CHAPTER FOUR
1210 Words
The village of Moonstone was unusually quiet when Luna and Ethan returned. The silence was unnerving, as though the world was holding its breath. Even the pack's usual patrols seemed absent.
Luna's thoughts were a storm of confusion and suspicion. Ethan had saved her, yes, but the way the rogues obeyed him... It was unnatural. She glanced at him as they walked through the narrow streets, his face set in a grim expression. Who was this man, really?
“You should tell Alpha Marcus what happened,” Ethan said, breaking the silence.
Luna tensed at the mention of Marcus. The wound of his rejection still throbbed, raw and fresh. “Marcus doesn’t care about me,” she replied bitterly.
“He’ll care about rogues crossing the border,” Ethan countered.
Luna stopped in her tracks, turning to face him. “Why are you here, Ethan? Why did you come to Moonstone?”
Ethan hesitated, his green eyes scanning her face as if weighing how much to reveal. “I have my reasons,” he said finally.
“That’s not an answer,” she snapped.
Before Ethan could respond, a figure emerged from the shadows ahead. Selena, her best friend, hurried toward them, her auburn hair glowing in the moonlight.
“Luna! Where have you been?” Selena demanded, her voice laced with worry.
“Out,” Luna said curtly.
“With him?” Selena’s gaze flicked to Ethan, suspicion clouding her eyes.
“We ran into rogues,” Luna explained quickly, wanting to defuse the tension. “Ethan helped me fight them off.”
Selena’s expression softened slightly, but her eyes remained wary. “Rogues? Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine,” Luna assured her. “But we need to warn the pack.”
Selena nodded. “Come on. Marcus will want to hear about this.”
---
The pack’s meeting hall was dimly lit, the air thick with tension as Luna recounted the encounter. Marcus sat at the head of the long wooden table, his piercing gaze fixed on her. He looked every bit the Alpha—strong, commanding, and utterly unyielding.
“You shouldn’t have been out there alone,” he said once she finished.
Luna bristled at his tone. “I can take care of myself.”
“Clearly not,” Marcus retorted, his eyes narrowing.
Ethan, who had been standing quietly in the corner, stepped forward. “She’s telling the truth. The rogues were deep in your territory, and they weren’t just wandering aimlessly. They were organized.”
Marcus turned his attention to Ethan, his expression hardening. “And why should I trust you, an outsider?”
Ethan met his gaze without flinching. “Because I have no reason to lie. If anything, you should be thanking me for keeping Luna alive.”
A low growl rumbled in Marcus’s throat, and the tension in the room escalated.
“Enough,” Selena interjected, placing a calming hand on Luna’s arm. “We need to focus on the threat, not fight among ourselves.”
Marcus exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. “Fine. I’ll increase patrols along the borders. But if I find out you’re lying,” he said, pointing a finger at Ethan, “you’ll regret stepping foot in Moonstone.”
Ethan gave a curt nod. “Noted.”
---
As the meeting dispersed, Luna lingered outside the hall, her mind still racing. The encounter with the rogues, Ethan’s strange authority over them, and Marcus’s hostility—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle she couldn’t quite fit together.
“Luna.”
She turned to see Ethan approaching, his expression unreadable.
“What now?” she asked, crossing her arms.
“I need to show you something,” he said, his voice low.
“What is it?”
“Not here,” he replied, glancing around. “Meet me in the forest at dawn.”
Luna hesitated, her instincts screaming against the idea. But curiosity and something deeper—trust, perhaps—overrode her caution.
“Fine,” she said reluctantly.
Ethan nodded and disappeared into the shadows, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
---
The forest was bathed in golden light when Luna arrived the next morning. The early sun pierced through the canopy, casting long shadows across the ground. Ethan was already there, leaning against a tree with an air of practiced ease.
“You’re late,” he said, smirking.
Luna rolled her eyes. “What is it you wanted to show me?”
Without a word, Ethan turned and began walking deeper into the woods. Luna followed, her curiosity growing with each step.
They arrived at a small clearing, and Luna’s breath caught in her throat.
In the center of the clearing stood a stone altar, its surface etched with ancient runes that seemed to shimmer faintly in the sunlight. Surrounding the altar were faded remnants of a camp—charred wood, broken weapons, and scraps of fabric that looked disturbingly like torn clothing.
“What is this place?” Luna whispered, her voice barely audible.
“It’s where the rogues gather,” Ethan said grimly. “Or at least, it used to be.”
“Used to be?”
“They’ve moved on, but their plans started here,” he explained. “This altar is part of something much bigger.”
Luna approached the altar cautiously, her fingers brushing against the cool stone. The runes seemed to pulse under her touch, sending a strange warmth through her body.
“What do these mean?” she asked.
Ethan hesitated, his gaze darkening. “They’re a part of an old ritual. One that can bind or break a pack.”
Luna’s stomach churned. “You think the rogues are planning to use it?”
“I know they are,” Ethan said. “And they’ll come for you, Luna.”
“Why me?” she demanded, her voice rising.
“Because you’re different,” he said, his eyes locking onto hers. “You’re more powerful than you realize.”
Luna shook her head, stepping back from the altar. “I don’t understand.”
“You will,” Ethan said, his voice softening. “But for now, you need to be careful. Trust no one, not even your pack.”
Luna’s heart pounded as his words sank in. Could she really trust him? Or was he leading her into a trap?
Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed through the trees.
“Luna?” Selena’s voice called out.
Luna turned to see her friend emerging from the woods, her expression a mix of relief and confusion.
“What are you doing here?” Selena asked, her gaze shifting to Ethan.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Ethan said, his tone sharp.
“I followed Luna,” Selena admitted. “She’s been acting strange, and I was worried.”
Luna frowned, unease creeping into her chest. Why was Selena here? And why now?
“Let’s go back,” Selena said, grabbing Luna’s arm. “This place gives me the creeps.”
Luna hesitated, glancing at
Ethan. He nodded subtly, as if to say, “Go with her.”
Reluctantly, Luna allowed Selena to lead her away, her mind spinning with questions.
- Writer
