Chapter 110
The morning sun streamed through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. For a moment, I lay there, cocooned in the unfamiliar bed, hoping the events of the previous day had been a bizarre dream. But the ache in my chest and the distant murmur of voices beyond my door confirmed otherwise. This was real—I was the new Luna of this pack. The idea still felt foreign, like trying to wear shoes a size too small.
I rolled out of bed, my hair a tangled mess again despite Sarah’s efforts yesterday. My thoughts wandered to her, no doubt thrilled to have me out of her house. She’d sent over my clothes early this morning, which had been neatly hung in the spacious walk-in closet. My stepmother’s eagerness to see me gone still gnawed at me. Why had she been so insistent? Was it just her usual disdain for me, or was there something more?
Don’t overthink it, Ayla, I told myself as I pulled on a simple white blouse and dark jeans. Today was the introduction ceremony—another step in this surreal charade.
The courtyard bustled with activity as I walked toward the assembly area. Wolves milled about, chatting excitedly. Some carried gifts wrapped in cloth or tied with twine, their faces alight with anticipation. The moment I appeared, heads turned.
“Luna Ayla,” someone whispered, the title still sounding strange in my ears.
I forced a smile as a few pack members approached to greet me.
“Congratulations,” one woman said, her tone sincere. “It’s been a long time since we had a Luna—a true Luna of our kind.”
Her words puzzled me. Did she mean the former Luna wasn’t one of them? I nodded politely, unsure how to respond.
Others offered similar sentiments, their voices a mixture of warmth and relief. Despite their kind words, the weight of the stares, the whispers, and the congratulatory smiles pressed down on me. I wasn’t used to this kind of attention, and my anxiety simmered just beneath the surface.
The Alpha arrived shortly after, his commanding presence quieting the crowd. His gray eyes scanned the gathering, lingering on me for the briefest moment before he stepped onto the small stage.
“This is your Luna,” he announced, his voice steady but devoid of warmth. “Respect her as you respect me.”
The crowd erupted in cheers, but I could see the strain in his posture, the tension in his jaw. He was forcing himself through this for the sake of his pack.
Jonas stepped forward, a wide grin on his face. “The pack has waited years for this moment. A strong Luna means a strong future. Let us celebrate!”
The Alpha turned sharply, already stepping off the stage.
“Alpha, wait,” Jonas called, but before he could catch up, a sharp voice cut through the air.
“Let him go,” said a woman with striking dark hair cut in a bob and a fierce expression. Fatima.
I recognized her immediately. She’d been by his side the previous day, and her dislike for me had been palpable.
“He’s done his duty,” she continued, her tone biting. “He’s given the pack what they wanted. Let him be.”
Jonas hesitated, glancing between me and the Alpha before reluctantly stepping aside.
“Enjoy your celebration, Luna,” Fatima said, her eyes cold as they locked onto mine. Then she turned and followed the Alpha out of the courtyard, leaving me standing there under the gaze of the entire pack.
The festivities resumed, a mix of cheers and chatter swirling around me. Gifts piled at my feet, and people bombarded me with congratulations and questions about my plans as Luna. Their enthusiasm was overwhelming, and my breathing grew shallow.
I forced a smile, hoping it would mask my unease. “Thank you all,” I said, my voice wavering. “I—I think I’ll head back to my room now.”
Jonas noticed my discomfort and stepped in. “Of course, Luna Ayla. You’ve had a long day. Enjoy some rest. The pack will understand.”
I nodded gratefully and slipped away, retreating to the sanctuary of my room.
The celebration continued late into the evening. Even from my room, I could hear the distant hum of laughter and music. I sat by the window, staring out at the forest as my thoughts spiraled.
The Alpha’s coldness, Fatima’s hostility, the pack’s overwhelming expectations—it was all too much. I’d hoped for a quiet life, but instead, I’d been thrust into a role I never wanted.
Eventually, exhaustion pulled me under, and I fell into a restless sleep.
Sometime in the middle of the night, I jolted awake. A faint sound echoed in my ears—soft cries, distant but unmistakable.
The twins.
My chest tightened as their cries grew louder, though I couldn’t explain how I was hearing them. They weren’t anywhere near my room, yet the sound seemed to vibrate through my very bones.
I slipped out of bed, drawn toward the noise like a moth to a flame. My feet carried me down the dimly lit hallway, the cries growing louder with each step.
When I reached a door slightly ajar, I peeked inside. Sophie stood by a crib, her arms stretched out in a futile attempt to comfort the wailing twins. Fatima was there too, pacing in frustration.
“They won’t stop,” Fatima snapped. “It’s like nothing we do is enough!”
“I’m trying,” Sophie said, her voice weary. “They’re just...so upset tonight.”
I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Both women turned to look at me, Sophie’s eyes wide with surprise, while Fatima’s narrowed with suspicion.
“What are you doing here?” Fatima demanded.
“I—I heard them crying,” I stammered. “I thought I could help.”
“You heard them?” Fatima scoffed. “From across the packhouse? Unlikely.”
Sophie hesitated, glancing between me and the twins, whose cries seemed to grow even louder. “Maybe we should let her try,” she said softly.
“No,” Fatima snapped. “She doesn’t belong here.”
But as she spoke, the little girl reached out toward me, her tiny hands grasping at the air. Her cries softened into soft whimpers, and the boy followed suit, his teary eyes fixed on me.
Sophie gave Fatima a pointed look. “They’re calming down. Can’t you see that?”
Fatima muttered something under her breath but stepped aside as Sophie approached me with the little girl.
“Her name is Lily,” Sophie said, placing the baby in my arms.
The moment Lily settled against me, her cries ceased entirely. She let out a contented sigh, her tiny hand clutching a strand of my hair.
“And this is Logan,” Sophie continued, handing me the boy. He, too, quieted instantly, his wide green eyes studying me intently before a soft giggle escaped his lips.
I smiled down at them, my heart swelling in a way I couldn’t explain.
“How is that possible?” Fatima asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
Before anyone could answer, the Alpha entered the room, his presence commanding as always. His gaze immediately landed on me, his eyes narrowing.
“What’s going on here?” he demanded.
The twins began to stir, their cries threatening to return.
“I was just trying to help,” I said quickly. “They were upset, and I—”
“They were inconsolable,” Sophie interjected, her voice calm. “But they stopped the moment Ayla held them.”
The Alpha’s expression shifted, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. He stepped closer, his eyes briefly meeting mine before shifting to the twins, now peacefully nestled in my arms.
He nodded once, curtly, before turning and leaving the room without another word.
Fatima hesitated, her glare sharp and cutting, before she, too, stormed out.
Sophie sighed, a weary smile on her lips. “Thank you, Ayla. You were amazing with them.”
I looked down at the twins, their tiny faces so peaceful now. “I don’t know what it is,” I admitted. “But I feel...connected to them. Like they’re a part of me somehow.”
Sophie’s smile softened. “They’ve been through a lot. Losing their mother, adjusting to a new life... It’s been hard for everyone. Especially Fatima.”
“Fatima was close to the former Luna?” I guessed.
Sophie nodded. “They were best friends. Losing her hit Fatima hard, and seeing someone new in her place...well, it’s complicated.”
I nodded, understanding the sentiment even if I didn’t agree with the hostility.
As the twins drifted off to sleep in my arms, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I had a purpose—something worth fighting for.
“I hope we can all find a way to get along,” I said quietly. “Even the Alpha. I don’t need much from any of you, but I’d like to at least try.”
Sophie placed a hand on my shoulder, her expression warm. “Give it time, Ayla. Things will get better.”
I hoped she was right. For now, all I could do was hold on to this fleeting moment of calm and the tiny hands clutching mine.
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