Chapter 240: To Our Next Luna

The car pulled up in front of the apartment building, and my heart rate accelerated. A group of people were already waiting—camera operators, producers, and staff from the live broadcast team. Among them, I spotted Amber's familiar figure, and a wave of longing hit me hard.

Kane turned to me, his eyes saying everything his mouth couldn't. "I'll see you soon," he promised, his voice carrying unmistakable certainty. "You know I will."

I nodded, fighting to maintain composure in front of the cameras. I gave him one last look before getting out of the car, holding Elva's hand as we walked toward the waiting crowd.

Cameras immediately focused on us, flashes popping in rapid succession.

"Elena!" Amber rushed forward, throwing her arms around both of us. The three of us clung to each other, Elva giggling between us.

The driver set our luggage on the curb and left with a curt nod. I noticed Amber's eyes darting nervously, and her awkward stance kept her from meeting my gaze directly.

"What is it?" I asked quietly, my unease growing.

Amber bit her lip, glanced at the cameras surrounding us, then forced a smile. "Let's talk inside."

I nodded, picked up a bag, and led Elva toward the building. With each step, I became more certain that something was wrong.

In the elevator, Amber finally spoke, keeping her voice low enough to avoid the microphones. "The Silver Moon Pack was paying a subsidy to keep your room, but they stopped last month. I... I had to get a new roommate."

My heart sank. "What about our things?"

"I saved everything I could," she quickly assured me, guilt flashing in her eyes. "Don't worry."

The elevator doors opened, and Elva looked up at me anxiously. "Mommy, is our home still there?"

I crouched down to her level. "Wherever we're together is home, okay? That's all that matters."

She nodded, but the worry didn't leave her eyes. We followed Amber to the apartment door, and she opened it carefully. Unfamiliar music drifted out.

Amber pointed to the corner of the living room. Three ordinary cardboard boxes were stacked behind the TV, looking painfully small and out of place. "I put everything I could find in there," she said softly. "I'm sorry, Elena."

I walked toward the boxes, feeling all cameras following me, waiting for me to break down. But I wouldn't give them that. Three boxes—my entire life was that simple, that easily packed away, replaced, forgotten. My clothes, photos, memories, all compressed into these ordinary containers. Shit, it was worse than I'd imagined.

I sat on the couch with Elva, and Amber joined us. "So," she attempted to lighten the mood, "how's the estate?"

I felt cameras focus on me, waiting for gossip or complaints. "Beautiful," I said simply, "and the people are..." I paused, searching for the right word, "interesting."

Amber seemed to understand my predicament, a flash of comprehension in her eyes. "Hey," she suddenly lowered her voice, "I want to take you somewhere, but we need some disguises."

I nodded, curious about her plan.

Twenty minutes later, Elva wore her favorite wolf-eared hat, and I had on Amber's dark jacket, a wig, and sunglasses. With the producer's reluctant permission, we left the apartment.

"Where are we going?" I whispered as we walked down the street.

"Moon Shadow Bar," Amber answered, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. "There's something you need to see."

As we approached the bar, I noticed the broadcast team had arrived ahead of us, setting up equipment outside.

"What are they doing?" I frowned.

Amber's smile widened. "They think they're being clever, planning to interview customers about you. They're expecting to hear trash talk."

My heart sank. "And?"

"And," her grin broadened, "they're in for a surprise."

We entered through the back door, slipping in unnoticed. The place was packed—busier than I'd ever seen it. TVs on the walls played reruns of the Luna Selection, and to my shock, almost every scene featured me.

Amber guided us through the crowd to a quiet corner near the kitchen. "This place has been your 'fan club' since your first day in the competition," she explained, pride sparkling in her eyes. "Standing room only on broadcast nights."

I looked around in disbelief. Nearly every table had people engaged in heated discussion. Photos of me were even taped to the wall with "Moon Shadow Star" written beside them.

From our position, we could clearly hear the interviews being conducted by the broadcast team.

"Do you come here often?" the producer asked a middle-aged man drinking beer.

"Three times a week," the man answered confidently, "Haven't missed a broadcast since Elena entered the competition. She's going to be our next Luna."

"What if she drops out of the competition?" the producer pressed.

The man scoffed. "She won't. She's tougher than those trust fund princesses."

Warmth spread through my chest. These people—ordinary werewolves I'd served drinks to—they believed in me.

"What if Elena withdraws, or gets eliminated?" the producer continued, this time addressing a waitress carrying drinks.

The girl stopped in her tracks, eyebrows shooting up. "She won't get eliminated," she stated firmly, her voice filled with certainty. "She'll be the best Luna ever. She's one of us, not like those rich girls from the fancy neighborhoods. She knows what real life struggles are like."

Her words hit me hard. To these people, I represented hope—the possibility that someone who understood them, someone from their world, could become a leader.

We returned to the apartment late, after the broadcast team had finally left. Elva was asleep in what used to be my bed, and Amber and I sat in the living room, finally able to talk freely.

"So," she poured us both a drink, curiosity burning in her eyes, "tell me everything. What happened?"

Over the next hour, I told her everything—Katherine's identity, Nora's return, Valerie's schemes, and Alpha's ultimatum demanding I withdraw from the competition.

Amber's expression shifted from shock to anger, finally settling on determination. "You can't quit," she said decisively.

"What?"

"You're running away," she met my eyes directly, her tone blunt but gentle. "You've gotten used to running and giving up. Three years ago, you gave up your wolf, gave up Kane, and now you're ready to give up again."

Her words stung like a knife. "I don't have a choice."

"You always have a choice," she said, gentle but unwavering. "You've given up for so long, you don't know how not to anymore."

She placed her hand on my shoulder, her expression softening. "You're meant for greatness, Elena. Those people at the bar see it, Kane sees it, I've always seen it."

Her voice took on a seriousness I'd never heard before. "The entire werewolf community needs you to be Luna, Elena. Not just for Kane, not just for Elva, but for all ordinary wolves like us."

I fell silent, her words echoing in my mind. Maybe she was right. Maybe giving up had become my default response, and now it was time to learn how to fight.

"I'll think about it," I finally said, feeling something lighten in my chest.

Amber smiled and raised her glass. "To our next Luna."

Our glasses clinked together, the sound crystal clear in the quiet apartment.