CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 20
“I want to make you the Luna of my pack. I want things to be official. You are the love of my life.” I looked at Raven, taken aback by the sudden change of heart. I shifted slightly to look at him. We spent the previous night in bed, cuddling, and it’s the best sleep I have had in years. We were having breakfast that he had made, and we were chatting nicely when he suddenly became weird and serious.

“How? I think you are rushing things.” I said, feeling my heart beat slightly faster. “No, it feels like we have known each other for decades. I just want you to be mine, and I can be yours forever.” He said as he took my hands in his, my heart stilled as the words rang in my mind.

“What about the people that you have in your life?” I asked, removing my hands from his, his facial expression quickly changed to a guilty look. “I want to apologize for all of that. We never actually went too far with anything. They didn’t mean anything to me.”
“I don’t know how to trust what you are saying. I wasn’t there. I will accept the request of being your Luna, but our relationship is a different story.” I said, folding my arms, he raised his eyebrows and looked at me, perplexed.
“What do you mean it’s a different story?”
“I mean, it’s going to take some time before I forgive you, and we can take everything step by step. There’s no need to rush whatever we have.” I said as I sat up from the chair at the dining table and went to get my phone from the kitchen counter. The opportunity that Raven is giving me is one that I shouldn’t miss. I need a place to belong, and being the Luna means the pack will be protective of me, so the vampire will have a hard time getting to me.

“Okay, who are you calling?” Raven asked with a serious look. I turned to look at him, my eyebrows raised. “Should I not be calling anyone?” I asked, and he quickly shook his head and cleared his throat.
“No, it’s just that I don’t think you should tell your mother. I suspect that your mother and your father are somehow connected. Whenever your mother knows where you are, the vampire somehow knows too.” I looked at him with an annoyed look on my face.

“Why are you saying he's my father?” Raven laughed, and I shook my head at him, trying to cut his fun short. “It’s not funny.”
“I’m sorry.” He said, trying to bite his lips, probably biting a smile off.

I nodded, giving him a side eye look. “I need to call Elara to help look for a dress. When will the ceremony be?”
“Tonight, it’s the full moon.” I looked at him, contemplating whether this is really what we should be doing. “Do you honestly think this is right for us?” I asked
“It is, it’s about time we do something. And please let it be a red dress.” I raised my eyebrow at him. “There will be a sacrifice made to welcome you as the Luna of the pack, so red will be the main theme.” I needed to feel kind of freaked out by the red dress thing, but I have no choice.

A knock on the door interrupted our conversation. I got up from my chair and went to open the door. My friend, Elara, was standing there smiling at me. "Hey, I haven't seen you forever," Elara said as we broke off our hug. I sighed, suddenly remembering how I left the pack.

Elara had been talking nonstop since she entered through that door, and I had been listening to her, unable to even say anything in return. We were sitting on the couch in the midst of brainstorming what I could wear to my ceremony tonight. “Aine,” Elara said, snapping her fingers in front of my face. “Are you even listening to me?” I blinked and turned to her. “I’m trying to, but you keep jumping from one conversation to another.” She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe, eyes glimmering with mischief.

“You need to get out of this house. You’ve been hiding ever since that attack. I say we go to the human world today. You need a dress for the Luna ceremony anyway, and I know just where to find the perfect one.”
“Elara—” I started, but she cut me off before I could finish what I had to say.

“No buts, we're going. I already told Miles to drive us.” I sighed, rubbing my temples. “You’re unbelievable.”
“That’s why you love me,” she said with a grin. Despite the heaviness sitting on my chest, her energy was contagious.
Maybe Elara is right, maybe I do need a breath of fresh air that doesn't consist of Raven.

“Fine,” I said finally, standing. “But if I regret this, you’re buying me dinner.” She clapped her hands and squealed.
“Deal! Now, go get dressed, Luna-to-be.” The title made my stomach twist, Luna. I still wasn’t used to it. After everything that had happened, part of me didn’t believe the ceremony was even real. The drive to the human city took an hour. Miles was behind the wheel, quiet and alert as always.

Elara talked the entire way, going on about the styles she wanted to try: emerald, gold, and deep blue. “You need something that makes people stare,” she said. “Something that screams power.” I smiled faintly and stared out the window. “I don’t want to scream power, Elara. I just want something simple.”

She snorted. “You’re about to become Luna of one of the strongest packs in the country. You can’t show up in something simple.” We parked outside a large glass-fronted mall. I sighed, feeling tired and worn out.

I have never had a friend who was as talkative as I, and now I know why I stayed away from people like that.
Music, chatter, and the smell of coffee drifted through the air. It felt strange being back here, surrounded by humans again. Everything was so normal, so unaware of the creatures walking among them.

“Come on,” Elara said, looping her arm through mine. “You’re going to love this boutique.” She said as she pulled me inside a dress store filled with different kinds of clothing.
The store was beautiful, with rows of gowns in every color, soft lighting reflecting off sequins and silk. I trailed my hand along the fabric of a deep red dress that caught my eye. It shimmered faintly, as if it were alive.

Elara sees my expression and grins in response. I almost roll my eyes because of how convenient it is that she’s watching every expression on my face. “Try it.”
The saleswoman came over, smiling. “That color suits you,” she said. “Would you like to see it in your size?”
“Yes, please,” I said softly.

She disappeared into the back, and a few minutes later, she handed me the dress. I went into the fitting room and slipped it on.
The fabric hugged my body perfectly. It was deep crimson with a slit up the side, the top fitted with delicate lace that framed my shoulders.

I looked at my reflection, stunned. For a second, I didn’t see the broken girl who had been hiding behind Raven’s shadow. I saw strength and a sign that things are about to change for the better. Elara gasped when I stepped out. “Aine, you look like you were born to rule.” I laughed lightly. “You’re exaggerating.”

“No? I’m not.” She smiled proudly. “That’s the one.” I was about to respond when someone called my name.
“Aine?” The voice was soft but familiar. I turned and saw a woman moving toward me. She reached out and grabbed my arm gently, smiling, excitement written all over her face.
Suddenly, the world tilted.

My vision blurred. I gasped as the boutique vanished. I was standing in the middle of the pack’s courtyard.
The ground was wet, and the smell of blood immediately filled
my nostrils. I frantically looked around for the source of the smell of blood, and I looked down at my trembling hands.
My hands were covered in blood, I started feeling dizzy, and I noticed I was wearing the same dress I had yet to purchase.
“Hello?” I whispered, unsure of what I should do.

My voice echoed into nothing. There were no people here, just space. A shiver ran through me. I took a step forward, and the world flickered once, twice, and everything vanished completely.
“Aine!”I blinked and gasped, stumbling backward. The woman was still holding my arm. She looked at me in alarm. We were still standing at the store. “Hey, hey, what happened?” she asked. “You spaced out.” I tried to steady my breathing.

“I don’t know. I think I just—” Then I looked at the woman again, really looked at her. I instantly recognized her. “Mary?” She smiled weakly. “It’s been a while.” Elara glanced between us. “You two know each other?”
“Yes,” I said softly. “She’s—she was my best friend’s girlfriend. Kade.” I said the name with so much heaviness in my heart that I wanted to sit down just to take a breath. Elara’s eyes widened, but she stayed quiet.
She looked different, thinner, tired. The light in her brown eyes had dimmed. “I didn’t expect to see you here,” I said.
“I didn’t expect to see you either,” she replied, her tone low. “I heard you moved states.” I nodded slowly, unsure what to say. Kade had been one of my closest friends before he died. Before Raven’s brother, Lenny, killed him. Mary gave me a small, sad smile. “We buried him with dignity. The community gave her a proper farewell.” I swallowed hard, the words catching in my throat.

“And… the baby?” I asked softly, remembering Kade’s happiness when he told me about his girlfriend being pregnant.
Mary’s smile faltered. “I lost it,” she said. Her voice was barely a whisper. “After he died.” I froze, regretting even asking her in the first place. “Oh, Mary… I’m so sorry.” She looked down, blinking fast, as if trying to keep tears away.

“It’s alright. Things happen for a reason, right?” I didn’t answer. My chest ached from what she told me. And I had one plan in mind: make things right. Kade died because of me. How could I let the love of his life also down?