His Luna

A new home

"Is this where you were staying for a couple of days?" Chloe's voice broke through the silence, drawing Kirsty's attention to the dilapidated building in front of them. The place resembled more of a rundown shack than a proper house. Kirsty couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment, realizing that her temporary abode fell far short of her expectations.

The exterior walls were weathered and worn, with patches of peeling paint revealing the decaying wood beneath. The roof seemed to sag under the weight of neglect, and the windows were covered in a thick layer of grime. It was a stark contrast to the grandeur of the pack's castle and the elegance of the flower garden she had admired earlier.

Kirsty's gaze shifted to the surroundings. The area was quiet, secluded from the bustling activities near the castle. The uneven ground was overgrown with weeds and scattered debris, suggesting an absence of regular maintenance. The place exuded an air of desolation and neglect, mirroring Kirsty's own feelings of displacement and uncertainty.

She couldn't deny that the shelter, though far from ideal, provided a semblance of safety compared to the dangers she faced as a rogue outside the pack's protection. It was a compromise she had to accept for the time being, her safety taking precedence over comfort.

Before they arrived at the rundown dwelling, Chloe had mentioned that the room would be locked, leaving Kirsty puzzled about how she would gain entry. The absence of a key only added to her apprehension.

She was so sure that the key was with Sam, and when Chloe gave a questioning look about the locked door, she was lost for a possible reason to give the woman. She didn’t want to let the woman that she was held captive inside the cell and that she was treated as a prisoner because she was a rogue and her existence had no place inside the pack.

"Yeah, this is the place," Kirsty responded, her voice tinged with hesitation. The words hung heavy in the air as the reality of her situation settled upon her. This was the cell where she had been held captive, treated as a prisoner within the pack's walls. It was a secret she desperately wanted to keep hidden from Chloe, afraid of how the woman would react.

Her voice echoed in the dark hallway. The only light that was illuminating them is the torch that Rodolfo was holding, which he pulled from one of the corners of the underground. The torchlight cast flickering shadows along the dark hallway, illuminating the grimy walls and worn stone floor. Kirsty's heart raced, her nerves betraying her as she stood before the locked door. She had hoped that the key Chloe had found would grant her entry, but the truth was far more complicated.

"It is locked, Kirsty. Open it now so that we could immediately vacate this gross place," Chloe urged, her voice filled with a mix of impatience and disgust at their surroundings.

Kirsty's mind raced, searching for a plausible explanation. She couldn't reveal the truth about the cell, about her captivity within these very walls. To do so would risk exposing her as a rogue.

"I... I don't have the keys here," Kirsty stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. She fought to maintain a semblance of composure, hiding her inner turmoil. "And besides, I don't have any important things left inside the cell."

Chloe gave her a questioning look, suspicion flickering in her eyes. Kirsty feared that her response had only piqued Chloe's curiosity, but she couldn't reveal the true nature of her time spent locked away.

"Are you sure?" Chloe pressed, her tone tinged with doubt. "Don't you want to check again, just to be sure?"

Kirsty felt her palms grow clammy as she searched for a convincing reason to dissuade Chloe's insistence. She couldn't risk Chloe discovering the depths of her captivity and the pack's harsh treatment of rogues.

Rodolfo remained silent, his eyes piercing through the darkness as if sensing that something was amiss. Kirsty couldn't shake off the feeling that he knew more than he let on, but she dared not confront him about it. Instead, she focused on maintaining her composure, determined to move forward.

Kirsty's heart skipped a beat as Chloe's questions pierced through her defenses. She had hoped to avoid any inquiries about the keys or the nature of her stay in the rundown shelter. The last thing she wanted was to reveal the truth and potentially complicate matters further.

"I am... I left nothing inside," Kirsty replied, her voice laced with an underlying urgency. Her mind raced, desperately searching for a plausible explanation that would divert Chloe's curiosity.

Chloe narrowed her eyes, sensing Kirsty's unease. She was perceptive, always attuned to the subtle cues and nuances of those around her. Kirsty knew she couldn't afford to let her guard down; Chloe's determination to uncover the truth could be both unsettling and intimidating.

"Why don't you have the keys to your own place?" Chloe probed further, her voice tinged with concern.

Kirsty started to feel nervous, and she tried her best to hide this from the people she was with. She knew that they have instincts that are so helpful in empathizing with the surroundings, but Kirsty had been working with this for years until she found out the exact thing to do to also hide what she felt from the instincts of the were-people.

Kirsty took a deep breath, steadying herself as she wrestled with the need to keep her secrets hidden. She had learned to mask her emotions, honing her ability to shield herself from the keen instincts of the werewolf pack. It was a skill acquired through years of survival, but Chloe's relentless pursuit threatened to unravel her carefully constructed facade.

"I am not the one who has the jurisdiction to the keys," Kirsty responded, her voice carefully measured. She hoped her words would appease Chloe's curiosity, providing enough information to deflect further questioning.

But Chloe wasn't easily deterred. Her brows furrowed in confusion and suspicion, her gaze piercing through Kirsty's defenses. "Don't tell me you are held as a prisoner inside? Why would they do that? Did Sam also involve in this one?"

A series of questions bombarded her. And she had no courage to answer each of them, afraid to compromise the stability of her safety and security. Afraid of what might happen to her the moment they learned that she was a rouge, who was hiding behind the purpose of the ring on her finger. To deceive Chloe was the last thing that she wanted, knowing that the woman treated her well, and now that speculation was evident in her voice, she couldn’t help but ask for the moon goddess's guidance on the decisions that she would about to make.

“No…they didn’t hold me as one, it’s just that I didn’t hold the keys to this cell.”

“Then why is it like this one? I am quite confused.” Chloe roamed her gaze around the area.

The place was located in the underground portion of the castle where some of the prisoners and people who plotted against the rules of the pack were detained. When they took the path to this dark tunnel, Chloe had to admit that it made her feel goosebumps, but she pushed it away. They passed by a different open cell and saw some of the prisoners who were smiling evilly at her and some even shouted that the pack would fall under the hands of the new Alpha.

It was also the first time that Kirsty saw this other side of the place. The path that they took with Sam was not in the tunnel and they used the entry from the castle seeing these people who were struggling inside made her feel horrible. She imagined herself in their situation, and some lost their minds. The thought of being jailed in the same cell with these mentally incapacitated people caused her to feel a squeeze in her stomach and feel that she wanted to throw up.

“Sam took the keys here when he let me work in the ranch.” It was the only thing that Kirsty could reason out.

“Oh, okay. That explains why.” As if the woman believed what she said, Kirsty made a sigh of relief.

“You can leave me here-“

But Chloe quickly interrupted her, shaking her head. "No, since you don't have any important things inside the cell, I think we should go to our place. You will love it there, I guarantee you." Her voice was filled with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to make Kirsty feel welcome.

The prospect of leaving the dismal shelter and discovering a new home filled Kirsty's heart with a mixture of excitement and gratitude. She had longed for a sense of belonging, and Chloe's assurance only deepened her longing to be part of something greater.

The journey to their new place would offer an opportunity for Kirsty to connect with Chloe and uncover the story behind her presence in the pack. The enigmatic nature of Kirsty's arrival piqued Chloe's curiosity, knowing that Draken, the pack's strict leader, scrutinized every aspect of the pack's affairs.

"Do we have to wait for your mate?" Kirsty asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Chloe's eyes sparkled with amusement as she responded, "No, let's go to the place. Rodolfo is with us, so you don't have to worry about anything. The place is just inside the pack's vicinity anyway, it's just near, so don't worry about the distance."

Kirst was not worried about the distance, the anxiety and nervousness that it brings were subsisting with the thought that she might meet a few people along their journey to the woman’s place. Knowing that the woman is not just an ordinary member of the pack, and the fact that she was married to the second highest-ranked individual, the possibility of meeting a lot of people would be most likely to happen, and Kirsty was afraid of it. She didn’t know how to handle such a situation, and what would she say when they asked her anything about her existence inside the pack?

Kirsty's train of thought was abruptly interrupted by Rodolfo's deep, resonant voice. His words pulled her back to reality, reminding her that they needed to make their way to the shelter using an alternate route.

"Let's not use the path we took when we entered the place, let's use the other one," Rodolfo suggested, his tone carrying a hint of urgency.

Kirsty turned her attention to the conversation unfolding between Chloe and Rodolfo, curious about their exchange.

"Is there another way?" Chloe inquired, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.

"Yeah, the way I... uh, usually take when I come back here."

A flicker of hesitation crossed Kirsty's face as she debated whether or not to disclose the truth. She opted to keep her connection to Sam veiled, not wanting to create any misunderstandings or tensions between herself and Chloe, who happened to be Sam's mate.

Chloe's eyes sparkled with interest. "Oh, that's great! Is it the same path that you were suggesting, Rodolfo?"

Kirsty hesitated for a moment, then replied, "I... I don't know. Let's follow Rodolfo's lead."

She directed her gaze towards Rodolfo, observing the tautness in his muscles, a sign of readiness and caution. It was evident that he had a deeper understanding of the territory and the potential dangers that lay ahead.

Rodolfo, taking charge of the situation, motioned for them to follow him. Kirsty fell into step behind him, her senses heightened with each step they took on this unfamiliar path. She couldn't help but feel a mix of apprehension and anticipation as they ventured into uncharted territory.

The alternative route veered away from the worn, recognizable path they had taken earlier. The dense foliage enveloped them, creating an atmosphere of seclusion and secrecy. The scent of damp earth and the rustling of leaves provided a symphony of nature's whispers, amplifying the aura of mystery that surrounded them.

As they weaved through the tangled undergrowth, Kirsty's thoughts drifted toward the circumstances that brought her here. The ring on her finger, a symbol of borrowed protection, served as a constant reminder of the delicate position she found herself in. She still had so much to learn about this pack, its customs, and its enigmatic Alpha.

Lost in contemplation, Kirsty snapped back to reality as Rodolfo's commanding voice resonated through the forest. "Stay close and watch your step."

Kirsty's senses sharpened, her eyes scanning the terrain for any potential hazards. The uneven ground and hidden obstacles demanded her full attention. She followed closely behind Rodolfo, mirroring his cautious steps.

Chloe, too, maintained a watchful gaze, her eyes darting from one shadowy patch to another. She seemed at ease in this unfamiliar environment, a testament to her familiarity with the pack's territory.

The path led them deeper into the heart of the forest, away from prying eyes and the bustle of the pack's daily affairs. Each step was a testament to their resilience and determination to protect Kirsty and ensure her safety within their midst.

Time seemed to blur as they traversed the winding trail, surrounded by the whispering canopy of trees. The rhythmic sound of their footsteps melded with the symphony of nature, creating a harmony that echoed through the woods.

Eventually, the path began to widen, revealing a clearing ahead. Rays of sunlight pierced through the dense foliage, casting a soft, ethereal glow on the forest floor. Kirsty felt a surge of relief, realizing that they were nearing their destination.