Chapter Four
The moment the elder vanished, the air shifted. I could feel it—the weight of a hundred eyes pressing down on me, burning with hunger, envy, and greed. I wasn't just Luna anymore; I was the saint, the girl blessed with all five traits, the one holding the token to Astex. And to them, that made me prey.
My father, Isaac, was the first to move. He climbed the platform and leaned close, his voice barely a whisper.
"Listen to me, Luna. I'll create a distraction. Take Tom and run toward the town. They won't dare touch you in front of humans."
I swallowed, nerves scraping against my throat. "Okay, Dad," I whispered back.
He squeezed my hand once, then turned away. Ten seconds later, a flash of blinding white light exploded across the clearing, swallowing everything in brilliance. Cries erupted—wolves cursed, bodies stumbled, the crowd shielded their eyes.
That was our chance.
"Tom—now!" I grabbed my brother's hand and ran, pulling him through the forest. Branches whipped at my face, roots clawed at my ankles, but I didn't stop. My heart thundered louder than my feet.
When the light faded, a chorus of howls erupted behind us. The Lightning Pack had shifted. Their forms tore through the night like shadows on fire, and the sound of pursuit grew closer with every heartbeat.
"They're coming!" Tom's voice cracked with panic.
I pushed harder, but my human legs weren't enough. I could feel them closing in—snarls, hot breath, pounding paws shaking the ground. My chest burned. I had no choice.
I shifted.
But this time, it wasn't the familiar brown fur and yellow eyes I'd known all my life. No. My reflection flickered in the moonlight as silver—fur that shimmered like liquid starlight, claws like blades, eyes glowing pale as the moon itself.
"Climb!" My voice came out as a growl, vibrating through my wolf form.
Tom didn't hesitate; he scrambled onto my back, his hands clutching my fur. I launched forward, faster than I'd ever moved. The world blurred into streaks of green and black, every leap doubling the distance between us and our hunters. Power surged through me, raw and intoxicating.
But it wasn't stable.
The energy burned too hot, too wild. My paws faltered, control slipping. A massive weight slammed into my side, sending us both crashing into a tree. Pain tore through me as the silver form cracked and broke, forcing me back into human skin. Blood dripped down my arm.
"I guess… I can't handle that much power yet," I hissed.
The wolf that had struck me—huge, with gleaming teeth and hatred in its eyes—stalked closer. Tom froze, trembling.
"Run," I told him firmly. "They want me, not you."
Without hesitation he ran.
"Go!" I roared.
And he did. My own brother, without looking back, ran for his life. Coward. My chest ached with disappointment, but there was no time to dwell on it.
The wolf lunged. I braced myself.
Then the night split apart.
A blur of dark fur slammed into my attacker, red eyes glowing like burning coals. The sound of bone snapping echoed through the trees as the beast's neck gave way between powerful jaws. The body crumpled lifelessly at my feet.
I knew those eyes. That strength. That presence.
"John…" I breathed.
He turned, his gaze locking onto mine. Without a word, he lowered himself slightly—an invitation. I climbed onto his back, my body trembling from exhaustion and shock. He didn't wait. He dashed, carrying me deeper into the forest, faster and steadier than even my new silver form had been.
I didn't know where we were going, only that the world blurred past until we stopped before a small wooden cabin.
The moment we crossed the threshold, a shimmer rippled in the air—a barrier. It hummed around us, enclosing the cabin in a dome of protection. For the first time that night, I felt… safe.
John shifted back, his human form rising from the dark wolf. Naked, powerful, scars marking his skin, eyes still glowing faintly with that dangerous red. Heat rushed to my face, and I turned away quickly, though my heart betrayed me with a wild flutter.
"What is this?" I whispered, pressing a hand against the strange bubble wall. It felt alive, pulsing under my palm.
Before I could blink, John was there—faster than lightning. His hand clamped around mine, pinning it to the wall, his body caging me in. His eyes burned down into mine, breath hot against my cheek.
"What did you do to me?" His voice was low, rough, almost desperate.
My lips parted. "What are you—"
"Don't act like you don't know!" he snapped, his hand tightening on mine. "Why the hell can't I get you out of my head since last night?"
Something inside me dared to smile. I leaned closer, so close my breath brushed his lips. "That's called love, dumbass."
His chest rose sharply, and for a moment, his iron control cracked. His eyes flickered to my mouth, and mine to his. The air between us burned, pulling us together, inch by inch. His hand slid from my wrist to my waist, my fingers curling against his chest.
I tilted up, closing the space—
A rustle outside.
We froze. His head whipped toward the sound, body tense, ready for battle. My heart slammed. But then, a small rat scurried from the bushes.
We both exhaled at once. Relief. Frustration.
John shook his head, stepping back. "There are clothes inside," he muttered, voice strained.
I swallowed and nodded, forcing my legs to move. When I emerged, dressed in a simple shirt and shorts, he was waiting by the table, his posture stiff. We sat across from each other, the silence thick enough to choke on.
I opened my mouth—so did he.
"You first," he said.
I hesitated, then asked, "So… you feel it too?"
His jaw tightened. His voice was softer now, but raw. "Yeah."
My chest squeezed. "Then why are you fighting it?"
Something dark flickered in his eyes. He pushed away from the table, standing abruptly. "Because it's not possible. Not now. At least not yet."
I stood too. "What do you mean?"
He turned, his back to me, muscles rigid. "I still haven't had my revenge. And you—you're the saint of your clan. My clan's nemesis. This… whatever this is—" he gestured between us, "—shouldn't even exist."
My breath caught. "What does being the saint have to do with it?"
He turned, finally meeting my eyes. His expression was unreadable, but his words cut like a blade.
"You really don't know, do you?"
"Know what?" My voice cracked with dread.
He stepped closer, eyes burning into mine, and whispered the truth that shattered me.
"A saint is forbidden from having a mate."