Chapter 2 The Strangers Warning

Sera's heart beat erratically in her chest as she took a step back, her hand instinctively reaching for the doorframe for support. The man-this stranger-didn't seem to notice her fear, or maybe he thrived on it. His amber eyes, glinting like molten gold, scanned her with an intensity that sent a shiver crawling up her spine.

"You don't belong here," he murmured, his voice low and gravely, as though every word was a challenge to the air itself. "The pack doesn't take kindly to outsiders."

Sera blinked, the shock of his sudden appearance and cryptic words nearly overwhelming her. She didn't know what he meant by "the pack," and she wasn't sure she wanted to. All she knew was that every fiber of her being screamed at her to run.

"I-I'm not looking for trouble. I just moved in," Sera said, trying to sound calm, though her voice betrayed the unease swirling inside her. "I'm just here to... settle in."

"Settle in?" The man's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile, but it wasn't friendly. "It's not that easy here."

The wind picked up again, sending the trees behind him swaying ominously. She could feel a strange energy in the air, a tension that seemed to hum, a pulse that felt both alien and familiar at the same time.

Sera swallowed, gathering her courage. "Look, I don't want any trouble, but I'm not leaving. This place is mine now."

The man's gaze darkened, his jaw tightening as though he was fighting the urge to snap at her. For a moment, the air seemed to grow thick, charged with an almost palpable force. Then, as quickly as the tension came, it evaporated. He seemed to relax, though the look in his eyes remained unwaveringly intense.

"Fine," he said, his voice soft, but laced with an undercurrent of something she couldn't quite place. "But don't say I didn't warn you. There are forces here-forces that don't take kindly to strangers, especially ones like you."

The words hung in the air like an omen.

Sera blinked, confused. "What do you mean, 'ones like me'?"

He didn't answer right away, and for a moment, Sera wondered if he even would. He simply watched her, his gaze not unfriendly, but still as unnervingly intense as the storm gathering overhead.

"I'm not the one you should be worried about," he said finally, his eyes narrowing as if he were seeing something far beyond her.

Sera's breath hitched as Lucian's words settled over her, thick and suffocating, like a storm cloud gathering overhead. Her pulse thrummed erratically in her ears, and for a moment, she felt like she might faint. Luna? She shook her head, trying to push the words out of her mind. This couldn't be happening.

"I don't understand," she whispered, her voice thin and uncertain. "What does it mean that I have the blood of the Luna? I'm just... I'm just a girl. I don't know anything about any of this."

Lucian's expression softened, but there was no warmth in his gaze-only the weight of something ancient, something burdened by secrets. He took a step forward, his eyes never leaving hers. His presence filled the space between them, like gravity drawing her in, making it impossible to look away.

"The Luna," he began, his voice steady but low, "is the heart of the pack. She's the one who holds the power to heal, to guide, and to lead. But the Luna's power is not just a gift-it's a curse. A curse that has been passed down through generations. Your grandmother was the last one, and now that she's gone, it's your turn."

Sera felt her breath catch in her throat, her mind spinning. She took a step back, trying to make sense of the chaos in her head. "No. No, this is impossible. My grandmother never told me anything like this. She... she never even hinted at any of this."

Lucian's lips tightened into a thin line, the weight of his words heavy in the silence. "She protected you. She kept you away from all of this, from the pack, from the truth. She knew the danger. But now that she's gone, you can't hide from it any longer."

Sera shook her head, struggling to hold onto some semblance of normalcy. She backed away further into the cabin, the cold, dim light from the window barely illuminating the space around her. The walls seemed to close in, the air thick with the reality of what he was saying.

The pack. The Luna. Lucian.

"I don't want this," Sera choked out, her chest tightening with a mix of fear and disbelief. "I don't want anything to do with it. I just wanted to escape. I wanted a life of my own, not... not to be dragged into some supernatural nightmare."

Lucian's gaze softened, just for a moment, but it wasn't pity that filled his eyes-it was understanding. He stepped closer, his presence looming in a way that made it impossible for her to ignore him.

"You don't get to choose, Sera," he said quietly. "None of us do. The bond between a Luna and the pack is forged by fate, not choice. You'll feel it. You'll see it. And when it happens, you won't be able to fight it."

Sera pressed her palms to her temples, as if trying to push away the pounding headache that was threatening to overtake her. Her world was spinning, and the more she tried to cling to her version of reality, the more it slipped through her fingers. It was all too much. Too fast.

"What's going to happen to me?" she whispered, the words barely escaping her lips.

Lucian paused, his eyes unreadable, as though weighing whether or not to tell her the truth. After a long moment, he spoke, his voice quieter this time.

"You will be pulled into the pack's world," he said softly. "You'll have no choice. And you'll feel things you can't explain. Desires. Needs. A connection to the wolves. To me."

The last part hit her like a punch to the gut. To him. She hadn't even considered that aspect-did he mean the connection between them would be more than just supernatural? That there was something more personal, more intimate, waiting for her on the other side of this madness?

She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get the words out, the air shifted. The wind howled again, but this time it wasn't just a sound in the distance. It was louder, more insistent, and... closer. The trees outside swayed violently, their branches creaking under the force of the wind.

Sera's heart skipped a beat as the wolf's howl pierced the air, a primal sound that sent shivers crawling up her spine. The wolves. They were closer now.

Lucian's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward again, the tension in the air thickening. "They're near," he said, his voice low, almost a growl. "The pack senses you. They know you're here."

Sera's pulse hammered in her chest. "I don't want anything to do with them. Or you. I don't want this life."

Lucian's gaze softened again, but the intensity in his eyes remained. "You don't have a choice. But I will protect you, Sera. No matter what happens, I will protect you."

She opened her mouth to argue, to tell him she didn't need his protection, but before she could say anything, the door slammed open once again. This time, it wasn't the wind. Someone-no, something-had entered.

A tall figure stepped into the doorway, his face partially obscured by the shadows, but his presence was undeniable. The man's eyes gleamed in the dim light, glowing with a faint gold that seemed to mirror Lucian's. He was different, but there was no mistaking the connection between them.

"Lucian," the newcomer said, his voice deep and rough, filled with authority. "We need to talk."

Lucian didn't respond immediately, his eyes never leaving Sera. He seemed to be weighing his options, but there was no time for hesitation. The pack was closing in.

"Stay inside, Sera," Lucian said, his voice hard and commanding. "Do not leave this cabin, no matter what you hear."

Sera wanted to argue, wanted to scream that she wasn't a child and she didn't need his orders. But there was something in his tone-something that made her spine stiffen, something that made her realize that this was no longer a game.

She swallowed hard, nodding, her heart still racing.

As Lucian turned to face the newcomer, the door slammed shut behind him, and Sera was left standing alone in the cabin. The wind howled again, but now it felt different-like it was whispering her name, calling her deeper into the unknown.