The Alpha's Forbidden Luna

Stranger in the Woods

The howl came again.

Closer this time.

Every wolf in the packhouse went still.

Damon's eyes narrowed.

"Lock the gates."

The guard immediately turned.

"Alpha, the eastern patrol—"

"I said lock the gates."

The command echoed through the room.

Within seconds, the packhouse erupted into movement.

Warriors rushed outside.

Doors slammed.

Orders were shouted through the corridors.

Aria remained frozen beside the desk.

Her wrist continued to glow.

"Why is it doing that?" she asked.

Nobody answered.

She looked at Damon.

"Why is my mark reacting to whatever is out there?"

Damon grabbed his jacket.

"Stay here."

"No."

His eyes snapped toward her.

"You will stay inside."

"I want answers."

"You'll get them when it's safe."

Aria folded her arms.

"You've been saying that since the ceremony."

Damon stepped closer.

"Aria."

Something about the way he said her name made her pause.

His expression had softened.

Only slightly.

But she noticed.

"Please," he said quietly. "Stay here."

It was the first time he'd asked instead of commanded.

Aria hesitated.

Then she nodded.

Damon and Cassian left.

The door closed behind them.

Aria waited.

Ten seconds.

Twenty.

Then she heard something.

A scratching sound.

From the window.

She turned.

Nothing.

The scratching came again.

Aria slowly approached the glass.

A shadow moved between the trees.

Her heart jumped.

She stepped closer.

"Who's there?"

No answer.

Then a figure appeared.

A man stood at the edge of the forest.

He wasn't wearing Nightfall colors.

He was tall, dressed in dark clothing, and his face was partially hidden beneath a hood.

But Aria could see his eyes.

They were fixed directly on her.

Her mark burned.

The stranger raised one hand.

And pointed at her wrist.

Aria stepped backward.

Who was he?

The man suddenly turned and disappeared into the trees.

Aria didn't think.

She ran.

She pushed through the back door and entered the forest.

"Wait!"

The cold air hit her face.

She followed the stranger's trail between the trees.

Branches caught against her clothes as she moved deeper into the woods.

She could hear her wolf urging her forward.

Keep going.

"I don't know where we're going."

He knows us.

Aria stopped.

"What?"

Before her wolf could answer, something moved behind her.

She spun around.

The stranger stood several feet away.

He had removed his hood.

He was younger than she expected.

His face was calm.

Almost familiar.

"You shouldn't have followed me," he said.

Aria took a step back.

"Who are you?"

"My name doesn't matter."

"Then why were you watching me?"

His gaze dropped to her wrist.

"Because I know what you are."

Aria's stomach tightened.

"You know what this mark means?"

"I know what it will cost you."

"What are you talking about?"

The stranger stepped closer.

"Your Alpha doesn't know the truth."

Aria frowned.

"Damon?"

The stranger gave a humorless smile.

"Especially him."

A branch snapped behind Aria.

She turned.

Damon stood at the edge of the clearing.

His eyes were glowing.

"Step away from her."

The stranger looked at him.

For the first time, his expression changed.

Recognition.

"Alpha Damon Blackwood."

Damon's jaw tightened.

"Who are you?"

The stranger didn't answer.

Cassian appeared beside Damon, followed by several warriors.

"You have nowhere to run," Cassian said.

The stranger smiled.

"You've already lost."

Damon moved forward.

The stranger suddenly threw something onto the ground.

Smoke exploded across the clearing.

The warriors coughed and stumbled.

Aria felt someone grab her arm.

She tried to pull away.

"Let go!"

Then she heard Damon's voice.

"Aria!"

A strong arm pulled her backward.

Damon.

He dragged her through the smoke until they reached clear air.

The stranger was gone.

Damon turned toward her.

"Are you hurt?"

Aria shook her head.

"No."

His gaze moved over her face before dropping to her wrist.

The mark had stopped glowing.

Cassian emerged from the smoke.

"He's gone."

Damon's expression darkened.

"Find him."

The warriors scattered.

Aria looked at Cassian.

"Who was he?"

"We don't know."

"Then how did he know about my mark?"

Cassian didn't answer.

Aria looked at Damon.

"And how did he know your name?"

Damon remained silent.

"You're hiding something."

"I'm not."

"You are."

Damon stepped closer.

"I don't know that man."

"Then why did he look at you like he did?"

Damon's expression changed.

Only for a second.

But Aria saw it.

Fear.

The Alpha was afraid.

Before she could question him, Cassian called out.

"Alpha."

They turned.

Cassian was standing beside a tree.

Something had been carved into its bark.

A crescent.

Three stars.

And beneath it were four words.

THE LUNA HAS RETURNED.

Aria stared at the message.

Damon's face became unreadable.

Cassian whispered,

"That's impossible."

Aria looked at him.

"Why?"

He hesitated.

"Because according to our records..."

He glanced at Damon.

"The last Luna carrying that mark died twenty-two years ago."

Aria's heart stopped.

Twenty-two years.

She slowly looked down at her wrist.

The same age she was.

And suddenly, a terrible thought entered her mind.

"What happened twenty-two years ago?"

Neither Damon nor Cassian answered.

But Aria already knew one thing.

Whatever had happened the night she was born...

Someone had gone to great lengths to make sure she never found out.