THE LUNAR REBORN

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Beneath The Moon’s Shadow.

Maya's POV

“Asher, why is everyone staring at you like that, do you’ve anything with them?” I asked, my voice shaky. The air around Shadow Creek had grown tense, and I couldn't ignore the way people were acting anymore. Something was wrong and I needed answers.

“There's nothing wrong if it's what you're thinking." Asher glanced at me, his dark eyes flickering with something I couldn't quite place. “They are just nervous, Maya, there's nothing you need to worry about”

His words did little in comforting me but I wasn't convinced. “That’s not enough; I need to know what's going on. Why are they nervous, why are people whispering every time you pass? And why do they look at me like I don't belong here?”

As we were walking through the center of town, I felt uncomfortable while I was treated like an outsider in a place I called home where my whole life dwells, it wasn't just the odd glances. There was an undercurrent of fear, something I had never noticed before.

Asher sighed, his hand running through his dark hair. “Maya, you won't understand; it's complicated.”

"Then make me understand, try and explain things better,” I said, my heart racing. He had always been protective but now it felt like he was hiding something big and secretive I had never noticed before. “Please Asher, I need to know".

He stopped walking, his jaw tight. Leaving me with a thought of why I was being ignored; I thought he was going to walk away, leaving me standing there in the middle of town with more questions than answers. But then he turned, his gaze intense. “Things are happening in Shadow Creek, things that you’re better off not knowing about."

"That’s not good enough," I said, stepping closer to him. "Tell me the truth."

Asher hesitated, his eyes scanning the street before landing back on me. "It’s about the packs."

My heart skipped a beat. "The packs? You mean… werewolf packs?"

He nodded, his expression serious. "There’s been trouble brewing between them for a while now. Rivalries that run deep. Shadow Creek… it’s not as safe as it used to be."

I swallowed hard. "And you? Are you part of this?"

Asher knew something that he didn't want to say, but his silence was all the answer I needed.

I whispered, feeling the ground shift beneath me. "Are you part of them?."

“How could you think such a thing, do I look like one?” He curiously asked, but I swiftly interjected.

"I just need to know the truth, Asher”.

"What truth? It's not what you think, Maya" He quickly said. "I’m trying to keep you safe. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you."

"But you’re involved," I pressed. "You’ve been hiding this from me."

His face softened. "I didn’t want you to get caught up in this mess. You have no idea what’s out there, Maya. The things you think are myths, they’re real. And they’re dangerous."

Werewolves? Rival packs? The words looked terrifying to my ears; this was all too much.

I tried figuring things out as my body shivered, making my head spin, but one thing was clear: Asher had been hiding a huge part of his life from me.

“There is something I need to know. I wonder why I am just hearing this now, and why didn't you tell me earlier on?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I wanted to protect you,” he said, reaching out to touch my arm. “You're safer not knowing".

"You're just telling me for the first time,” I said, pulling away from his touch. “I still need to know more and what kind of danger we are in?”

Asher’s eyes narrowed, his posture shifting. "Stay close to me."

Another growl sounded, closer this time. “What's that?". I curiously asked.

The only thing I could feel was the danger in the air, which made me terrified, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end; the weight of something unseen kept my eyes on alert.

"Asher, what’s happening?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"It’s them," he muttered under his breath. "They’ve been following me."

"Who?" I whispered, my fear rising.

"The rival pack," Asher said grimly. "They’re getting bolder. They know I’m connected to you now.”

My stomach twisted “What do you mean by connected to me? Is there anything you’re not telling me because I wonder why would they care about me?”.

Asher didn't answer right away, his eyes darting around as if searching for something— or someone.

“You're not like the others, Maya. You're completely different and special”

“I still don't understand, what does that mean?” I asked, staring at him in confusion.

A mix of frustration and worry struck on his face as he glanced at me. “There's more to you than you realize, I don't have time to explain everything, but let this be known to you that they know who you are”.

"What?" I was completely lost. "Who I am? Asher, stop talking in riddles!"

A sharp howl pierced the air, and Asher’s expression darkened. "We need to move. Now."

He pulled and grabbed my hand and down the street, moving faster than I thought possible. My mind raced, trying to process everything. Werewolves, rival packs, danger… and now this? What did Asher mean, ‘who I am’?

"Asher, wait!" I pulled against his grip, trying to slow him down. "You can’t just drop that bomb on me and not explain! What aren’t you telling me?”

He abstrusely stopped turning to face me. His eyes were wild and full of fear; it was as if there was something deeper.

“I promise to explain everything, but right now, we're in danger. You need to trust me”.

I wanted to trust him, but how could I, especially when he had been hiding so much from me?

“Please, Maya,” he said, his voice softer now, “Just trust me. I’ll protect you”.

I nodded, through doubt gnawed at the edges of my mind. We took off again, racing through the shadowy streets of Shadow Creek. The once peaceful town now felt like a trap; every hidden corner is now a hidden threat.