Luna Bonds: Sun, Moon & Stellar Love

Liliana's lips spilled the words, 'Love can be an enigma; however, without its complexity, can it truly be called love? I stared out my window, Rafe drove beside me, the Alpha fate had bound me to. Horns sounded and the city hummed with life. Lost in my thoughts, the world outside blurred until... “You know… when we get there, keep your nose out of matters that don’t concern us. We have a purpose; don’t mess it up,” Rafe's voice carried a warning. With a timid smile, I turned from the window to face him. In my thoughts, I said, 'Oh... he's at it again,' but I couldn't bring myself to challenge him openly. “Okay… but I can’t just sit by quietly all the time,” I replied softly. Rafe's intense gaze met mine. Shaking his head slightly, he said, "You know that charge Sherlock Holmes feels when he's about to uncover the truth... I know I'm standing on the edge of something, and it's close to what you’re hiding. " "Would you ever stop thinking that? I mean, you're starting to sound like Watson without a clue," I murmured softly. "How can you find the truth when there's no lie?" I said, attempting a light chuckle. A sigh broke from Rafe, his frustration evident. "Hiding things from me is a lost cause, you know that, right?.... Well, just hope your hidden truths don't bite our pack... Got it?" he warned, his voice firm. “Truths… what do you really know about them? I care about the pack,” I whispered, avoiding his gaze as I leaned back, sinking into silence. Looking outside the window, I had no choice but to occupy my thoughts. Rafe's always observant, but sometimes it's maddeningly one-sided. "My attention snapped suddenly to a young boy amidst the hustle and bustle". It wasn't the boy himself that captured me—it was what hung around his neck. My breath hitched as I reached for the pendant nestled against my chest. With trembling fingers, I pulled it out, Identical to the one adorning the boy's neck, it was a piece of my past I thought I'd buried long ago…. Flashback * In the chaos of battle, as blood spilled and roars echoed, the killing escalated too quickly. We never should've engaged. I moved through the turmoil, heart heavy with fear and regret. My only thought was to retreat and protect what was left of our pack. Then, I saw him amidst the fray. He stood there, bravely holding his ground. Our eyes met across the battlefield, and a flicker of recognition passed between us. He fought valiantly, creating a brief opening for us to escape, but a sinking feeling told me he wouldn’t make it. Leaving him behind felt unbearable, but the pack's survival had to come first. With deep anguish, I turned away, carrying the burden of his sacrifice. As I fled, our eyes met one last time. His gaze was filled with love and sorrow. He reached for our cherished pendant, pressing a kiss onto it—a final token of our bond. End of Flashback * How is this even possible? I whispered to myself. Why did this young boy possess what I held dear from my past? Before I could make sense of it all, the traffic jam started to move, and Rafe drove on. As we passed the young boy, I couldn't tear my eyes away from him. Rafe's voice broke through my thoughts, jolting me back to the present. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," "Um... it's nothing," I forced out the words, my voice barely above a whisper. "Are you sure? You seem... off," Rafe's brows furrowed with worry, his gaze searching mine for answers. "No, really, it's nothing. Just thought I saw something," I said. I knew I had to keep what I saw hidden from Rafe, at least for now. The last thing I needed was to unravel the carefully constructed walls around my past, especially to someone as perceptive as Rafe. In that moment Coincidence whispered, but its voice was drowned by the thunderous question: What does this mean? The night came faster than anticipated. Rafe stepped out of the Bentley and walked to my door to open it, an unexpected gentlemanly gesture. "Hmm, why is he suddenly being so chivalrous? This isn't like him," I mused silently. Adjusting my beloved red dress, I felt its familiar comfort. Red had always been my color. We entered the grand Accord Banquet, our arms linked in a graceful entrance, the sheer vibrancy took me by surprise. It felt like every pack in the city had gathered here. I spotted alphas, lunas, and betas whose names I'd only ever heard whispered in stories. Laughter and chatter filled the air, the atmosphere electric with camaraderie and festivity. Yet, Rafe's gaze remained fixed, spotting Hector, our intended contact for the evening. "Hello, Hector," Rafe greeted, his voice steady. “Alpha Rafe, Luna, you've graced us with your presence. Welcome!” Hector's voice held genuine warmth. Without hesitation, Rafe introduced me, his hand lightly brushing my back, "This is Liliana, my Luna." “Wow, she looks stunning,” he said, looking at Rafe and adding, "You're a lucky man." “Don’t let her appearance fool you; she puts on a good show, but she’s more bark than bite,” Rafe said with a smirk. I felt uneasy hearing Rafe and Hector talk about me like that. Hector forced a laugh, "Really? Come on, love, why so timid? Loosen up! It’s an Accord banquet... uh, don’t tell me this is your first?" His laughter grated on my nerves. I continued to exchange pleasantries with him, dancing around my real purpose, until Rafe's patience wore thin. "Let's just cut it, shall we?" he interjected, "Listen Hector, we've heard rumors, and we know The Bloodring has surfaced. Tell me, where is it?" I sighed inwardly, knowing Rafe's impatience could jeopardise our mission. Hector, looking like a suspect caught in a crime, his eyes shifted from mine to Rafe's and then back to mine again as he said... “I’m sorry, but you won't find what you're looking for, not from me,” Hector retorted, his tone mocking, as he turned to walk away. Rafe grabbed him by the arm, chuckling to mask his anger. “You know what's funny? The fact that you're aware of my reputation, and you still lie to my face.” "Look... as much as I'd like to help you with this, I just can't, okay? Enjoy the feast," he said as he patted Rafe's shoulder and proceeded to meet other packs. Rafe's eyes locked onto mine, his anger evident. In the moment of silence, I said, “He's definitely hiding something.” Rafe's gaze never left Hector, his voice low and intense, "We are walking out of here with the Bloodring tonight, even if I have to tear this feast apart." Rafe never makes empty threats. As I looked into his eyes, my thoughts swirled with intensity. What does he possibly have in mind?