The Rejected Luna CH8 -CH10
1066 Words
*CHAPTER 8: THE FIRST JOINT PATROL*
Dawn broke gray over the border. Frost clung to the pine trees.
Luna stood at the line where Arctic territory met Damien's pack lands. Her wolves were behind her. His were behind him.
Nobody was talking.
"This is stupid," growled one of Damien's betas. "We don't need babysitters."
"And we don't need rogues in our territory because you can't patrol," snapped one of Luna's.
"Enough." Luna's voice cut through the air. "We do this together or not at all. Clause 3 of the treaty."
Damien stepped forward. He was in full gear, sword at his hip. He looked like a king. And a soldier. "Alpha Selene is right. Move out."
They walked in two lines. Arctic on the left. Damien's pack on the right. Ten feet of snow between them.
It was awkward.
For the first hour, nothing happened. Just crunching snow and cold breath.
Then Luna's wolf perked up. _Scent. Blood. Old._
She stopped. "Everyone halt."
Damien was beside her instantly. "What?"
"There." She pointed to a tree with claw marks. Deep. Fresh. "Rogues passed here last night. At least 4."
Damien crouched, touching the marks. "They're heading east. Toward the river."
"We need to split up."
"No." Damien stood. "Treaty says joint patrols. We stay together."
Luna wanted to argue. But he was right. "Fine. East. Quiet."
They moved faster now. The tension between the packs faded a little as they focused. This was what wolves did. Hunt. Protect.
It was near noon when they heard it. A scream.
Luna ran. Damien ran with her.
They burst into a clearing and saw them. Two rogues, cornering a young she-wolf from Damien's pack. She couldn't have been older than 17.
Luna didn't hesitate. She shifted mid-run. Black wolf, massive, hitting the first rogue like a truck.
Chaos.
Damien shifted too. His wolf was dark gray with scars. He took the second rogue down in seconds.
When it was over, the young wolf was shaking but alive.
Damien shifted back first, pulling off his jacket to give her. "You're okay. You're safe."
Luna shifted too. Her hands were covered in blood. Not hers. "Good work," she said to her pack, and to his.
One of Damien's warriors looked at her differently now. Less hate. More respect.
As they walked back, the snow between the two lines got smaller. Five feet now. Then three.
At the border, Damien stopped her. "Thank you. For not hesitating."
Luna wiped blood off her cheek. "I protect what's mine. That includes treaty members now."
Damien nodded. "Dinner tonight? To debrief."
"It wasn't a date."
"I didn't say it was." He smirked. "7pm. My office. Bring the treaty."
Luna rolled her eyes but her wolf was wagging its tail. "Fine."
She walked away, and for the first time, the patrol didn't feel like a punishment.
*CHAPTER 9: DINNER AND OLD WOUNDS*
7pm. Damien's office.
Luna knocked once and entered. The treaty was in her hand.
Damien had set up a small table. Two plates. Roast meat. Bread. And tea. Chamomile.
"You remembered," she said, sitting.
"I remember everything about you." He poured the tea. "Even the things you wish I didn't."
They ate in silence for a while.
"So," Damien said finally. "Amendments to the treaty?"
Luna pulled out a paper. "No forced matings. No shared rooms. No touching without permission."
Damien read it. "The last one is going to kill me."
"Good."
He looked up. "Why did you really run, Selene? You could've told me about your father."
Luna put her fork down. "Because you would've tried to fight him. And he would've killed you. And then sold me anyway."
Damien's jaw clenched. "You didn't think I could protect you?"
"I didn't think anyone could." She met his eyes. "I was 18 and scared. I made a choice."
"And now?"
"Now I'm 23 and the Alpha. And I make my own choices."
Damien reached across the table. Stopped himself before touching her hand. Pulled back. "Can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"Do you regret it? Running?"
Luna was quiet. "I regret that it had to happen. I don't regret who I became because of it."
Damien nodded slowly. "Fair."
They finished dinner. When Luna stood to leave, Damien walked her to the door.
"Luna," he said softly.
She turned.
"I missed you every day."
Her chest tightened. "Don't."
"Why not?"
"Because it makes this harder."
Damien stepped aside. "Then I'll stop saying it. But I won't stop meaning it."
Luna left, the door closing behind her. Her hands were shaking.
Her wolf whispered: _He's still ours._
Luna whispered back: _I know._
*CHAPTER 10: THE ATTACK ON THE PACKHOUSE*
It happened at 3am.
Luna woke to alarms and fire.
"Packhouse is under attack!"
She was out of bed and shifting before she was fully awake.
The packhouse gates were burning. Rogues. At least 15. More than they'd ever seen.
Luna hit the fight like a storm. She tore through them, protecting pups, elders, her people.
Then she saw him.
Damien. Fighting with his back to the gate. Outnumbered. Bleeding from 3 places.
"Damien!"
He turned, and a rogue lunged at him.
Luna moved without thinking. She threw herself between them. Took the hit on her shoulder.
Pain exploded.
Damien roared. He killed the rogue in one move, then caught Luna as she stumbled.
"I've got you," he growled. "I've got you."
They fought back to back. Wolf and wolf. Alpha and Alpha.
By sunrise, the rogues were dead or running.
Luna was sitting on the ground, Damien's shirt pressed to her shoulder.
"You i***t," he said, his voice breaking. "You took a hit for me."
"Shut up and hold pressure," she hissed.
He did. His hands were gentle but firm.
The healers came. They cleaned the wound. Stitched it.
All through it, Damien didn't let go of her hand.
When it was done, Luna was exhausted. "You can go," she whispered.
"No." Damien pulled a chair next to her bed. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Why?"
"Because five years ago I wasn't there when you needed me." His thumb brushed her knuckles. "I'm here now."
Luna wanted to argue. She was too tired.
She fell asleep to the sound of his breathing.
When she woke, the sun was up. And Damien was still there. Asleep in the chair, holding her hand.
Her wolf sighed. _Home._
- Writer
