CHAPTERFIVE
1306 Words
Secrets Beneath the Moon
Audrey could not breathe.
“The monster they created.”
The words echoed endlessly inside her mind after Nathan left the cabin, each repetition sending fear crawling deeper beneath her skin.
Becka was still talking, pacing back and forth across the room angrily, but Audrey barely heard her.
“Showing up here after everything he did has a lot of nerve,” Becka muttered. “And why was he staring at you like that? It was strange.”
Audrey forced herself to focus.
“I don’t know.”
But she did know something had changed.
Nathan had looked unsettled.
Almost suspicious.
And somehow that frightened her more than his rejection ever had.
The voice inside her mind had gone silent again, leaving behind only a heavy feeling in her chest.
Who—or what—was speaking to her?
Audrey had grown up hearing stories about werewolf curses, ancient bloodlines, and wolves blessed or punished by the Moon Goddess. Most of them sounded like legends told to children around bonfires.
But now…
She wasn’t so sure anymore.
“You’re pale,” Becka said suddenly, stopping in front of her. “Sit down before you fall over again.”
Audrey obeyed quietly.
Becka handed her another cup of tea before sitting beside her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Becka sighed softly.
“You know none of this is normal, right?”
Audrey gave a weak smile. “That obvious?”
“I’m serious.”
Becka leaned closer, lowering her voice.
“Silver eyes aren’t normal for wolves.”
Audrey’s stomach tightened.
“You’ve heard stories too?”
“Everyone has.” Becka looked uneasy now. “My grandmother used to talk about cursed wolves when I was little.”
Audrey frowned slightly. “Cursed?”
“She said there were wolves born under dangerous moons. Wolves connected to ancient powers.” Becka laughed nervously. “Honestly, I always thought she was trying to scare me into behaving.”
But Audrey didn’t laugh.
Because suddenly those stories felt too real.
“Did she ever mention silver eyes?” Audrey asked carefully.
Becka nodded slowly.
“She said silver-eyed wolves were feared because they carried destruction with them.”
A cold chill moved through Audrey’s body.
Destruction.
The images from yesterday flashed through her mind again.
Blood.
Fire.
Nathan covered in blood beneath a red moon.
Audrey quickly looked away before Becka could notice her fear.
“That’s just an old story,” Becka added quickly. “Don’t overthink it.”
Too late.
Audrey was already overthinking everything.
—
By evening, the storm clouds had finally disappeared, leaving the pack grounds unusually quiet.
Most wolves remained indoors after news of the border attack spread through the village. Patrols had doubled, and tension filled the air everywhere Audrey went.
She could feel people watching her again as she walked through the market carrying supplies.
Some wolves whispered.
Others avoided eye contact completely.
The rejected mate.
That was what she had become now.
Not Audrey.
Not a person.
Just gossip.
Audrey tightened her grip on the basket in her hands and kept walking.
“You should be ashamed of yourself.”
She froze.
An older woman stood near one of the market stalls glaring at her disapprovingly.
Audrey frowned slightly. “Excuse me?”
The woman crossed her arms.
“You caused embarrassment for the future Alpha.”
Pain stabbed through Audrey’s chest instantly.
People nearby turned to watch.
Audrey’s face burned with humiliation.
“I didn’t do anything.”
The woman scoffed. “Nathan should never have been matched with someone beneath him.”
Audrey felt like all the air had vanished around her.
More whispers spread through the crowd.
“She’s still here?”
“If I were her, I would’ve left already.”
“She’s pathetic.”
Pathetic.
The word shattered something inside her.
Audrey lowered her gaze quickly, trying to ignore the tears burning her eyes.
Then suddenly—
Her wolf growled.
Not softly.
Violently.
A sharp pulse of energy rushed through Audrey’s body so fast it nearly made her stumble.
The crowd immediately fell silent.
Because Audrey’s eyes flashed silver.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
The older woman gasped and stepped backward fearfully.
Audrey froze.
Oh no.
No no no.
Did they see that?
The whispers around her changed instantly.
“What was that?”
“Her eyes…”
Audrey dropped the basket and turned away quickly, her heart pounding wildly.
She ran.
Past the market.
Past the pack houses.
Past the training grounds.
She didn’t stop until she reached the edge of the forest.
Her breathing came fast and uneven as she leaned against a tree.
“What’s happening to me?” she whispered desperately.
The voice answered almost immediately.
“You are awakening.”
Audrey shut her eyes tightly.
“Stop talking to me.”
“You cannot run from what you are.”
“I don’t even know what that means!”
Silence.
Then—
“Your blood was never ordinary.”
Audrey’s chest tightened painfully.
“What are you?”
The voice seemed almost amused now.
“A memory.”
That made even less sense.
Audrey pressed trembling fingers against her forehead.
“This isn’t real.”
But deep down…
She knew it was.
Suddenly, branches snapped nearby.
Audrey’s head jerked up instantly.
A figure stepped out from between the trees.
Nathan.
Of course it was him.
He looked tense the moment he saw her.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
Audrey quickly turned away, hoping he hadn’t noticed her panic.
“Why?”
Nathan walked closer carefully.
“There are rumors spreading through the pack.”
Her stomach dropped.
“What rumors?”
“That your eyes changed in the market.”
Fear crawled through her instantly.
Audrey forced herself to stay calm.
“People are imagining things.”
Nathan studied her silently.
The forest grew eerily quiet around them.
“You’re hiding something,” he said finally.
Anger immediately replaced some of Audrey’s fear.
“You don’t get to question me after what you did.”
Nathan’s expression hardened slightly.
“This isn’t about us anymore.”
“There is no ‘us,’ remember?”
The words hit harder than she intended.
Nathan looked away briefly.
For a moment, guilt flashed across his face again.
But Audrey was too angry to care.
“You rejected me,” she continued bitterly. “You made it very clear I’m beneath you.”
Nathan suddenly stepped closer.
“That’s not what I meant.”
Audrey laughed coldly.
“Really? Because that’s exactly what the entire pack heard.”
Nathan clenched his jaw.
The tension between them felt suffocating.
And yet despite everything…
The broken mate bond still lingered faintly between them.
Audrey hated it.
Hated the way her heart reacted whenever he stood close.
Hated the way part of her still noticed how painfully handsome he looked beneath the fading sunset light.
Hated herself most for caring at all.
Nathan’s voice softened unexpectedly.
“You should leave the pack for a while.”
Audrey blinked in shock.
“What?”
“It’s becoming dangerous for you here.”
Anger exploded inside her instantly.
“You think I can’t protect myself?”
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
“Then what are you saying?”
Nathan hesitated.
And for the first time since she met him…
He looked afraid.
Not of her.
For her.
“There are things happening in this pack you don’t understand,” he said quietly.
Audrey’s chest tightened.
“What things?”
Nathan glanced around the forest cautiously before lowering his voice further.
“My father knows something about silver-eyed wolves.”
Audrey froze completely.
Nathan continued carefully.
“And whatever it is… he’s terrified of it.”
- Writer
