Chapter 40
The sound of rustling leaves and the gentle breeze of the afternoon calmed my racing thoughts. After everything that had happened, I found solace in the small clearing just beyond the packhouse, with a sturdy tree as my refuge. Its wide branches provided a perfect reading spot, high above the ground where I could be alone and escape the tension that seemed to follow me everywhere.
I sighed, leaning back against the thick trunk, my book resting in my lap. The world in these pages was far simpler than mine—full of adventure, love, and characters who always seemed to know what to do. If only real life were like that.
I had been up in this tree for the better part of an hour, enjoying the peace and the soft chirping of birds when I heard someone approaching. The steps were light but firm, not hurried. A warrior’s steps, I assumed. But I didn’t bother looking down, figuring whoever it was would pass by without noticing me.
Then I heard it—a voice, full of amusement.
"Do you, uh... do you live up there now, or is this just a temporary thing?"
I blinked and looked down, surprised to see a young man standing at the base of the tree. He had a bright smile on his face, the kind that made it hard not to smile back. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and he stood with one hand on his hip, clearly waiting for a response.
I raised an eyebrow, trying to hold back a laugh. "Temporary. I figured it was a good day to sit in a tree and read."
He grinned, tilting his head to the side. "Well, you’ve certainly got the best view in the place. But if you’re hiding from someone, you might want to rethink your strategy. You’re not exactly invisible up there."
"Not hiding," I replied, shaking my head. "Just... escaping."
"Ah, I see. A professional escape artist." He nodded, pretending to be deep in thought. "Well, I’ll give you points for creativity. I’ve seen people hide behind rocks, in bushes, but a tree? That’s a new one."
I couldn’t help but laugh this time. His lightheartedness was a welcome change from the tension that had been suffocating me lately. "You caught me. Just don’t tell anyone where I am, okay?"
He held up his hands in mock surrender. "Your secret’s safe with me. Scout’s honor." His smile widened. "So, you planning to come down anytime soon, or is your tree life permanent?"
I peered down at him, swinging my legs slightly from the branch. "I think I’ll stay up here a little longer. The ground seems overrated."
He chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the tree. "Suit yourself. But if you fall, don’t say I didn’t warn you."
I rolled my eyes playfully, closing my book but keeping it in my lap. "I’ll take my chances."
For a few moments, there was a comfortable silence between us. He looked up at me with a curious expression, but there was no judgment in his eyes, no expectation. Just genuine interest. It was refreshing.
"So," he said after a pause, "what’s the story, tree girl? You always climb trees when life gets tough, or is this a special occasion?"
I hesitated for a second before answering. "Just needed some space, I guess. Things have been... complicated."
"Complicated." He repeated the word with a knowing nod. "Yeah, life has a way of getting like that. But you know what? That’s kind of the point."
I tilted my head, intrigued by his sudden change in tone. "The point?"
He grinned again, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "Yeah. The trick is to keep going. Life’s never going to be easy, but if you let every complication knock you down, you’ll spend your whole life on the ground. Or... you know, in trees."
I smiled at that, appreciating the lightness in his words but also the truth behind them. "You sound like you’ve had your share of complications."
He shrugged, glancing off into the distance for a moment. "Haven’t we all? But I’ve learned that if you can laugh, even a little, it makes things easier. You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just keep moving forward."
His words struck a chord with me. I had been so caught up in the weight of everything happening—Jeremiah’s anger, the pack’s distrust, my own feelings of inadequacy—that I had forgotten how to just breathe. To laugh.
"That’s good advice," I admitted, leaning back against the tree trunk. "What’s your name?"
"Adam," he said with a casual smile. "And you?"
I hesitated, suddenly realizing he didn’t know who I was. My hair had fallen forward, covering the marks on my neck that declared me as Jeremiah’s mate, his Luna. Part of me wanted to tell him, to see if his attitude would change once he knew. But the other part of me—the bigger part—wanted to stay anonymous, if only for a little while longer.
"Astrid," I said finally, deciding to keep it simple.
"Astrid," he repeated, as if testing the name. "Nice to meet you, Astrid. And hey, I’ve got to say, you’re the first Luna I’ve ever met who hangs out in trees."
I froze, my heart skipping a beat. Did he know? But then I saw the teasing smile on his face, and I realized he was just joking. He didn’t actually know who I was.
"I’m not a Luna," I said quickly, trying to sound casual.
He raised an eyebrow. "Really? Well, you’ve got the grace of one, sitting up there like you’re ruling the forest."
I laughed, shaking my head. "Hardly."
Adam looked up at me again, his expression softening. "You know, it’s okay not to have all the answers. Sometimes you just need to sit in a tree, take a break, and figure things out later."
"Yeah," I murmured, grateful for his kindness. "I guess you’re right."
For a while, we just sat there, the comfortable silence stretching between us. I could hear the sounds of the forest, the distant calls of birds, and for the first time in days, I felt... okay. Not great, but okay. Like I could breathe again.
Eventually, Adam straightened up, brushing some dirt off his pants. "Well, I’ve got to get back to training. Duty calls and all that." He smiled up at me, giving a little mock salute. "Stay safe up there, tree girl."
I smiled back, feeling a strange sense of warmth from our conversation. "Thanks, Adam. For everything."
He winked. "Anytime. And hey, if you ever need another tree-climbing session, let me know. I’ll bring snacks."
I laughed as he turned and started walking away, his figure disappearing into the woods. For a moment, I stayed where I was, letting the peace of the moment settle around me. It felt nice to talk to someone who didn’t know everything about me, who didn’t judge me for my mistakes or see me as the Luna who couldn’t do anything right.
Adam had been a small ray of sunshine in a world that had felt overwhelmingly dark for too long. I didn’t know if we’d become friends, but I hoped so. He was kind, funny, and didn’t seem to care about the weight of the titles or the responsibilities that usually followed me around like a shadow.
But as I sat there, reality started to creep back in. Jeremiah, the pack, the threats I couldn’t shake off—they were all still there, looming over me. I couldn’t hide in a tree forever.
Sighing, I closed my book and carefully climbed down. My feet touched the ground, and the weight of everything settled back onto my shoulders. But somehow, after talking to Adam, it didn’t feel quite as heavy.
I had no idea what was coming next, but for now, I had this small moment of peace. And I’d take it.
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