Born to be Luna

Alpha Greythorn stood motionless at the edge of the lake, his gaze fixed on the distant treeline. The scent of still water and rustling leaves drifted around him, but it did little to ease the grief weighing on his heart. Another pack member had died that night. The severing of the pack bond felt like a knife carving away a piece of his soul, and the pain never grew easier to bear. For two hundred years, every Blood Moon had brought loss to the Goodhaven Pack. Most believed their suffering was a punishment from the Moon Goddess, but Alpha Greythorn knew better. The real cause lay buried in the past. Since the death of his great-great-grandmother, Matilda—the last True Luna—the pack had steadily declined. Disease spread more easily. Madness crept through the minds of wolves once strong and loyal. Wars had ravaged their lands, claiming lives faster than new ones could be born. With each passing generation, Goodhaven grew weaker. Despite every effort he had made as Alpha, the pack continued to crumble. Rage simmered beneath Greythorn's skin. It seeped into his soul and strained the bond he shared with his wolf, Jebidiah. A growl escaped his throat before he could stop it. His hands clenched into fists as heat surged through his body. Fur rippled beneath his skin, fangs lengthened, and the beast within demanded release. Moments later, his human form gave way. Jebidiah burst free with a snarl, snapping at the night sky as though challenging the stars themselves. The wolf ran. He tore through the forest without direction or purpose, driven only by exhaustion and frustration. Branches splintered beneath his paws as he darted between ancient trees. Mile after mile disappeared behind him while Alpha Greythorn retreated into blessed silence, allowing his wolf to take control. Eventually, fatigue caught up with them. Jebidiah slowed beside a crystal-clear spring and drank deeply. Though his body ached for rest, neither wolf nor Alpha wished to return to the pack house. Nearby, a sprawling oak stretched its branches overhead. The wolf curled beneath its sheltering canopy and quickly drifted to sleep. "Alpha Greythorn." The voice was soft, almost a whisper, yet it carried an unmistakable authority. "Please. We must speak. There is little time." Greythorn opened his eyes groggily. He expected to find himself beneath the oak but instead stood within an endless expanse of brilliant white light. Blinking against the brightness, he looked around in confusion. A wisp of silver mist drifted toward him. As it neared, the mist took shape, transforming into a woman of extraordinary beauty. Her blazing red hair cascaded down her back in soft curls, and her skin was so pale it seemed almost translucent beneath the radiant light surrounding her. "Alpha Greythorn," she said, her voice calm and melodic. "Thank you for coming." Though gentle, her tone carried quiet confidence. "We do not have much time before your pack finds you. There is something important you must hear." Greythorn frowned. "Excuse me, but what is this place? Who are you?" The absurdity of the situation left him wondering whether the madness afflicting his pack had finally claimed him as well. The woman paused briefly, as though considering her response. "I am the Moon Goddess," she said. "Creator of the wolf shifters and the first True Luna." There was no arrogance in her words—only certainty. "I have come because your pack stands at a crossroads, and you must hear what I have to say." "My pack?" Greythorn's expression hardened. "The same pack you've ignored for two hundred years? The pack you've allowed to suffer while hundreds of shifters died?" Bitterness sharpened every word. The Moon Goddess's eyes flashed gold. "I have never abandoned your pack." The force behind her voice struck him like a physical blow. Raw power radiated from her, ancient and overwhelming. Greythorn staggered before collapsing to his knees beneath its weight. "Secrets are destroying your pack, Alpha Greythorn—not me." Her words echoed through the white expanse. "I know your people suffer. I feel the loss of every shifter more deeply than you can imagine. But I cannot save a pack that refuses to confront the truth buried within it." Shame washed over him. Still kneeling, he lowered his head. "Please forgive me, Moon Goddess. We are broken. The pack is divided, falling apart, and I don't know how to stop it." Despair threatened to overwhelm him as he spoke. The Moon Goddess's expression softened. Stepping forward, she took his hands and helped him rise. "I understand." Her voice returned to its gentle calm. "That is why I am here." Greythorn held his breath. "On the second Blood Moon from tonight, a child will be born to two humble members of your pack." His pulse quickened. "This daughter will be extraordinary. She will rise, flourish, and become a True Luna." The words stole the air from his lungs. A True Luna. After two centuries. After all the suffering. Could it truly be possible? The Moon Goddess smiled faintly. "You must remember what I have told you, Alpha Greythorn. Secrets prevented a True Luna from being born into Goodhaven for two hundred years. I am giving your pack an opportunity to heal, but even a True Luna cannot save those who cling to deception." Her golden eyes held his. "Remember this: a True Luna will only lead where she is needed." As the final words left her lips, the world around him began to fade. The white light dissolved into darkness. A gentle shaking touched his shoulder. Greythorn's eyes flew open as consciousness returned and the dream slipped away like mist before the dawn.