HIS LOST LUNA

The Unraveling

The entire pack could sense it.

Their future Alpha was unravelling piece by piece. The signs were subtle at first — a shorter temper, darker circles under his eyes, longer hours spent running alone in the forest. But over the past few days, the deterioration had become impossible to ignore.

If they did not find the mysterious girl soon, they would have to accept a terrifying possibility — that the Blue Moon Pack might never have a Luna in their lifetime.

The atmosphere around the pack grounds had shifted.

Whispers lingered in every corridor of the Pack House, every training field where warriors sparred, every gathering hall where wolves ate their meals in uneasy silence. Warriors exchanged worried glances during patrol briefings. Elders muttered prayers to the Moon Goddess beneath their breath, their aged hands clasped together. Even the younger wolves — children too innocent to understand the situation fully — knew something was wrong.

They had seen Jax walk past them without offering his usual nod. They had heard his voice crack during a command. They had watched him stare at nothing for long minutes, his golden eyes unfocused.

Everyone had the same question.

Who was she?

Who was the girl capable of calming Jax Knox? Of slipping past walls that had stood for eighteen years? Of making the untouchable Alpha heir feel something other than disgust?

The question burned on every tongue, but no one had the answer.

—

Inside the council room of the Pack House, the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.

The room was large — big enough to seat twenty wolves around a long oak table. Tapestries depicting the pack's history hung on the stone walls. A massive map of the territory covered one entire wall, marked with patrol routes and border posts. Candles flickered in iron sconces, casting dancing shadows across the faces of the pack's leadership.

Alpha Drake Knox sat at the head of the table. His broad shoulders were tense beneath his formal black jacket. His golden eyes — so similar to his son's — swept over the assembled wolves.

To his right sat Luna Katie, her expression carefully neutral. But her hands, folded on the table, betrayed her. Her knuckles were white.

To his left sat Gamma Lasso, the silver-haired commander who had delivered Michael's letter days ago. His scarred face was unreadable.

Nathan Ross sat near the middle of the table, his usual easygoing demeanour replaced by something sharper. Worry creased his forehead. His fingers tapped restlessly against the wood.

Serena Vale — Nathan's mate, Celine's best friend — sat beside him. Her hand rested on his knee beneath the table, a silent anchor.

Jax stood at the far end of the room, facing away from the table. His back was to everyone. His hands were braced against the windowsill as he stared out at the darkening sky.

No one had spoken for several minutes.

Finally, Alpha Drake broke the silence.

"Jax," he said firmly, his deep voice cutting through the tense quiet. "There has to be something we can use to identify her. Your clothes being found with her scent isn't enough."

Jax did not turn around.

His shoulders rose and fell with a deep breath.

The council room waited.

When he finally spoke, his voice was rough — scraped raw from too little sleep and too much frustration.

"I know her scent," he admitted. "But I can't explain it. I can't pin down what it carried. Everything that night was blurred. The drug messed with my senses."

His jaw tightened. The muscles in his neck corded.

"But despite that…" he continued, quieter now, "I felt calm around her. Peaceful. For the first time in years, I wasn't disgusted by someone's presence."

The room fell silent.

That alone was enough to shock everyone present.

Jax Knox had spent most of his life unable to tolerate physical closeness. Females especially triggered a violent sense of discomfort within him — a revulsion so strong that he would physically recoil if one touched him without warning. Even simple conversations often became unbearable if someone had invaded his space for too long.

The pack doctors had called it a psychological trauma response. Others believed it was connected to his wolf — some ancient instinct that rejected anyone who was not his fated mate.

Whatever the reason, everyone knew the same truth.

Jax did not touch people.

And people rarely touched him.

Yet one unknown girl — drugged, vulnerable, unnamed — had managed to slip past every wall he possessed.

"Did you mark her?" Nathan asked carefully, leaning forward. His elbows rested on the table. "If you did, the bond could guide you to each other. Even without a full mating ceremony, a mark creates a connection."

Jax finally turned around.

His face was pale. The shadows under his eyes were deep and dark, like bruises. His usually sharp gaze was dulled by exhaustion and something else — something that looked almost like grief.

He shot Nathan a sharp look.

"If I had marked her," he said dryly, "would we be discussing organizing a pack-wide search?"

Nathan raised his hands in surrender.

"Fair point."

But his expression remained troubled.

Katie, Jax's mother, sat quietly beside Alpha Drake. She had not spoken much during the meeting — unusual for her. Normally, she was the loudest voice in any room, the one who spoke truth when others danced around it.

But tonight, concern clouded her beautiful features. Her dark hair was pulled back in a severe bun. Her eyes — the same shade of gold as her son's — studied Jax with a mother's worried gaze.

"Could she be pregnant?" she asked softly.

The question hung in the air like smoke.

Jax nearly choked.

"Mom," he groaned, rubbing his temples with both hands. He pressed his fingers hard against his forehead as if trying to push away a headache. "I'm not even certain we completed the bond. I barely remember parts of that night. There's no way to know."

Katie did not look convinced.

"The bond doesn't always require a mark," she said quietly. "Sometimes, just the act itself can create a connection. Especially if the two wolves are compatible."

Jax's eyes twitched.

"Mom. Please."

Katie pressed her lips together but said nothing more.

Serena crossed her arms thoughtfully. She had been silent until now, observing, analyzing. As Nathan's mate and Celine's best friend, she had known Jax longer than most. She had seen him at his worst — and at his rare best.

"You're certain the scent belonged to her?" she asked. "If it did, you should have recognized it during the gathering this morning. You were in a room with hundreds of she-wolves."

Jax stared toward the ceiling.

The wooden beams above were carved with ancient runes — blessings from the Moon Goddess, protections against evil. He had stared at those beams a thousand times during council meetings. They had never seemed so unhelpful.

"Honestly…" he muttered, "I'm not sure anymore. Maybe it wasn't her scent. Maybe it was just the fragrance of the room. Perfume. Candles. Other people's pheromones."

The uncertainty in his voice unsettled everyone.

Jax Knox was never uncertain. He was decisive. Commanding. Absolute.

This Jax — the one who admitted he did not know, who confessed he could not be sure — was a stranger to them.

Without another word, he pushed himself to his feet.

His chair scraped against the stone floor.

"Where are you going?" Alpha Drake asked. His voice was not harsh — just tired.

"Running."

That single word was all the warning they received before Jax stormed from the room. His boots echoed down the hallway, fading into silence.

Nathan cursed under his breath and hurried after him.

—

The forest welcomed Jax like an old friend.

The moment his feet hit the dirt path behind the Pack House, something in his chest loosened. The trees towered above him, their branches forming a canopy that blocked out the fading light of dusk. The air smelled of pine needles, damp earth, and the distant sweetness of wildflowers.

He did not slow down.

He ran.

His legs pumped, his lungs burned. The wind tore through his dark hair, whipping it back from his face. His heartbeat thundered in his ears — a wild, frantic rhythm that matched the chaos in his mind.

Where is she?

Who is she?

Why can't I find her?

Anger and frustration mixed into something volatile, something that simmered just beneath his skin.

A few strides later, he shifted.

The change came fast — faster than usual. Bones snapped and reformed. Muscles stretched and condensed. Dark fur erupted across his skin like a wave of shadow.

Mid-jump, the future Alpha transformed into Kayden.

Kayden was massive.

His obsidian-black fur blended seamlessly with the darkness around him, making him appear like a creature born directly from the night itself. His body was larger than any normal wolf — easily the size of a small horse. Muscles rippled beneath his sleek coat. His paws were as wide as dinner plates.

Only his razor-sharp white canines and glowing black eyes stood out against the shadows.

Power rolled from him in suffocating waves.

The Knox bloodline had always been feared.

Alpha Drake's wolf, Keiran, possessed sable-black fur and cold ash-gray eyes — the eyes of a creature who had seen centuries of battle.

Katie's wolf, Peony, carried matte-black fur with piercing onyx eyes — smaller than Keiran's - but faster, deadlier.

Even Jax's twin sister, Celine, had inherited terrifying strength through her wolf, Sage — a massive black wolf with burning crimson eyes that seemed to glow in the dark.

When the twins had been born, the elders had immediately declared them children of Night and Moon.

One represented the endless night — Jax.

The other symbolized the bloody moon — Celine.

Kayden landed on all fours and did not pause. He sprinted deeper into the forest, weaving between trees with practised ease.

Nathan shifted moments later beside him.

His russet-colored wolf, Cassin, moved gracefully through the forest. His fur was the colour of autumn leaves — red-brown and gold. His charcoal-gray eyes scanned the trees as he ran, alert and watchful.

"Do you still feel the same way?" Kayden asked through the mind link.

Cassin glanced toward him.

"Feel what?"

"How our humans feel," Kayden growled. His black eyes burned.

"I know I didn't imagine it. The calm. The peace. She was there."

Cassin considered his words carefully. They ran side by side, their paws silent on the soft forest floor.

"Your senses have never failed before, he admitted. But that drug clearly affected you. Whatever Nathalie used was powerful enough to cloud even your instincts. Your memory may be unreliable."

Kayden snarled softly — a low, dangerous sound.

"I need to find her."

"The girl from that night?"

"Who else?"

Cassin huffed in amusement, his tongue lolling out briefly.

"You've had quite a few mysterious girls in your life," he teased. "Maybe you should specify."

Kayden rolled his eyes — an odd expression on a wolf's face.

"You mean the girl from eight years ago," he muttered.

"Or the one from a week ago," Cassin replied.

"Both are mysterious. Both nameless. Both made you feel things you don't usually feel."

Kayden ignored him.

The two wolves continued through the forest, weaving between towering pines and rocky paths with practised ease. The moon had begun to rise, silver and full, casting pale light through the gaps in the canopy.

After several minutes, Cassin spoke again.

"Has your aversion gotten any better?"

Kayden's ears flattened against his skull.

"No."

He sounded irritated. Exhausted.

"It took everything in me to stay inside that interrogation room with those girls earlier. Every instinct was screaming at me to leave. To run. To get away from their scents."

"That's hardly their fault," Cassin replied with a soft laugh. "You and Jax practically radiate intimidation. Females lose their minds whenever you walk into a room. I guess Valerie should be glad that she's one of the females Alpha Kayden or Alpha Jax can get close to."

Kayden groaned.

Valerie was Cassin's mate — Serena's wolf. A sleek, silver-gray wolf with bright blue eyes. She was one of the only females who did not trigger Jax's aversion.

But even with her, Jax kept his distance.

"Exactly the problem," Kayden muttered.

—

Eventually, the forest opened into a hidden clearing.

The trees parted like a curtain, revealing a space that few wolves had ever seen. The clearing was small — maybe fifty feet across — ringed by ancient pines and flowering bushes. Moss covered the ground like a soft green carpet.

And at the centre of it all, a waterfall cascaded from high cliffs.

The water fell in a smooth, silver sheet, crashing into a deep pool surrounded by smooth black stone. The pool was crystal clear — so clear that Kayden could see the rocks at the bottom, polished smooth by centuries of flowing water. Moonlight reflected off the surface, turning the pool into a mirror of silver and shadow.

This place belonged to Kayden.

No one else in the pack knew about it. He had discovered it as a young pup during one of his many solo explorations. Over the years, it had become his sanctuary — the only place where he could truly relax, where he did not have to be the future Alpha, where he could simply exist.

The pack territory contained several waterfalls known to everyone — popular spots for swimming, courting, and pack gatherings.

But this one remained hidden.

Deep within the forest, off any marked trail, behind a wall of thorn bushes that discouraged most wolves from pushing through.

Only one outsider had ever discovered it.

A little girl.

Eight years ago.

—

[Eight Years Earlier]

Jax had been nine years old.

Even then, he had already shown signs of becoming a terrifying Alpha. His combat instructors praised his strength constantly, though they worried about his isolation. Unlike the other children his age, Jax rarely played with others. He did not laugh at jokes. He did not join games.

He preferred silence.

Preferred solitude.

After finishing combat training one afternoon — a brutal session that had left the other young wolves exhausted and bruised — he escaped to the hidden waterfall.

Kayden had been restless inside him that day, pacing and growling, demanding freedom. So Jax shifted and let Kayden take over.

Kayden moved through the forest with silent grace, his black fur blending with the shadows. He reached the waterfall and padded to the edge of the pool, lowering his head to drink.

The water was cold and sweet.

He stayed there for a while, allowing Kayden to roam freely, to swim beneath the cold water, to enjoy the rare peace the place offered.

Then they heard crying.

Kayden's ears perked up.

The sound was soft — almost hidden by the rush of the waterfall — but unmistakable. Someone was sobbing. Nearby.

Kayden moved silently, his massive paws barely disturbing the moss. He circled the pool, staying close to the shadows, until he reached the far side of the waterfall.

Behind the falling water was a shallow cave — a hollowed-out space in the rock, hidden from view. The entrance was narrow, just wide enough for a wolf to squeeze through.

Kayden slipped inside.

There, sitting near the water's edge with her knees pulled tightly against her chest, was a little girl.

She looked around his age — small and thin, with messy black hair and dirt smudging on her cheeks. Her clothes were rumpled, as if she had been running through the forest. Tears streamed down her face, leaving clean tracks through the grime.

She was crying.

Hard.

Her shoulders shook with each sob.

Curious — and strangely concerned — Kayden stepped closer.

"Why are you crying?" He attempted to mind-link automatically before realizing she could not hear him.

Of course, she could not.

She was not connected to him. Not a wolf, he knew. Probably not even from the pack.

The little girl startled when she noticed the enormous black wolf emerging from the shadows behind the waterfall.

Her eyes went wide.

Her breath caught in her throat.

But instead of screaming — instead of scrambling backwards in terror — she simply stared.

Kayden stared back.

For a long moment, neither of them moved.

Then the girl spoke.

"Who are you?" she whispered.

Her voice was small. Hoarse from crying. But there was no fear in it. Just curiosity.

Kayden tilted his head.

He could not answer. Not in this form. But he could listen.

"You're not shifting," she observed, her eyes scanning his massive form. "Are you just a normal wolf? A wild one?"

Slowly, hesitantly, she reached toward him.

Her small hand extended through the air, and her fingers splayed.

Kayden instinctively jumped backwards.

His hackles rose. His body tensed.

The girl froze.

Hurt flickered across her expression — quick and sharp, like a knife.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, lowering her hand. Her gaze dropped to the ground. "I guess even animals don't like me."

Tears gathered in her eyes again.

Something twisted painfully inside Kayden's chest.

He did not understand it. He had never felt this way before — this strange, urgent need to comfort someone, to take away their pain. She was a stranger. A human. Not even part of his pack.

And yet…

Without fully understanding why, he stepped forward.

Slowly.

Carefully.

He pressed his muzzle against her palm.

Both of them froze.

The girl blinked.

Her fingers — small and slightly dirty — rested against his black fur. Her touch was light, hesitant, as if she expected him to pull away at any moment.

"Oh," she whispered. "You just don't like being touched without permission?"

Kayden stared at her.

Then slowly — so slowly — he nodded.

A bright smile spread across her face. It transformed her. The sadness in her eyes did not disappear, but it faded, pushed back by something warmer.

"Can I pet your fur?" she asked politely. "With permission?"

Again, Kayden nodded.

This time, when she touched him, he did not flinch.

Tiny fingers brushed through his thick black fur, smoothing it down, scratching gently behind his ears. A soft laugh escaped her lips — a genuine, happy sound.

"It's true," she giggled. "Animals really can understand us. Humans are the ones who fail to listen."

Kayden found himself strangely relaxed.

Comfortable.

His muscles unclenched. His breathing slowed. The constant tension he carried — the weight of being the future Alpha, the pressure of expectations, the discomfort of being touched — melted away.

No one had ever approached him so gently before.

No one had ever asked permission.

Then her smile faded.

Her hand stilled on his fur.

"I don't have a wolf," she admitted quietly.

Kayden stiffened.

What?

That made no sense. He had scented her the moment he entered the cave. She smelled different from humans — not the sharp, chemical scent of human cities, but something earthier. Woodsier. There was definitely wolf blood in her veins.

"I wish I had one," she continued sadly, staring at the ground. "Even the weakest wolf would be enough. It's just something to talk to. Someone who would listen."

Her gaze dropped lower.

"Maybe then my parents would love me."

Kayden's chest tightened.

He did not understand her words fully — could not grasp the depth of her pain — but he understood enough. He understood loneliness. He understood the ache of being unwanted.

At that moment, more than anything, he wished he could shift into human form.

He wanted to ask questions, wanted to know her name, and wanted to understand why someone so young sounded so broken.

But he could not.

So he did the only thing he could.

He laid his head in her lap.

The girl gasped softly.

Then, slowly, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him.

"You're actually really nice for a wolf," she said after a moment, leaning comfortably against his side. Her cheek rested against his fur. "If I were allowed to keep pets, I'd take you home."

Kayden nearly snorted.

Pet?

If only she knew.

The girl looked up suddenly toward the darkening sky. Through the gap in the cave's entrance, the first stars had begun to appear.

"Oh no."

She jumped to her feet so quickly that Kayden's head nearly hit the ground.

"I have to go."

Kayden instantly stood as well, protective instincts rising unexpectedly. He did not want her to leave. He didn't want to be alone again.

The girl smiled warmly at him — a real smile, bright and genuine.

"When we meet again, I'll give you a proper name, wolf friend!" she called while running away.

Then she paused at the cave entrance.

She turned back.

"My name is Fae!"

Before Kayden could react — before he could even process the name — she disappeared into the forest.

—

[Present Day]

Cassin's voice pulled Kayden back to reality.

"You're thinking about her again."

Kayden sighed — a long, weary exhale.

"She was the second person who didn't make me uncomfortable. The first was that little girl."

Cassin slowed beside him, his russet fur gleaming in the moonlight.

"What if they're the same person?" Cassin asked.

Kayden frowned.

"It can't be," he argued.

"That little girl said she didn't have a wolf. She couldn't shift. She was human — or close to it. The girl from last week was a wolf. I could smell it."

"Wolves can lose their wolves," Cassin pointed out. "Trauma. Abuse. Suppression. It happens."

Kayden's ears flattened.

Before he could respond, a familiar presence brushed against his mind — Jax, reaching through their bond.

Kayden groaned.

"What?" Cassin asked.

"Jax wants to join the mind link conversation."

"Nathan, too," Cassin added.

"I can feel him poking around."

Kayden hesitated.

Then, he reluctantly opened the link.

Immediately, Jax's irritated voice echoed through their minds.

"What exactly were you two discussing that required blocking us out?"

"It was a private conversation," Kayden answered smoothly.

Nathan laughed — a sharp, barking sound.

"Since when do wolves keep secrets from their humans?"

"Since humans became annoying," Cassin replied.

Nathan barked out another laugh.

"Fair enough."

Jax ignored them.

His thoughts remained troubled.

Kayden could feel it through the bond — the frustration, the confusion, the gnawing uncertainty. And beneath it all…

Fear.

Not fear of battle. Jax had faced down rogues twice his size without flinching.

Not fear of enemies. He had stared into the eyes of Crimson Pack warriors and smiled.

No, this was different.

This was the fear of losing someone he had barely met.

"What if we never find her?" Jax asked quietly.

The question stunned everyone into silence.

Because no one had ever heard Jax sound uncertain before.

The future Alpha, the heir to the Knox bloodline, the wolf who had never doubted himself in his life — uncertain.

Kayden slowed near the edge of the waterfall.

Moonlight reflected across the water's surface, silver and white. The pool glittered like a field of stars. The waterfall roared softly in the background, a constant, soothing rhythm.

He lifted his gaze toward the night sky.

Above, the Moon Goddess watched in silence.

Deep within him, instinct whispered the same truth it had repeated for days.

She exists.

She is real.

And somewhere out there, the girl tied to their fate is searching too.

"We'll find her," Kayden said firmly.

Cassin nodded beside him.

"We always do.'

—

But even as he spoke the words, Kayden felt the weight of the unknown pressing down on him.

The forest held its secrets close.

And somewhere, locked in a shed behind a mansion, a girl with no wolf and a growing belly stared at the crack of moonlight through the roof and prayed for a miracle she did not believe would come.

The pack searched.

The Alpha heir unravelled.

And the Moon Goddess remained silent.