The Luna He Can’t Get Back

The Alpha’s Claim

Deanna looked around, her gaze darting over the warriors who were keeping track on her every step. Though they were silent and calculating, she could see their respect in their eyes, their intrigue, and maybe a touch of dread. She sensed Zane's strong, dominant, commanding presence bouncing off him. But when he looked at her, his movement had a different, softer aspect.

A group of Reavers approaching the center of the camp stopped talking. Deanna's heart pounded. They weren't just looking; they were glaring at her, the looks varying from shock to caution. A flicker of self-doubt crossed her. Who was she, really, to be at the heart of their universe?

Zane turned around to look at her. You are safe here, Deanna. These wolves will protect you.

Deanna, on the other hand, was not so sure. Her mind raced in a vortex of doubt. Though the memory of her past loomed on her like a shadow, the pull she felt towards Zane was undeniable.

Entering the camp's center, one of the warriors advanced with a serious yet courteous expression. Zane was there without doubt. Deanna, though? Quietly, they watched her wait for something.

She naturally speculated what would come next and if she was ready for it.

Zane brought Deanna to a small fire where the other Reavers had gathered. Unreadable in emotion, their eyes flicked to her and then back to him.

Zane said softly but firmly, "Deanna, I need you to hear me." You are not just any wolf.

Deanna knitted her brow, but the intensity in his gaze made her heart accelerate. Could you explain?

Zane went on, his voice heavy with meaning, "You are the last descendant of the Moon Queen." Your lineage is ancient. Old. Ancient. Sturdy.

Deanna felt her breast tighten. The Moon Queen Hers. She had lived in the shadows, unimportant in the bigger picture, and now this, this discovery was beyond her comprehension.

"No," she answered softly, backing off a little. I don't, I don't understand.

Zane's expression softened, and for the first time she saw something more delicate than the Alpha. You were always meant for this, Deanna. Your strength, your destiny, it is already written in the stars. You allow the Reavers to live.

Something deep inside her started to wake up. Fear? Desire? She had no idea. I am not ready for this. She turned around, seeing the waiting, still watching warriors. Their stare on her made her skin crawl.

Speaking gently, Zane came closer. Deanna, you need not be prepared. You just have to be who you are.

Her heart pounded in her chest. So, exactly what am I?

He looked at her with a concentration she couldn't ignore. The Moon Queen's blood runs through your veins. You were supposed to guide.

Deanna's thoughts spun. This couldn't be real. She was nothing like the formidable leader he depicted. She was just a woman running from wickedness.

Zane's words settling in, Deanna felt herself growing weaker as the flames flickered in the distance. Was this truly her lot?

Deanna sat cross-legged by the fire still reeling from Zane's revelation. The warrior Reavers walked about her, their eyes occasionally turning to her as though waiting for something.

Zane had told her to focus. To consider. Though it seems impossible, to acknowledge her strength. She didn’t understand; how could she control something she didn’t even know existed till hours ago?

Her hands trembled and she shut her eyes, trying to focus on the heat rising in her palms. She could feel it, the little warmth, but it wasn't enough. She started to breathe more quickly.

"I can't do this," she muttered more to herself than to Zane.

Calm yet forceful, Zane said, "You can." Focus on your breathing. Manage the inner flame.

Deanna's heart rushed in her chest following his instructions. But the heat became more intense and her hands hurt. Starting to panic, her breathing became erratic. She had no say in it. The fire raged and before she could stop it, flames sprang from her palms igniting the surrounding air.

"Stop!" she screamed, her heart racing. Flickering wildly, the flames consumed the space surrounding her, threatening to spiral out of control.

Zane was there in a second, hands on her own. Like a grounding force, his touch drew her back from the brink. Though not unpleasant, his grip was firm; his energy was radiating heat.

Quietly, his voice a soft hum among the chaos, he said, "You're stronger than you know."

Though the flames died down, her heart still rushed in her breast. Breathless, she looked at him; his expression was flat but he held her gaze for a long time.

Then, something altered; his stare lingered on her in a way that made her stomach flutter with a strange sensation.

Deanna's thoughts drifted. Though her inner fire was insatiable, so was the pull she felt for him.

Zane's lips parted as if to speak, but a rumbling growl echoed from the trees. A sudden, strong wind swept across the camp carrying a smell she knew all too well: Tyler's rucksack.

Zane replied, "Brace yourself," holding her tightly.

Every step steeped in uncertainty, Deanna's feet dragged as she followed Zane down the winding paths of the Moon Reavers' camp. The wolves around them moved with silent intensity, their eyes always flashing toward her, weighing her up. Their gazes made her feel loaded with expectations pressing down on her shoulders.

Zane seemed at ease in his surroundings; she was quite the opposite. Caught between her past and what she was starting to believe was her future, neither appeared a good option.

Zane's voice cut through her thoughts. Your only safe spot is this one. Tyler will keep going until he gets you back. Those who know your skills won't quit either.

Deanna stayed quiet. She could not. She wasn't sure whether to take Zane's remarks at face value, much less his recommendations. Though she couldn't undo the deceit, her body was still quivering with the power of his words. Tyler's face was burned into her mind; his hands were on Isla, her sister.

Softly, in a pained tone, she replied, "I didn't ask for this." She struggled to look at him and hesitated. I did not ask for this. Not the power. Not the, whatever I am.

Zane stopped and turned to face her, his expression soft yet serious. Deanna, nobody asked for their destiny. You have it and cannot escape it, though. You are Moon Queen's lineage. Your power... it can save these wolves. It might save everyone.

She could neither breathe nor think. His comments' realism was too much. Though her fear held her back, she could feel the weight on her chest from the legacy he painted.

Zane whispered, edging closer, "Come with us." His voice was steady; he offered more than just safety; he offered something more. Something she wasn't sure she wanted. You will be alright. Shelter. The Reavers will be loyal to you.

He was a draw. Whenever he spoke, Deanna was always drawn to him, to his strength, his confidence. But she was uncertain if it was something she wanted or needed. She had lost so much before; how could she trust someone like him?

Before she could respond, a howl from deep within the woods rang out. A strong, obvious wolf. Tyler's Deanna felt the old sting of his presence, the haunting pull of the past, and it made her freeze.

Deanna's heart pounded. The wail was not just in the air; it was like a rope straining at her own core, stabbing her. Tyler. The way he speaks. His wolf howling out to her as though he still possessed her, as though he could bridge time and space and demand her return.

Tyler was not the only cause of her chest-pounding suffering. It came from her own doubt, the inner struggle twisting inside of her.

Zane noticed her breath catching and her body's tightness. To her surprise, he advanced and softly seized her shoulders with his powerful hands.

You need not give him any mind. His voice was consistent yet strong; Zane's breath was warm against her ear. You are no longer his.

Deanna's heart raced as she tried to separate herself from him; nevertheless, Tyler's wolf's pull was stronger than her will. "But I can't," she said. He stays,

Deanna, quit running from your own power. You have to face it right now.

Her head shot up. Zane's gaze was intense and searching; beneath his words, however, there was something else, something more profound. His hand stayed on hers, warmth from his skin flowing through her body like fire. His comments filled her head with questions; her breathing became slower.

With a raspy voice and trembling hands at her sides, she remarked, "I can't help it." I don't even understand.

Zane crept closer and whispered only for her to hear. You will. You are not the weak little wolf. Though you've been hiding, you have the inner fire. Let it run.

His words struck her like lightning, and before she could think, she felt it, her wolffire, smoldering beneath the surface. A pulse of fire rushing into her veins brought it to life. Her gasp came from the energy crackling at her fingertips.

Zane ordered, his voice level but laced with threat. Live it. Accept it.

Deanna, on the other hand, allowed her worry take over. She couldn't contain the power; it erupted from her, flames licking the air and consuming all in front of her. Insatiable and savage, the flames erupted. Screaming, she sensed the heat rising past her, threatening the entire camp.

Deanna Yanking her hands down with his own, Zane shouted. You have to quit!

She tried, but the fire disregarded her. Zane's strong, muscular hold and his body pressing against hers drew her close; his presence grounded her in reality. Low and steady, his voice cut through the chaos of the flames.

He said softly, pulling her hands into his and urging the flames to vanish, "You're stronger than this."

Deanna's heart thudded in her chest as the fire died slowly. Still, their relationship—that strange, persistent pull—remained. They remained warm.

The camp around them was quiet; the air was charged with tension. Deanna, though, instantly realized that this was just the beginning. What she had started could not be reversed.