Tale Of The Relentless Luna

Episode One

REBEKKA’S POINT OF VIEW

The first thing that caught my attention was the sunlight coming in through the open window, warming my face while a soft breeze filled my room with the aroma of old books. I blinked my eyes open groggily, my nose twitching as my body resisted the pull of morning. My wolf, Clara, barely acknowledged me in the morning before returning to a cosy silence. A familiar weight stirred in the back of my mind. With a quiet moan, I pulled myself away from the shabby leather chair and stretched. I must have dozed off while reading again. The book I was holding tightly to my chest was strewn about in my lap, its spine twisted at a strange angle. With a sigh, I carefully closed it and ran my fingers over its faded cover before putting it back on my bookshelf. My gaze swept over the remainder of my collection; each book was recognisable; its tales were as well-worn in my memory as the pages themselves. I staggered to the toilet and let out a yawn. I grimaced after just one look in the mirror. My cheek had a beautiful streak of dried drool and a deep red mark from the book. I moaned and used the back of my wrist to massage my face. I squinted at my reflection and muttered, "What a look." My pyjama shirt was sloppy, with one strap barely hanging over my shoulder, and my hair was a mess, golden waves tangled from sleep. I sighed as the hot water eased the last traces of sleep from my muscles. I shook my head and took off my polka-dotted pyjamas before entering the shower. The warmth soothed me, though my mind drifted—birthdays had a way of making you think about the future. I would turn eighteen in a few days. This is the age at which most people find partners. My friend. I felt a wave of anticipation as Clara stirred once more at the thought. With a voice full of assurance, she whispered in the back of my mind, "We will find our mate." I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Life is about more than just finding a partner." Clara just gave a disapproving hum and stepped back. Her restlessness had increased recently, as though she sensed something that was just out of our grasp. I wished I could be as excited as she was, but the thought of finding my mate made me feel more anxious than happy. What if I wasn't prepared? What if I didn't want them? I felt more awake when I emerged from the shower, with steam surrounding me like a cosy hug. My wavy blond hair fell down my back, still damp but drying into soft curls, and my cornflower-blue eyes were brighter in my reflection. As I padded back to my room after wrapping myself in a towel, my door abruptly flew open. Arguing loudly, two well-known figures stumbled inside. "Dude, knock!" I screamed and fumbled for something to shield myself. They appeared completely unfazed. Karla crossed her arms and shrugged, "We've seen it all before." She wore a typical baggy sweatshirt and pulled her brown hair back in an untidy bun. Leni flipped her long jet-black hair over her shoulder and snorted. "She doesn't necessarily want us to storm in first thing in the morning, though." I had time to put on some knickers and a tank top before she grabbed her sister's arm and threw her around. I mumbled, "Thank you," as I hurriedly put on my denim shorts and slipped my feet into my black trainers. "Anyway, why are you here so early?" Leni smugly threw an apple up and caught it, saying, "She got in trouble with Mom again." "I'm not to blame!" Karla laughed. "Tobi spent last night in my room." Leni shook her head impatiently as we made our way downstairs, and I moaned. Karla batted her lashes in a fanciful display of innocence as she insisted, "He came to me." Leni let out a gagging noise. "Thank you, but I don't want to hear about my sister's nightly adventures." When we arrived in the kitchen, my mother, Ingrid Dahlman, was already busy at the stove. The air was filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon. Grinning at the three of us, she turned. "Good morning, ladies. What are the plans for today? After giving her a cheek kiss, I took an apple off the counter. It's a fantastic question. Apart from Karla's threat, is there anything else to consider? Karla smiled, totally unconcerned. "I enjoy entertaining you all." Mom laughed and slapped her with a dish towel. "There's no denying that you make your mother anxious." With a flourish and a dramatic sidestep of another playful swipe from the towel, Karla declared, "It's a talent." Leni rolled her eyes. "It's tiring." As I watched them argue, I chewed my apple thoughtfully. I wished time would slow down at times like these. All of us were growing older. Things would change eventually. We will locate our partners. We may wind up in separate packs. Such mornings would not be the norm for us. Karla put an arm around my shoulders as though she could sense what I was thinking. "Are you over there, deep in thought?" I confessed, "I was just thinking about my birthday." "What ought we to do?" Peeling her banana, Leni proposed, "That night is the Sternenglanz Festival." "We could visit that place." I grinned. "Perhaps Karla will find love." Karla laughed. "Please. As though that were a concern of mine. Leni smiled. "For once, I'll get a full night's sleep." Karla gripped her chest tightly. "You portray me as a scandalous outlaw!" I tossed my apple core in the compost bin and said drearily, "You are." She pretended to be offended as she gasped. "Rude." I shook my head and laughed. "Just one thing on my birthday—knock before you storm in, okay?" Karla grinned and said, "I make no promises." I let out a sigh. The warm breeze carried the far-off sounds of the pack beginning their day as we made our way outside. The hum of voices, the steady rhythm of a woodcutter, and the occasional dog bark made the world seem alive. I had always called this place home, but things were about to change. I sensed it. But for now, we had this little area of calm. It wouldn't go on forever. However, I would keep it as long as I could.