CHAPTER 38 : Aftermath

Luna couldn’t stay still and agree with what Clell and the elders in the pack planned and agreed to. She needed answers. She needed to know why her own family treated her as if she was not part of the family—and of the pack. Her heart and mind were full of questions—questions that she was trying to bury when she ran out from the pack and decided to live an ordinary life. She felt like she didn’t deserve an answer before and felt like she really didn’t belong, but everything changed now that she knew how to shift—she’s a shifter after all.
“If ever they will fight me, I can fight back now. I don’t have to be scared anymore.” Luna said to herself as she ran to the woods, straight back to the Summer Pack’s territory.
She hid at the vast darkness and took advantage of the thick forest when she felt the and saw the Winter Pack’s soldier retreating, and made sure she concealed her presence from them.
One soldier looked at her direction which made Luna hitched her breath, but the soldier looked at the front trail again so relaxed a bit.
When she saw the soldiers were a safe distance away from where she’s hiding, she decided to move forward.
When she reached half way, she felt like someone was tailing her. Luna kept looking back to check, but there was no person behind her. She continued running towards the Summer Pack’s territory.
She finally arrived at the Summer Pack’s entrance, but she remained hidden in the woods, just observing the aftermath of the battle that happened earlier.
Some houses were ruined, some part of the ground was into fire, and there was blood almost everywhere. Luna stood there, frozen, her hands and legs shivered and felt weak—her resolve slowly enfeebling.
She thought about the soldiers of the Winter Pack, too. She thought about their lives and why they continued the live this way. She wanted to save everyone.
Luna tears slowly cascaded from her eyes, then she felt someone lightly touched her shoulder.
“Miss Luna.” The person solemnly called her name. Luna turned her head to see who it was. It was the soldier whom Clell asked to look for her.
The soldier felt the pain in Luna’s face as soon as Luna turned around to look at him. He felt and saw the sadness in Luna’s silver eyes.
“Miss Luna, I—I’m sorry.”
“No, it is not your fault nor theirs. It was my father’s fault.” Luna replied, the sadness in her were suddenly replaced by anger.
“Why are you here?” she finally asked, as soon as she realized that she was caught.
“Master Clell was worried when he didn’t see you in the camp, he sent me to come looking for you. What were you planning to do, Miss Luna?”
“I want to confront my family. I want some answers.” Luna answered, her hands clenching into a fist as she uttered those words.
“Miss Luna, I know how you badly you want some answers right now, but you can’t do things so rash and out of impulse. What if something will happen to you?”
“Nothing will happen to me. I can shift now, I can protect myself.”
“But you still don’t know the strength of your opponents, Miss Luna. You can’t just jump in there when you feel to. Don’t underestimate your father’s strength and those soldiers who are always on his side to protect him.”
Luna fell silent as she pondered the words uttered by the soldier.
“Besides,” he continued. “You just learned how to shift, you still can’t control or reach your full potential. Why not step back for a while and train, and come back stronger. For now, let’s just go home to the Winter Pack’s territory. Master Clell is really worried about you.”
“I guess you’re right. I haven’t thought this well. I—I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, Miss Luna. Let’s go back to the camp before someone sees us here.”
Luna looked back to the Summer Pack’s territory again and stared at it for a while before following the soldier who came to get him.
“I’ll save all of you. Wait for me. I will give each and everyone of you a good life—a life that you all deserve. Happy and peaceful, not with fear and chaos. Wait for me.” Luna thought and slowly walked away.
While on the way back, she kept thinking of ways on how she can save the people in her pack—her people.
“If I am the prophecy, then they are my responsibility. Their lives are my responsibility.” She thought.
“I need to talk to Clell as soon as possible, he can help me.”
It didn’t take long to return to the Winter Pack’s camp, Luna lingered at the side for a while like a wallflower, just observing and watching everyone from a distance.
She saw the soldiers who were hurt, she saw the injuries, she saw how their face smiled but their eyes still had fears in it. She felt the contrast in each and every one, even to Clell.
She and Clell locked eyes for a while, and he smiled at her asking her to come to his side. In which she obliged, she walked slowly to his side. He squeezed her shoulder and held her hand, as if reassuring her that everything will turn out alright—as if Clell felt what she was feeling and knew what she was thinking.
Luna looked up and stared at Clell, when he turned his gaze back at her, she gave him a smile.
Clell kissed the side of her head and whispered, “Where were you? I thought you just wanted some fresh air, I was really worried.”
“Sorry. I guess I was just overruled by my emotions.”
“I thought there should be no secret between us now.”
Luna bit her lower lips and apologized to him once again, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, just don’t do that to me again. I can’t lose you. If something’s bothering you, tell me and we’ll figure something out together.”
“Actually, I have something in mind.” Luna replied with a glint her eyes.