Chapter 151

I stood frozen, my gaze sweeping over the sea of people kneeling before me as if I were some divine being. The weight of their reverence pressed in from all sides, tightening around my chest like an iron grip. A lump formed in my throat, and I turned to Kenzo. He stood a few steps away, his lips curved into a knowing smirk. When our eyes met, mine pleading for rescue, he merely chuckled and tilted his head toward the crowd, silently urging me to step forward. To speak.

But how could I? Kenzo thrived in leadership, born for the role, while I had always been content to fight from the shadows, never the frontline. And yet, here I was, standing before them with nowhere to hide, their eyes pinned solely on me. I forced a breath into my lungs, steadying myself.

"I am not a princess, and I am not an Alpha like my mother was!" My voice rang out, carrying over the hushed gathering.

Heads lifted. Eyes met mine.

I swallowed hard and pressed on, "I never knew what truly happened to my mother's pack. And for a long time, I was too weak to even try to find out. But I’ve grown stronger. And with that strength, I vow to right the wrongs my father committed!" My palm pressed firmly against my chest as I swore my oath.

A roar erupted from the crowd. Warriors surged to their feet, their fists punching the air as battle cries filled the night. Their raw, unshaken resolve sent a shudder through me. This wasn’t what I had intended. I hadn't meant to rally them into war. This wasn't even my battle to begin with. My gaze darted to Kenzo, searching for guidance, but he merely watched me with that same knowing smirk, as if reminding me that the choice was mine to make. But how could I decide their fate?

"Listen to me!" My voice cut through the chaos.

The effect was instantaneous. Silence fell over them as if I had stolen the very sound from the night. A sharp breath filled my lungs as I struggled against the panic threatening to overtake me. Their unwavering attention sent my pulse hammering, but I had to find my words.

"I… I am only human. I am not a leader," I confessed, my voice softer but no less firm. "You have just reclaimed your freedom, and I would never force you into a war. But if vengeance is what you seek for all that has been done to you, I won’t stand in your way."

A movement caught my eye. A towering young man, easily over six and a half feet tall, stepped forward. His thick curls framed a face hardened by loss, but his gaze held a quiet fire. He raised his hand, and I acknowledged him with a nod, offering a small, reassuring smile.

"Princess…" His voice carried strength, though it held a reverence that made my stomach knot. "In our hearts, you will always be the daughter of our leader. If you ask us to march against the Southern Moon Pack, we will follow."

He turned to the crowd, his deep voice unwavering. "Most of the warriors from the Blood Moon Pack were slaughtered, like my father, or forced to serve under Alpha Cassius. But there are still skilled fighters among us. Please… let us fight for you."

His plea stirred the crowd into another frenzy. My name became a chant on their lips, their devotion absolute. It unsettled me. They were willing to die for me, though I had done nothing to earn such loyalty. But I knew—perhaps they weren’t fighting for me alone. They were fighting for my mother, for the life and honor stolen from them. And if I was the spark that ignited their vengeance, then so be it.

Lifting my chin, I turned to Kenzo, my voice strong as I declared, "The warriors of the Blood Moon Pack are ready to fight against the Southern Moon. Alpha Kenzo, will you take them in?"

Kenzo’s smirk widened as he stepped toward me, his gaze locking onto mine. A silent challenge flickered between us. I tilted my head slightly, mirroring his confidence, and his grin deepened. Then, without hesitation, he turned to the crowd.

"The Blue Moon Pack welcomes new warriors!" His voice rang with command. "Together, we will bring down the tyrant of the Southern Moon!"

A thunderous roar erupted, shaking the air around us. The energy was intoxicating, a force so powerful I couldn’t help but smile. I didn’t feel like a leader, but for the first time, I wasn’t alone. I had people who were willing to stand by me—not out of obligation, but because they chose to.

I turned to Kenzo, the warmth of my smile still lingering. Our eyes met, and before I could react, he reached for my hand, pulling me close. His breath skimmed my ear as he murmured, "You see? You were born to be Luna… my Luna."

A shiver danced down my spine at the way his lips brushed against my skin. I quickly pulled back, rubbing the lingering sensation from my ear, and he chuckled, clearly pleased with my reaction. Kenzo knew how my body responded to him, and he never missed an opportunity to remind me of it.

But there was a line I couldn't cross. Not yet. A part of me remained locked away, a door that only one name could open—Hadrian’s. No matter how much he had hurt me, I needed to see him again. I needed to know if what we had was strong enough to withstand everything that had happened. Only then could I truly move forward.

The crowd eventually settled, the air still buzzing with excitement. Music filled the space once more, signaling the return of the festivities. With the formalities over, I finally reached for my drink, though peace remained elusive. The Blood Moon warriors surrounded me, eager to speak, to greet me personally. Their warmth was overwhelming, their joy at seeing me evident in every smile and touch.

I felt like royalty. A leader. A symbol of something greater than myself.

Even if I wasn’t sure I was ready for it.

Thankfully, no one asked me to sign an autograph.

"Go elsewhere and let the girl breathe!" The elderly woman—who had introduced herself as my mother’s nanny—swiftly shooed everyone away from me, her voice carrying an authority that made even the most eager step back.

"Thank you, Miss... Nanny," I said hesitantly, feeling a little overwhelmed.

She chuckled warmly. "Just call me Ashley."

I exhaled, glancing at the dispersing crowd. "They’re all incredible, but I don’t think I deserve their attention. I didn’t do anything extraordinary—I just happened to be here," I admitted, a little unsure of my place in all this.

Ashley’s gaze softened, but her voice remained firm. "You don’t see it yet, do you? You’re human. By all accounts, you should be weaker than them. And yet, you were the one who fought for their freedom. You gave them something we should have fought for long ago. But after your mother died... we were just too broken."

I swallowed, the weight of her words settling in my chest. "Well... I’m not exactly weak. Not anymore, at least," I added, laughing nervously.

Ashley tilted her head. "But you were weak when you were a child. And that... that is another reason why our lives now belong to you," she said, her eyes locking onto mine with quiet intensity.

A knot formed in my stomach. "I still don’t understand why—"

"Because we failed you," she interrupted, her voice heavy with regret. She lowered her head, as if the weight of the past was pressing down on her. "We should have protected you, our little princess. Instead, we were cowards. Your mother, Alpha Calliope, sacrificed you for peace with the Southern Moon Pack, and most of us accepted it. We told ourselves it was for the best... because you weren’t a wolf. But what no one knew—except me—was how much she regretted it. Inside, she died long before she ever challenged Alpha Cassius..."

The sorrow in her voice twisted something deep inside me. Without thinking, I reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Let the past stay in the past," I whispered, even as my eyes glistened. "I’m just grateful I get to meet someone who knew my mother... and loved her."

Ashley’s expression brightened, and for the next hour, we talked—her voice weaving memories of my mother’s childhood, painting a picture of a girl I never got the chance to know. The love in her words wrapped around me like a warm embrace, filling a void I hadn't even realized was still aching.

By the time Ashley grew tired and retired for the night, the rest of the pack had swarmed in. I had barely a moment to breathe before I was dragged into drinking and celebrating alongside them. If not for my accelerated healing, I doubted I would’ve survived the sheer amount of alcohol being passed around. The entire night felt surreal—joyous, chaotic, and strangely comforting. It felt... close to home.

After a few more hours, exhaustion finally took its toll. I wasn’t drunk—my enhanced genes had given me a liver that worked overtime—but I was drained. Around me, the Blue Moon pack was still lost in the revelry, Kenzo included, drinking, laughing, dancing. But I couldn’t keep my eyes open much longer.

I managed to convince Soren to play chauffeur and take me back to our hotel early.

"No problem. I already dropped someone off earlier," he said with a shrug.

"Seriously? Who?" I asked, surprised that someone had tapped out before me.

"Caius," Soren replied, smirking. "He drank so much, he got sick."

I snorted. He had been looking forward to drinking all night—guess he went overboard.

Soren pulled up to the hotel, and after thanking him, I watched him drive off before heading inside. The exhaustion weighed on me like a thick fog. By the time I reached the stairs, I had already kicked off my boots, deciding it wasn’t worth the effort to carry them. Barefoot, I trudged down the dimly lit hallway toward my room at the very end.

That was when I saw it.

A faint flash of light—slipping through the slight gap in my hotel room door.

I froze. My pulse spiked.

The door was open. And someone was inside.

Swallowing, I stepped forward, moving as quietly as possible.

Then, before I could reach it, the door swung open. A figure rushed out.

I bolted after them, catching only a glimpse—a woman, dark hair tied high in a ponytail. She noticed me and, without hesitation, sprinted toward the employees-only stairwell.

"Hey!" I shouted, my boots hitting the floor as I let them go.

She glanced back for a split second, but the dim lighting obscured her face.

"Stop!" I yelled, though I knew she wouldn’t.

Gritting my teeth, I chased her, but my exhaustion was slowing me down. She was fast—almost unnaturally so.

Three floors down, she disappeared around a corner. I turned after her, but by the time I reached the hallway, she was gone.

I stood there for a moment, listening—straining to catch even the faintest heartbeat.

Nothing.

Cursing under my breath, I turned back.

Inside my room, the lights were still on. I scanned the space, searching for any sign of what she had been after. There was no scent of a human—she was definitely a wolf. But which pack did she belong to? And why had she been here?

I checked my things, though I hadn’t brought anything particularly valuable. Everything seemed untouched—my backpack, my clothes, even my phone tucked safely in the bedside drawer.

Then my gaze landed on the pillow.

A cold chill crept down my spine.

There, waiting for me, was another note.

My breath came out in a slow, steady exhale as I reached for it. The initials at the bottom told me all I needed to know. EH.

With a deep breath, I unfolded the note and read the message inside.

"I would rather you not go near Crimsonville. It might get ugly, and I don’t want you to die there. Choose wisely. Yours, EH."