THE LUNA WITHOUT A WOLF

CHAPTER ONE The last place I saw before leaving the Nightfall Pack was the training ground, that one place where I wished I could fit in. After watching other wolves my age, or even younger than me, train every week, but unfortunately, I couldn't be part of them. A group of young wolves sparred in the center. Dust rose beneath their feet as their claws scraped against the earth, while other wolves stood by the side watching them, their voices echoing through the cold morning air. My chest tightened as we slowly neared the pack gate. The Nightfall Pack used to be my favorite place, with lots of fond memories, before everyone found out that I had no wolf. Then came the whispers and mocking whenever I passed by a group of people. Tears rolled down my eyes as childhood memories with my friends flooded my mind—playing hide and seek, running around the pack's courtyard, sharing each other's food in the dining hall as our parents scolded us for playing with our food. But when they all found out that I was wolfless, I was treated like an outcast, like I wasn't supposed to be part of the pack family. Looking back at the pack that held so many memories, both good and bad, leaving seemed like a good idea, but thoughts about the new pack filled my head. “What if nobody accepts me? What if they eventually find out that I don't have a wolf? What if I grow old without a wolf or a mate? What if I get treated as an outcast too?” I thought as I sighed loudly. “Phina.” My mom's gentle voice pulled me out of my thoughts as she softly wiped tears from my face. “Come on, sweetheart.” I climbed into the back of the vehicle as more tears rolled down my face. As the vehicle rolled away from the pack's boundary, I looked back one last time. No matter how cruel the pack had become, a part of me still felt like I was abandoning home. “Things will be different at the Greycrest Pack. There are a lot of nice people over there,” my dad tried to assure me after he noticed me looking back at the Nightfall Pack. “People always say that,” I replied as I stared out of the window. “Because it's true,” Mom said quickly, reaching for my hand. “You'll finally get a fresh start, no more whispers, no more judgment.” “And you will get to make new friends instead of hiding in your room all day,” Dad said as he chuckled slightly. I smiled, but I still didn't feel better because the only friend I truly needed right now was miles away. Liam was the only person who stood by me when everyone else laughed and mocked me for being an outcast. He never hesitated to fight or confront anybody who tried to bully me physically. He was like the brother I never had. My chest ached at the thought of not seeing him again. As the drive continued in silence, thick forests stretched endlessly around us. The deeper we traveled into the Greycrest Pack, the more nervous I became. There was a heavy feeling sitting in my stomach. Something about this move might totally change my life, either positively or negatively. Hours later, the car slowed down before an enormous iron gate marked with a silver crescent moon. The Greycrest Pack was nothing like I had expected. Passing through the gates, the Greycrest Pack was huge, like a massive castle with people buzzing around. Massive stone buildings stood proudly beneath the mountains. People moved through the streets confidently, laughing and talking among themselves. Guards patrolled every corner with sharp eyes. The pack looked powerful, alive, and united. “Wow,” I whispered. “Beautiful, isn't it? I knew you were going to like it better here.” Mom smiled proudly, like we'd made the best decision. As we looked around in awe, I noticed a tall man dressed in black approaching us with an easy smile. His brown hair moved slightly in the wind, and confidence radiated from him naturally as he strode toward us. “Welcome to the Greycrest Pack,” he said smoothly as he got closer. Dad immediately straightened and shook hands with the man. “Beta Silas, thank you for receiving us personally.” I lowered my gaze quickly. Beta Silas smiled warmly at my parents before his gaze shifted toward me. For a brief second, his expression changed. It was subtle, almost invisible, but I noticed it. “You must be Seraphina,” he said. “Yes,” I replied quietly. “I've heard about your family. I hope Greycrest Pack becomes a better home for you.” I looked at my parents confusedly, but the look on their faces was normal, like there was nothing wrong with having a daughter with no wolf. “If he has heard about me, then the whole pack would already know that I have no wolf,” I thought as a familiar feeling of fear crept up within me. Beta Silas offered to show us around the pack personally. As we walked through the pack grounds, everyone minded their business and greeted the Beta with smiles on their faces. I found myself slowly relaxing. He pointed out different places like the Alpha's office, the infirmary, the library, the pack hall, and the lake behind the pack house. “That building over there is where young wolves train every morning,” Beta Silas explained as we walked past the training center. My gaze instantly shifted toward the training center. The sounds of fighting echoed faintly from inside, and a familiar ache twisted in my chest. Beta Silas noticed me staring. “You like watching people train?” he asked with a calm smile, but something about his smile made me feel uneasy. “Yeah, I tend to watch a lot,” I replied, looking away. “The pack is impressive,” my dad said, changing the topic. Beta Silas nodded politely, but I caught the brief flicker in his eyes. By the time we reached our new residence, the sun had begun to set. The house looked bigger than our previous house in the Nightfall Pack, but it still looked cozy. Soft golden light glowed from the ceilings, and the scent of cedar filled the air. Mom smiled brightly. “It feels cozy.” “Yeah,” I silently admitted. For the first time that day, I almost believed that things could get better. Almost. After we settled into the new house, my parents went to see the pack's Alpha, so I was alone in the house. But I couldn't sleep due to the unfamiliar surroundings, so I quietly slipped outside. Cold night air brushed against my skin as I wandered through the silent paths of the pack. Without realizing it, my feet carried me toward the training grounds. The arena was almost empty now. A few wolves remained, sparring under the moonlight. I stopped outside the gate, watching them silently. My chest tightened with envy. As I turned to leave, I noticed that all the wolves in the arena suddenly straightened. The noise died down instantly. A powerful scent filled the air. I looked up. A tall, broad figure packed with muscles hidden beneath the sweatshirt he wore stood there. Under the moonlight, his dark hair framed a face so breathtaking, with lush, kissable lips. Damn... his legs and hands looked so toned and hard. He walked calmly toward the training ground, his presence commanding respect. The wolves lowered their heads slightly as he passed. For some reason, his scent felt... strange. Not bad, just unusual. Different from the other wolves. He began addressing the wolves, his deep voice steady and confident. “Strength means nothing without control,” he said. “A reckless wolf is more dangerous to his own pack than an enemy.” As he spoke, his eyes suddenly lifted, straight toward me. I froze. For a second, the world around us seemed to disappear. His gaze locked onto mine, and I found myself staring into a pair of mesmerizing hazel eyes. An unfamiliar tension spread through my chest. Then one of the wolves called for his attention, breaking the moment. I immediately looked away. Why was my heart racing? After dismissing the wolves, he walked toward the gate. My pulse quickened. “You must be new here?” he asked casually. “Yeah.” He leaned slightly against the gate. “Most new members avoid the training center. It can be quite intimidating.” “Not intimidating,” I said quietly. Painful. But I didn't say the last word aloud. “I'm Alpha Ronan. What's your name?” he asked. “Seraphina,” I replied. “Hmm... you have a beautiful name.” “Thank you,” I responded. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then he stepped closer. The second he did, something impossible happened. His wolf whimpered. My eyes widened. Ronan froze too. Shock flashed across his face. An Alpha wolf never reacted with fear. He stepped back abruptly, staring at me intensely now. The air around us suddenly felt colder. A sharp voice exploded inside my mind, a voice I had never heard before. “He carries the blood of our enemies.” My wolf? I stumbled back in horror. Impossible. After twenty years of silence, my wolf had finally spoken, and it recognized him. Ronan's expression darkened as I stared at him in confusion. “Seraphina,” he said slowly. “What exactly are you?”