The Alpha's Treasured Luna

Chapter 2

**Ten Years Later**

“Well, that should do it.” Erica pressed down on the last box, securing it with a crisp pull of tape. She gave the top a light pat, surveying the now-bare dorm room. The walls, once decorated with vibrant posters, were now dotted with remnants of old tape. The twin mattress, stripped of its soft linen and pillows, sat exposed in the corner, while dust clung to the floor like the last remnants of the life she’d lived there. By the door, two suitcases stood ready, alongside several taped-up boxes.

As Erica adjusted the final box, her father, Philander, stepped in. His salt-and-pepper beard framed a stern face, his deep brown eyes scanning the room with an air of quiet authority.

“You finished packing, E?” he asked, his voice steady, though his eyes lingered a moment longer than necessary.

Erica met his gaze, her own deep brown eyes—his eyes—sparkling with a smile. “Yep, all done, Dad. Thanks for coming.” She slung one of the suitcases over her shoulder, ready to head to the truck. But as she moved toward the door, her father’s frown deepened.

“What have you done to your teeth, Erica?” His voice was low, tinged with a familiar disapproval.

She froze mid-step, her hand hovering over the doorknob. “Oh… you noticed.” Her voice was sheepish, a little too soft. She tapped her canines nervously, her fingers brushing over the small jewels that adorned them. “It’s temporary. Just two tiny diamonds… They’re not even real.”

Her father’s silence spoke volumes. Dr. Philander Hood, the respected physician of the Gold Moon Pack, had once been known for his warmth. But since losing his mate, the man had grown distant, stern—a far cry from the father she once knew. Erica braced herself for the inevitable lecture, recalling countless talks on dental hygiene from her childhood.

Before he could launch into his tirade, a sharp knock on the door broke the tension. Erica and her father turned as a petite woman with a blonde pixie cut—accented with pink streaks—stepped inside, beaming.

“Erica! I finished packing up my room and came to see if you needed any help. Hey there, Dr. Hood!” Amanda’s smile was infectious, her canines glittering with their own set of jewels, this time in pink and purple.

Philander looked as though he might faint on the spot, but before he could react, Erica seized the moment. She grabbed her suitcases and shot out the door. “Thanks, Amanda! Can you grab those boxes? I’ll head down to the car.”

Amanda laughed, scooping up the boxes. “Sure thing!”

The girls made their way down the hall, leaving Philander shaking his head in disbelief as he gathered the remaining belongings.

Outside, a gentle breeze ruffled Erica’s jet-black curls. She pushed them away from her face, letting the cool air kiss her warm caramel skin. She paused for a moment, scanning the quiet college campus. Most of the students had already left, their dorms emptied, and the campus grounds were eerily still. Summer break had begun, but she and Amanda had stayed until the very last day, soaking in their final moments at the university.

“This is it,” Amanda said, leaning against the car with a satisfied grin. “Last semester in the dorms. Come fall, we’ll be in totally different schools.”

Erica nodded, though her thoughts wandered. Amanda was headed into fashion design, dreaming of creating clothes that could withstand a werewolf’s transformation. It was a noble goal—one rooted in practicality, given the number of shredded outfits that followed a shift. But Erica’s path was different.

She glanced at her father, who was loading the last of her boxes into the car. Her passion wasn’t medicine like his; it was herbalism, like her mother’s. Dr. Elowen Hood had been a renowned herbalist, known throughout the packs for her groundbreaking research on wolfsbane. She’d been on the verge of a world-changing discovery before vanishing without a trace ten years ago.

The memory of that day still haunted Erica. She leaned against the car, gazing up at the sky, her thoughts drifting back to her mother. “Do you think we’ll ever find her?” she whispered, though the question hung unanswered in the air.

Amanda hopped up onto the hood, nudging her friend with a playful grin. “Hey, don’t go getting all mopey on me now. We’re almost done with this place! Soon, we’ll be proper werewolves!”

Erica laughed, shaking off the lingering sadness. “Right. All those ‘Werewolf 101’ courses were ridiculous. Like we haven’t been learning the same stuff since we were pups.”

Universities on pack grounds focused on werewolf society and the supernatural laws that governed them. By their senior year, most students had shifted their focus to subjects that aligned with their pack responsibilities. Many left after their first year, finding mates and settling down, but Erica and Amanda had stayed the full four years, determined to carve out their own futures.

Philander slammed the trunk shut with a grunt, catching the girls’ attention. “I hope that’s everything. There’s no more room in the car.”

A deep voice rumbled from across the parking lot. “Is there even room for you, Phil? You might have to run back to the pack grounds!” A large, burly man with a blonde beard approached, his broad shoulders shaking with laughter.

Philander turned, locking arms with his oldest friend. “Armando,” he said, his frown easing into a rare smile.

Amanda jumped down from the car. “Dad, can Erica ride with us? There’s no space left in Dr. Hood’s car.”

“Please, Uncle Armando?” Erica chimed in, her eyes wide and pleading.

Armando chuckled, ruffling her hair. “Oh, alright. Get in.”

Philander crossed his arms, shaking his head. “You’d leave me with all your luggage?” He glanced at his daughter, noting how much she looked like her mother. Except for her eyes. She had his eyes.

“Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll unpack everything when we get home. You won’t have to lift a finger.” Erica was already halfway to Armando’s jeep before he could protest.

“Just a ride,” he called after her, his voice tinged with resignation. “Don’t turn this into a weekend-long sleepover!”

Armando waved him off, motioning for the girls to sit properly in the back. Philander watched them for a moment before turning toward his own car. He glanced up at the sky, the clouds beginning to gather once more. A small, wistful smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

“She’s amazing, Elowen. So smart. I know you miss her… We miss you,” he whispered softly.

With one last look at the horizon, Philander slid into his car and began the long drive back to the Gold Moon Pack.