HIDDEN HOWL

Chapter Fourteen: Under the Moonlight

TRINITY

I stood before Luna Mira, my eyes fixed on her ethereal beauty. The moonlight cast an otherworldly glow on her skin, illuminating her features and making her seem almost divine.

Her hair, a rich, dark brown, cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night, and her eyes, a piercing shade of blue, seemed to bore into my very soul.

She radiated a certain power that I had never felt before, a power that seemed to emanate from the very core of her being.

I swear not even her sons radiated such an aura. I have always heard stories of the great Luna Mira, a woman known to have ended many of our potential pack wars just with her smile.

I always thought the stories were a bit exaggerated but now that I look at her, I am starting to think that maybe they are not.

Luna Mira's eyes narrowed as she gazed at me. The irritation and annoyance she felt was so clear to me. She looked at me like she couldn't even stand the sight of me.

This was not my first time meeting with Luna Mira. I have been in the same room with her several times while growing up. She was a good friend of my aunt Lila.

Or was…

I am not quite clear on the story yet. I never really knew what transpired between the two. But I do know that while growing up the two of them were inseparable. Luna adored my cousins Amara, Maia and Selene.

Somehow I was never noticed.

Not that it ever surprised me.

Over the years, it was known that my aunt Lila and Luna Mira's friendship dwindled down a bit. But Luna Mira still kept close tabs on my cousins.

So, in other words, I was never her concern.

Until now.

"Are you deaf?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain.

The words were like a slap in the face, and I felt a surge of anger and humiliation. I wanted to lash out, to defend myself against her cruel words, but I knew better.

I knew that to react would be to play into her hands, to give her the satisfaction of knowing that she had gotten under my skin.

I hesitated for a moment before responding.

"No," I said quietly, trying not to draw attention to myself. My voice was barely audible, and I felt a sense of shame and inadequacy wash over me. I knew that I was no match for Luna Mira, that I was just a weak and feeble human in the presence of a powerful werewolf.

Luna Mira's expression turned ugly, her eyes flashing with disgust.

"You're a peculiar creature, aren't you?" she sneered. "A weakling, begged by a foolish human and a noble wolf, your mother." Her words were like a knife to the heart, and I felt a deep sense of pain at the mention of my parents.

Did she really have to bring them up?

I always tried to bury the memory of my parents deep into my subconscious mind. It was one of the main reasons I left the crimson moon pack in the first place. Everything and everyone here reminded me of them.

It was just too painful to bear.

My parents were the only people that kept me going, they were the only ones that treated me like I was not some strange abomination.

And ever since they died, my connection to this pack was severed.

But clearly, it wasn't for good.

I had always known that I was different, that I didn't quite fit in with the rest of the werewolf pack, but to hear Luna Mira say it out loud was like reopening old wounds.

Her words struck a sensitive spot within me, but I remained silent. I stood frozen, my eyes fixed on the ground, as Luna Mira continued to berate me.

Luna Mira shook her head, her expression one of utter disgust. I could feel the tears threaten to spill out of my eyes. I had to clench my fists and bite down on my bottom lip to hold myself.

Why did she hate me so much?

I have barely said two words to her.

"The moon goddess must have been blind to mate all three of my precious sons to one woman," she ranted. "And to a weak creature like you, at that. It's a travesty, a mistake of epic proportions."

Her words were like a torrent of abuse, and I felt myself shrinking under the weight of her scorn.

Her words cut deep, but I refused to react. I stood silently, my eyes fixed on the ground, as Luna Mira continued to berate me. I felt a deep sense of shame and humiliation, and I wondered how I had ever thought I was worthy of the Alpha triplets.

Finally, Luna Mira seemed to tire of her rant. "Do you miss your life back in the city?" she asked, her voice dripping with malice. The question was like a trap, and I felt myself hesitating before responding.

"Yes," I said quietly, trying not to reveal too much. I missed the city, missed the freedom and anonymity it provided. I missed the feeling of being alone, of not being constantly watched and judged.

Luna Mira's expression turned cold. "It's best that you reject my sons and let your cousins take their rightful place by their sides," she said. "You can carry on living your life in the city, far away from the dangers and complexities of our world." Her words seemed laced with a subtle threat, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

Her eyes seemed to bore into my very soul as she continued. "If you stay, I'll make sure you know no peace," she warned. "But if you leave, I'll let you be. The sooner you reject the alphas, the better it will be for all of us. Especially you." The words were like a warning, a threat that hung in the air like a challenge.

With that, Luna Mira turned and disappeared into the night, leaving me feeling shaken and intimidated. I stood frozen, my eyes fixed on the spot where she had vanished, as I tried to process the events of the past few minutes.

Well then, I guess it is beyond clear what i have to do.

I can't wait for the month to come to an end any longer. I have to reject the Alpha triplets.

And I have to do it soon, no matter how wrong it may feel.