The Luna He Didn't Choose

"It's unbelievable that you're back." Despite her attempts to hide it with a grin, my mother's voice was full of passion. I wasn't duped by it.

As I stood at the pack house door of the Crescent Moon Pack, the smell of damp dirt and pine trees swirled around me like a memory from long ago. The house seemed more spacious and well-kept than I had recalled as if it had been renovated while I was away.

"Yes, it has been a long time, hasn't it?" My heart was anything from light, but I forced a light tone as I spoke. I wasn't sure if I was prepared to return to the location that contained so many memories, both happy and sad, because I had been gone for much too long. I was still coming to terms with my father's passing, my mother's tangled past, and the odd feeling that my childhood house no longer felt like home.

Her smile faltered as she remarked, "Your father will be overjoyed to see you." "We've missed you."

A knot of uneasiness clenched in my stomach as I nodded. There was something strange, but I couldn't identify it. Not quite yet.

I followed my mother to the spacious dining room as she turned away. There was more life in the pack house than I could recall. The pack members looked at me and moved with a kind of intensity that I had never seen before. They were speaking to each other.

My mother went on, "Everyone has been talking about your return." "You'll see in due time. We have plans.

Suddenly wary, I swallowed hard. What did "plans" imply to her? I hadn't returned to get entangled in any kind of arrangement. I hadn't come back because I wanted to get caught up in whatever my parents had planned for me, but rather because my father's passing had called me home.

My father was seated at the head of the table when we walked into the dining room. His face was more weathered than I remembered, and his broad shoulders were slumped, yet when his eyes met mine, they softened. Something I couldn't quite make out seemed to have blunted the keen edge that had been in his eyes.

"You're late, Eli," my father remarked angrily as he got to his feet. However, I'm happy you're here.

"I apologize," I whispered. "It's The journey has been lengthy.

My mother went on to say, "You'll need to rest." "We can catch up after our large dinner tonight. We haven't all sat together in years.

I remained silent, feeling more alienated than ever before. It has been a while since I was a member of this pack. I was a girl on the verge of adulthood the last time I visited here, ready to break free from my parents' expectations. However, now... I didn't know my place.

My father and mother exchanged a quick glance that I was unable to decipher. Even though the room was warm, something changed in the air, and I suddenly felt cold.

My father said, "Eli, you look great." And you're stronger than I thought you would be. I'm assuming you've achieved success in life.

Unsure knowing how to react, I nodded slowly. Yes, I had performed well, but I wasn't sure how to tell them why. How could I explain to them the life I'd created away from here, the efforts I'd made to separate myself from this pack that used to feel so confining?

A voice pierced the silence just when it was growing long.

"Look who's back, well, well."

I went cold. A beat skipped in my chest. I knew who it was without having to look up. Logan Roberts. The man I loved before. The man who had silently abandoned me. The man who had never completely relinquished his position in my history.

Logan crossed his arms, leaned idly against the doorframe, and stared at me with an expression I couldn't decipher. He looked older and rougher, yet he was still Logan as I knew him. Time had changed him. It was the same haughtiness, the same charm that always managed to draw me in.

In a humorous tone, he remarked, "I didn't expect the grand return." "I assumed you would be out pursuing a big-city dream."

Though I was positive he saw, I made an effort to suppress the unexpected burst of warmth that washed over my cheeks. "I am present, am I not?"

As Logan pushed off the doorframe and moved toward the table, he said, "Yeah, but I didn't expect it to be like this."

His tone carried a certain quality, akin to a challenge or dare. I couldn't tell if he was making a joke or if there was more to what he was saying. I didn't want to think about it, though. Not right now. Not with so many other things on my mind.

My father muttered, "Sit, Eli," gesturing to the vacant seat beside Logan.

I paused. Things had been... different the previous time Logan and I sat at this table. We had an unresolved issue, an underlying tension, but that was years ago. A lot had changed. Both of us had evolved.

I was about to sit down when I saw Logan staring at me with an unfathomable expression. I couldn't determine whether to ignore the weird draw I still felt whenever he was close or to feel uneasy.

The tension between Logan and myself simmered beneath the surface while the lunch went by in a comparatively quiet manner. We all felt the pressure of my parents' expectations, but my father didn't clear his throat until dessert was delivered, grabbing everyone's attention.

He abruptly became serious as he stated, "There's something we need to discuss."

I looked at my mother, who appeared strangely quiet. There was a problem.

My father went on, his eyes hardening as he concentrated on me, "Eli, you've been gone long enough." And it's time we made a settlement now that you're back. Something significant.

My gut twisted with fear as I sat up taller. "What are you discussing?"

I could sense the weight of my father's words before he ever said them, and his eyes hardened.

"Logan Roberts will be your spouse."

I was sure I hadn't heard him correctly, so I blinked. "What?"

Logan's face didn't change, but I could see that his jaw was tense a little. He was anticipating my response. My mother's eyes moved uneasily between us while my heart raced in my chest.

My father went on to say, "You've been gone too long." "The future of the pack must be secured now. You two are going to get married.

It was unbelievable to me. My head was spinning. A union? With Logan? The man who was my first love but abandoned me, the man who left me broken and alone?

My mouth opened, but nothing came out. My folks were serious. This was no joke. My fate had already been determined by them.

Logan's voice broke the silence before I had a chance to respond. "Eli, we'll discuss it later. You don't know a lot of things.

When I looked into his eyes, I briefly caught a glimpse of something-an apology? A problem? I was unable to tell.

However, I felt certain that this was just the start.

"Are you sure this is what you want, Eli?" I freeze, taken aback by Logan's voice as it pierces the atmosphere. In the training yard, he stands opposite me with his arms folded and a chilly, aloof stare as if I were a mere stranger.

I'm having trouble breathing. Logan used to mock me when I became too serious and laughed at my jokes, but this isn't the Logan I remember. No, that person's shadow is this man in front of me.

"I don't have a choice, do I?" My remarks are sharper than I meant to be when I snap. The rage I've suppressed for years comes roaring back, and the animosity inside of me bursts to the surface.

A tight, unreadable smile curls his lips. Eli, you've never had an option. Not with your relatives. Not in the pack.

I don't want to admit how hard the words impacted me. They are raw and stinging. Logan is correct. The pack has always been about tradition, duty, and family. And I lost myself in it all sometime along the way. I didn't anticipate Logan reminding me of it, though, and saying it so bluntly and icily.

Before I can stop myself I blurt out, "You're not the same," my voice shaking with annoyance. "You were once concerned. We-"

"Used to?" I can't quite identify it, but something frightening flashes in his gaze, and my heartbeat quickens. "Back then, Eli, we were kids. I've also matured. You ought to have followed suit.

I wasn't prepared for how hard the words hit. Logan had always been self-assured and confident, but now he has a steeliness in his eyes that makes him distant and unreachable. This Alpha-in-training, who has been tempered by the pack's responsibilities, has taken the place of the laid-back, flirty Logan I knew, acting as if I've become a bother.

With my heart racing, I step back. "I no longer know you."

Logan's expression softens for a second, as if he may say something-explain, apologize-but then he appears to catch himself. The frigid mask comes back on his shoulders.

He mutters, "Maybe you never did," as he turns away from me and moves toward the middle of the yard. The air reverberates with the distant clink of metal as someone practices with weapons.

As I watch him leave, my breath catches. We were inseparable-close, connected-the last time we were together. However, the years and distance have caused a gap between us that I am unable to fill. I'm not sure if I still want to.

My chest tightens as I gently release my breath. I never thought I'd return home like this. I expected to discover something comfy and familiar. Rather, I feel as though I am a stranger in my own life. A big part of me wants to go away once more.

My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind me, and I turn to see my mother standing just beyond the yard, observing me solemnly. Her eyes are unhappy, and her lips are pulled together tightly. She had been following me, but I was completely unaware of it.

"Eli," she murmurs softly as she approaches me. "You must comprehend something. Logan has changed since you last saw him. He has spent his entire life being prepared to be the Alpha of the future.

My chest gets constricted. That's it, then? Am I expected to simply accept this?

"Your father didn't make that choice lightly," she says, her voice shaking. "Logan is powerful. He is competent. He is the best option for this pack and for you.

As I attempt to take in what she is saying, my mind is racing. Logan. The right decision. Whose decision is the best? Not for me, of course. This is not how I want to be with him. His position, strength, or duty don't matter to me. I miss the child I loved, the boy who vanished and was replaced by a man who was completely different from him.

With my words almost audible above a whisper, I confess, "I don't even know who I'm supposed to be in all of this."

"You're his mate," she declares as if that were the only response that counts. "Your location is next to him. This union is necessary for the pack.

I feel as though someone has hit me. Although I've always been aware that the pack has expectations, this? I feel like I'm being caught in an unavoidable web that keeps becoming tighter. Instead of being thrown into a life I never requested, I wanted to return home for closure.

With my wrath rising once more, I yell, "I'm not just some piece on a chessboard for your plans."

My mother doesn't apologize, but her eyes soften with sadness. "I apologize, Eli. I really am. However, we've found ourselves in a tight spot. This surpasses both you and the rest of us. The pack can only be saved in this manner.

My mouth opens to disagree, but Logan's voice breaks the tension before I can say anything.

"You ought to leave. Your mother is correct. You no longer belong here.

I narrow my eyes and turn to face him. "You have no right to say that."

Logan is positioned rigidly at the edge of the yard, staring at me as if I were an enemy. There is no mistaking the wrath in his voice. "Eli, I don't have to give you an explanation. I'm acting in the pack's best interests. Regardless of your feelings about it.

His words cause my chest to constrict. I don't recognize Logan like this; he doesn't care about me and would prefer to break off contact than face his history.

"Logan, I don't give a damn about the pack!" Before I can stop myself, I yell. "You are important to me! Or I used to, anyway.

His countenance is unreadable as he stares at me for a long, agonizing period. "Eli, you must go on. Yes, I have. You ought to as well.

There is a chilly hush between us. And during that quiet, I come to the realization that Logan no longer wants me, something I haven't let myself acknowledge up until now. Everything that we previously shared, including our connection, has vanished. Furthermore, I'm not sure whether I can make it through.

The anguish of rejection is more intense than I could have ever imagined, but before I can cope, something occurs that completely changes everything.

A howl reverberates through the forest.

I turn to the sound as my heart skips a beat. It serves as a warning. However, from what? Or who?

Logan's eyes narrow as he glances toward the trees, a scowl pulling at his lips. He murmurs, "It's not just the pack we need to worry about," in a low voice that seems to be carrying something I can't quite identify.

"What do you mean?" Panic rising in my chest, I ask.

Logan doesn't respond. Rather, his face is as hard as stone as he turns and walks toward the woods. "Remain here. Stay put.

I can't stay here, though. Not with that cry in earshot. Not when it seems like everything is going to fall apart.

I step forward, feeling a knot of uncertainty. There's danger ahead. Something that is out of our control. The past, present, and future suddenly intersect in a way I never anticipated.

I can't help but worry about what lies in the shadows as I follow Logan into the unknown.

"Do you ever think about her?" I'm standing by the old oak tree just outside the training yard when Logan's voice breaks the dense calm. My eyes stray to the area where Lina used to play and her laughter used to fill the room. It's difficult for me to swallow the knot in my throat. The memories, as raw and agonizing as they were when she first vanished, flood back in waves.

"Every day," I reply softly, my voice quivering slightly. "How could I not?"

Logan takes a step closer, looking into my eyes, and for a split second, I believe he might truly get it. The gap between us becomes insurmountable once more as his expression hardens. Unspoken words, memories, and unhealed scars abound in the air.

"Do you ever wonder if she's out there somewhere?" His voice is low and cautious as if he's walking on delicate ground, as he asks. "Still alive?"

I have no idea how to respond. For years, I haven't allowed myself to consider it. Everything in my life changed drastically the day Lina vanished. To me, my sister was everything. As they say, we were twin souls, inseparable. But I lost her that night, that awful night, and a part of me that I didn't even realize I had left with her.

"Sometimes," I finally mutter, my fingers grazing the tree's bark as if I would be able to locate her again via the memories we had together here. "But I try not to most of the time. It hurts too much.

Logan stays despite the deep stillness that ensues. He lingers instead, observing me as though he's waiting for something. Perhaps I should break down or say the words I've been holding inside for so long. It's unsettling to feel the weight of his eyes on me. It just exacerbates the oppressive strain that has been growing between us ever since I got here.

I say, "I thought I saw her once," in a voice that is nearly whispery. "Right before I departed. In the woods, a flash. But before I could blink, it was gone.

Logan gives me a look that suggests he's not sure if he believes me. However, his eyes soften just a little as he turns and leaves, his shoulders stiff as if he's fighting an internal battle. I sense the unsaid words around us, but neither of us has the courage to speak them.

I sit by the tree, thinking as he vanishes into the forest. My thoughts stray to the final days I spent with Lina, the days before she disappeared.

We used to giggle and make up stories while running through the woods behind our house for hours on end. I was the more sensible one, the one who kept us grounded, while Lina always had this crazy imagination. But we were unstoppable when we worked together. I believed that nothing could separate us.

However, Lina disappeared one night. As simple as that. She was there, laughing with me, one minute, and then she was gone. There was no indication of her whereabouts or reason for leaving.

The pack immediately began searching, but they were unable to find anything despite searching the jungle for weeks. No signs of struggle, no tracks, no clues. It seemed as though she had just disappeared. The hypotheses were as absurd as they were frightening. Some said that she had fled, while others claimed that something strange had seized her. However, nobody was truly aware.

Years later, I'm still troubled by her disappearance as I stand in the same woods. Her chuckle reverberates in my head every night. Every tree and shadow serves as a reminder of my departed sister and the aspect of myself that I will never fully recover.

I inhale deeply before turning to face the pack house. I must put the past out of my mind. However, it isn't feasible. Like shadows hiding just out of sight, the ghosts of my early years haunt me everywhere.

I keep thinking about Logan as I make my way back to the house. That night, he was present. He was my best friend, my defender, and the one person who assured me that we would always support one another. However, he is now simply unknown to me.

I make an effort to keep my eyes on the future and what is ahead, but it seems impossible. I am meant to wed him, am I not? Logan, Alpha-in-training, chilly and aloof. The boy who, without even realizing it, destroyed my heart while he had it in his hands.

I make an effort to ignore the butterflies in my chest, but they persist. A part of me still yearns for him in spite of everything that has transpired between us and everything that has changed. Like I always have, I still want him.

However, I am aware that it is futile. He has changed. The boy who promised me things under the stars is no longer the same. He will be the pack's leader in the future. He has obligations, and I am merely a piece in this perverse game.

I'm no longer sure what to trust.

My thoughts are abruptly interrupted by the sound of rustling leaves, and when I look up, I see a figure moving out of the tree shadows. I recognize the shape-Logan-and my heart skips a beat.

Logan has returned, but he doesn't look like the Logan I knew before. As he approaches, his face becomes harsh and inscrutable. His eyes are dark with an unidentified substance, and his jaw is tight. It seems as though he is carrying an unbearable weight, and I am doing everything I can to remain stationary.

"What is it?" I ask, hardly raising my voice above a whisper. A feeling of uneasiness sweeps over me, and my heart quickens. There's a problem.

Logan doesn't respond right away. He seems to be debating whether or not to say anything as he stands there and looks at me. "You should stay away from the woods tonight," he concludes.

I scowl with confusion. "What are you discussing? Why?

His countenance darkens as his eyes dart to the trees behind me. "Something is out there. It's not safe, but I'm not sure what it is. Not for you.

It chills me to the bone. I feel a surge of fear as his words take hold. I glance around, half expecting to see something jump out of the shadows. However, nothing is present. The same peaceful forests that have always existed.

Logan doesn't hold off until I answer. He turns, moving quickly and deliberately. "I'll return in a few hours. Remain here. Stay out of the woods.

He then vanishes into the trees, leaving me standing there with my heart racing. I make an effort to get rid of the uneasiness that is eating away at me, but it is impossible. What's available? What's causing Logan's fear?

And why does this remind me so much of a nightmare I've had in the past?

My curiosity outweighs my dread as I take a step toward the trees. There's something going on here that I don't comprehend. Furthermore, I refuse to remain silent while Logan or anybody else tries to hide information from me.

I must be told the truth. And I'm not going to allow anyone or anything to stop me.

However, when I go into the trees for the first time, I notice something that chills me to the bone. I catch a glimpse of something in the distance, just past the tree line: a motionless figure observing me.

My heart skips a beat and my breath catches. Logan isn't there. Someone or something else is involved.

And I don't know what it desires.