Second Moon

Dreams of Another Life

Chapter 2: Dreams of Another Life

The wind outside Sandy’s window howled softly against the glass, a distant song to accompany the heaviness in her chest as she fell into uneasy sleep. The events of the day weighed down on her shoulders like wet stones—her parents’ apathy, her brother’s constant belittling, and Zayne’s cruel taunts still echoing in her ears. Yet, when her eyes closed, she didn’t find nightmares. Instead, she found herself somewhere else. Somewhere... gentler.

A dream.

The world around her shimmered in gold and lavender light. Flowers bloomed in every direction, vibrant and vivid—a garden untouched by pain or sorrow. A soft breeze stirred the air, carrying the scent of lilacs and strawberries. In the middle of it all, a small pond glistened with crystal-clear water, fish flickering beneath the surface like living jewels. The sound of laughter filled the garden.

She turned slowly.

Two children played among the blossoms—a little girl with golden curls and a boy who looked just like her. Their faces were blurry, like misted glass, yet something about them tugged at her soul with aching familiarity.

Then she saw him.

A man with strawberry blonde hair, tall and strong, stood under the shade of a willow tree. He wasn’t blurry—not entirely. His features shifted between clarity and mist, but his eyes… they were exactly like hers. Stormy grey. And he looked at her—gods, he looked at her like she was the only girl in the world. Like her existence brought light into the darkest of corners. Like he had found home in her.

He didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to. The warmth in his gaze spoke volumes. Her breath caught in her throat.

But the dream shifted.

The garden faded, replaced by long, white hospital corridors bathed in sterile light. Her footsteps echoed off the polished floors. She wore a white coat, a clipboard in her hand, a stethoscope slung around her neck. Confidence radiated from her. People passed by, nodding, calling her name—"Doctor, Doctor!"

And she smiled.

This was her life. This was who she was supposed to be.

She turned a corner and caught sight of her reflection in a wall mirror. She stopped.

Her hair was no longer dirty blonde—it flowed past her waist in silver-white waves. Her stormy grey eyes now burned with ethereal light, a luminous silver that almost glowed. She reached out, fingers brushing the mirror.

She didn’t look human.

She looked... divine.

Her breath caught in the dream, and her body jerked.

She woke up with a gasp, the remnants of the dream still fresh on her skin like mist. Her fingers flew to her hair. Dirty blonde. Still the same. Her eyes adjusted to the dim morning light seeping through the blinds.

A dream. Just a dream.

And yet it had felt more real than anything she had ever known.

She sat up slowly, heart still racing, and glanced at the cracked ceiling above her. Her chest ached with the echo of that garden, that laughter, that man who looked at her like she mattered.

But reality, like always, was quick to crush the dream.

The day started as it always did—cold, hollow, and harsh.

She entered the kitchen only to be ignored as usual. Her mother barely gave her a glance, already too focused on packing Darren’s protein supplements for his workout. Her father grunted in reply to her mumbled greeting.

“No shift, no breakfast,” Darren joked, shoving a banana into his mouth. “Might want to try begging the Moon Goddess again, sis. Maybe you’ll sprout a tail by graduation.”

She swallowed her pride with the silence she’d long since mastered. There was no use arguing. She grabbed a piece of toast left unattended on the counter and left the house before she could be forced to explain herself further.

The walk to school was bitter and slow. The cold bit at her skin, and her hoodie did little to shield her from it. Harding High loomed ahead, grey and looming like the castle of her torment. She barely stepped into the front courtyard before she heard them.

Zayne and his friends.

They were always waiting.

“Hey, look who showed up without a leash again,” Zayne called out, lounging against the lockers like a lion surveying prey. “Don’t stray too far, Sandy. Someone might mistake you for a rogue.”

Mason chuckled. “Rogues have more class, bro.”

Talia sneered. “Or more scent. At least they don’t smell like mothballs.”

Sandy clenched her jaw, moving past them without looking up.

“Hey,” Zayne called louder, “what would you even shift into? A housecat? Nah, a pigeon. All squawk, no claws.”

They burst into laughter.

Zayne walked beside her now, his voice dropping lower, more venomous. “You know, I almost pity you. Must suck to be the pack’s biggest failure. Even your parents are embarrassed.”

She didn’t respond. She’d learned not to. Words only gave them ammunition. But it didn’t mean they didn’t leave marks.

Classes blurred by. She excelled quietly, as always, scribbling notes, absorbing every lecture. No one noticed. No one cared.

At break, she tried to slip outside, but Darren found her.

“Hey,” he grinned, tossing a ball between his hands. “Guess who made first squad? Me. Coach said I’m Alpha material. But you wouldn’t know anything about that.”

She rolled her eyes. “Congratulations.”

“Don’t be bitter just because you’re useless,” he said with a smile. “Mom says you might have some human blood. Would explain a lot.”

Sandy flinched. That rumor had been whispered for years.

“You know what the pack thinks?” Darren added. “They think you’re cursed. That the Moon Goddess made a mistake.”

She turned and walked away.

He called after her, “Hey, if you ever want to borrow some of my clothes, at least ask nicely!”

The cafeteria was full. She didn’t bother trying to find a seat. Instead, she took her food to the janitor’s supply room, where she sometimes hid to eat. No one would find her there. No one cared to look.

After school, she headed to the Crescent Brew Café.

“There you are,” Mrs. Lowell smiled warmly. “Rough day?”

Sandy nodded. “The usual.”

“Well, come on. The pastries won’t arrange themselves.”

She put on her apron and got to work. The familiar scent of cinnamon and coffee comforted her more than anything back home. Mr. Lowell gave her a nod from the back, adjusting the espresso machine.

“Saved you a muffin,” he said, handing her a plate.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

They never asked about her family. They just let her work, let her exist. And that was all she needed.

When things slowed down, she sat in the back with her textbooks. She flipped through her notes on human anatomy, her mind still drifting back to the hospital corridor in her dream.

That could be real. That should be real.

She reached for her phone and checked her bank balance. Her heart skipped.

She’d saved more than she thought. Enough to cover a full year of tuition abroad, including housing. It wasn’t much, but it was freedom. Her fingers trembled.

She wouldn’t stay here. She wouldn’t let this pack crush her forever.

She’d leave. She’d build her own life.

She’d be someone.

As she left the café that night, the moon bathed the streets in silver light. She looked up at it, cold air stinging her cheeks. Her dream flickered behind her eyes.

Stormy grey. Silver hair. A life that was hers.

Maybe the Moon Goddess hadn’t forgotten her.

Maybe she was only waiting.