Loving Luna

Safe Nowhere

Rain was coming down in heavy sheets, turning the whole city into a blur of neon reflections and rushing water that dragged blood into the gutters like it was nothing. Streetlights flickered through the downpour like dying stars, and every surface shimmered with fractured color—reds, blues, sickly greens bleeding into each other as if the city itself couldn’t decide what it wanted to be.

Luna couldn’t stop shaking.

It wasn’t just the cold. It was everything.

She hugged herself tight, nails digging into her arms, trying to convince her brain that none of this was actually happening. That she hadn’t seen men turn into wolves. That she hadn’t watched golden eyes burn in the dark like living fire. That she hadn’t felt something inside her snap awake—something vast and wrong and powerful enough to make the air itself tremble.

Wounds healing like they were nothing.

Power exploding out of her like she wasn’t even in control of it.

No way.

It couldn’t be real.

It shouldn’t be.

“You need to keep moving,” Darius said, his voice low and controlled, eyes scanning the dark streets like something might jump out at any second.

Luna shot him a glare through wet strands of hair stuck to her face.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

“I always have a choice.”

His jaw tightened slightly, like he was biting back something sharper.

“You think those wolves are gone?”

She didn’t answer.

She didn’t want to think about them at all.

“They’re regrouping,” he added.

A low howl rolled through the city somewhere in the distance, long and mournful and far too close for comfort.

Then another answered it.

Luna’s stomach dropped like a stone.

Darius looked up toward the rooftops, rain sliding off his dark hair.

“They’re tracking your scent.”

“My scent?” she echoed, voice cracking just slightly.

“Since your power woke up, every supernatural thing within miles knows you’re here.”

She let out a bitter laugh that sounded more like disbelief than humor.

“So my night just keeps getting better.”

His eyes met hers, and for a second she saw something there—something heavy.

“It hasn’t even hit the worst part yet.”

Before she could even ask what that meant, a sleek black SUV rolled up and stopped at the curb without a sound, tires hissing through puddles.

The passenger door opened.

A tall blonde woman stepped out.

Black leather, sharp posture, like she owned every inch of the street. Rain slid off her coat like it refused to touch her. Her bright blue eyes locked on Luna first, then shifted to Darius with immediate recognition.

“Alpha.”

Darius gave a short nod.

“Report.”

“The eastern perimeter’s compromised. We lost two patrols.”

Her gaze slid back to Luna, openly curious now, assessing her like a puzzle that didn’t quite fit the world.

“So…” she said slowly. “She’s the one.”

Luna frowned.

“The one what?”

The woman didn’t even acknowledge the question.

Instead, she looked at Darius.

“She’s human.”

“No.”

The answer came instantly, sharp enough to cut through the rain.

The woman blinked.

“Excuse me?”

“She only thinks she’s human.”

Luna threw her hands up, frustration breaking through fear.

“Can everyone please stop talking about me like I’m not standing right here?”

The blonde smiled a little, like that amused her more than it should have.

“I like her.”

“I wasn’t trying to be likable,” Luna snapped.

“I know.”

The woman stepped closer and held out a hand.

“I’m Evelyn.”

Luna hesitated, then shook it. Her grip was firm, warm despite the rain.

“Luna.”

“I know.”

Great.

Apparently everyone knew who she was except her.

Darius opened the SUV door.

“Get in.”

“No.”

“Luna.”

“No.”

His patience was clearly running out now, something dangerous flickering behind his eyes.

“We don’t have time for this.”

“I don’t trust you.”

“You shouldn’t.”

That made her pause.

He said it so easily, like it was obvious. Like trust wasn’t even part of the equation.

“But trusting me is still safer than staying here.”

A sharp crash echoed from across the street.

Glass exploded outward.

Three dark figures dropped down onto the pavement like they were falling out of the night itself.

Not wolves.

Not exactly.

They looked human… mostly.

Too still. Too perfect. Like mannequins pretending to be alive.

Their eyes glowed red in the dark.

Their smiles showed way too many sharp teeth.

One of them inhaled slowly, head tilting.

“I found her.”

Darius’s expression went cold in an instant.

“So did they.”

“What are they?” Luna whispered, stepping back without realizing it.

“They’re not werewolves.”

“They’re vampires.”

Luna just stared.

For a second, her brain refused to process the word.

Then she actually laughed, sharp and disbelieving, because what else was she supposed to do?

“Vampires?”

One of them smiled wider, amused.

“We prefer immortal.”

Luna looked at Darius.

“This is officially the weirdest night of my life.”

“It gets worse.”

Of course it does.

The vampire moved fast. Too fast.

One second he was across the street.

The next he was right in front of her.

Luna didn’t even have time to breathe.

His hand shot toward her throat—

—and Darius was suddenly there.

They slammed into each other hard enough to crack the pavement beneath them, shockwave rippling through puddles.

The vampire skidded back, then straightened like it was nothing, rolling his shoulders.

He smiled.

“So it’s true.”

Darius’s eyes were glowing gold now, brighter than before, animal and controlled violence held on a razor’s edge.

“Leave.”

“We’re under orders.”

“So am I.”

The vampire’s gaze slid back to Luna, predatory and curious.

“Our king would very much like to meet her.”

“I’m not interested,” Luna called out, voice steadier than she felt.

He chuckled softly.

“You won’t be asked.”

Golden light flickered under Luna’s skin again, faint but undeniable.

The mark on her wrist started glowing, burning like it recognized them.

Every supernatural thing around them noticed.

The vampire’s smile dropped slightly.

“So the stories were true.”

Darius stepped in front of her without hesitation, blocking her completely.

“You’ve seen enough.”

“I’ve seen history.”

The vampire slowly backed away, eyes never leaving Luna.

“We won’t fight you tonight, Alpha.”

His red gaze lingered on her like a promise.

“But every kingdom is going to come for her now.”

Then he was gone.

So were the others.

Just like that.

Silence dropped over the street, heavy and unnatural.

Only rain remained.

Luna stared at the empty space they’d been standing in, chest rising too fast.

“I think…” she said weakly, voice barely holding together, “…I’m going to pass out.”

Before anyone could respond, the world tilted violently.

The last thing she felt was Darius catching her before she hit the ground.

As everything went dark, she heard his voice.

Low.

Protective.

Worried in a way he clearly didn’t want anyone to notice.

“I’ve got you.”

And for the first time in years…

Luna actually believed him.