Chapter Ten - The Girl Behind The Fear
959 Words
Luna's POV
I hated nightmares.
No matter where I slept...
No matter how warm the bed was...
They always found me.
---
I was six years old again.
The packhouse was enormous, and I was trying to keep up with the older wolves as they carried baskets through the courtyard.
I tripped.
The basket fell.
Red apples rolled across the ground.
Everyone stopped.
Then came the shouting.
"You worthless child!"
A hand grabbed my arm.
I tried to apologize.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean—"
A sharp slap burned across my cheek.
"Sorry doesn't fix anything!"
I hit the ground.
The apples rolled farther away.
Someone laughed.
Someone else called me useless.
I curled into myself.
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm sorry..."
---
"Luna."
The voice was gentle.
Far away.
"Luna..."
My eyes snapped open.
I was breathing hard.
The room was dark except for the moonlight spilling through the window.
I looked around frantically.
No Ashwood.
No Alpha Victor.
No Beta Rowan.
Just...
Blackthorn.
A soft knock came at my door.
"It's Kael."
His voice was calm.
"I heard you cry out."
I wiped my eyes quickly.
"I'm okay."
Silence.
Then...
"May I come in?"
No one had ever asked me for permission before.
"...Yes."
The door opened slowly.
Kael stepped inside, carrying a small lantern.
He looked tired, as though I'd woken him.
Guilt settled in my chest.
"I'm sorry."
He smiled faintly.
"I figured that would be the first thing you'd say."
I lowered my head.
"I woke you."
"You didn't."
"I had another nightmare."
"I know."
He placed the lantern on the table.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he noticed my hands.
I was digging my nails into my palms without realizing it.
He crouched beside the bed.
"You don't have to do that."
I looked down.
"I didn't notice."
Very gently, he reached out.
"May I?"
I looked at him, confused.
"My hands?"
He nodded.
Slowly, I placed my trembling hands into his.
His hands were warm.
Large.
Careful.
He gently unfolded my fingers one by one until my fists relaxed.
"There."
He smiled.
"Better."
I stared at our hands.
No one had ever held them so gently.
---
"I dreamed about Ashwood again."
He didn't interrupt.
Didn't tell me to forget it.
He simply listened.
"I was little."
"My parents were still alive."
My voice caught.
"I don't remember their faces anymore."
The words hurt to admit.
"I only remember my mother's voice."
I closed my eyes.
"She used to sing to me."
"I've tried so hard to remember the song..."
"...but I can't."
A tear slid down my cheek.
"I forgot."
Kael's expression softened.
"You were a child."
"I should've remembered."
"No."
His voice was firm.
"You survived."
I looked at him.
"Sometimes surviving means your mind lets go of things to protect you."
I had never thought about it that way.
Maybe...
Maybe forgetting wasn't my fault.
---
The next morning, the nightmare stayed with me.
I tried to help Martha in the kitchen, but I kept dropping things.
My hands shook.
When I accidentally knocked over a bowl, I froze.
I waited.
For shouting.
For punishment.
Instead...
Martha simply laughed.
"Looks like the bowl wanted a nap."
I blinked.
"...You're not angry?"
"It was a bowl."
"I'm sorry."
She smiled.
"We'll clean it together."
Together.
Such a simple word.
But it warmed something inside me.
---
After breakfast, Rosie found me sitting by the gardens.
She held up a tiny wooden whistle.
"Look!"
I smiled.
"It's pretty."
"My grandpa made it."
She sat beside me.
"Wanna hear a secret?"
I nodded.
She leaned closer and whispered dramatically,
"I think Alpha Kael smiles more now."
I nearly choked.
"W-What?"
Rosie nodded very seriously.
"He used to be all grumpy."
She crossed her arms and tried to imitate him.
"'Train harder.'"
"'Patrol the border.'"
"'Finish your reports.'"
I couldn't help laughing.
Rosie's impression was surprisingly good.
"But now..."
She grinned.
"He smiles whenever he sees you."
Heat rushed to my face.
"He does not."
"He does!"
"I've seen it!"
I looked away, trying to hide my blush.
Rosie giggled.
"I think he likes you."
My face felt like it was on fire.
"Rosie..."
"What?"
I covered my face with my hands.
"I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to."
She smiled mischievously.
"I already know."
---
Later that afternoon...
Kael was in the council room discussing the border patrols when a loud horn echoed across the village.
One blast.
Then another.
Then a third.
Every warrior in the room stood instantly.
Marcus looked toward the window.
"The northern alarm."
Damon's smile vanished.
"They crossed the border."
Kael was already moving.
"Saddle the horses."
Outside, warriors rushed toward the gates.
Villagers hurried children into their homes.
The peaceful village transformed in seconds.
Luna stepped out of the healer's cabin just as Kael mounted his horse.
Their eyes met across the courtyard.
For a brief moment, the noise around them disappeared.
"Stay inside," Kael called.
Luna nodded, though fear tightened her chest.
She watched as Kael and dozens of Blackthorn warriors rode toward the northern forest.
The sound of galloping hooves faded into the distance.
An uneasy silence settled over the village.
Luna wrapped Kael's cloak tighter around herself.
She couldn't explain why...
But something deep inside her whispered that this wasn't just another border incident.
This felt...
Different.
Far away, hidden among the trees beyond the northern border, a hooded figure watched Kael and his warriors disappear into the forest.
The stranger smiled.
"Good."
He turned toward the now lightly guarded village.
"The Alpha took the bait."
His golden eyes gleamed beneath the hood.
"Now..."
He whispered.
"Let's see if the princess remembers who she really is."
- Writer
