Moonlit Scars

Chapter 3: Fractured Full Moon

Lila's POV

The lecture hall’s fluorescent lights buzz, making my head throb as I slump in my seat. My Intro to Biology notes are a mess of scribbles, the professor’s voice a distant drone. The full moon’s tomorrow, and my wolf spirit, cracked since Jaxon’s rejection, claws at my insides, restless and raw. I rub my temples, the memory of last night’s bonfire—my silver pelt flashing, the crowd’s gasps—burning my cheeks. Zane’s voice, low and knowing, echoes in my mind: *You’re a healer, aren’t you?*

Maya slides into the seat beside me, her sketchbook spilling pencils. “You look like you’re fighting a war in there,” she whispers, tapping my forehead. Her grin is warm, but her brown eyes narrow, catching my tension. I shrug, forcing a smile, but my hands tremble, betraying me. The bond with Jaxon hums in my chest, a dull ache that won’t quit.

Class ends, and students spill into the hall, their chatter a chaotic buzz. Maya loops her arm through mine, steering me toward the campus coffee shop. “You need caffeine, stat,” she declares, her curls bouncing. My sneakers scuff the cobblestones, and I scan the quad, half-expecting Jaxon’s pine-and-steel scent. The full moon’s pull is already tightening my skin, and I’m not sure I can keep my wolf caged.

The coffee shop smells of roasted beans and sugar, a cozy contrast to the crisp autumn air. Maya orders a latte, chatting about her art project, and I nod, clutching my black coffee. Her human energy—oblivious to pack drama—feels like a lifeline. I sip the bitter drink, its heat grounding me, but my wolf stirs, sensing something. I glance out the window, and my breath catches.

Jaxon stands outside, his navy jacket stark against the falling leaves. He’s talking to a werewolf student, his posture all authority, but his eyes flick toward the shop—toward me. The bond flares, sharp and unwanted, and my coffee cup shakes, splashing my hand. Maya follows my gaze and frowns. “Okay, spill—who’s the brooding hunk making you jumpy?”

I wipe my hand, heart pounding. “Nobody,” I mutter, but my voice cracks, and Maya’s not buying it. She leans closer, her voice low. “Lila, you’re shaking like a leaf. Talk to me.” I want to, but the memory of Jaxon’s rejection—his cold words, the pack’s laughter—locks my throat.

He pushes through the shop’s door, and the air shifts, heavy with his scent. Students glance up, sensing his Alpha heir vibe, but he heads straight for me. “Lila, we need to talk,” he says, voice low, almost pleading. My wolf whines, torn between pain and that stupid bond. I grip my cup, the heat burning my palm, and stand, brushing past him toward the door.

“Lila, wait!” Jaxon calls, following me outside. The quad’s bustling, but his presence drowns it out, like a storm rolling in. I spin to face him, my pulse racing. “What do you want, Jaxon?” My voice is sharp, cutting through the bond’s pull. His green eyes soften, and for a moment, I see the boy who ran with me under the moon—before he broke me.

“I’m trying to protect you,” he says, stepping closer. His hand hovers near mine, but I jerk back, the bond sparking pain in my chest. “Protect me?” I snap, my voice trembling. “You destroyed me, Jaxon. You don’t get to play hero now.”

His jaw tightens, and he looks away, guilt flickering in his eyes. “It wasn’t that simple,” he murmurs, but I’m done listening. The moon’s pull surges, and my skin prickles, silver fur threatening to break free. I turn and run, my sneakers pounding the path toward the forest. I need space, air, anything to stop this fracture from swallowing me.

The forest’s shadows wrap around me, pine needles crunching underfoot. The moon’s not up yet, but its power hums in my veins, unraveling my control. I drop to my knees beside a stream, its gurgle a faint comfort. My reflection ripples—silver-streaked hair, eyes too bright, too wild. I press my hands to the dirt, willing my wolf to stay down, but she’s breaking free.

Silver fur ripples across my arms, and pain lances through me, like my bones are splintering. My claws dig into the earth, and I bite back a scream, my breath coming in gasps. The fracture in my spirit—Jaxon’s doing—makes every shift a battle. My vision blurs, and I’m half-human, half-beast, caught in a limbo that burns. I’m losing myself, and there’s no one to pull me back.

Footsteps crunch behind me, and I whip around, claws raised. Jaxon stands there, his face pale in the dusk, eyes wide as he takes in my silver pelt. “Lila, let me help,” he says, stepping forward, hands outstretched. My wolf snarls, and I stumble back, my voice raw. “Stay away—you did this to me!”

He freezes, pain flashing across his face, but he doesn’t retreat. “I never wanted to hurt you,” he says, voice breaking. The bond pulses, tugging me toward him, but my wolf rejects it, her howl echoing in my skull. I turn, staggering deeper into the forest, my claws scraping bark. I can’t trust him, not after everything.

The trees thicken, their branches clawing the sky, and my heart pounds, my shift incomplete. My hoodie’s torn, silver fur glinting in the fading light, and I’m a mess of pain and rage. Jaxon’s voice calls my name, fainter now, but I keep moving, desperate for escape. The moon’s power is a tide pulling me under, and I’m not sure I’ll surface. Then, a new sound cuts through—a motorcycle’s rumble, low and steady, coming closer.

Headlights pierce the darkness, and my wolf pauses, ears pricked. The scent of leather and smoke washes over me, familiar and wild. Zane’s bike idles a few yards away, his silhouette sharp against the beam. He’s here, watching me, and my fractured spirit senses his rogue energy, like a beacon in my chaos. My claws retract, but my heart races—he’s seen me like this, and I don’t know what he’ll do next.