Scarred by Moonlight

Chapter 14: Sugar Coated Trauma

The warm scent of sugar and cinnamon greeted River the moment she pushed open the door to Sweet Fangz Bakery. The tiny shop was bustling with energy, the chatter of patrons mingling with the soft hum of the espresso machine. Behind the counter, glass cases displayed an array of pastries, each whimsically named after something lupine—Moonlit Macarons, Howling Danish, and Wolfsbane Cupcakes, to name a few.

Alessandro followed behind her, his hands stuffed into his pockets, eyes scanning the menu written on chalkboards above the counter. “You dragged me here for dessert?” he teased, a smile tugging at his lips.

“Not just dessert—an experience,” River quipped, leading him toward the counter. She gestured to the display case. “Look at these names. Whoever owns this place is either a genius or insane.”

Alessandro’s eyes landed on a long pastry dusted in shimmering silver powder. He raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

River grinned. “That is a Silver Bullet. Filled with cream and topped with edible silver. Fancy, huh?”

He smirked. “Let me guess—you’re getting something less dramatic?”

“A Wolfsbane Cupcake and a latte,” she confirmed, placing their order with the barista. Then she added, “And he’ll have a Silver Bullet and a coffee. Large. He needs it.”

Alessandro scoffed but didn’t argue. Instead, he followed her to a small table near the window, where the winter sunlight streamed in, casting a golden glow over their seats.

As they waited, River tapped her fingers on the table, her gaze flickering toward Alessandro. “So, what’s your story?”

“My story?” He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.

“Yes, your story. You’ve been in the pack for what— almost a week? And I know almost nothing about you except that you’re Olrun’s cousin,” she said, air-quoting the word with a teasing smile. "And that you give pretty decent dating advice."

He chuckled. “Fair enough. But only if you tell me something about you first. I can't be putting all my emotional baggage on the table on the first date.”

River hesitated. She wasn’t one to share personal details easily, but there was something about Alessandro that made her feel... safe. She sighed, running a hand through her curly hair. “Not a date, but fine. What do you want to know?”

“Your family,” Alessandro said playfully. “What kind of people are responsible for making this gorgeous creature treating me to type 2 diabetes this morning?”

Her smile faltered, and for a moment, she considered brushing off the question.

Alessandro picked up on her hesitation instantly. "Oh s**t. Did I... Did I say something wrong?"

Alessandro’s expression was genuine, and she found herself lowering her guard. “No, it's fine. My mom was a nurse in the pack infirmary. My dad was a warrior.”

Alessandro nodded, urging her to continue.

“They were good people,” she said, her voice softening. “They saw a lot—too much, really. But no matter what horrors they faced, they always came home and... loved each other. I remember watching them after long days. They had this ritual after every shift. They’d come home, lean their foreheads together, and just... stand there. Silent. Until one of them broke it with a joke or a kiss.”

A sad smile tugged at her lips, and Alessandro’s brows knit together in sympathy. “That sounds beautiful, River."

““It was,” River murmured. “They poured love into each other, even after the worst days. They were the kind of couple you couldn’t help but admire.”

The bakery worker called their names, and Alessandro rose to retrieve their order. When he returned, River took a bite of her lavender cupcake, the sweetness mingling with the bittersweet memories.

“Were they mates?” he asked, picking up his Silver Bullet.

River nodded, taking a sip of her latte and collecting her thoughts. “They were,” she said between sips. “Completely inseparable, and they balanced each other so perfectly. My mom would say my dad was the steady rock that kept her grounded, and my dad would say she was the fire that kept him alive. The way they breathed life into each other... I've always wanted that ”

Alessandro smiled softly. “Where are they now?”

The question made her pause. Her hand froze mid-motion, and her gaze dropped to her cupcake. For a moment, she didn’t speak, the memories too painful to put into words. But Alessandro’s patient silence coaxed her to continue.

“They died during the Fall of the Sacred Dawn,” she said quietly. “The infirmary was attacked. My dad left his post when he heard... He ran to her. His only thought was reaching her in time.”

She swallowed hard, willing herself not to cry. “I found them after it was over. They were lying there, on the ground. Blood pooling together. Their hands... their hands were interlocked. Even in death, they held onto each other.”

Alessandro reached across the table, his hand covering hers. His touch was warm, grounding her as her voice wavered. “If my dad had stayed at his post, he probably would’ve survived,” she added, her voice barely above a whisper. “But... what kind of life is worth living without the other half of your soul?”

Alessandro’s chest tightened as he watched her fight back tears. He wanted to hug her, but he had no idea of his comfort would mean anything to her. “I’m so sorry, River,” he said quietly, his thumb brushing against her knuckles.

River cleared her throat, pulling her hand away as if to regain control of her emotions. “They're in a better place,” she said, though the ache in her chest said otherwise. She forced a small smile. “Enough about me. Why did you come to the Bloody Crescent Pack?”

Alessandro leaned back in his chair, his gaze shifting to the window. “I came seeking family,” he admitted. “A place to belong.”

River studied him, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Did you not have that before?”

He let out a soft, humorless laugh. “Not really. My father... let’s just say he wasn’t exactly the nurturing type. And growing up, I always felt like I didn’t quite fit anywhere.”

River nodded, understanding the sentiment all too well. “The pack’s been good to me,” she said. “It’s become a kind of home. I’ve made friends here. Gained confidence I didn’t know I had.” She smiled at him. “You’ve come to the right place.”

Alessandro met her gaze, his expression conflicted. “I don’t think Olrun agrees,” he said quietly.

River frowned. “What do you mean?”

“He had me take a DNA test,” Alessandro confessed. “To prove we’re related. He doesn’t trust me. Doesn’t want me here.”

River shook her head. “Olrun’s... complicated,” she said carefully. “But give it time. He’ll come around. Hopefully...”

Her voice trailed off, and Alessandro’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he could read the thoughts she wasn’t saying.

“You’re hoping he’ll come around to the mate bond, too,” he said softly.

River stiffened, her cheeks flushing. She looked down at her cupcake, avoiding his gaze.

Alessandro sighed. “River, I know you want a love like your parents. But don’t let that blind you to what you’re going through now.”

She looked up at him, her expression conflicted.

“You’re a great girl,” he said, his voice earnest. “But Olrun... he seems like the kind of man who’d leave you in the cold if it meant benefiting the pack. You deserve someone who’d burn the world just to see a flicker of warmth in those beautiful eyes.”

The words lodged in her chest, painfully sweet, but also unsettling. Did she deserve that kind of love? And if she did... why wasn’t Olrun giving it to her?

River’s breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t know how to respond, so she didn’t. Instead, she took a sip of her latte, her thoughts swirling.

Unbeknownst to them, Ryker and Kade sat at a table across the room, their sharp eyes fixed on the pair.

“Looks cozy,” Kade muttered, his voice low enough that only Ryker could hear.

Ryker’s jaw tightened, his gaze narrowing as Alessandro leaned closer to River, his hand brushing hers. “Too cozy.”

Kade nodded, a silent agreement passing between them. They didn’t need to say it out loud—Olrun needed to know about this.