For some reason, Damien didn’t want me to live in the hut. He said,

“It’s a little uncomfortable.

” I

didn’t say a word, but after that, he told Mera he was leaving. All I did was follow Damien.

Damien walked ahead of me with a calm, confident stride, soft, measured, yet carrying the quiet

strength of someone who could protect me without a second thought. His steps didn’t crunch

loudly against the gravel path; they were deliberate, controlled.

I trailed behind him, not because I feared walking beside him, but because it felt… natural.

There was something about him that made me instinctively fall into step just a little behind, like I

was being guided without force. Even though he wasn’t from my pack, an unfamiliar sense of

safety wrapped around me like a warm cloak, shielding me from the unease that had clung to

me since leaving Lupinia.

The streets of Vulfen were different from home. Here, the air was tinged with the earthy scent of

pine, mingled with something faintly metallic, perhaps the trace of a nearby stream or the

lingering scent of iron-rich soil. Houses stood close together, their wooden frames sturdy,

darkened by time and weather. Dim lanterns glowed in the windows, painting golden patches on

the cobblestone.

When we reached a modest but well-kept house, Damien opened the door and called out,

“Mama? It’s me.

”

From deeper inside, a woman’s voice replied,

“Damien, is that you?”

“Yes, Mama, it’s me,

” he said.

A woman emerged from the kitchen, Clara, his mother. She was tall, with hair streaked silver

and sharp amber eyes that seemed to miss nothing. Her gaze landed on me instantly,

assessing, calculating.

“I don’t remember you saying you were bringing a friend home,

” she said, her tone edged with

suspicion.

“So why is she here?”

Damien kept his voice calm.

brought her here.

”

“I found her in the forest. She looked like she needed help, so I

Clara’s gaze sharpened further. She stepped closer, the faint scent of herbs and woodsmoke

clinging to her clothes.

“Damien… She's like my father, your grandfather. And I clearly

remember telling you never to associate with a Bloodmoon or Shadowfang wolf. So why is she

here?”

Her words cut like cold steel. Inside, I whispered to myself, What happened to Damien’s

grandfather? Why do they hate him?

“Mama,

” Damien said firmly,

what you went through.

”

“you’ve said it already. But I couldn’t just leave her there. You know

Clara’s lips pressed into a thin, unforgiving line. She turned and left the room without another

word.

Damien glanced back at me, his expression softer, almost apologetic.

room,

” he said, gesturing for me to follow him down the hall.

“You can stay in my

Before he stepped out, I asked quietly,

“Damien… how do you know I’m a Bloodmoon wolf?”

He didn’t hesitate.

Impossible to hide.

”

“Every wolf can perceive the blood of a Bloodmoon. It’s… different.

He left, and I curled up on the floor, the faint creak of the wooden boards beneath me oddly

comforting. Exhaustion pulled me into a restless sleep filled with flickering images, forests

bathed in orange light, faceless figures whispering my name.

When I woke, the light filtering through the small window wasn’t the pure blue I was used to in

Lupinia. Here in Vulfen, the sky was a soft, muted orange, as though the day was caught

between sunset and dawn. It was strangely peaceful, the kind of color that could make you

forget danger existed.

The house was silent, so I wandered into the kitchen. Its shelves were lined with jars of dried

herbs, neatly labeled, and a single iron pan rested on the stove. I decided to prepare breakfast

for Damien and Clara. Soon, the aroma of warm bread and herbs drifted through the air,

blending with the smoky scent of the wooden walls.

When they returned, I stood quickly.

so I made breakfast.

”

“Good morning. I didn’t see either of you when I woke up,

Clara waved a dismissive hand.

“I’ll pass. You two can eat. I’m not hungry yet.

”

“Come on, Mom,

” Damien said with a teasing grin.

famished’ since yesterday. Just eat.

”

“We both know you’ve been singing ‘I’m

Clara rolled her eyes, but I caught the faintest twitch of her lips. She sat down, setting her worn

leather bag on the table before picking up a spoon. As she ate, I noticed her shoulders relax,

her sharp eyes softening with every bite.

When she was done, she set her spoon down with a faint clink.

“You’re not so bad after all.

”

Later, Damien took my hand and led me back to his room. His touch was warm, his grip steady

but gentle. He looked directly into my eyes, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

“You just won

my mom’s heart. She loves female wolves who can cook. And you didn’t just make food, you

made her eat.

”

While he spoke, I found myself staring at him, at the intensity of his gaze, the shape of his lips,

the way a faint dimple appeared when he smiled. Everything about him drew my eyes back to

his face.

“Did you hear everything I just said?” he asked, smirking when I blinked.

“Yes… thank you,

” I replied, feeling my cheeks warm.

Before I could take a bite of my own food, curiosity got the better of me.

“Can I ask a question?”

“Go ahead.

”

“Are you an only child? And… What about your father?”

Damien chuckled softly.

“I don’t know where all these questions are coming from, but I have an

older brother. He’s married now. My father… died four years ago.

”

He tilted his head slightly.

Lupinia?”

“What about you? Why did you come to Vulfen? What happened in

I hesitated. The words sat heavy on my tongue before spilling out. I told him everything, about

myself, my family, and the Moonlight Mate Ceremony. He listened silently, his thumb brushing

over the back of my hand in quiet reassurance.

“I don’t know what that ceremony is,

” he said finally,

“but I’ll ask my mom about it. Here, you

marry who you choose. No goddess decides that for you. By the way, what’s your family’s

name?”

“Veyra.

”

Even after we stopped talking, Damien didn’t let go of my hand. I was shy, but I didn’t pull away.

Somehow, in this strange place, he had become my safe harbor. Each day, we spent more time

together. Clara, though initially cold, began to accept me.

Still, they never allowed me to leave the house. Darkpine wolves could easily recognize my

bloodline, and here, that meant danger.

Back in Lupinia

Adrian noticed the joy that filled the air after the Moonlight Mate Ceremony, but his own heart

was heavy, like a weight pressing against his chest. Selena’s father, Fenris, still searched for

her, scouring every corner of Lupinia without success.

Adrian had rejected his mate at his father’s command, and now the emptiness gnawed at him,

sharper each day.

He confronted his father, Roderick.

“Who is my mate going to be?”

“I couldn’t let you bring a warrior’s daughter into my home,

” Roderick replied coolly.

Luna Marceline to be your wife. Her status is splendid, my son.

”

“I’ve chosen

“Luna? Of all female wolves in town?” Adrian’s voice rose in disbelief.

“The others are happy

with their mates, and I’m here, still searching. Either you find me someone worthy, or I’ll go find

Selena myself.

”

Without waiting for a reply, Adrian stormed out, the door slamming behind him, and went to his

mother.

“Mom, you know I need a mate, and now Dad wants it to be Luna? Luna, of all wolves?”

Nivienne’s gaze was steady, her tone calm but unyielding.

“Selena is your true mate. The

Moonlight Goddess is never wrong. But you chose to listen to your father.

”

That was all Adrian needed to hear. Determination settled into his bones. He would search for

Selena himself.

Roderick, sensing his control slipping, called Luna. He told her to come stay at their home for a

few days and try to win Adrian’s heart.

But when Luna arrived, she quickly noticed his coldness toward her. She confided in Roderick,

who explained,

“Adrian suddenly wants his mate to be Selena.

”

Adrian, ignoring Luna entirely, went to Selena’s house. Fenris met him at the door, his face hard

as stone, his voice like a low growl.

“You are the reason I can’t find my daughter,

” Fenris said.

“You should have accepted her. I’ve

been loyal to your family, and this is how you repay me? If my daughter doesn’t come home this

week… you won’t like my next reaction.