The Human Luna

Chapter Twenty-One - The Enemy Within

My dad’s smile was brighter than I’d ever seen it, his arms pulling me into a hug that made me forget, just for a moment, where we were. I clung to him, the ache of missing him easing in that instant.

But then, just over his shoulder, I noticed her.

Lori stood half a step behind him, squirming under the watchful eyes of the crowd. Her unease was obvious—like she hadn’t wanted to come, but couldn’t refuse. Pulling back from my dad, I forced a polite smile and held out my hand.

“Hi, Lori, it’s nice to formally meet you.”

She looked at my hand, then at me, her lip curling. The look she gave me was enough to freeze me in place.

“Luna.” The word left her mouth like poison, spoken through gritted teeth as she ignored my hand completely.

My smile faltered, but before I could speak, Dad tried to smooth things over.

“So, how is life at the pack house, my sweet? Is Thomas treating you right?”

“He’s fine, Dad, he—”

A sharp voice cut me off.

“Mother? What are you doing here with her?”

I turned, heart dropping when I saw Verity storming toward us.

“Lori is your mom?” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

“No s**t, stupid. Why are you talking to her?”

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Conversations stilled. I felt eyes land on me from every direction—curious, sharp, unblinking. The whispers that followed weren’t about Verity. They were about me.

Why wasn’t she putting the girl in her place?

Does she even know how to handle this?

A Luna should command respect, not invite trouble.

Heat crept up my neck. My hands trembled at my sides. A true Luna would have known what to say. A true Luna wouldn’t have let the room turn into a stage where her weakness was on display.

My father’s voice snapped like a whip, breaking through the murmurs.

“Talk to my daughter—our future Luna—like that again, and I will deal with you myself.”

I hadn’t seen him this angry in years, and still, the weight of the crowd pressed harder on me than his fury. I could feel their doubt like stones being thrown, even if no one dared speak it aloud.

To my surprise, Jason suddenly appeared, his jaw tight. He had been avoiding me all night, but now he moved with purpose.

“Jason,” Dad ordered, “take your sister home. She is no longer welcome here.”

Without hesitation, Jason grabbed Verity, dragging her out as she kicked and screamed. Every eye followed them, then turned back—to me.

Thomas arrived in a rush, eyes wild, hands going to my arms as if checking for damage.

“What happened? She didn’t start on you again, did she?”

Dad rounded on him. “What do you mean again, Thomas? You’re supposed to be looking after her!”

“Dad, Thomas, stop,” I said quickly, my voice shaking but firm. “It’s nothing I can’t handle myself.” But inside, my chest was tight, my stomach sick. Handle myself? I wasn’t even convincing me.

I forced a tired smile and stepped back, desperate to escape the suffocating air of judgment. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s been a long day, and I’d like to go to bed.”

“I’ll come with you, my angel,” Thomas offered instantly, eyes searching mine.

I placed a hand against his chest, gentle but insistent. “No. Stay. Enjoy the party. I can put myself to bed.”

I kissed his cheek, hugged my dad and sisters one last time, then slipped away. The music rose behind me, laughter filling the ballroom again, but I could still feel the burn of their eyes on my back.

By the time I reached Thomas’s chambers, the silence hit me harder than any noise could have. I closed the door behind me, leaning against it as though I needed it to hold me upright.

My chest heaved once, then again. The mask slipped.

Hot tears spilled down my cheeks before I even realized I was crying. I pressed the heels of my hands to my eyes, trying to stop it, but the whispers echoed in my head—A Luna should command respect, not invite trouble. A Luna should be strong.

“I’m not enough,” I whispered into the empty room. Saying it aloud made it worse, made it real.

I paced, arms wrapped around myself. For the first time, I hated the dress clinging to my skin. It wasn’t magic anymore, it was a costume—a disguise I had no right to wear.

I thought of Lori’s look of disgust, Verity’s venom, the pack’s eyes waiting for me to stumble. And I had. I had stumbled.

Sliding down onto the edge of the bed, I buried my face in my hands. “I can’t do this,” I breathed, voice shaking. “Not like this. Not yet.”

The mattress dipped under my weight, the room still carrying Thomas’s scent—cedar, smoke, and something I had already learned to crave. It should have comforted me, but instead it only twisted the ache deeper. Because if I let him see me like this, see how afraid I really was…

What if even he doubted me?

I curled beneath the blanket, trying to smother the doubts before they swallowed me whole. Sleep didn’t come easy, but eventually exhaustion dragged me under—heart heavy, mind spinning, wishing for a strength I wasn’t sure I’d ever find.

*Verity’s POV*

Jason dragged me through the night, his grip like iron clamped around my wrist. The party’s music and laughter still echoed faintly behind us, but with every step into the forest’s shadows, the sound dulled until only the crunch of leaves and my ragged breathing filled the silence.

“Jason, let me go!” I snarled, twisting in his grasp.

“No!” His voice was sharp enough to cut. He didn’t even look at me, just stormed ahead, jaw tight, shoulders rigid. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? If Thomas had seen that scene, if he had heard those words—he would’ve banished you on the spot. Maybe worse.”

He spat the words like venom, his usual calm cracking into something dangerous.

I yanked at his grip, fury boiling hotter in my chest. “I did nothing wrong! She doesn’t deserve to be our Luna! She’s human, Jason. A weak little human! There are so many others who are more worthy—”

“—like you?” His voice dropped low, deadly quiet, as he slammed me back against the wall of our cottage. My breath caught as his aura flared, pressing down on me like a storm ready to break. For a moment, instinct begged me to submit. To cower. But no. Not this time.

“She’ll never be my Luna,” I hissed, baring my teeth.

Jason’s eyes burned into mine, cold fire, before he leaned closer. “I know, Ver. And I have a plan.”

My pulse kicked, confusion tangling with the thrill of his words.

He held me pinned for another heartbeat, making sure I listened. “We’ll get rid of her. One way or another. Mom’s already working a lead—someone interested in taking Shannon off our hands. But we have to be smart. Patient. Strike at the right moment.”

He finally eased his grip, lowering me carefully to the ground. His gentleness after such force only made my head spin.

“If Mom’s so keen on this,” I asked bitterly, brushing dirt from my dress, “why was she fawning over Shannon in there? Playing nice like some doting stepmother?”

Jason’s smirk was humorless. “Because appearances matter. Mom’s with Shannon’s dad now. It’d be suspicious if she didn’t act supportive. Besides…” His gaze darkened, a glint of pride flashing in his eyes. “She’s been following this lead since the day she learned Thomas’s mate was human—three years ago. We all hoped it would be you, with how close you and Thomas were. But clearly fate had other plans.”

My nails bit into my palms, anger prickling through every vein.

Jason tilted his head, almost pitying. “The rogue attack should’ve solved it, but she’s stronger than we thought. Too strong. So we wait. We bide our time. And then…” His lips curved into something cruel. “…then you’ll take your rightful place, sister. As Luna.”