The Last Luna Standing

chapter 23

North

"Tamara. Wake up."

My eyes fluttered open. The room was still dark. Alpha North stood over me, his dark hair messy and his expression serious. The storm from the night before had finally passed, leaving the air outside cold and chilly.

"We need to leave," he said quietly, his voice carrying an urgent tone. "Before the pack gets up."

I sat up quickly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. A sudden thought hit me, making my heart race. I had planned to meet up with Eve this morning for our training. If I was not back in my room before the sun fully rose, my absence would raise questions, and Serena or the other warriors would use it against me.

"Okay," I whispered, scrambling to my feet.

North led the way out of the old wooden cabin into the damp morning air. The forest around us was quiet, the trees dripping with leftover rain. The sky above was just beginning to turn a pale blue on the horizon, telling me the sun would rise very soon.

Without wasting another second, North shifted into his massive, midnight-black wolf form. The transformation was smooth and powerful, a reminder of the raw strength he carried inside him. I shifted as well, my creamy white wolf taking over.

He did not look back, but he made sure I stayed close behind him. We ran through the wet trees, our paws hitting the soft earth in a fast rhythm. North led the way, guiding us through the familiar trails of his territory until the outlines of the main pack house finally came into view through the morning fog.

We stopped near the edge of the trees, just out of sight of the early risers. I shifted back into my human form and quickly pulled on the spare clothes I had brought with me. North did not shift back ok the other hand.

He looked down at me, his eyes hard and unreadable. He let out a low, warning growl in his chest, a clear sign telling me to go inside now.

Without saying a single word to me, he turned around on his heel and ran off in the opposite direction back into the deep woods.

I stood there for a second watching him leave. A knot formed in my stomach because I did not know where he was going or what he was going to do.

Yesterday night felt like a dream, something so intense and real that it changed everything between us. We had crossed a line, sharing a deep and vulnerable moment that brought us closer than ever before.

But seeing him pull away so quickly made me feel a cold wave of worry. I hoped he would not draw away from me again, locking his walls back up as if nothing had happened between us.

I pushed the thoughts aside because I had no time to waste. I hurried inside the pack house, moving quietly through the empty hallways until I reached my room. I quickly washed up, splashed cold water on my face to wipe away the sleep, and changed into my training gear.

I barely had a single second to think about the kisses, the touches, and the quiet intimacy. My mind was spinning, but I forced myself to focus on the present.

I rushed out to the open training grounds behind the pack house to meet Eve. She was already there, stretching her arms and legs in the cool morning air. When she saw me walk up, she smiled and waved me over.

We started our basic drills right away. We practiced our footwork, dodges, and punches, moving in a steady rhythm. All around us, other pack members were also practicing, their heavy boots hitting the dirt and their grunts filling the air. Training in the middle of everyone else kept us sharp and focused.

After a little while, footsteps approached us. I turned and saw Beta Kain walking over with a calm and friendly look on his face.

"Good morning ladies," Kain said, offering a small smile.

"Good morning, Beta," Eve and I said together.

Kain looked around the training grounds for a moment before looking back at me. "I see you are working hard as usual."

"I have to," I replied, wiping a thin layer of sweat from my forehead.

Kain nodded approvingly. though a hint of curiosity crossed his eyes. "Have you seen Alpha North this morning? He has been missing from the main office since dawn."

I shook my head, trying to keep my face completely neutral so he would not guess where I had really been. "No, I have not seen him."

Kain frowned slightly. "That is strange. Word is that he was summoned by Elder Miko. So he should be back by now."

I stopped what I was doing, my brow furrowing in confusion. The name sounded familiar, and then I remembered North telling me about her in the cabin. Elder Miko was the oldest living pack member who lived far away at the borders and rarely came near the pack house.

"Elder Miko?" I asked, looking at Kain. "Why would she summon him?"

"She only comes when something important happens," Kain said quietly, crossing his arms. "Whatever it is, it must be serious."

Before I could ask anything else, a sudden shift in the energy around the training grounds caught my attention. The other pack members stopped their drills. The loud noises of training died down into a sudden, heavy silence.

Everyone turned their heads toward the treeline.

I turned around to see what was happening.

North emerged from the dark woods, walking with his usual strong and powerful steps. He looked magnificent in the morning light, his presence commanding immediate attention. But it was not just him.

Walking right beside him was an old, elderly woman. She walked with a slow and steady step, leaning slightly on a wooden walking stick, but her eyes were sharp and full of wisdom.

Instantly, every single pack member around us dropped their heads. They bared their necks in a deep and total sign of respect and submission to the elder.

All except for me.