Mystique Luna

Chapter 1

Irina

"It was indeed Alpha Nikolai of Moonlight, Luna," Sandy confirmed the identity of the man who had saved me two nights ago.

His face had haunted me ever since, accompanied by strange dreams that left me restless. He looked oddly familiar, so much so that I had mistaken him for someone else. But those golden eyes—I had only seen them once before in my life.

How could that be?

I shook off the thought. They could be two different people. It had been ten years. My memory could be playing tricks on me.

But as much as I wanted to dismiss it, my mind dragged me back to that night.

The night everything was taken from me.

The scent of burning wood and blood filled the air, thick and suffocating. Screams echoed through the night, blending with the howls of wolves and the snarls of intruders. The Crescent Pack, my home, was under attack.

I ran through the chaos, my small legs struggling to keep up. My mother had told me to hide, but I refused. I needed to find them. I needed to be with them.

Then, I saw them.

My parents stood at the center of the battlefield, surrounded. My father, Alpha of Crescent Pack, was wounded but still fighting, his blade slashing through enemies like a raging storm. My mother, our Luna, stood back-to-back with him, her claws drenched in blood.

But they were outnumbered. And he was there.

A man with golden eyes.

He moved like a shadow, cutting through our warriors with terrifying precision. His long coat billowed behind him, his sword gleaming under the full moon. When he reached my parents, time seemed to slow.

I wanted to scream, but my voice was trapped in my throat.

My father lunged, but the man was faster. His sword struck true, piercing through my father’s chest. My mother’s cry of anguish barely left her lips before the blade turned on her, slicing clean through her neck.

Their bodies hit the ground.

I fell to my knees, my hands covering my mouth to muffle my sobs. The golden-eyed man wiped the blood from his blade, his face void of emotion.

Then, as if sensing me, his gaze lifted—locking onto mine.

For a moment, I was frozen under that piercing stare.

Then darkness swallowed me.

"Luna, are you okay?"

Sandy’s voice pulled me back to reality as she tapped my shoulder. I took a slow breath, calming my nerves before nodding.

My goal in this lifetime has always been clear—revenge. The unfair death of my parents still haunts me, and for years, I have been piecing together fragments of a mystery that seemed impossible to solve.

"Please do a thorough background check on him," I instructed my beta.

The Moonlight Pack has always been distant, never involving itself in matters concerning the council. For him to appear that night felt too deliberate, as if he was after something. What if he was the reason behind the vampire attack? Even Zion didn’t recognize him at first glance.

"Make sure to list anyone with golden eyes," I added. "It could be one of them."

Before my beta could respond, the door swung open, and my delta strode in, his expression grim. A sealed letter rested in his hand.

"Luna, this just arrived," he said, handing it to me.

I broke the seal and scanned the contents. My grip tightened.

The council had summoned all those present during the vampire attack.

"The Council called us. This has something to do with what happened two nights ago," I said, placing the letter on my desk.

Sandy's eyes remained on me, a mix of confusion and understanding flickering in them. She must have read my thoughts. This was my chance—to meet Nikolai and confirm the truth.

"I want you to prepare our best support," I added. "Just in case there’s a fight."

Sandy gave a sharp nod. "Understood, Luna."

Something about this summons didn’t sit right with me. The Council never acted without reason. If they were gathering everyone present that night, it meant they were looking for answers—or someone to blame.

Morning came, and just as stated in the letter, we were summoned to arrive by ten. The Council usually held meetings at night, which meant this was urgent.

I arrived at the Council Hall exactly on time, keeping my senses sharp. This wasn’t familiar territory, and with my beta absent, I had no reinforcements if things turned hostile. I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.

The room was silent—unnervingly so. Even Zion, who was usually talkative, sat stiffly in his seat, his usual ease replaced by an unusual stillness.

I scanned the room, searching for Nikolai. But he wasn’t here.

Then, the Elders finally spoke, their voices carrying the weight of authority. "We send our deepest apologies for what transpired that night," one of them said. "The attack was unforeseen, and we understand the risk it placed on all those present."

Before they could continue, the doors swung open with a loud creak, drawing every gaze in the room.

Nikolai stepped in.

He moved with an air of indifference, as if he had no care for the heavy atmosphere in the room. Beside him, a woman walked in stride, her presence just as commanding. And even without speaking, his disregard for the Elders was clear. There was no bow, no acknowledgment—just the effortless arrogance of a man who did not answer to anyone.

Then, out of nowhere, he turned.

Our eyes met.

A jolt shot through me—not from recognition, but something deeper, something unsettling. He didn’t look away. Neither did I.

He furrowed his brow as if questioning why I was staring at him. But when I didn't budge, he was the one who broke eye contact. Somehow, I felt a sense of victory.

When the meeting ended, Zion immediately clung to my arm as we exited the door.

"I really hate the arrogance of that man. He thinks he's above us," he groaned.

He had a point. No one dared to disrespect the Council—not in front of Alphas and Lunas—but Nikolai did. I wondered why the Council let it pass. Was it because he had saved us from that attack nights ago? But that didn’t seem reasonable at all. Regardless of being a savior, he should still respect the Council.

As we walked down the hall, still discussing Nikolai’s audacity, he suddenly passed by us. He didn’t just walk—he stopped, turning his sharp gaze in our direction. His eyes were piercing, filled with unspoken warnings, as if daring us to say more.

Zion stiffened beside me, his grip on my arm tightening. I wasn’t sure if it was from anger or intimidation.

Nikolai scoffed before continuing on his way.

Something about his stare unsettled me. Without thinking, I pulled away from Zion and ran after him.

"Wait!" I called out, my footsteps echoing against the marble floor.

Nikolai didn’t stop.

I quickened my pace, reaching for his arm, but he sidestepped me with ease. "What do you want?" he asked coldly.

"I need to ask you something."

"Not interested." He waved a hand dismissively and kept walking.

I clenched my fists, frustration rising. "Nikolai—"

"Go back," he cut me off. "You’re wasting your time."

He began to walk as if giving me his attention was the least of his concerns. Annoyance bubbled up inside me, hot and impulsive. Without thinking, I chased after him—and kicked him square in the back.

He probably didn’t expect it. His body lurched forward, hitting the wall with a dull thud. A groan escaped him, low and menacing. When he turned to face me, blood was dripping from his nose.

My heart pounded. I may have gone too far.

"Irina, ruuuuun!" Zion shouted from behind me in panic.

But I stood frozen, locked in Nikolai’s glare.

A slow, dangerous smile spread across his face as he wiped the blood off with the back of his hand. "You’ve got guts," he muttered, stepping toward me.

That was when I knew—I had just made a terrible mistake.