Bound by the Moonlight

Chapter 6 – The Only Light

Jade's POV

I sat curled up on the bleachers behind the school gym, hugging my knees to my chest as the autumn wind tugged at my hair. The sting of humiliation still clung to me like a second skin, and Hunter’s voice replayed in my mind in a cruel loop.

“Did anyone bring a flea collar?”

I dug my fingers deeper into my arms.

I hated him. I hated him so much. But worse than that—some small, broken part of me still longed for him. For the boy he used to be. The boy who used to share his crayons with me in the first grade. The one who used to chase butterflies beside me before the lines between Alpha and Omega were carved into stone.

But that boy was gone.

Now, he was the future Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack.

And I was the bottom of the chain.

“Found you,” came a familiar voice.

I didn’t look up. I didn’t have to. Only one person would say that to me with a tone that wasn’t laced with venom.

Ashley dropped her bag on the bench and plopped down beside me without asking. She didn’t need an invitation. She knew me better than anyone else in the world.

“Rough day?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

I let out a shaky laugh. “That obvious?”

“You bolted out of class like your tail was on fire. And then you ignored me, yelling your name in the hall like I was some creepy rogue.”

“Sorry.” My voice was thin. “Didn’t mean to freak you out.”

She shrugged. “I’m not mad." Just worried.”

A silence stretched between us, filled with the rustling of leaves and the distant thud of a ball being kicked around on the sports field.

Then Ashley nudged me gently with her shoulder. “Wanna talk about it?”

I didn’t answer right away. But then the words started pouring out before I could stop them.

“He humiliated me again, Ash,” I whispered. In front of everyone. Like it’s some sort of game to him. And I just stood there. Let him do it. Again.”

Her expression darkened. “Hunter’s an arrogant ass. You know that. You don’t deserve any of this.”

“I know, but…” I hesitated, chewing on my bottom lip. “It’s not just the things" he says. It’s how he looks at me, like I’m a mistake that shouldn’t exist. Like I disgust him.”

Ashley placed her hand over mine. Her skin was warm, grounding.

“Hey,” she said firmly. “You’re not a mistake. You’re smart, kind, and loyal. And he—he’s just a scared little boy hiding behind his title and ego. That doesn’t make you less. That makes him weak.”

I blinked at her, my throat tightening. “I don’t feel strong.”

“You don’t have to feel strong to be strong,” she said gently. “Just surviving this place every day? That takes more guts than any of them have. Especially him.”

Her words settled around me like a warm blanket. I didn’t know how she did it—how she always knew the exact thing to say to pull me back from the edge—but I was endlessly grateful.

Ashley was my anchor.

The only person in the entire pack who saw me. Really saw me.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

She smiled, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “That’s what best friends are for. You put up with my bad jokes, and I patch you up when the Alpha Brat gets too full of himself.”

I actually laughed. A real one this time.

Ashley grinned in triumph. “There it is. Took me all period, but I got the Jade smile back.”

“Barely.”

“Hey, I’ll take it.”

We sat there for a while, saying nothing. Just being. The quiet was nice. Peaceful. Rare.

Then Ashley turned toward me again, her eyes a little too sharp.

“You know… I’ve been thinking,” she said. “You’ve only got a few days until your eighteenth birthday". That’s when your mate bond will be official, right?”

I stiffened.

“Yeah,” I said slowly. “Why?”

“Well…” She looked thoughtful. “Maybe things will change." Maybe you’ll meet someone amazing. Someone who sees you for who you are.”

I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I may have already found my mate.

And that he hated me.

But I couldn’t burden her with that. Not now. Not when she was trying so hard to lift me up.

“I hope so,” I murmured, giving her a small smile.

She reached into her bag and handed me a chocolate bar—my favorite kind. “Here. For emergency chocolate therapy. Doctor’s orders.”

I took it with a laugh. “You’re the best.”

“Don’t forget it.”

The final bell rang in the distance, signaling the end of the day.

Ashley stood and stretched. “Come on. Let’s go before that brute and his goons flood the hallway. I’m not in the mood to watch another testosterone parade.”

I followed her down the path, her laughter echoing beside me.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, the world didn’t feel quite so heavy.

Because no matter what happened next—no matter what pain or truth awaited me—I knew I wasn’t completely alone.

I had Ashley.

And that was enough… for now.