Moonlight Sanctuary

Chapter # 5

I wake to sunlight streaming through the window and the smell of coffee. For a moment, I forget where I am, and panic seizes me. Then I remember Silvermoon. Duke. Safety.

The mate bond is a dull ache this morning, manageable but present. Asher is still out there somewhere, probably planning his next move.

There's a knock on my door, and I tense before Luna's voice calls out, "Willow? I brought breakfast. Can I come in?"

I unlock the door, and Luna enters with a tray laden with food, eggs, bacon, toast, fruit, and coffee. My stomach growls at the sight.

"Duke thought you might want to eat in your room this morning," Luna explains, setting the tray on the small table by the window. "The pack knows about you, and while everyone's supportive, he figured you might not be ready for a crowd yet."

"That's... thoughtful." I sit down and start eating, trying not to wolf down the food too quickly.

Luna settles into the chair across from me. She's pretty, with her dark hair and bright green eyes, and she has an easy confidence that I envy. "So, I'm supposed to be your guide today. Show you around, introduce you to people, help you get settled. If you're up for it."

"I think so." The food is helping, making me feel more human. "What's the pack like? Really like, I mean. Not just what Duke says."

Luna grins. "You want the honest truth? It's the best pack I've ever been part of. I came here three years ago from a pack down south that was... well, let's just say they had some of the same problems as your old pack. Duke took me in, no questions asked. He gave me a job, a purpose, a family."

"He does that a lot? Takes in strays?"

"More than you'd think. About a third of Silvermoon's members came from other packs, most of them running from something. Duke believes that pack should be about choice, not just blood." She leans forward. "He's the real deal, Willow. I know it's hard to trust after what you've been through, but Duke is genuinely good. It's not an act."

I want to believe her. "What about the other pack members? Do they resent outsiders?"

"Some of the older wolves grumble about tradition, but they're a minority. Most people here are just grateful to be part of something positive." Luna stands. "Come on, finish eating and I'll give you the grand tour."

Twenty minutes later, I'm dressed in more borrowed clothes, jeans, a soft green sweater, and boots that actually fit and following Luna through the compound. In daylight, Silvermoon is even more impressive. The buildings are well-maintained, the grounds clean and organized. Wolves move about with purpose, greeting each other warmly.

"That's the main pack house where you are now," Luna explains. "It has the Alpha's quarters on the third floor, guest rooms on the second, and common areas on the first. That building over there is the dining hall, we do communal meals three times a day, though you can eat in your room if you prefer. That's the training center, the school for the pups, the medical building you were in yesterday..."

She points out building after building, and I'm struck by how organized everything is. Blackwater was chaotic, with everyone fighting for position and resources. This feels like an actual community.

"And that," Luna says, pointing to a smaller building set slightly apart from the others, "is Duke's workshop. He's a carpenter in his spare time. Makes furniture, toys for the pups, whatever people need."

"The Alpha is a carpenter?" I can't keep the surprise from my voice.

Luna laughs. "I told you, he's different. Duke believes leaders should serve their pack, not the other way around. He works harder than anyone here."

We continue the tour, and Luna introduces me to dozens of pack members. Everyone is friendly, welcoming, though I can see the curiosity in their eyes. They know I'm running from something, and they're probably wondering if I'm worth the trouble.

We're passing the training center when a commotion breaks out. Two wolves, both in human form, both male, are circling each other aggressively. A crowd has gathered, and the tension is palpable.

"s**t," Luna mutters. "That's Jake and Connor. They've been at each other's throats for weeks."

"Should we get Duke?" I ask.

"He's already here."

I follow her gaze and see Duke striding toward the conflict, his expression stern. He doesn't shout, doesn't run, but something about his presence makes the crowd part immediately.

"Enough," he says, his voice carrying that Alpha authority that makes my wolf want to submit. "Both of you, shift down."

The two males, both large, both clearly dominant wolves, hesitate. Then, slowly, they relax their aggressive postures.

"This is the third time this month," Duke continues. "What's the problem?"

"He's been sniffing around my sister," Jake snarls, pointing at Connor. "She's only seventeen…"

"And I'm nineteen," Connor interrupts. "It's not like I'm some old pervert. We like each other!"

Duke holds up a hand, silencing them both. "Jake, your sister is old enough to make her own choices about who she spends time with. You don't get to control her social life." He turns to Connor. "And you need to respect that her family is protective. If you're serious about her, you do things properly, you talk to her family, you show them you're trustworthy."

He looks between them. "Now, you both have two choices. You can continue this feud and face pack discipline, or you can settle this like adults. Talk it out. Find common ground. Because this pack doesn't have room for pointless conflicts."

The authority in his voice is absolute, but there's no cruelty in it. He's not threatening them, not asserting dominance through fear. He's simply stating facts, expecting them to be reasonable.

Jake and Connor exchange glances, and some of the tension drains from their postures.

"I guess we could talk," Jake mutters.

"Good. My office, one hour. We'll mediate this properly." Duke's gaze sweeps the crowd. "Everyone else, back to your business. Show's over."

The crowd disperses, and Duke's eyes land on me. For a moment, our gazes lock, and I feel something flutter in my chest. Not the mate bond, that's still tied to Asher. But something else. Something warm and unfamiliar.

He walks over, and I notice he looks tired. There are shadows under his eyes that weren't there yesterday.

"Willow, how are you settling in?" he asks.

"Good. Luna's been showing me around. Your pack is... it's not what I expected."

"What did you expect?"

"I don't know. Something more like Blackwater, I guess. Hierarchy and dominance and everyone fighting for position."

Duke's expression darkens slightly. "That's not how I run things. Strength isn't about dominating others. It's about lifting them up, protecting them, creating something better than what came before." He pauses. "I heard you witnessed that little dispute. I hope it didn't make you uncomfortable."

"No, I was impressed actually. The way you handled it, you didn't use force or intimidation. You just... talked to them like they were reasonable people."

"Because they are reasonable people. They just needed someone to remind them of that." Duke glances at his watch. "I have to go prepare for that mediation, but I wanted to check in. Are you feeling okay? The bond pain manageable?"

The fact that he's asking, that he cares about my comfort, is so foreign that I almost don't know how to respond. "It's okay. Dr. Sarah's medicine helps."

"Good. If you need anything, anything at all, you can find me. My door is always open." He starts to leave, then turns back. "Oh, and Willow? We're having a pack dinner tonight in the main hall. You don't have to come if you're not ready, but you'd be welcome. It might help you feel more connected to everyone."

After he leaves, Luna lets out a low whistle. "He likes you."

"What? No, he's just being nice. He's the Alpha…"

"I've been here three years," Luna interrupts. "I've seen Duke interact with hundreds of wolves. He doesn't usually check in personally with new pack members. He delegates that. But with you?" She grins. "He's making time. That's significant."

"He's just being thorough because of the situation with Asher," I argue, but my heart is beating faster.

"Keep telling yourself that." Luna links her arm through mine. "Come on, let me show you the library. Duke built most of the shelves himself."

The rest of the day passes in a blur of introductions and information. By evening, my head is spinning with names and faces and the layout of the compound. But I also feel something I haven't felt in months…a sense of belonging, tentative and fragile, but real.

When dinner time arrives, I almost don't go. The thought of facing the entire pack, of being the center of attention, makes my anxiety spike. But I remember Duke's invitation, the genuine warmth in his eyes, and I force myself to walk to the dining hall.

The space is large and open, with long tables arranged in rows. Wolves of all ages fill the room, talking and laughing. The atmosphere is so different from Blackwater's tense, competitive meals that I almost turn around and leave.

Then I see Duke at the head table, and he sees me. He smiles and gestures to an empty seat beside him.

My wolf perks up at the invitation, and I make my way through the crowd. Pack members nod and smile as I pass, and no one seems hostile or resentful of my presence.

"You came," Duke says as I sit down. "I'm glad."

"It seemed important," I reply, trying to ignore how aware I am of his proximity. He smells like pine and earth and something uniquely him, and my wolf is responding in a way that confuses me. I'm still bonded to Asher. I shouldn't be noticing another male like this.

Dinner is served, roasted chicken, vegetables, fresh bread and the food is delicious. Duke introduces me to the wolves at our table: Marcus, whom I've already met; an older female named Helen who runs the pack school; a young male named Finn who's training to be a tracker; and several others whose names I try desperately to remember.

They ask me questions, but they're gentle about it. Where I'm from, what I like to do, if I have any special skills. No one asks about Asher or why I'm here, and I'm grateful for that discretion.

"Willow was telling me she likes to draw," Luna announces from across the table. I'd mentioned it briefly during our tour, a hobby I'd had to give up because Asher said it was a waste of time.

"Really?" Duke's interest seems genuine. "What do you like to draw?"

"Landscapes, mostly. Forests, mountains, water. I'm not very good…"

"I'd like to see your work sometime," Duke interrupts. "If you're comfortable sharing. We could use some artwork in the common areas. Most of what we have is pretty generic."

The offer is casual, but it feels significant. He's not just offering me shelter, he's offering me a place, a purpose, a way to contribute.

"I don't have any supplies," I admit.

"That's easily fixed. We'll get you set up with whatever you need." Duke's attention is called away by Marcus, something about patrol schedules, and I'm left sitting there, overwhelmed by his casual generosity.

After dinner, there's music. Someone brings out a guitar, and wolves start singing.. folk songs, pack songs, even some modern pop. The atmosphere is joyful, communal, and I find myself relaxing despite my lingering anxiety.

Duke doesn't sing, but he watches his pack with obvious affection. This is his family, I realize. Not just wolves he rules over, but people he genuinely cares about.

"He lost his parents when he was sixteen," Luna says quietly, appearing at my side. "Rogue attack. He became Alpha way too young, and a lot of people thought he'd fail. But he built this." She gestures to the room. "He created something beautiful out of tragedy."

I look at Duke with new understanding. He knows what it's like to suffer, to lose, to have to rebuild. Maybe that's why he's so committed to helping others.

As if sensing my gaze, Duke turns and our eyes meet across the room. For a moment, everything else fades away. There's just him and me and this strange, impossible connection that I don't understand.

Then someone bumps into me, breaking the moment, and I remember where I am. What I am. A broken wolf with a mate bond to someone else, bringing danger to a pack that's shown me nothing but kindness.

I slip out of the dining hall, needing air, needing space. The night is cool and clear, stars scattered across the sky like diamonds. I walk to the edge of the clearing, staying within the compound's boundaries, and try to sort through the chaos in my head.

"Willow?"

I turn to find Duke approaching, his expression concerned. "Are you okay? You left pretty quickly."

"I'm fine. Just overwhelmed. It's a lot to take in."

He nods, stopping a respectful distance away. "I understand. You've been through trauma, and now you're in a completely new environment. It's natural to feel overwhelmed."

We stand in comfortable silence for a moment, and I'm struck again by how different he is from Asher. Asher would have demanded to know what was wrong, would have made my anxiety about him somehow. Duke just... gives me space.

"Can I ask you something?" I say finally.

"Of course."

"Why do you do this? Take in wolves like me, risk conflict with other packs, go against tradition? What do you get out of it?"

Duke is quiet for a long moment, his gaze distant. "When I became Alpha, I had a choice. I could continue the way things had always been done—rule through strength and fear, maintain the old hierarchies, keep the pack isolated and traditional. Or I could try something different."

He turns to look at me. "I chose different. Because I've seen what the old ways do. I've seen strong wolves abuse weaker ones. I've seen females treated as property. I've seen pups grow up thinking cruelty is normal. And I decided that if I had the power to change that, even in just one pack, I had to try."

"But what do *you* get out of it?" I press. "There has to be something."

Duke smiles, but it's sad. "I get to sleep at night knowing I did the right thing. I get to see wolves like Luna thrive after escaping abuse. I get to build something that might outlast me, that might inspire other packs to change." He pauses. "And maybe, selfishly, I get to prove that strength doesn't have to mean cruelty. That alphas can be kind."

His words hit me hard, and I feel tears prickling at my eyes. "I don't know if I can ever trust an alpha again. After Asher..."

"I know. And I'm not asking you to trust me. Not yet." Duke's voice is gentle. "Trust is earned, Willow. All I'm asking is that you give me the chance to earn it. Stay here, heal, let yourself be part of something good. And if, in time, you decide you can trust me, that'll be enough."

I want to believe him so badly it hurts. But I've been burned before, and the mate bond to Asher is a constant reminder of my poor judgment.

"I should get back to my room," I say, suddenly exhausted. "It's been a long day."

"Of course. I'll walk you back."

"You don't have to…”

"I want to."

We walk in silence through the compound, and I'm hyperaware of his presence beside me. When we reach my door, Duke pauses.

"Sleep well, Willow. Tomorrow, if you're up for it, I thought maybe I could show you the territory. Help you get your bearings. But only if you're comfortable."

"I'd like that," I hear myself say.

Duke smiles, and it transforms his face, making him look younger, less burdened. "Good. I'll come by after breakfast."

He leaves, and I lock myself in my room, my heart racing. I shouldn't be feeling this way about Duke. I'm bonded to someone else. But as I lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, I can't deny the truth.

For the first time in six months, I feel safe. And it's all because of an Alpha who's nothing like what I thought alphas could be.