before everything fell apart.”

Evelyn’s head spun, the memories flooding her mind like a dam had burst. She clutched at her scar, which now seemed to thrum with an undeniable connection to him. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Because I didn’t want this for you,” he said, his voice heavy with regret. “I didn’t want you to remember the pain—or the danger. But now that they’ve found you, I don’t have a choice. They’ll come for you, Evie, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

Before Evelyn could respond, a low growl sounded from the trees. Lucien stiffened, turning to face the shadowy figures emerging from the darkness.

But these weren’t rogues.

A group of wolves stepped into the clearing, their pelts gleaming under the moonlight. As they shifted to human form, Evelyn realized they were unlike any of the villagers she’d ever seen. These were warriors, their presence radiating authority.

The tallest among them, a man with piercing silver eyes and a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward. “Alpha Lucien,” he said, his tone respectful but firm. “We need to talk.”

Lucien’s jaw tightened. “Not here.”

“It can’t wait,” the man replied, his gaze flicking to Evelyn. “You’ve put us all in danger by bringing her here. The Council is already asking questions.”

Evelyn’s stomach dropped. “The Council?” she asked, glancing between them.

Lucien didn’t answer, his golden eyes locked on the other man. “We’ll deal with the Council when the time comes. Right now, my priority is keeping her alive.”

The man’s silver eyes narrowed. “You think you can protect her alone? She’s already marked. The rogues won’t stop, and neither will the Council. She needs to be hidden—before it’s too late.”

Evelyn stepped forward, her fear giving way to anger. “I’m standing right here, you know. Stop talking about me like I’m some object to be moved around.”

The man blinked, clearly startled by her boldness, but Lucien gave her a small, approving smile.

“She’s not going anywhere,” Lucien said firmly. “Not without me.”

The wolves exchanged uneasy glances, their tension palpable.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Alpha,” the silver-eyed man said. “If the Council finds out about her… if they discover what she really is…”

Lucien’s voice was cold and unyielding. “Let them come. I’ll destroy anyone who tries to take her from me.”

Evelyn’s heart pounded as the wolves melted back into the forest, leaving her and Lucien alone once more.

“What am I, Lucien?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

He turned to her, his golden eyes blazing with determination. “You’re mine, Evie. My mate. My Luna. And the key to saving—or destroying—us all.”