Chapter 83

**Shadows of the Past**

As I stood in the middle of the forest, surrounded by the foreboding silence that surrounds the rival Alpha's incursion into our territory, the wind howled. Every sound was magnified, every fragrance examined for possible dangers, and my instincts were constantly on high alert. Recent revelations weighed heavily on my chest: an opponent who appeared to know more about me than I did, and a traitor in our pack.

As a precaution, I was patrolling the territory's edge by myself. Beneath my skin, my wolf was tense, ready to attack at the first sign of trouble. The crunch of leaves behind me broke the eerie silence. I whirled around, squinting when someone stepped out of the darkness.

I felt a chill run down my spine as the voice drawled, low and cold, "Luna." He was Alpha, the adversary. Even from a distance, his dark eyes shone with a wicked glimmer, and his presence was dominant.

I remarked, maintaining my composure as I moved into a defensive position, "It's brave of you to come here yourself."

"There are times when a personal touch is necessary for important matters," he said, taking a step closer. His motions were deliberate and fluid, akin to a predator playing with its victim. "I felt it was time for us to talk—alone."

I let out a low-pitched growl. "You'll regret coming here to threaten me."

“In danger?” He gave a gloomy laugh. "No, Luna. My purpose is to tell you the truth. But don't you already feel it, I'm guessing? that attraction to something buried?

I was uneasy about what he said, but I kept my doubts to myself. "I have no idea what you're discussing."

He smirked and cocked his head. Yes, but you do. You have access to a power that isn't inherent, have you not? a force beyond your complete control. That's the reason you're afraid. You are here in a frantic attempt to protect people who hardly comprehend who you are.

Even when my breath caught, I didn't falter. "You're putting things off. Either say what you came to say or get out of here before I force you to.

"All right," he responded, his grin disappearing. "Are you looking for answers? I possess them. However, what you hear may not be to your liking.

His remarks were heavy and ominous as they hung in the air. I inquired, against my better judgment, "What do you know?"

A predator sensing success, he smiled. "Luna, you were never supposed to be here. Neither in this life nor in this body. You are a mistake, an abnormality. The power you possess? It is not your property. It's from the person you used to be.

His comment weighed on me like a smothering blanket, and I tensed up. "You know absolutely nothing about me."

He took a step closer and added, "Oh, but I do." I am aware that you were a wolf with great strength and selflessness who worked as a healer in a previous life. I am aware that you lost your life defending an unworthy pack. You have now had a partial rebirth.

With my heart pounding, I stepped back. His expertise was too specific, too personal. How was my past known to him? Even I had shards of dreams and emotions that I couldn't quite make sense of.

"Why are you stating this to me?" Despite my determination, my voice trembled as I demanded.

With an abruptly solemn tone, he stated, "Because you deserve to know what's at stake." "That power of yours is harmful for everyone around you, not just for you. You are the reason it is unstable. You are engaged in combat on two fronts: the internal and external fronts.

"Enough!" I bared my teeth and snapped. "You believe you can perplex me and cause me to question myself? It won't function. I am aware of who I am.

"Do you?" he said in a quiet yet sharp voice. "Are you serious?"

He lunged, faster than I thought he would, before I could react. Just in time, I transformed into a wolf and confronted his onslaught. Claws and teeth flashed in the moonlight as our bodies clashed. He was powerful—stronger than any Alpha I had ever encountered—but I was driven by an uncontrollable rage.

We engaged in savage combat, our growls resonating across the woodland. He aimed for my throat, but I slashed at his side and twisted away. The ground was splattered with blood, yet he persisted. Instead, he made a guttural, sinister laugh that made me shiver.

He circled me and taunted, "You fight like someone with everything to lose." "But you will fail because of that fear."

I snarled and threw myself at him with all my might, saying, "I'm not afraid of you."

The impact of our collision with a tree shook the earth. He appeared stunned for a second, so I took advantage of the chance to restrain him. He didn't struggle even though my teeth were just above his throat. Rather, he grinned.

"All right," he said. "Death me. However, it won't alter the reality.

I paused, his words piercing my anger. Taking advantage of the situation, he threw me off, and we fell apart, both of us bleeding and breathless.

"Luna, this isn't over," he murmured, slipping back into the darkness. "Whether you like it or not, your past will find you."

Then he was gone, leaving me in the clearing by myself with my head racing and my pulse thumping. His words reverberated in my ears, a chilling reminder of the danger and power I didn't completely comprehend.

His revelation weighed heavy on me as I hobbled back to the pack. Really, who was I? What would I lose if I used this power I possessed?

Kai was waiting when I arrived at the camp, his face displaying a mixture of relief and concern. He hurried to my side and asked, "What happened?"

"He is aware of it," I murmured, scarcely raising my voice above a whisper. "The competitor Alpha—he is aware of my history."

Kai's jaw tightened as he tensed up. "What did he say?"

I looked him in the eye, my own doubtful. "He said that I'm a mistake and shouldn't be here."

Taking my hands in his, Kai firmly stated, "That's not true." "Luna, you belong here. alongside us. Alongside me.

Although his comments were consoling, they were unable to allay the doubt that was still bothering me. Like a foreboding portent, the rival Alpha's final words stuck in my head: *You

r past will catch up to you*

I knew in my heart that he was correct.