The Masked Luna

Home

He was very visible to my eyes now.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. Slightly tousled dark hair fell across his forehead, making him look even more striking beneath the pale moonlight.

For a moment, I simply stared at him.

I had been ready to run.

But something about the way he stood there made my feet refuse to move.

Kael took a step toward me.

“I asked you a question.”

His voice was calm, but there was something underneath it that made my stomach tighten.

I swallowed hard.

“N-no.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“No?”

“I…” My voice trembled. “I was waiting for you.”

He studied me for a moment, as though trying to determine whether I was lying.

Then he turned away.

“Follow me.”

I hesitated.

“Now, Elara.”

Hearing my name from his lips sent another wave of fear through me.

I had no idea what he wanted from me, but staying there was no longer an option.

So I followed.

We moved deeper into the forest, away from the direction the other guards had taken. The trees became thicker, their branches blocking most of the moonlight above us.

Kael walked ahead without saying a word.

I struggled to keep up.

My ankle was already throbbing from the fall, and every step sent another sharp pain through my leg.

Still, I refused to complain.

I couldn’t trust him.

I couldn’t trust anyone from the Northern Pack.

Then my foot caught on a thick root and I stumbled.

“Ah!” I fell hard against the ground.

Pain shot through my injured leg, and I immediately grabbed it.

Kael spun around.

“Quiet!”

I covered my mouth, tears springing into my eyes.

He crouched beside me.

“They could still be nearby.”

“I can’t…” I whispered, fighting the pain. “I can’t walk.”

His gaze dropped to my leg.

For a second, he said nothing.

Then he stood.

“Get on.”

I stared at him.

“What?”

“My back.”

I hesitated.

“Kael—”

“We don’t have time.”

I reluctantly wrapped my arms around his shoulders.

The next thing I knew, his body began to change.

I gasped.

Bones shifted beneath his skin. His form grew larger, his limbs transforming as dark fur spread across his body.

I almost screamed.

A massive black wolf stood where Kael had been. His thick fur seemed to absorb the moonlight, making him look almost shadow-like against the forest. But his eyes burned a vivid, unnatural red, fixed on me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

I stumbled backward in shock as the wolf lowered himself.

I stared at him for several seconds before realizing what he wanted.

With trembling hands, I climbed onto his back.

The moment I held on, he shot forward.

The forest blurred around me.

Branches whipped past my face as he raced between the trees with unbelievable speed. I tightened my grip on his fur, terrified that I would fall.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally slowed down.

We stopped before a section of thick bushes.

Kael shifted back into his human form and pushed the branches aside.

A narrow entrance appeared beneath the ground.

I stared at it.

“What is this?”

“Come.”

He led me down a short passage until we reached a small underground room.

There was a bed, a table, a few supplies and a dim lamp hanging from the ceiling.

I looked around in disbelief.

How had a place like this existed beneath the forest without anyone knowing?

Kael turned toward me.

“Stay here.”

My eyes widened.

“You’re leaving?”

“I’ll come back.”

He walked toward the entrance.

“Kael…”

He stopped.

I lowered my voice.

“Where are you going?”

“To make sure they don’t find you.”

Then he disappeared through the entrance.

The moment his footsteps faded, fear returned.

What if he had brought me here because he wanted to do something worse to me?

I couldn’t take that chance.

I quickly tore a piece of cloth from the bottom of my dress and wrapped it around my injured leg.

It wasn’t enough to stop the pain, but it would have to do.

I looked toward the entrance and one was there.

I pushed myself up and limped out of the underground room and disappeared into the forest.

I began to run, without direction.

After what seemed like forever, the trees finally began to thin.

Then I saw a road.

Relief nearly brought me to my knees.

I limped toward it and raised my hand when I saw headlights approaching.

A truck slowed down.

The driver leaned toward the passenger window.

“Are you alright?”

“Please,” I begged. “I’m trying to get to the city. I’m stranded.”

The man studied me for a moment before unlocking the door.

“Get in.”

I climbed inside.

“Thank you.”

He drove away from the forest.

I leaned against the seat and finally allowed myself to breathe.

The truck had barely traveled a mile when several figures stepped onto the road.

The driver slammed on the brakes.

My body lurched forward, and I gripped the edge of the seat to keep from falling.

Outside, a group of men surrounded the truck.

My blood turned cold as I recognized the uniforms immediately.

The Northern Pack.

The driver looked at me through the mirror.

“Stay down,” he whispered.

“What?”

“Hide. Quickly.”

Before I could ask anything else, he reached behind his seat and pulled a heavy blanket over me.

I crouched on the floor, pressing myself into the narrow space between the seats.

The blanket covered my body, but my face remained close enough to a gap beneath the seat for me to see outside.

The driver climbed down from the truck.

A tall man approached him.

Even from where I hid, I could see him clearly.

Kael.

He looked even more handsome beneath the moonlight. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his broad shoulders were covered by a black coat. His face was calm, almost expressionless, but there was something dangerous in the way he carried himself.

Beside him stood another man.

He was older, with sharp features and a cold, merciless expression. His eyes were dark and empty, and the faint smile on his lips made him look evil.

Several guards stood behind them, their hands resting near the weapons at their waists.

The driver lowered his head.

“What is the meaning of this?” he asked.

“This territory belongs to the Northern Pack,” one of the guards said. “We have the right to inspect any vehicle passing through it.”

The driver’s face tightened.

“I’m only transporting goods.”

The Khanna stepped forward.

“We’re searching for a girl.”

My heart stopped.

“She escaped from the pack,” he continued. “She may be injured, frightened and desperate enough to hide anywhere.”

Kael said nothing.

He simply stood there, watching the truck with an unreadable expression.

The driver glanced toward the back.

“Search it if you want.”

One of the guards moved toward the rear of the truck.

The driver quickly stepped in front of him.

“I’ll open it.”

He walked around to the back and unlocked the doors.

My heart pounded furiously against my chest.

The doors swung open, revealing stacks of crates and boxes.

The driver climbed inside and began moving them around.

I held my breath beneath the blanket.

Then I heard slow and measured footsteps.

Kael was walking toward the side of the truck where I was hiding.

Every step brought him closer.

My fingers dug into the fabric beneath me and I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears.

Kael stopped beside the truck.

For one terrifying second, I thought he had found me.

His shadow fell across the ground.

I held my breath.

Then he suddenly turned his head toward the forest.

Khanna called out to him.

“Kael?”

Kael remained still for another moment before stepping away from the truck.

The driver climbed down from the back.

“There’s no one here,” he said quickly. “I haven’t seen any girl.”

The Khanna stared at him suspiciously.

“You’re certain?”

“Completely certain.”

The Khanna’s eyes narrowed, but after a long silence, he finally turned away.

“Let him go.”

The guards moved aside.

The driver climbed back into the cab and shut the door.

He waited until the Northern Pack members had disappeared into the darkness before lifting the blanket.

“You can come out now.”

I slowly raised my head.

My entire body was trembling.

The driver looked at me with concern.

“Are you hurt?”

I nodded, unable to speak.

He started the engine and drove away.

I leaned against the seat and finally allowed myself to breathe.

By the time I reached my neighborhood, it was deep into the night.

I thanked the driver, found a cab and gave the driver my home address.

Two hours later, I finally stood before the house I had spent years calling home.

My hands trembled as I knocked.

Twice then waited.

I heard footsteps from inside and my heart leaped.

I pressed my palm against the door as I waited for my father to open it.

Instead, his distant voice came from inside.

“Finally. The burden is finally lifted from my shoulders.”

My smile disappeared.

“I’m so happy I made the right choice by sending Elara off to that ruthless Alpha.”

I stopped breathing.

The door remained closed and for a few seconds, I couldn’t move.