Chapter 38: Shadows Over the Moon
The Southern Region remained calm, deceptively so, under the golden brush of late afternoon sunlight. Luna Café buzzed softly with life—children playing, young wolves practicing their shifts, and the faint aroma of brewed coffee mixing with the earthy scent of freshly tended gardens. Amber moved among them with a practiced grace, laughter in her eyes, a reminder of the hope the café represented. Even so, a quiet tension threaded through the air, a sense of unspoken waiting.
Zachary stood on the veranda, his gaze drifting toward the Southern border. Even as the afternoon sun warmed his skin, his thoughts were anchored entirely on Amber. Each laugh, each small movement of hers tugged at something fierce and protective within him, a love that had only grown stronger with every passing day.
Reluctantly, he tore his eyes away and began walking toward his sleek Mercedes parked nearby, the engine ready to carry him back to the Northern Region. His responsibilities called—the territories under his care demanded attention—but even as he prepared to leave and Amber Agree to it, he felt the weight of leaving Amber behind. Every glance over his shoulder, every thought of her made him want to stay, to protect, to shield her from the world's unseen dangers.
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Zachary Artesian had arrived at the northern border to oversee the territories and ensure that his pack remained safe, disciplined, and ready. His mind buzzed with logistics, reports from scouts, and the endless list of tasks required to keep the Northern Region secure. Yet beneath it all, his heart lingered on Amber and the young wolves they had adopted. Even amidst the weight of duty, he could not shake the quiet unease that had been gnawing at him—the sense that something dark was moving just beyond their reach, something he could not yet see clearly.
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In that quiet, fleeting moment, Zachary felt a deep pull at his soul—a sense that his life held meaning beyond himself. Every heartbeat whispered a reminder that he existed not just for his own survival, but for the people he loved, for those whose safety rested in his hands. The thought weighed on him, heavy yet grounding, and he realized with a sharp clarity that his purpose was intertwined with theirs. Protecting them, standing for them, and ensuring their future—this was why he had to endure, why he had to fight, and why he had to live. In that instant, Zachary knew that no challenge, no shadow, could sever the bond that tethered him to those who mattered most.
It was in that fragile moment of stillness, while the wind stirred the leaves in the garden, that a ripple of silver light flickered across his vision. Zachary froze, muscles taut, as recognition hit him. The presence was unmistakable—familiar, powerful, and otherworldly. Luna Seraphine had arrived, appearing as if she had stepped out of the air itself, her aura shimmering in the sunlight.
For a heartbeat, silence hung heavy in the garden. Zachary's instincts sharpened, his mind alert, as he prepared for whatever news—or warning—she had brought.
"Luna?!" Zachary exclaimed, the words barely leaving his lips.
"Yes. I have come," she said simply, her gaze sweeping over them, calm and unwavering. "I bring a vision. Something you must see, Zachary."
They moved to the garden, the veranda quiet save for the gentle clink of cups. Mamita, ever dutiful, served coffee, the steam curling upward like ghostly tendrils of comfort. Luna paused, taking Mamita's hands in hers, a gesture of gratitude for all the care, sacrifice, and love poured into Amber's life. Only a simple nod passed between them, yet it was enough. A silent understanding had formed. Luna's respect for Mamita was palpable; though a human, she bore the weight of this family as fiercely as any wolf.
No words were spoken aloud, but Zachary could feel Luna's thoughts like a current brushing against his mind. He did not need to hear her—he could read her completely. Her intentions, her visions, her fears: all clear. In that moment, he and Luna understood each other perfectly. Even Amber's mother, in her human guise, could convey more through a glance than most could with a thousand words.
Yet Zachary's features betrayed his concern. He had imagined a life of peace for Amber—a future quiet and secure—but now it seemed fragile, threatened by forces far beyond the café's protective walls.
"I didn't expect this," he murmured. "I didn't expect... bad news."
"No one wants it," Luna replied silently, her voice calm yet edged with steel. "But we must prepare. The Ember Council moves like shadows—they will not stop until they control every region according to their will."
Amber's safety surged to the forefront of Zachary's mind. The young werewolves, the children of the café, the life they were building—all of it felt unbearably precious, yet perilously vulnerable. He had imagined a future, small and perfect, where he and Amber would live out peaceful days, their dreams finally tangible. He had planned to propose at the coming full moon. But now, the threat loomed, and all of those plans seemed to hang by a thread.
"The Ember Council will not yield," Luna's presence said, and Zachary knew it was true. Their hunger for dominion was absolute.
"They've been watching, haven't they?" Zachary asked quietly, not needing an answer. Reports had reached them already—wolves and spies tracing every step he and Amber took. Every routine, every journey, every moment of care for the café had been observed. The Ember Council was patient, calculating.
"They wait for the right moment," Luna confirmed in his mind. "And they will strike during the full moon this month. Prepare, Zachary. There is no other way, I have to go.! There isn't much time left... promise me you'll keep Amber safe, whatever it takes."
Before he could respond.
Luna shifted into her wolf form. With one fluid movement, she vanished into the woods, heading back to the Eastern Region. Zachary remained frozen, torn between relief and dread. He had to protect Amber—but how could he shield her from an enemy so vast, so patient, and so ruthless?
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To be continued