The Human Luna

Chapter Thirteen - A visit to Crimson Rock

Thomas’ POV



“Shannon, whether you choose to go to your aunt’s or stay here and rule by my side, I need you to know something. From the moment I set my eyes on you, I have loved you more than life itself. You are the only thing I want now and forever. But despite all of that, I only want you to be happy. If happiness means leaving me… then so be it. Just—please. Give me a chance. Let me prove to you that you are the only thing in existence that will ever matter to me.”

I couldn’t leave without telling her how I felt. She deserved the truth before making her decision.

For a moment, silence stretched between us. Then she smiled—soft, breathtaking—and her eyes sparkled like stars as they met mine. My chest tightened. That smile alone was enough to ignite hope where despair had been.

“She will choose us,” Atticus rumbled inside me with confidence, his voice thick with certainty. “We were destined to be together.”

His belief seeped into me, making it impossible not to grin. The hope was contagious.

“Well, you look happy,” Stefan’s voice broke into my thoughts as he appeared at the foot of the stairs, waiting. “Things go well with Shannon?”

He clapped me on the back as we walked out the door together. He’d said he wanted to talk, and so we were going for a run. Atticus needed the stretch, and so did his wolf, Cyrus. It had been too long since either of us shifted.

“I think I may have gotten through to her, Stef. I really do.”

“That’s amazing, bro.” Stefan grinned. “Shall we head to the lake for a change?”

“That actually sounds great.”

It had been years since I’d gone there properly. A refreshing swim and some time with my brother-in-arms sounded exactly like what I needed.

We stripped off at the treeline, folding our clothes neatly so our wolves could carry them back. Then came the shift. Thankfully, long gone were the days when the transformation was pure agony. In the beginning, the pain had been unbearable—bones snapping and reshaping, muscles tearing to reform. I remembered my first shift: three and a half hours of relentless agony. I had begged my father to kill me rather than make me endure it again. But when it was finally over… when Atticus had stood in my skin for the first time, power coursing through every nerve—it had been worth it.

These days, the shift took ten seconds at most, smooth and instinctive. Father had made it law that we train until it became second nature. In battle, seconds could mean life or death. Pain became irrelevant when survival was on the line.

Atticus stretched out, paws pounding against the forest floor as Stefan’s wolf, Cyrus, joined him. The woods were eerily quiet tonight. No birds. No deer. Not even the scuttle of rabbits in the underbrush. The only sound was our steady rhythm, paws striking earth and snapping twigs underfoot.

At the edge of the clearing, we shifted back, tugging on our clothes before stepping into the open. The lake glittered under the full moon, silver rippling across its surface. Normally there would be at least a few humans here, daring the woods despite knowing wolves lurked nearby. But tonight—nothing. Just us.

Stefan was first to dive in—fully clothed—sending a wave crashing across the shore. I couldn’t help but laugh before following him in. For a while, it was easy to forget everything. We swam, splashed, laughed, trading jokes like boys again.

When we finally dragged ourselves out, our clothes clinging, we lay back on the damp grass and stared at the sky. The moon hung heavy above us, bathing the world in silver.

I loved nights like this. After dark, when the world was quiet, I wasn’t just the Alpha. I wasn’t burdened by the weight of expectation. I could just be Thomas—the man who wanted to joke with his friend, who dreamed of taking the woman he loved on a date, of going to the cinema, of living… simply. But those weren’t things an Alpha was allowed. My life belonged to the pack. Always had. Always would.

“Hey, Tom.” Stefan nudged my arm.

“Hmm?”

“What were you thinking about?”

“The pack.”

He groaned. “Dude, I swear that’s all you ever think about.”

“It’s all I’m supposed to think about.”

“Mate, you’re allowed to live too, you know. Everyone adores you. You’re a great Alpha. But you’re still allowed to be more than that.”

His words lingered. Could I really be more than just their Alpha? Could I be… myself? I pushed the thought away before it could take root. There were more pressing things to discuss.

“What was it you wanted to tell me?”

Stefan’s grin split wide in the moonlight. “It’s Jade. She’s pregnant. I’m gonna be a dad.”

“Stef—that’s incredible!” I punched his arm before dragging him into a hug. The joy on his face was contagious. He’d make an amazing father. Jade, a wonderful mother. For the first time in weeks, my chest felt light.

We joked about names, about whose nose the baby better not inherit—definitely not Stefan’s. But even as I laughed, my thoughts drifted to Shannon. I pictured her carrying my pups, her smile, her gentle care. Would she even want that with me? It all depended on her choice.

We shifted again, running home as the night grew long. Tomorrow would be busy. I was expected at Crimson Rock to pay respects to Luna Alice and Alpha Kye on the birth of their first heir. Normally, all the Alphas would attend such a tradition, but this time… it was different.

The triplets—girl, boy, girl—were the first pure Alpha bloodline triplets in centuries. Even though the son had been born second, he would inherit the Alpha’s title. A daughter could not. Still, their birth was monumental, and Doctor Bane herself had intervened to save them when complications struck.

When morning came, I rose early, restless. I stopped by Shannon’s room before breakfast, only to hear the shower running. For a moment, I lingered—then forced myself to walk away. She needed space. Answers could come later.

Two hours later, I pulled into the Crimson Rock territory. The settlement was smaller than ours—three, maybe four hundred wolves total. Cosy cottages dotted the landscape, circling a sprawling house at the center. The place felt almost… too quiet.

Kye was waiting on the steps. He pulled me into a firm hug.

“Thomas! It’s good to see you. Where’s your Luna?” He glanced toward my car, clearly expecting Shannon.

“She’s still recovering,” I answered carefully. “A lot to process for a human.” My eyes swept the grounds. No cars. No other Alphas. My frown deepened. “Where is everyone?”

“You’re the only one coming.”

“What? Why?”

“Because you’re the only one I trust to keep our secret.”

My stomach tightened. “What secret?”

“You have to see it for yourself.”

Kye’s voice was low, his expression unreadable. He turned and gestured for me to follow. And with each step, the air grew heavier with the weight of what I was about to discover.