Redemption Luna Mae

Needed Answers

Mae’s POV

Daniel just stood there, staring at me with those unnervingly calm eyes. “I’m here to check on you,” he said, his tone steady and even.

I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t believe you.”

His lips twitched, almost like he was amused. “Don’t give me that suspicious look,” he said, brushing past me like he owned the place and stepping into my room.

“Get out, Daniel,” I snapped, my voice sharp with irritation.

Nancy, standing beside me, gave me a confused glance. She didn’t know him like I did. Daniel had already made himself comfortable on the couch, his eyes locked onto mine.

“I’m guessing you’re not here under Oscar’s orders to babysit me,” I said, crossing my arms.

Daniel leaned back, his expression unreadable. “If you want, you can come back to me.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “You and I are over, Daniel. Done. Finished. You’re history.”

He didn’t flinch. His blank stare held steady, but I caught the way Nancy was sizing him up. She had this habit of eyeing any good-looking guy as her next potential fling, and Daniel was no exception. Nancy always did have a weakness for men who looked like trouble.

“If you come back to me,” Daniel said softly, “you won’t die.”

The words hung heavy in the air as he stood and stepped closer—too close. I could feel the warmth of his breath on my neck, his hand brushing my cheek like a whisper.

“I don’t want to be with you, Daniel,” I said firmly, stepping back to put space between us.

But his lips curved into a dark, almost predatory smirk that made my stomach twist. This wasn’t the Daniel I used to know. There was something… off about him. Something sharper, darker.

“Fine,” he murmured, leaning in so close that his voice was a ghost against my ear. “If that’s what you want. But you’ll face death if you stay on your own. Your parents’ enemies… they’re hunting you. Tonight.”

The blood drained from my face. “What? How? How did anyone find out?”

Daniel shrugged like it didn’t matter. “The point is, you can’t stay here. It’s not safe. I can help you hide… after you meet your cousin, Faye.”

My breath caught. How did he know I was planning to meet Faye? I hadn’t told anyone.

As if reading my thoughts, he smirked. “Don’t overthink it, Mae,” he whispered, his voice velvet. He reached for my hand, slipping a small piece of paper into it before brushing his lips against my cheek. The touch sent an electric shiver down my spine.

What the hell was happening? This wasn’t the Daniel I remembered. The Daniel I’d once trusted had been quiet, almost submissive.

The boy I’d lost my virginity to had never made me feel unsafe. But now? He was something else entirely. There was a fire in him, a strength I hadn’t seen before. He was taller, broader—almost Alpha-like.

I’d always thought Oscar was the strong one, with his Hercules-like build. But now I saw Daniel, his chiseled jaw, golden-blonde hair, tanned skin, and hazel eyes. He wasn’t just attractive—he was magnetic.

“Are you two going to kiss or what?” Nancy’s teasing voice shattered the tension.

I blinked, stepping back just as Daniel turned and walked out of the room without another word.

Nancy gave me a sly grin. “You seriously have a talent for attracting gorgeous guys,” she said, her voice dripping with envy.

I rolled my eyes. “Nancy, focus. I need you to check out this address and see if it’s safe.”

She glanced at the note Daniel had given me and nodded, slipping it into her pocket. Without another word, she left, and I started preparing to meet Faye.

But one question kept gnawing at me: how had Daniel known about Faye? It wasn’t just suspicious—it was dangerous.

I threw on a black hoodie and jeans, tying my hair back into a low ponytail. Grabbing the energy drink Nancy had left behind, I downed it in one gulp. I tried summoning my magic to teleport, but it sputtered and failed. Ugh. I hated how weak I’d become.

Left with no other choice, I bolted out the door and sprinted toward Faye Manor. My legs burned with every step, but I couldn’t stop.

Not now.

As I ran, I felt the shift in the air—like a storm was coming, but worse. My parents had enemies, and now they had sent assassins for me. I could feel them behind me, shadows closing in, their presence like cold fingers brushing against my spine.

I’d wanted to die earlier—truly, I had. But now, there were too many unanswered questions. Too many things I needed to know.

But my body didn’t care. My legs buckled, and I stumbled into the forest, the world tilting and spinning around me.

Time was running out. And so was I.

“You b***h, die!” an assassin hissed, his voice dripping with venom as he shifted from human to wolf form. His sharp teeth gleamed under the faint moonlight as he lunged toward me. I twisted away just in time, but before I could catch my breath, another assassin—still in human form—raised a glowing bow and fired a magical arrow directly at me.

I dodged again, heart pounding so loudly it drowned out the forest’s whispers. I can’t die yet, I thought. Not like this. My breaths

came ragged and shallow as I staggered back, trying to regroup. But then another shadow emerged—a third assassin. His dagger caught the edge of my neck, slicing it open. The pain was instant, hot and searing, as blood trickled down my skin.

Damn it.

I was outnumbered, the odds stacked so far against me it felt like a cruel joke. It was as if I were watching my own death unfold, powerless to stop it. Only this time, there were no furious roars or battle cries from my Pack to save me. I was on my own.

The three assassins circled me, their eyes glinting with malice, their smiles cold and unyielding. I tried to summon my wolf, to reach for that power deep inside me, but nothing came. My wolf refused to respond. Panic bloomed in my chest.

I tried to run, but the blood loss was making me dizzy. My vision blurred, and my legs felt like they were made of lead. Still, I forced myself to stand, swaying on my feet, refusing to give in without a fight.

That’s when I heard it—a sharp snap of a twig.

I whipped my head toward the sound and froze. A massive grey wolf with piercing green eyes stepped into view, its presence as commanding as a thunderstorm. My breath caught. I knew that wolf. It was Oscar.

The assassins hesitated, fear flashing across their faces. Before they could react, the grey wolf moved with lightning-fast speed. He tore through them like they were nothing, his claws and teeth a blur of deadly precision.

I watched, stunned, as Oscar’s wolf ripped apart my attackers. He wasn’t just strong—he was terrifying. His strength had grown since I last saw him, and now it radiated off him like heat from a raging fire.

When the last assassin fell, Oscar’s wolf turned to me. His green eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I felt my heart stutter.

There was something primal, something unreadable in his gaze. Then, without a sound, he vanished into the darkness, leaving me slumped against a tree, gasping for air.

“Cousin.”

I looked up to see Faye standing nearby, her expression tight with concern. Relief flooded me. I was close to Faye Manor now, but this wasn’t the reunion I’d imagined.

“Why was Oscar here?” I managed to ask, my voice barely a whisper.

Faye frowned. “It seems you can’t resist the questions in your head,” she said, her tone laced with sarcasm. Still, she offered me her hand, helping me up. I hated needing her help, but my body refused to cooperate.

We walked in silence toward the territory of the Red Night Pack, where Faye was Luna. The guards at the border frowned at me, their distrust obvious, but none dared challenge Faye. She led me straight to the infirmary, slipping on gloves and pulling out a medical kit with practiced ease.

“Why?” I croaked, my throat raw.

Faye glanced at me, her face unreadable. “Why what?”

“You know what I mean,” I hissed, gritting my teeth as she cleaned the deep wound on my neck. The sting of the disinfectant made my entire body tense.

“Don’t play games with me, Faye,” I growled, even though the pain was making my vision swim.

But she didn’t answer. She didn’t rise to the bait like she used to. Instead, her expression softened—sympathy pooling in her eyes. I hated it. Was she pitying me? Looking down on me?

I wanted to lash out, but Faye’s magic flared as she sealed my wound, her movements rough. The pain stole my words, and all I could do was glare at her. She met my gaze evenly, her calm demeanor infuriating me.

“Why am I still alive?” I asked finally, my voice hoarse.

Faye exhaled slowly, setting down the medical supplies. “Listen to me, Mae. What I’m about to tell you will shake you to your core.”

I opened my mouth to demand answers, but a voice interrupted us.

“Faye.”

I stiffened as Alpha Atlas stepped into the room, his glare burning holes into me. He’d always hated me, always wanted me dead, but my sister had stopped him so far.

“What is it, love?” Faye asked, smiling warmly at him.

Jealousy twisted in my chest. She had love—true love—while I had nothing. All I’d ever wanted was what she had. Love. Acceptance.

Atlas sneered, ignoring me completely. “Oscar is drunk and passed out in the guest house,” he said sharply. “Again.”

Faye sighed. “He needs time to recover from everything that’s happened.”

Atlas scoffed, his contempt clear. “Oscar doesn’t need time. He needs to f**k someone and move on. And judging by tonight, I’d say he’s doing just fine.”

His words struck like a dagger to my chest, the pain sharper than any wound.

“Atlas,” Faye said, her tone scolding, but he didn’t look the least bit guilty.

“She knows it’s true,” Atlas growled before stalking out of the room.

Faye turned back to me, her expression unreadable. “We need to talk,” she said quietly.

I nodded, still reeling from the wave of emotions crashing over me.

“How time changes,” Faye murmured, her voice tinged with something I couldn’t place.

I knew what she was thinking. She was remembering how I used to treat her—how I’d tormented her when she was vulnerable, when she’d needed my help. I could see it in her eyes. She hadn’t forgotten.

“Faye,” I said weakly. “I’m sorry.”

Her expression faltered for just a moment, surprise flickering across her face.

“Why did you save me?” I asked, my voice barely audible.

Faye hesitated, then sighed. “Because you deserve to know the truth.”

“What truth?”

“You’re not a Cooper, Mae. You were adopted. Just like me.”

Her words hit me like a freight train. The parents I’d obeyed all my life weren’t even mine?

“Why did you save me?” I repeated, my voice shaking.

“Because I found something,” Faye said. “Something from my former Hybrid secretary. You were under a manipulation spell, Mae.

Everything you’ve done… someone else was pulling the strings.”

I stared at her, stunned.

“What are you saying?”

She handed me a stack of reports, her face grim. I scanned the pages, my hands trembling. The truth unraveled before me: I wasn’t just an orphan. I wasn’t just adopted. I’d been manipulated—controlled by magic because I, too, had the rare power to control minds.

I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me.