The Alpha’s Hidden Luna

Episode3

"Is the Alpha's hiding Luna?”

The words were out before I could stop myself.

All the faces in the square were turned my way.

The scout was still kneeling in the dirt, trembling, blood spilling from the cut above his eye. "I...I heard them," he whispered. They killed everybody on the eastern border. They kept pestering them about the Alpha’s Hidden Luna.

A chill ran down my spine. "I don't get it," I whispered.

And nor did anyone else.

The crowd began whispering. “What is he saying?” “There is no Hidden Luna.” “Has he gone crazy?”

I glanced over at Rylan.

His face was a stone.

His jaw tightened a fraction, the only outward sign of his agitation.

Damian moved forwards. "You're injured. You're all mixed up.'

"No!"

The scout shook his head until he nearly toppled over. "I heard them plain.

He pointed at me. "They were looking for... her."

The crowd snickered.

The tone was unkind. "Her?

"That servant?

“The murderer?

Someone yelled'she can't even move!

Again the laughter burst out.

Blood rushed to my face.

I looked down.

Okay.

Why would anyone think I could be somebody?

It had been 3 years since I had changed into my wolf.

Never once.

I could not hear her at all.

Whatever I had been.

That girl was out.

One of Damian's warriors folded his arms. "She's wolfless."

Another nodded. “The Moon Goddess turned her down years ago.”

No girl without a wolf can be anybody's mate.

“Not Alpha Blackthorn’s, specifically.”

Insults came one after another.

Each one dropped where the other had.

I folded my hands into fists.

I told myself not to answer.

The pain only amused them.

Rylan spoke, suddenly. “Enough.”

His voice was not loud.

It didn't have to be.

Almost at once the square was quiet.

He looked at the warriors, one by one. "So you all saw her wolf yourself?"

Nobody answered. "None of you has one?

Silence. Again.

Then one of the elders cleared his throat.

“After the tragedy, her wolf was gone.

Rylan stared at him. 'Disappeared?' 'Yes.

"Have you ever seen that one?

The elder hesitated. "No," she said.

"So you accepted the improbable..."

His eyes narrowed. "…without asking why

The old man bowed his head.

My heart began to race.

Each question Rylan asked revealed another c***k in the story I’d been forced to believe in.

He turned to me. "What happened when you tried to shift?"

I gulped.

“I am …”

It was a painful memory. "I've tried every full moon."

The words escaped barely.

I locked myself in the old storage house so that no one would see.

The crowd fell silent. "I begged my wolf to answer me.

I chuckled softly.

It sounded hollow. "She never did."

In a rush, the nights returned to me.

The cold floor under my knees.

Moonlight streaming through broken windows.

My throat was raw from calling out to someone who never answered.

I had wept till dawn.

Once a month.

For three years. “I thought she hated me.”

Rylan's face took on a strange expression.

Not mercy.

Something else. Something more. "You tried anyway."

I nodded. “I didn’t want to be by myself.”

The words were out before I could stop them.

The silence that followed was unendurably thick.

Rylan looked away for a second.

His hand clenched into a fist.

Almost as if he was touched by my answer.

And then...

Inside my head a sharp pain exploded.

I sucked in a breath.

The world turned.

I saw pictures with my eyes.

A forest of silver.

Light of the moon.

A woman in white, reaching out to me. 'Run, Serena!'

My voice rang through my head.

"Don't let them ever find you!

She was on fire.

A howl ripped the night air.

I stumbled backwards. ‘No...’

Another picture.

A small girl.

"Me.

I was running through trees.

I was carried by someone.

A guy with his face out of sight.

In back of us...

We were chased by dozens of wolves.

Then the darkness engulfed everything.

I drop to my knees.

The pain was gone as suddenly as it had come. "Serena."

Suddenly Rylan was beside me.

He caught my arm before I fell completely.

His touch was hot.

Stable.

I looked at his eyes.

"I saw something."

His voice dropped. "What did you see?"

I...

The memories trickled through my fingers like water. "I can't remember."

Inside me burnt frustration. “They always vanish.”

Rylan didn't release. 'You'll remember.

His certainty surprised me. "How can you be so sure?" "Because memories that are forced down always come back."

Set.

The word sang inside my head.

Never forgotten.

Burried.

Suddenly, Damian got in between us. "That's enough.

His voice had a sharp edge to it that I had never heard before. "She's wore out."

He looked at me.

They had something dangerous about them.

Like a warning.

"Enough trouble you've given today."

Before I could answer, another voice intervened.

Alpha.

One of Rylan’s warriors came forward hastily.

He leaned over and whispered something in Rylan’s ear.

I could not hear the words.

But I could see Rylan's face change.

Cold.

Calculation...

He gazed into the woods that surrounded Silvermoon. "Closer than I expected."

Damian frowned. "What is it?

Rylan didn’t pay him any mind.

Instead, he looked at his warriors. "Double the guards.

"Yes, Alpha.

"No one shall enter."

”No one is leaving.

My heart jumped a beat.

What is going on?

Rylan’s eyes flicked back to me. “You’ll stay where I can see you.”

I blinked. "What?

“Not a request.

Damian stepped forward at once.

"She is from Silvermoon.

Rylan didn’t even glance over at him. “I’ve answered that already.

The tension between them was nearly painful.

Then—

A strange sound floated over the square.

A low

Wail of sadness.

The wolves all paused.

The source wasn’t inside the pack.

It was from deep in the forest.

And another howl responded.

Then another one.

And another one.

Dozens of voices.

No...

Hundreds and hundreds.

The hair on my arm rose up.

No wolf moved about me.

They heard.

Just wait.

Then, for the first time in three years ...

I heard her.

Clear.

Tough.

Cool.

My wolf.

"Serena....

My breath hitched.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

“You

Her voice shook with feeling.

I have finally found you.

My heart almost stopped.

"You have lived ...

I didn't leave.

A tear rolled down my cheek. "Then tell me why don't you?"

Silence.

A long...

Awkward silences.

When she talked, her voice was full of sorrow.

"Because somebody chained me up.

Ice ran through my veins. "What?

"They locked me in your soul.

I couldn't breathe.

"And the one who did it was..."

Her voice suddenly became sharp. "He's right behind you."

A cold hand was laid lightly on my shoulder.

I was frozen.

Slowly...

I looked back.