The volatile luna

Roxy – POV “You little witch! You know the Master will take this out on both of us!” screeches the old, bitter slave woman. I scoff. He’s been taking everything out on me for over a year. Today won’t be any different, whether I behave or not. I fight the urge to roll my eyes at the grey-haired hag. Just as I’m about to deliver a smart retort, I hear footsteps descending the stairs. My stomach tightens, and my heart begins to race. Every day. Every single day I hear those steps. I used to dread them, even fear them. Not anymore. Now, my heart pounds with rage, not fear. My gut coils with the fury that has been building for months. I square my shoulders and sit up straighter. Fin walks in, twirling the cell keys around his finger. That devilish grin spreads across his face like he’s genuinely happy to see me. He probably is. Torturing me is likely the highlight of his pathetic existence. “Hello, beautiful. How are you today?” he coos in a sing-song voice that makes my skin crawl. He turns to glare at the grey-haired woman, then glances at the untouched breakfast on the floor. His eyes slowly return to mine. That sick smile disappears, replaced by a cold glower and blackened eyes. A moment later, they shift back to his usual light brown. “Roxy, Roxy, Roxy… Not eating is only going to make my punishment worse—and ultimately, make breaking you that much easier.” He tuts mockingly. “It’s been eighteen months, and I’ve yet to break,” I say slowly. Then I shrug. “I’m not too worried.” His eyes go black again. A second later, his claws s***h across my face. I let out a deep, furious roar. That’s it. No more, Kali snarls inside me. Before I can stop her—or even react—I feel the chains snap. Fin lunges toward me— I jolt awake, gasping for breath. Another nightmare. You’d think, after five years, they’d stop haunting me. But they plague my sleep several times a week. I roll over. 6:05 a.m. I sigh. I was meant to wake up at 6:30 anyway. Rubbing my eyes, I run my fingers through my tangled hair. I remember the hotel has an on-site gym. Hopefully, the equipment is decent. This is a human town, not far from the pack I’m meeting today. Since I’m not officially on pack lands and haven’t signed a contract yet, I don’t feel comfortable shifting here. So… human gym it is. Two Hours Later I’m flipping through the file the Alpha sent me—and it’s not looking good. His defenses are pitiful. I’m skilled, but I can’t run protection for an entire pack alone. I hope that’s not what he’s expecting to hire me for. Hopefully, he has allies willing to lend support. Red Dawn is a small pack of about 200 wolves. Their land is forested and dense, which should offer some protection, but they only have thirty warriors. Based on the layout, it’s no wonder they’re having problems. Hopefully, this is just a rogue issue I can track and eliminate. I bite into a piece of croissant and sip my coffee—then grimace. This coffee is awful. I remember a small café I passed on my way into town. I’ll stop there before heading to the pack grounds. Goddess, I hope this Alpha isn’t like the others. They acknowledge my skill, sure—but most still assume that, as a woman, I have no idea how to run a pack or handle pack politics. Men hate the idea that someone like me might be more capable than them. My father trained me in pack management and strategy from the time I was ten. Not that anyone would believe me if I told them who I really am. According to the Council, I—Roxy Davenport—died seven years ago, along with Alpha Richard and Luna April, when Alpha Elijah destroyed the Summer Solstice Pack. The Council later converted our pack lands into a regional headquarters. My childhood home is now their command center. Our pack name came from a prophecy. One about a child born during the summer solstice—a child descended from Blessed blood. That’s all I remember from the old stories. For generations, my ancestors tried to conceive this foretold child. Fin kept me prisoner, obsessed with the idea that our offspring might fulfill the prophecy. He wanted to force a mateship, to make me bear his child in hopes it would be the Chosen One. I shake my head. I can’t let myself get distracted today. Kali needs a new mission. Ever since she snapped all those years ago, she hasn’t been the same. She’s volatile, bloodthirsty, almost unhinged. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she suffered a psychotic break—or PTSD. I couldn’t control her for a long time. Eventually, I gave her what she wanted. I let her loose on a pack of dangerous rogues. She slaughtered two dozen before the bloodlust passed. Turned out that rogue pack had been tormenting a nearby territory. Alpha Kain was so relieved, he offered me a place in his pack. But Kali wouldn’t accept it. She was born to lead and wouldn’t submit to another Alpha. Kain understood. Instead, he offered me payment—and I accepted. As a lone wolf with no pack to clothe or feed me, it was a logical choice. Since then, I’ve worked non-stop. My name has become legend. I’m well-paid and in high demand, especially for contracts other bounty hunters refuse. Most sanctioned hunters are men. They don’t take jobs involving women or children. I do. I will take out another woman—if there’s cause. Children? Never. Plenty of jealous women have hired me to eliminate romantic rivals. I never accept those contracts. But if the money is right, I’ve been known to send a warning or two. Anyway—I should get going. The pack is only a fifteen-minute drive. But I need real coffee first. And I’m always early. Never on time, never late. I’m due at Red Dawn in thirty minutes. Grabbing my files and phone, I head for the door. I feel Kali stirring. She’s excited. Jesse – POV I sigh as I study the map of Red Dawn. Alpha Mathew is a good man—but his pack’s defenses are lacking. Red Dawn used to be large and powerful, before Elijah attacked without reason. Not surprising. Elijah went mad after the sudden death of his son five years ago. Red Dawn was the closest pack when he got the news. Mathew inherited his title after Elijah murdered his father, Alpha Luke. He’s been trying to rebuild ever since, but without numbers or allies, it’s nearly impossible. Unless he secures a marriage alliance, his chances are slim. Mathew and I are both twenty-five—and both still waiting for our goddess-given mates. I yawn and sigh again. “You want to stop for coffee, boss?” asks Rhys, my Beta. I check the time. We’re early. The meeting with Mathew isn’t until 9:30, and we’re only fifteen minutes away. I nod. Rhys pulls into a small café in the center of the nearby human town. As I walk toward the door, I freeze. I smell something... incredible. Like peaches and cream. My heart skips a beat. I whip my head around, searching. That scent—it means only one thing. My mate. Rhys notices me. “What is it, boss?” he asks, eyes scanning the area. “My mate,” I murmur. “She’s been here. Recently.” “You think she’s human?” he asks offhandedly. I glance at him. “Would it matter if she was?” He shakes his head. “Not at all. But if she’s not, she’s probably from Red Dawn. It’s the only pack nearby. Might be easier to track her there—our warriors can’t pick up a scent like you can.” He has a point. Still, I’m checking the café and the surrounding streets. We have time before the meeting. If I have to stay here a few days to find her, so be it. My Gamma, Marcus, is holding things down at home—and my father is still at the pack house. I follow her scent inside the café. She’s gone. “Order me a coffee. Black,” I tell Rhys, who nods. I step outside, tracking her scent. Four hundred meters down the street, it suddenly vanishes near an empty parking lot. Damn it. She must have left just minutes ago. Rhys catches up, holding my coffee. “Get in,” I say. “We’re heading to Red Dawn now. I don’t care if we’re early.” “No mate, then?” he asks casually. “No. The scent stopped at a parking lot. She’s gone. But it was fresh—we just missed her.” He nods, eyes glazing as he mind-links the rest of the team. I see a few warriors jogging out of the café, coffee cups in hand. I take one last look around. She’s not here anymore. But I’ll find her.