His Luna

Tree

Kirsty's eyelids fluttered as she gradually regained consciousness. The blurriness that clouded her vision began to dissipate, revealing the anxious faces of unfamiliar people surrounding her. Confusion engulfed her as she struggled to make sense of her surroundings.

As her senses gradually sharpened, Kirsty realized that she was lying on the hard ground, the cold surface pressing against her back. The throbbing pain in her head served as a constant reminder of her disoriented state. She tried to recall how she ended up in this bewildering situation, but her memories remained frustratingly out of reach.

Kirsty winced at the discomfort coursing through her body. The throbbing ache in her head seemed to drown out the concerned voices around her, which grew louder as if they were trying to break through the fog in her mind. She struggled to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt heavy as if weighed down by an invisible force. As she tried to move, pain shot through her limbs, a reminder of the trauma her body had endured. Each movement felt like navigating an obstacle course of discomfort and agony. Yet, despite the pain, Kirsty's determination to understand her situation grew stronger with every passing moment.

"Wake up! What are we going to do?" The urgency in the woman's voice cut through the confusion. It was then that Kirsty noticed her, a stranger who seemed genuinely worried about her well-being.

"She's still breathing..." The woman's words echoed in Kirsty's ears, bringing a semblance of reassurance amidst the chaos. Another voice joined in, a familiar tone that sparked a glimmer of recognition within Kirsty's hazy mind.

"Check her pulse," the man's voice commanded. Kirsty strained to focus on his words, hoping that he held some answers to the questions swirling in her mind.

Moments passed, their voices melding into an indistinct hum. The woman's voice pierced through once more, delivering a sliver of relief.

"The pulse is normal," she reported, her tone carrying a mix of relief and concern. Kirsty felt a flicker of gratitude toward this stranger who was determined to help her in her vulnerable state.

“Then why isn’t she awake?”

Kirsty was still closing her eyes as she tried to remember what dreamed about. It was all connected to her past, something that was always wanted to know about. She could feel several pairs of eyes that were looking at her as she lay flat on the ground. Kirsty's mind raced as she tried to piece together the fragments of her memory. The hill. The dream. The blurred face. The witch. It was all jumbled, like a puzzle with missing pieces. Every single detail started to fade in her mind from the man who had a blurred face to the face of the witch that attacked them on the hill.

“Wait…she moved her hand. She’s conscious now.”

She remembered the hill. Kirsty suddenly opened her eyes and breathed heavily as she tried to sit up.

“Relax.” The woman was trying to help her get up.

When she returned her head to look where the voice came from, a woman with red hair with a sweet smile plastered on her face caught her attention. The woman was holding her wrist to check for her pulse.

“Are you okay? Do you feel any pain?” The woman asked Kirsty.

“Oh, she’s awake now.” Kirsty looked back to know where the familiar voice came from, and it was from Sam. A smirk plastered on his face as he looked back at Kirsty’s state.

“I am glad you didn’t hit your head on the rock. It was so close to you.” The red-haired woman pointed to the big rock beside Kirsty. She wasn’t able to notice it earlier when she walked to see the top of the hill.

“Who are you?” Kirsty asked as she massage her temple because of the pain that was hitting her again.

“A headache?” The woman asked her instead of answering what Kirsty asked her about.

“Yeah.”

“I am Chloe, and yeah, I’m from the pack too. I am the mate of Sam.” Chloe's wide smile and extended hand beckoned Kirsty to acknowledge her presence. Uncertain of Sam's intentions, Kirsty hesitated, contemplating the potential consequences of accepting the offered gesture. Her hand trembled slightly as she weighed her options. Kirsty was looking in Sam’s direction who was looking intently at the woman named Chloe. She was still contemplating whether she would accept the woman’s hand as Sam was in the area, and the man knew her real identity as a rogue.

"I... I am Kirsty," she stammered, her voice revealing her vulnerability. She hesitated, her mind racing through the myriad of possibilities that awaited her if she accepted Chloe's hand. Would this gesture expose her true identity to the pack? Could it be a trap set by Sam, seeking to exploit her weaknesses?

To her surprise, Chloe's touch was not forceful or aggressive but rather gentle, a pinch that conveyed understanding rather than aggression. It was a subtle reassurance, an unspoken message that Chloe saw beyond the surface and recognized Kirsty's inner turmoil.

Kirsty's head throbbed with pain as she tried to make sense of the situation unfolding before her. The mysterious woman named Chloe had claimed to be from the same pack and introduced herself as Sam's mate. Confusion and suspicion filled Kirsty's mind as she massaged her temple, hoping to alleviate some of the discomforts.

"Oh, a member of the pack. I haven't seen you before. Are you new here?" Chloe's tone held a tinge of curiosity as if she were genuinely interested in Kirsty's background.

Caught off guard by Chloe's question, Kirsty fumbled for words, unsure of how much to reveal. She glanced at Sam, silently seeking guidance or a cue on how to respond. Sam, always one step ahead, interjected before Kirsty could answer.

“I uhm- “

"Yeah, she is new here, Klo," Sam interjected smoothly, his voice masking any hints of doubt or uncertainty. Kirsty couldn't help but notice how Sam had repeatedly shielded her true identity from others. It was a perplexing gesture that left her with more questions than answers.

Pinning Sam with a questioning look, Kirsty silently sought an explanation. However, Sam evaded her gaze, averting his eyes elsewhere. Frustration mingled with curiosity within Kirsty as she grappled with the enigmatic nature of Sam's actions. She couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something more to his evasiveness.

Chloe, who had been observing the interaction, sensed Kirsty's confusion and stepped in. "Oh! That explains why. I just recently arrived here at the pack as I just got home from my vacation to my parent's place," she said, her voice carrying a tinge of excitement. Chloe had always been a talkative and open person, unlike Sam, who seemed guarded and reserved.

Kirsty's brow furrowed, her frustration momentarily forgotten as she processed Chloe's words. The timing of Chloe's arrival seemed coincidental, and yet, Kirsty couldn't help but wonder if there was a deeper connection. She found it peculiar that Sam would suddenly become evasive just as Chloe joined the conversation. There had to be more to this situation than met the eye.

"That's... great?" Kirsty responded hesitantly, her words laced with uncertainty. She was about to stand up, ready to leave the awkward encounter behind, but Chloe stopped her, placing a hand gently on her arm.

“Just sit. What was the last thing you remembered before you were unconscious?” The question caught Sam’s attention, but he made sure that it was unnoticeable to the women. He remained to focus his gaze on the tree at the top of the hill, the protected place, and sanctuary of the Alpha. And Sam was entrusted to keep it protected from anyone who dared to trespass the place.

“I… Uhm, it was the tree.” It was the tree that triggered her memory resulting in her feeling the excruciating pain in her head that made her lose consciousness.

"A tree? Where?" Chloe asked, her curiosity mirroring Sam's own. The protected place and the tree on top of the hill were closely intertwined, and any mention of it piqued Sam's interest. There was a connection here, something he felt compelled to unravel.

“That one, on top of the hill.” Kirsty pointed towards the hill, her finger extending towards the majestic tree that dominated the landscape. Sam's heart skipped a beat as he realized the significance of her words. And it was enough for Sam to jump into the conversation of the women since what Kirsty said had something to do with the protected place that was also important to the Alpha. Sam knew the moment he laid eyes on the woman that there was something inside her, something that he is determined to unravel what it was.

“Why?” He uttered.

“What do you mean why Sam?” Chloe answered him back.

“What I mean is, why is the tree your reason for being unconscious?”

Chloe looked back at her. And Kirsty was having an inner battle of whether she would tell the people which might compromise her safety once more.

"I... I am looking at it because it caught my attention," Kirsty confessed, her voice filled with wonder. "It's the only tree planted on top of the hill. And then, I slipped off my feet, and I think it was the reason why I was unconscious."

Sam raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched across his face. He could sense there was more to Kirsty's experience than mere coincidence. Something didn't add up.

"Oh, we're the same then," Chloe chimed in, her eyes widening with excitement. "That tree caught my attention too, you know? But there's more to it. It's being protected by the Alpha of the pack, and no one is allowed to go to that place."

Kirsty felt a sudden surge of unease ripples through her body. The mention of the tree being protected by the Alpha piqued her interest, and her heart began to beat faster.

"Protected?" Kirsty questioned, her voice trembling slightly. She couldn't shake off the feeling that this discovery held deeper significance.

Sam, however, wasn't pleased with the direction the conversation was taking. He quickly interjected, cutting off any further revelations.

"That's enough," Sam said firmly, his voice carrying a hint of authority. He didn't want Chloe to divulge any more information to the rogue. Something about the Alpha's rule over the hill seemed to strike a chord within him, possibly hinting at the Alpha's vulnerability. Aware of Sam's intentions, Chloe fell silent, sensing that there was more at stake than a simple forbidden location.

"Are you done with the task assigned to you?” Sam's interruption hung in the air, his voice filled with urgency. His interruption startled both Chloe and Kirsty, their attention immediately shifting to him. The tension in the room grew palpable as Sam's words echoed through the dimly lit space.

Chloe, taken aback by Sam's sudden outburst, momentarily forgot her purpose for seeking out the rogue. She glanced at him, searching for an explanation, but his expression remained inscrutable. It was clear that he had a hidden motive for silencing her, a motive directly tied to the Alpha's weakness.

"I-I am done," Kirsty replied weakly, her voice barely a whisper. Her words hung heavy in the air, filled with a mix of resignation and determination. The constant nagging of responsibilities never left her, even in her weakened state. The sense of duty ingrained deep within her refused to relent.

"Let her rest for now, Sam." Chloe interrupted them. Chloe's words hung in the air, breaking the tense silence that had settled upon them. She diverted her gaze back at Kirsty. She understood the need for answers, but she also recognized the importance of giving Kirsty time to recover.

"Let's see." Sam reluctantly nodded, understanding the significance of Chloe's words.