Luna's Moon

Chapter Eight

As the TV played softly in the background, I folded clothes into my bag. It's Friday, travelling with Boss Friday, the room filled with the hum of the morning news. It was a habit I picked up from my late dad — watching the news while getting things done. We used to all bundle up in the living room, my dad on his favorite armchair, mom curled on the sofa, my sister and I lying on the rug, listening to the world unfold on screen. God, I miss them, I should call them.

Mom loved werewolves. She had this way of turning even the most terrifying myths into dreamy bedtime stories. Sometimes, I think she secretly wished she’d married one. She was the one who gave me my name — Luna — which means moon. She said she named me that hoping I’d be calm in chaos, beautiful in darkness, and quietly powerful. I used to laugh it off. Now? With everything happening... maybe she knew something I didn’t.

I folded another shirt and zipped up my bag. My eyes flicked to the TV just as the anchor's voice turned grim. "Another body was discovered early this morning—claw marks on the torso, identical to the five other victims found this week..."

Six deaths. All clawed. That’s a lot… even for this city.

I glanced at the screen, then at Stella, who stirred from where she was sprawled across my couch like a lazy cat. Her hair was a mess, eyeliner smudged from the night before, but her gaze was sharp—fixed on the screen like she was analyzing every word.

We had girls’ night yesterday—ordered in, painted nails, watched cheesy romance movies. She decided to sleep over, said it was to “send me off properly.” I knew better. She was hoping to catch a glimpse of Aurelian. Joke’s on her, it's his driver that is coming.

She sat up slowly. “That’s not a regular animal attack,” she said, her voice raspy with sleep.

I stood frozen, my attention glued to the TV as the anchor went on.

“The claw marks were deep and erratic, consistent with the other five victims discovered earlier this week...”

The words blurred, but I heard them. I felt them. My heart thudded in my chest.

Claw marks.

Just like Dad’s.

He’d gone out one evening, said he was heading to his friend’s house. That was the last time we saw him alive. A week later, they found his body dumped near a ravine—torn apart. Mauled.

The police said it was an animal attack. But no animal had ever been seen or caught in that area before.

It had died down over the years. No more incidents. No more answers.

And now it’s happening again?

My breath caught as a chill traced down my spine. I hadn’t thought about Dad’s case in a long time—it hurt too much. But this... this was too similar.

Coincidence? Or something darker waking up again?

Suddenly, a sharp knock jolted us both.

Stella’s head snapped toward the door, her entire body going rigid, the playful haze of sleep vanishing in an instant. Her posture shifted—alert, almost feral. Eyes narrowed, shoulders squared—she looked more like a predator than my gossip-loving best friend. Her werewolf instincts were definitely kicking in.

I glanced at the wall clock.

9:07 AM.

The flight was at noon. Still plenty of time... so who—?

I walked over and opened the door.

Aurelian.

He had to dip his head slightly to step through the doorway, the frame barely accommodating his towering height. Dressed in black again—of course—his presence filled the room like thunderclouds rolling in.

What was he doing here?

Behind me, I heard movement. Stella stood slowly, smoothing her shirt and bowing low with practiced grace.

“Alpha,” she murmured.

Oh God. Should I bow as well?, I followed suit awkwardly.

The past few days working with Aurelian had gone smoothly, but not without tension. The workload was manageable, and while he kept things professional, there were moments—those fleeting, charged moments—when our eyes would meet, and it felt like something unspoken was passing between us.

There were stolen glances. Electrifying stares that lingered just a little too long. A touch of fingers when passing documents that made my pulse quicken. Still, he kept his distance—emotionally, physically—like he was deliberately drawing a line neither of us dared to cross.

Which is why seeing him now, standing in my living room, was enough to throw me off completely.

He was tall, composed, every line of his suit tailored to perfection. His presence filled the space effortlessly, making my tiny apartment feel even smaller. Stella quietly went into the room after a slight nod of acknowledgement from him.

I swallowed.

“Mr Moon?” His name slipped from my lips like a question.

“Plans changed,I came to take you myself,” he said, eyes locked on mine, his voice low and calm—but there was an edge to it. Like something barely held back.

Aurelian’s gaze shifted to the TV, his jaw ticking as the anchor repeated the grim report about the claw-marked victim. A flicker of something passed through his eyes—anger? Concern? It was gone as quickly as it came. Then his focus returned to me.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his deep voice calm but edged with something I couldn’t place.

I glanced down at myself. Thank the stars I was a morning-get-ready kind of girl. I had on a simple blue dress with thin straps, the fabric hugging me just right and falling to mid-thigh. My small suitcase sat by the door, zipped and waiting.

I nodded quickly, then held up a finger. “Just a minute,” I murmured, already moving toward my room.

Inside, I did a last mental check—passport, documents, power bank, headphones, sanity... barely. I took one deep breath, willing my racing heart to calm. I was about to spend hours traveling with a man who made the air feel electric with just a glance. Wonderful.

Just as I picked up my bag, Stella appeared in the doorway, her arms crossed .

“So…” she said slowly, her voice teasing but softer than usual, “off you go, off to travel the world with Mr. Walking Fantasy himself.”

I chuckled, setting the bag down for a second. “It’s not like that.”

She raised a brow. “Right. Just a regular ol’ business trip with your Alpha boss who stares at you like you hung the moon—which, ironically, you’re named after.”

I rolled my eyes, but my smile faltered slightly. “I’m kinda nervous, Stell.”

Her teasing melted away instantly. She walked over and wrapped me in a hug, squeezing tight. “I know. But you’ve got this. You’re smart, grounded, and despite what you think, way braver than you give yourself credit for.”

I held onto her a little longer. “Thanks for staying over.”

She pulled back, brushing imaginary dust off my shoulder. “Of course. I had to make sure you didn’t chicken out. And, let’s be honest—I was hoping to see the Alpha King in sweatpants.”

We both laughed, and the sound helped steady my nerves.

“Go on then,” she said, nudging me toward the door with a wink. “Try not to fall in love on the first flight.”

With one last look around, I picked up my bag, squared my shoulders, and stepped out to where he waited.