Luna Aria's Awakening

Chapter 11

_Aria's POV_

Jane helped me back toward the mansion while I tried not to put too much weight on my injured feet. The pain had dulled slightly but every step still hurt enough to make me wince.

"You really pushed yourself today," Jane said.

"I noticed."

She laughed softly. "Most people learn their limits before they nearly fall apart."

"I prefer learning the hard way apparently."

"Clearly."

By the time we reached the mansion, several people had already heard about what happened. The moment I stepped inside, Clara appeared. Her eyes immediately dropped to my leg.

"What happened?"

"Training happened," Jane answered before I could.

Clara sighed dramatically. "That explains everything."

"I didn't think it was that bad," I muttered.

Both women looked at me. "Aria."

"Yes?"

"You could barely walk."

I decided not to argue.

A few minutes later, Clara had me sitting comfortably in one of the sitting rooms while another woman brought a small wooden box filled with jars and bandages.

"What's that?" I asked.

"These are healer's supplies."

I eyed the jars suspiciously. "Should I be worried?"

"Only if you enjoy being in pain."

Clara carefully unwrapped the makeshift bandage Rowan had tied around my leg. The cut wasn't deep but it looked worse than I remembered. She cleaned it gently while another woman handed her a small jar filled with green balm. The smell reminded me of pine trees and herbs.

"What is that?" I asked.

"Something that works wonderfully. This will heal you."

"That's reassuring."

Clara laughed and began rubbing the balm around my feet. The cooling sensation spread through my skin almost immediately.

I blinked. The pain began fading. Within minutes, the throbbing ache had almost disappeared entirely.

My eyes widened. "What is this?"

"Told you it works."

I carefully moved my foot. The difference was unbelievable. "It doesn't hurt."

Clara smiled proudly. "Our healers are very talented."

I flexed my ankle again. The pain wasn't completely gone but it was close. For the first time since the injury, I felt relieved.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Another woman smiled. "You should rest for the afternoon."

I nodded. For once, resting actually sounded appealing. The next several hours passed quietly. I spent most of the afternoon reading in my room and trying not to think too much about training.

Unfortunately, my thoughts kept drifting back to Rowan. More specifically, to the strange mark on his chest. I could still remember the look on his face when I touched it. For a brief moment, he had looked genuinely shocked, almost as if he had never expected anyone to notice it.

The more I thought about it, the more curious I became. It hadn't looked like an ordinary scar. There had been something strange about it, something that I couldn't quite explain. Every time I tried to stop thinking about it, the image simply returned to my mind.

Maybe there was a simple explanation. Maybe it was nothing important at all. But Rowan's reaction had made it difficult to believe that. He had covered it so quickly and changed the subject almost immediately afterward.

I could not stop wondering about it. And if I had the chance, I fully intended to ask him about it.

By the time evening arrived, my ankle felt much better. The herbal balm had worked wonders. When dinner was announced, I made my way downstairs.

The dining room was already crowded. Conversations filled the air while people settled into their usual seats. As soon as I entered, Clara smiled.

"How's the ankle?"

"Better."

"I told you."

"You were right."

A few minutes later, Rowan entered. His gaze immediately found me. "How is the injury?"

I flexed my foot beneath the table. "Much better."

"Good."

Rowan took the seat across from me. Dinner was served and conversation flowed easily around the table. For a while, I simply listened. Then my curiosity got the better of me.

"Rowan?"

He looked up. "Yes?"

I hesitated briefly. "What was that scar on your chest?"

The table became noticeably quieter. Rowan paused while reaching for his drink. For a brief moment, something flashed across his face. Then he smiled.

"Oh. That."

I frowned. "That isn't exactly reassuring."

Rowan took a sip of water. "It was an old tattoo."

I blinked. "A tattoo?"

"Yes."

I stared at him. The answer somehow felt ridiculous. "You had a tattoo shaped like a pentagon?"

Rowan looked offended. "When you say it like that, it sounds strange."

"Because it is strange."

Several people laughed. Rowan sighed dramatically.

"I was younger."

"Younger?"

"Much younger."

I narrowed my eyes. "And then what happened?"

A faint smile appeared on Rowan's face, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I stopped liking it."

"So you removed it?"

He nodded. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."

I studied him carefully. Something about his expression had changed. He almost looked uncomfortable. Rowan leaned back slightly and rubbed the back of his neck.

"People make foolish choices when they're young. Some of us make more foolish choices than others."

"Was it really that bad?"

A short laugh escaped him. "Trust me. It was."

"What was it supposed to mean?"

"Nothing worth remembering."

For a brief moment, I wondered if he was embarrassed. Maybe the tattoo had been connected to a part of his life that he regretted. Everyone had things they wished they could change. Maybe this was one of Rowan's.

The explanation sounded simple enough. He certainly didn't seem eager to talk about it. Eventually, I shrugged and let the matter drop. For now, at least.

Suddenly, the door opened. A man hurried inside. Everything went quiet. I recognized him as one of the guards. He walked directly toward Rowan.

"Alpha."

Rowan straightened slightly. "What is it?"

"There are visitors at the gate."

The room became quiet. "Visitors?" Rowan asked.

The guard nodded. "They asked to speak with the leader."

Something about his tone made my stomach tighten.

"Who are they?" Rowan asked.

The guard hesitated. "They are guards from the Silver Moon Pack."

The words hit me like a physical blow. My fingers tightened around my fork. Suddenly I couldn't breathe. They knew I was here and they were going to take me back. The thought echoed through my mind.

Across the table, Rowan's eyes landed on me. For a brief moment, neither of us spoke. I wasn't sure what he saw on my face. Fear or panic? Maybe both.

The guard continued. "There are three of them."

Rowan slowly stood. "I'll speak with them."

My stomach twisted. What if they demanded I return? What if Rowan handed me over?

The fear was overwhelming. Rowan looked at me one final time. Then he left the room. The guard followed him. The moment they disappeared, conversation slowly resumed around the table.

I couldn't focus on any of it. Every second felt endless. What if they took me back?

The thought made me feel sick. I couldn't go back...not after everything. Not after finally finding a place where people treated me kindly.

The waiting felt unbearable. Several minutes passed but Rowan had not returned. My heart pounded harder with every passing second.

Finally, the dining room door opened. Rowan walked back inside. The moment I saw him, I stood. "What happened?"

His gaze met mine. "The visitors left."

I blinked. "That's it?"

"That's it."

Confusion flooded through me. "What did they want?"

Rowan pulled out his chair and sat down. "They were looking for someone."

My stomach dropped. Someone? It was surely me.

One of the women nearby frowned. "Who?"

"A missing girl."

The room became quiet again. I swallowed. "What did they say?"

Rowan looked directly at me. One corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "They showed me a photograph."

My heart nearly stopped. "And?"

His expression remained calm. "And I told them I had never seen her."

For several seconds, I simply stared at him. He had lied....for me. I felt so relieved.

"They believed you?" I asked quietly.

"Apparently."

The tension slowly left my body. I was safe...at least for now.

Rowan studied me for a moment. "You're welcome."

I blinked. "I didn't say thank you."

"No."

A faint smile appeared on his face. "But you were thinking about it."

Heat immediately rushed to my cheeks. Several people laughed. I looked away. Unfortunately, Rowan looked entirely too pleased with himself.

For the rest of the evening, I found myself relaxing for the first time since hearing about the visit from my former pack. They had come looking for me but Rowan had protected me.

Later that night, after returning to my room, I stood beside the window and stared out at the dark forest beyond the mansion.

Moonlight filtered through the trees. Everything was quiet and peaceful. My thoughts drifted back to dinner. I thought about what Rowan did for me. He could have told them the truth. He could have handed me over.

But instead, he had lied for me. A small smile touched my lips. Even now, I couldn't quite believe that Rowan had protected me without hesitation.

My parents might still be searching for me but for the first time since leaving the Silver Moon Pack, I didn't feel completely alone. Still, I couldn't stop wondering why they wanted me back so badly.

Maybe they needed someone to cook their meals and clean the house. Maybe they were angry that I had left without permission. Or maybe they simply didn't like losing control over something they considered theirs.

Whatever the reason, I had no intention of returning. I had spent my entire life trying to earn a place in that pack and all it had ever given me was pain.

As I looked around my room, a quiet sense of determination settled inside me. For the first time in my life, my future belonged to me.

And I wasn't going to let anyone take it away.