Becoming Luna

Ch. 1: Golden Eyes

Kaia

The night had been eerily quiet. I should've known something was about to happen.

My limbs ached as I switched off the creaky tap, staring hopelessly at the dried blood stains from my recent mission on my worn clothes.

I was scared to assess any new damage on my body, since it wouldn't take long for another bruise or scrape to mark the healed skin.

The hydrogen peroxide tub was empty, and while the Red River Pack house usually had stocks of the items I needed, that meant voluntarily entering Alpha Maverick's orbit.

The Alpha's puppet.

I clenched my fist as the name mocked me. I ignored the blue and black blotches scattered along my arms.

The Red River Pack just loved to tell me how little value I possessed.

I didn't want to leave my workshop. It was my only haven from their taunting quips, but I wasn't in the mood to deal with Maverick's tantrum either.

With a sigh, I reluctantly locked my workshop and headed for the pack house. I knew Maverick's schedule like the back of my hand. I was sure he'd be cooped up in his office, planning and strategizing with his Beta, Orion.

I wouldn't be able to sleep if I didn't have the blood washed out of my clothes. I had to wear the same outfit tomorrow to run Maverick's errands. My feet and back ached and my fingers felt stiff from constantly scaling up trees.

I also had a bad habit of clenching my fists, until my nails cut into my palms and leaked blood.

The wind whipped roughly against the trees as I treaded towards the pack house.

Usually, there were pack members out at night. Evenings were reserved for them to shift into their wolves and expend the chaotic energy their beasts kept contained.

But tonight, only I walked along the freshly clipped grass.

As I entered the pack house, I heard shuffling in the adjacent hallway. The steps sounded clumsy but determined.

A flash of rich, scarlet hair distracted me as I rounded the corner.

I instantly recognised Isabella—Maverick's niece.

She reminded me of those porcelain dolls, with the soft toned frilly dresses and rosy cheeks. There was a certain childlike wonder about her appearance that was deceptive to anyone who didn't know the ugliness that lurked beneath the innocent smiles, and blush cheeks.

Isabella stalled when she realised that I was standing there. A second later, her older brother, Rainer, rounded the corner and stood behind her.

Nothing could hide the instant distaste in her angelic features as she looked me over with a barely concealed scowl.

"Her," she said, angling toward Rainer as if I didn't exist. "I heard she can't talk. Poor uncle. I don't know what he was thinking, taking her under his wing when she stinks of the gutters."

Rainer snorted and curved an arm over his sister's shoulders. "What's the use of talking if the only thing you can do is follow?"

He looked at me briefly with a small smirk, then tugged Isabella along past me.

I felt my wolf linger at the surface of my skin, simmering with challenge. I waited for their steps to recede before I took a deep breath, and let the agitation in my chest shrink, until the emotion dispersed into absolute nothingness.