True Luna's Revenge

Episodes 12: Pain

A sharp ache pulsed through her shoulder. Her fingers moved there without thinking. Not him now? The words came out slowly, aimed at Jax. Time had passed, too much of it

Arms folded tight across his chest, Jax stood firm. Built sturdy, much like Lucas, though more wiry in frame. Hidden away, he had been sheltered by the Velvet Claw later that night, the one where your father, our father, fell. Truth came slowly, then all at once. It turns out the former alpha saw their kind as a threat; blood such as theirs feeds power into the Luna, overshadowing any man who leads. That’s when he divided us. Home is where you should be. I’m here to bring you back

Lucas growled softly. “She belongs with me. With us. The bond doesn’t lie.”

Between the two of them, Scarlett watched. Love mixed with fear swam in Lucas's blue eyes. Over his forehead drifted strands of light brown hair, untamed. From past battles, streaks of soil marked his darkened face. Tired, he seemed still braced once more to stand for her.

Back at the cabin, she held that moment tight. Around her, his arms felt like shelter. “Stay with me,” he’d whispered slowly. Close to him, her wolf settled deep inside. Never let go was its only thought.

Yet inside, Jax's voice cracked open an old door. Behind it, her childhood house is tense and cold. Shouting echoed down hallways after dark. Her mother sat silent, eyes fixed elsewhere. Perhaps he held what she never found. Answers buried in their shared past.

“I need time,” she said at last. Not loud, but clear. It wasn’t soft like before. The words held more weight than her body could manage. Too heavy, all of it

Jax nodded. “I’ll wait. But not long. The Velvet Claw is ready to welcome their true alpha-female. You could lead with me. No more hiding. No more weak packs.”

Footsteps vanished between the trunks. Sound slipped away, carried off by the wind.

A hush settled back over the open space. Just the crackle of flames broke it.

His voice broke the quiet between them. His hands met hers, careful and slow. "Eyes here," he said, soft but firm.

It was true. His sharp blue gaze stopped her breathing. Close by, that tiny mark on his face came into view once more. Left behind after running too fast when they were kids.

“Yeah, things got messy,” he murmured. Five years have gone by, and still I carry that weight. Each morning brought guilt, like shadows stretching across empty ground. From a distance, I kept tabs on the group and just needed to know you made it through. Seeing your fury when you returned? That hit close. Felt earned. Still, that connection stayed alive. Stronger now than before. You belong as my Luna. Not only mine. Ours altogether

Tears stung her emerald eyes. “I wanted to kill you. For so long. How do I trust this feeling now?”

Closer now, Lucas drew her near. Around her, he looped his arms firm, yet gentle, where the injury lay. Her forehead found its place against his ribs. From within him came a pulse, calm and even. The scent of pine needles rose, mixed with damp soil. That smell somehow meant belonging.

“Because it’s real,” he whispered into her hair. “The hate was real too. But love is winning. I see it in your eyes when you look at me. The way we fight together. The way your wolf calls to mine.”

Floating on that sudden rush of heat, Scarlett melted into the moment. A quiet pulse ran between them, steady as breath. Pink climbed across her face, tiny spots blooming like dawn. Time could stop, she wouldn’t mind. Held close. Known.

Emily walked over. “The pack is waiting for your word. They saw the Luna light earlier. Most believe now. But Ethan is still loose. And your brother… he could bring more trouble.”

Rachel stepped forward slowly. Her pastel clothes looked dirty and torn. “I caused a lot of this. If you choose Lucas, I’ll support it. I want to make things right.”

Alex nodded. “Same here. We can help track Ethan.”

Scarlett pulled back from Lucas just enough to see his face. “What if my brother is telling the truth? What if staying here means more fighting?”

A single strand slipped across her face. Lucas tucked it back gently, fingers grazing her neck. That light contact made her shiver. He stood close when he spoke, voice low but clear. Together they’d face what came next. Not hiding anymore. Pairing strength with loyalty. Facing it head on

A quiet yes moved through the hunters. Each dipped their face, slowly, like paying a debt to the wind.

Footsteps behind her slowed. Scarlett breathed easier now, like air had been missing before. Revenge wore thin; it left cracks in everything. Silence used to keep her company in dark rooms, colder thoughts. Then came Lucas, voice steady near the window. Light touched her skin without warning. Strength arrived quietly, not with shouts but by presence.

Up she went, onto the balls of her feet, touching her mouth gently to his. Fast it happened, yet humming with what might come. Surprise lit his face at first, eyes jumping wide but melted into quiet delight.

“That’s a start,” she said with a small smile. “We will talk more later. Right now, we need to secure the territory.”

Hours passed while they shaped their plan. Calmly, Lucas spoke his directions. Ideas about borderlines came from Scarlett. Both voices carried weight among the group. A quiet agreement settled over everyone. That balance made sense.

Far past midnight, a hush settled around them because of the fading flames. Resting behind him, a rough bark pressed into Lucas’s spine. Close beside, Scarlett shifted nearer. Over her collarbone, his forearm came down slowly.

“Tell me about when we were kids,” she said quietly. “The good parts.”

Lucas smiled. “You were always faster than me in the pines. I let you sometimes win just to see you laugh. You had this fire even then. I knew you’d be someone special.”

She laughed softly. “I thought you were the strongest boy ever. You shared your food when my dad forgot. That meant everything.”

Out of nowhere, they found themselves deep in conversation. Memories from years gone by swirled into dreams not yet lived. With every tale told, something between them glowed just a little brighter. Her chest loosened, like a door creaking open after being stuck too long. Words peeled back layers she had sealed shut half a decade earlier.

When the room fell still, Jax slipped into her mind. He was her brother, gone like the rest of them. Not everything about him felt safe anymore. Some corners of her heart reached out. Others braced against the door. What if his return unraveled more than it fixed? Silence always made that fear louder.