Chapter 3 3

Luna stood frozen, the silence of the forest pressing in around her. The weight of Elias's revelation made her knees weak, and she dropped the basket of herbs she'd been clutching like a lifeline. The scent of crushed lavender and sage filled the air, but it did nothing to calm the storm raging inside her.

She pressed her palms against her temples, willing herself to think clearly. Moonborn? Royalty? It all sounded like something out of a fairy tale. She wasn't some mythical heir to a long-forgotten throne-she was just Luna Brightwater, the rebellious omega who never listened to anyone.

But deep down, a small voice whispered what if it's true?

Her mother's lullabies floated back to her, old songs about the Moonborn rulers and their great power. Her father's constant warnings to stay away from the Shadowfang pack, his fear palpable every time their name was mentioned. And then there was the way the elders always looked at her, with a strange mix of disapproval and something else she couldn't quite place.

Had they all known? Had everyone been hiding the truth from her?

The distant snap of a twig broke her thoughts, and she spun around, her heart pounding.

"Calla?" she called hesitantly.

No answer.

The shadows seemed to shift and stretch, and Luna took a cautious step back, her instincts screaming that she wasn't alone. The feeling of being watched sent a chill down her spine, and she cursed herself for wandering so far from the village.

A low growl rumbled from the trees, deep and guttural. Her stomach clenched.

"Who's there?" she demanded, her voice steadier than she felt.

There was no response, only the sound of heavy breathing and the crunch of leaves as something-or someone-moved closer. Her wolf instincts kicked in, and she crouched slightly, ready to shift if necessary.

But before she could, a figure stepped into the moonlight.

It wasn't Elias.

Ronan Shadowfang was everything the rumors said he was-and more. He was tall and broad, his presence suffocating. His dark hair framed a face carved from stone, his piercing amber eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. He was handsome in a way that was both terrifying and magnetic, and his smile sent a shiver of pure dread down Luna's spine.

"Well, well," Ronan said, his voice smooth and laced with menace. "If it isn't the Brightwater omega."

Luna forced herself to stand tall, even though her legs felt like they might give out beneath her. "What do you want?" she demanded.

"What I want," Ronan said, taking a slow step forward, "is for you to come with me. There's no need to make this difficult, Luna."

Her name on his lips felt like a violation, and her wolf stirred restlessly inside her. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

Ronan's smile widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You misunderstand. I wasn't asking."

Luna took a step back, her pulse racing. Her wolf was ready to shift, to fight, but she knew she was no match for Ronan. Not alone.

"Why are you so interested in me?" she asked, stalling for time, hoping for an opportunity to escape. "I'm just an omega."

Ronan chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "Oh, you're far more than that. Did you really think you could hide from me? From destiny?"

Luna swallowed hard, her mind racing. She couldn't let him take her. She couldn't let him win.

"Destiny's overrated," she said, her voice sharp despite the fear coiling in her chest.

Ronan's eyes darkened, his patience clearly wearing thin. "You're feisty, I'll give you that. But it won't save you."

In a flash, he lunged forward, faster than she could react. His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist in an iron grip. She gasped, her wolf snarling inside her, but before she could shift, another growl echoed through the clearing.

This one wasn't Ronan's.

"Let her go," came Elias's voice, low and deadly.

Ronan turned his head slowly, his expression darkening as Elias stepped into view. The two men were a study in contrasts-Ronan with his commanding, menacing aura, and Elias with his quiet, lethal confidence.

"This doesn't concern you, Nightshade," Ronan said, his voice cold.

"It does now," Elias replied, his gray eyes locked on Ronan's. "You're not taking her."

Ronan's grip tightened on Luna's wrist, and she winced. "And who's going to stop me? You? The so-called beta pretending to be something he's not?"

Elias's jaw clenched, but he didn't rise to the bait. "Let her go," he said again, his tone calm but full of warning.

For a moment, the air was thick with tension, the two men locked in a silent battle of wills. Then, with a sneer, Ronan released Luna's wrist and took a step back.

"This isn't over," he said, his eyes flicking to Luna. "You can't run from what you are."

Before she could respond, Ronan turned and melted into the shadows, leaving them alone.

Luna's knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Elias was beside her in an instant, his hands steadying her shoulders.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice softer now, his gray eyes scanning her face.

She shook her head, though her wrist throbbed where Ronan had grabbed her. "I'm fine," she said, though her voice was shaky.

Elias didn't look convinced, but he didn't push. "Come on," he said, helping her to her feet. "We need to get back to the village. It's not safe here."

For once, Luna didn't argue. As they walked back through the forest, her mind raced with everything that had just happened. Ronan's words, Elias's warning, the truth about who she was.

And one question echoed louder than the rest:

How much longer could she run from her destiny?