Aria's POV
Benches and cushions had been arranged in a loose circle around the fireplace, and nearly everyone had come—elders in their favored chairs, warriors lounging on the floor, families with cubs nestled in their laps.
I stood near the hearth, heart fluttering with a mix of nerves and excitement. This had been my idea—a storytelling night to bring the pack together before the full moon. Cara had helped organize it flawlessly, and now it was time.
"Thank you all for coming," I said, my voice surprisingly steady over the murmur of voices. "Tonight is for stories. Old ones, new ones, funny ones, scary ones. Let's share what makes us Nightshade."
The pack settled, eyes bright with anticipation. The cubs wiggled excitedly in the front row.
I nodded to Elder Aaron, the oldest among us, whose voice was still strong despite his years.
He rose slowly, leaning on his cane, and the room quieted completely.
"This one's for the cubs," he said with a wink. "The Tale of the Moonlit Cub and the Star Thief."
The children leaned forward, wide-eyed.
"Long ago," Elder Aaron began, "when the world was young and the moon was brighter than it is now, there lived a curious little cub named Luna. She was small, with silver fur that shimmered like frost, and eyes as round as the full moon itself.
One night, Luna looked up and saw that the sky was missing a star. Just one—gone from its place among the thousands. 'Who could have taken it?' she wondered.
She followed a trail of sparkling dust through the forest, past sleeping owls and whispering trees, until she came to a cave hidden behind a waterfall. Inside sat a sly fox with a bushy tail and clever eyes. In his paws, he held the missing star, turning it over and over, admiring its light.
'Why did you steal the star?' Luna asked bravely.
The fox laughed. 'Because it was beautiful, and I wanted it for myself.'
'But the sky is darker without it,' Luna said. 'The other stars miss their friend. And the wolves below need its light to guide them home.'
The fox thought for a moment. 'If I give it back, what will you give me?'
Luna looked around the cave. It was cold and empty. She realized the fox was lonely and needed a friend.
'I'll give you my friendship,' she said. 'And every full moon, I'll visit and tell you stories of the world above.'
The fox's eyes softened. True to Luna's thoughts, he had been lonely for a very long time.
He placed the star in Luna's paws. Together, they climbed to the top of the highest hill and tossed it back into the sky, where it twinkled brighter than before.
From that night on, the fox and the cub were friends. And whenever a star seems to flicker extra bright, it's because Luna is keeping her promise—visiting her friend and sharing tales under the moon."
The cubs erupted in delighted gasps and applause. Even the adults smiled, the story's gentle magic wrapping around us all.
Elder Aaron bowed dramatically and returned to his seat, the cubs still giggling over the clever fox and the brave little cub.
The hall settled into a comfortable murmur as Cara rose quietly from her place near the elders. She rarely spoke in gatherings like this, but tonight her eyes held a gentle spark.
"I have a story, if you'll indulge an old housekeeper," she said
The pack turned to her with affectionate smiles. Even the cubs quieted.
Cara stood straight, hands clasped in front of her apron.
"This one is short," she began. "About a lost pup and the moon's kindness.
Once, a young pup wandered too far from the den during a storm. The rain poured, the wind howled, and the little one was frightened and alone. He curled beneath a fallen log, shivering, certain no one would find him.
But the moon looked down and saw his fear. She shone brighter than ever, cutting through the clouds like a silver blade. Her light guided the pack—mother, father, siblings—straight to the log.
They carried the pup home, warm and safe.
And from that night on, whenever the pup looked up at a stormy sky, he remembered: even in the darkest night, the moon is always watching over her children."
The story was simple, gentle, perfect for the cubs tucked close to their parents. When Cara finished, the hall filled with soft applause and murmurs of appreciation. A few cubs clapped the loudest, eyes shining.
Cara gave a small, modest nod and returned to her seat.
I turned to Ivan, who sat beside me on a low bench, our shoulders brushing. He'd been quiet during the tale, but his eyes had sparkled with amusement.
"You mentioned you had a story," I said softly, nudging him. "Want to go next?"
He grinned. "Thought you'd never ask."
He stood, stretching casually, and the pack turned expectant faces toward him.
"This one's about a rogue who thought he could outrun his past," Ivan began, voice warm and engaging. "But found something better waiting for him…"
He wove the tale skillfully—a wandering wolf who stumbled into Nightshade territory, lost, wary and half-starved. The rogue fought every kindness at first, snapping at offers of food and shelter. But slowly, through small acts—a shared hunt, a warm fire, a pack that didn't turn him away—he learned to trust again.
Midway through—Ivan describing the rogue's first full-moon run with the pack, the joy of belonging finally sinking in—the door opened quietly.
Raine stepped in.
The room shifted instantly. Heads turned, murmurs rippled. Everyone rose or dipped their heads in respect.
Raine's silver eyes swept the hall, landing briefly on me before moving to Ivan.
"Sit," he said, voice calm but commanding. "Continue."
The pack settled quickly. Ivan paused only a heartbeat, then picked up the story seamlessly.
But as he spoke, his eyes found mine across the firelight—a silent connection that made my pulse quicken.
And all the while, I felt another gaze.
Raine had taken a seat at the edge of the circle, shadows playing across his face. He watched Ivan tell the story, but his eyes drifted to me more than once.
Unreadable.
Watching us.
The fire crackled. The story flowed.
And in that crowded hall full of pack, it felt like there were only three of us.