The Human Luna

Chapter Twenty - A Place Among Them

The moment Thomas pushed open the grand double doors, my breath caught.

This morning, the ballroom had been noisy and ordinary—filled with the clatter of cutlery, chatter between pack members, and the faint smell of bacon and coffee. It had almost felt like a giant cafeteria.

But now… now it looked like something out of a fairy tale. The long rows of tables were gone, leaving polished wooden floors glistening beneath the glow of golden chandeliers. Round tables draped in crisp white linens hugged the edges of the room, each one adorned with flickering candles and arrangements of winter blooms. Their fragrance mingled with the faint beeswax scent of the candles, warm and clean, while soft music floated above the hum of conversation.

Men in sharp suits and women in sweeping ballgowns moved gracefully about the room, skirts whispering as they passed, laughter bubbling like champagne. One by one, their eyes turned to us. Conversations stilled, and a hush seemed to ripple outward as though the entire pack collectively inhaled.

They weren’t just looking at me. They were looking at him. At their Alpha. Their gazes held reverence, respect, a love so deep it felt woven into the very air of the room. And by his side—me. A human who still wasn’t sure how to stand tall in shoes that pinched, in a dress that felt borrowed from someone else’s story.

My stomach knotted. This was not my world.

And yet—walking in with Thomas’s arm secure around mine, his presence steady and warm, the weight of every glance softened. His pride in me was undeniable, written in the set of his shoulders, the way his thumb brushed reassuring circles against my skin.

For a fleeting heartbeat, I dared to believe that maybe, just maybe, this world could be mine too.

The first person to approach us was an older-looking woman—perhaps in her early sixties—her posture proud but her smile warm.

“Angel,” Thomas said softly, “I would like to introduce you to my personal omega, Katherine. Katherine has been with me since I was a pup, sometimes more than my own mother. Katherine, this is my beautiful mate and our Luna, Shannon Rye.”

Katherine’s hands trembled slightly as she reached for mine, clasping them with surprising strength. Her smile stretched wide, her eyes damp with unshed tears.

“Oh, Shannon, lovely—you have no idea how long I’ve waited for this day!” she said with a laugh that quavered with emotion.

“He’s absolutely infatuated with you.”

“Ha!” I laughed, cheeks burning, glancing at Thomas. “I realized that not so long ago.”

Her words tumbled out, story after story of how since the day in the forest it had been nothing but Shannon this and Shannon that. I looked at Thomas, admiring him as though these were revelations, but the truth was I’d already known. It was all I’d heard from him, every glance and every word.

“Katherine, I hate to cut this short,” Thomas said gently, though affection lingered in his tone. “But I must introduce Shannon to the other pack members too.”

“Oh, of course, Alpha. I’m so sorry, my Luna.”

I held her hand a moment longer, touched by her sincerity. “Don’t apologize. In fact, I look forward to hearing those stories one day.”

Her face softened, and she squeezed my hand before stepping back.

For the next forty-five minutes, we moved from group to group, speaking with pack members who welcomed me with varying degrees of warmth. Some beamed openly, others hid their judgment behind polite smiles. One warrior even confided that he was mated to a human too, though their bond hadn’t yet been accepted by the pack. My heart ached for him—how lonely that must feel.

Finally, I slipped into an empty chair, tugging at my shoes beneath the table. These heels were not made for walking. How Jade managed to dance all night in hers, which were taller than mine, I would never know. She was still twirling across the floor with Stefan, her laughter carrying above the music.

I was about to stand when a sudden spark jolted through my arm. It wasn’t Thomas’s warm, steady spark—it was sharper, like static electricity snapping through my veins.

Startled, I turned—and found a woman seated beside me.

“Hi,” she said softly. “I’m Luna Alice. I came from the Crimson Rock pack.”

“Oh—uh, wow. You’re the Luna I drank the potion for, right?”

Her face paled instantly. She leaned forward, voice dropping to a whisper. “Yes. But you must not speak about it so openly. No one is supposed to know. For everyone’s safety.”

“Ah, yes. I’m sorry,” I whispered back quickly, cheeks flushing. “It’s just… nice to finally meet you. Thomas speaks so highly of you and your husband—Kye, isn’t it?”

Relief softened her posture. “Yes, Kye.” She smiled faintly. “He and Thomas have known each other longer than I have. Longer than most. In fact, Thomas likes to tease that he knew me before Kye did—because before me, Kye wasn’t the greatest man. His father even delayed his Alpha ceremony.” Her smile turned wistful. “But Thomas… he saw something in both of us. Saved us both, really.”

I leaned closer, curiosity sparking. “Saved you?”

Her expression shadowed, the smile faltering. “Thomas and his family were in Ireland when they found me. Rogues had captured me. I’d been with them for nearly a year—starved, beaten. I thought it would never end. But Thomas and his parents…” She swallowed, eyes distant. “They slaughtered the rogues and brought me here. If they hadn’t, I wouldn’t be alive.”

The room seemed to tilt. My chest tightened painfully as I imagined this kind, gentle Luna locked away, suffering for so long. “Alice… I’m so sorry.”

She gave me a small smile. “Don’t be. That was six years ago. Now I have Kye, three beautiful children, and a pack that feels like family.”

Before I could respond, Thomas returned with a tall, broad man at his side.

“Kye,” Thomas said warmly, “this is my beautiful Luna, Shannon. Shannon, this is Alpha Kye.”

I stood quickly, bowing awkwardly before thrusting out my hand. He laughed, a deep rumble, before pulling me into a firm embrace. The moment our skin touched, that same static spark jolted through me, sharp enough to make us both jump.

“It’s the bond,” Kye said knowingly. “Aisling told us we’d feel something when we touched. Like a mate’s spark, but different.”

They all seemed to understand. I only nodded, pretending it made sense.

Alice and Kye departed soon after, and Thomas led me back into the sea of pack members. One by one, I met warriors, omegas, mates—some warm, some cool. Jason’s mate surprised me with her kindness, so unlike him. And slowly, as laughter and conversation wove around me, I realized that maybe we weren’t all so different after all. Wolves or humans—the divide wasn’t as vast as I thought.

Still, I could feel the weight of eyes on me. Whispers I wasn’t meant to hear. Respect came easily for Thomas. For my father, too. But me? I was an outsider wearing a crown that didn’t quite fit yet.

And yet, with Thomas’s hand guiding mine, his voice proud as he introduced me again and again, I began to think… maybe it could.

Still, I could feel the weight of eyes on me. Whispers I wasn’t meant to hear. Respect came easily for Thomas. For my father, too. But me? I was an outsider wearing a crown that didn’t quite fit yet.

And then—just as if the Moon Goddess herself had conjured the moment—the doors opened again.

My father stepped inside with Emily, Clara, and Lori at his side. My heart leaped painfully in my chest. For a second I thought they might not have come, that the party would end without seeing them at all. But there they were, faces lit by the golden glow of the chandeliers.

The girls spotted me instantly. They ran forward with delighted squeals, tackling me into a hug that knocked me straight to the polished floor. I laughed, breathless, as I hugged them back, their little arms wrapped tight around me.

By the time my father reached us, his smile was wide, though his eyes shimmered with unshed emotion. He pulled me up gently, drawing me into his arms.

“My sweet girl,” he whispered thickly. “I’ve missed you so much.”

I clung to him, burying my face against his chest. “I’ve missed you too, Dad.”

The word slipped out naturally, instinctively, but when I looked up, his entire face transformed. Pride. Relief. Love. A smile brighter than I had ever seen.

Forever, he would be my father. Blood or not.