Selene's POV _ (Normal Life)
The morning sun spilled through the curtains, painting the hardwood floor in thin, golden stripes. I stretched, savoring the warmth for a brief moment before the familiar tension in my chest reminded me that quiet was fleeting. Even in this small, safe house at the edge of the forest, the world felt like it was pressing in.
"Selene! Did you finish your notes for the test?"
Evan's voice rang from the living room. He sounded impatient, a little mischievous, the way only a twelve-year-old could manage. I sighed and rolled out of bed, brushing the hair from my face. "I'm coming," I called, forcing a smile.
He always had this boundless energy, this way of seeing life as something light and effortless. I envied it sometimes. My body and mind were always alert, always sensing the edges of danger, the faintest shifts in the air that no one else noticed. My wolf, Luna, stirred restlessly beneath my skin, nudging me to be aware, whispering a warning I didn't yet fully understand.
At the kitchen table, I slid Evan's notebook toward him. "Start with chapter three. And no texting while you work."
"I'm not texting!" he protested, already scanning the page with his usual intensity.
I laughed softly. Despite the chaos of our small household, there was comfort in Evan's trust, in the way he believed I could protect him. If only he knew how little I actually understood about the dangers that lurked beyond our door.
The chime of my phone drew my attention. Kaela. Of course. I swiped the screen.
Hey, sleepyhead! Up for today or still hiding under your blanket?
I rolled my eyes. Ready. Not hiding.
Moments later, the door burst open. Kaela. Loud, bright, unstoppable. She flung her backpack onto the sofa and grinned like just walked into the center of the universe.
"Sel! Come on, you can't just sit there all day. Sun's out! Adventure awaits, or at least brunch and gossip!"
I smiled, letting her pull me into the living room. Kaela had this way of making life feel simple, almost effortless. I envied her energy sometimes — bold, confident, fearless — while I carried the weight of caution and uncertainty.
Yet even in her light, I couldn't ignore the stir of unease inside me. Luna twitched beneath my skin, murmuring faintly: Something is near. Watch. Be careful.
I shook my head, trying to dismiss it. It was probably nothing. The wind, maybe. A neighbor moving about. My wolf's warnings were always subtle, and I had learned to second-guess them.
Evan tugged at my sleeve. "Sel? You okay? You look… weird."
I forced a smile. "I'm fine, Evan. Just tired."
Kaela tilted her head at me, her expression playful but wary. She knew when I retreated inward, and she didn't push. That was part of why we were friends — she respected my boundaries while still pulling me into life when I needed it most.
The ordinary, mundane rhythm of breakfast and chatter masked the edge of tension that lingered just beneath the surface. I sipped my coffee, letting the warmth chase away the lingering cold of night. Yet Luna remained alert, twitching, whispering a soft warning I didn't want to acknowledge fully.
I glanced out the window. The street was quiet. Peaceful. Ordinary. And yet, even in that calm, there was a sense of something unseen. My instincts hummed in the back of my mind, and I knew without realizing exactly why that the world outside was larger and darker than I had ever imagined.
For now, though, I focused on Evan and Kaela. On homework, on laughter, on small moments of comfort. My younger brother jabbered away about some project he had, completely absorbed, and Kaela teased him mercilessly, making him squirm and laugh. I watched them, feeling a small swell of warmth. Life didn't have to be terrifying all the time. Not yet.
I stood, stretching again, and ran my hand through my hair. Even in my ordinary life, Luna stirred. A twitch of awareness, a faint tug at the edges of my consciousness, reminding me that I was different — even if I didn't yet know how. I pushed the thought away, focusing instead on breakfast, on the light spilling across the table, on the sound of my best friend's laughter.
For now, I was just Selene. Ordinary. Human. Weak. Powerless.
But deep down, beneath the caution, the fear, and the ordinary life, Luna hummed with potential. One day, I would understand the truth about myself. One day, the world would shift beneath my feet. And when that day came, nothing — not the forest, not rival packs, not even the strongest Alpha — would ever see me the same way again.
For now, though, I laughed with Kaela. I helped Evan with his notes. I breathed in the morning sunlight and tried to feel normal. And in the quiet of that moment, I allowed myself to believe that life could be ordinary, even if only for a little while.