Chapter 286 EVEN IF YOU ARE MILES APART
Edeline
As I ran my fingers over it, I saw the engraving: “Even if you are miles apart, you will connect with a lot of hearts along the way. Always remember how tough you really are. You will always have wolves that care about you.”
Tati.
My eyes watered as I looked up at this girl who had been through so much. She had been off track, messed up, but now she was on her way to doing amazing things, and it made me happy that she had made this for me.
I pulled her in for a hug, breathing in her soothing scent. “Thanks, Tatiana!”
She let out a little sob as she pulled away. “It is a friendship bracelet. I thought… maybe we could be friends?”
“Sure thing.” I smiled at her, gently brushing my cheek against hers.
“Hey, just keep in touch when you can.” Her big brown eyes sparkled with hope.
I gave a little nod. “You will hear from me, just not super soon. I need to figure some stuff out.” Tatiana nodded, sniffled, and wiped her eyes as she stepped back.
“Ready?” Conor’s deep voice cut through the moment as he leaned against the driver's side door.
With a nod, I slipped the bracelet onto my wrist and hopped into the passenger seat, rolling down the window right after he climbed in and closed the door. He fired up the engine, and I took a big breath in, shutting my eyes as he started to back out.
I was heading to Dark Moon. There was no going back now.
I felt totally free, like a bird soaring through the sky.
I was really hoping I could make some changes—good changes. For sure, I could change. And I totally would.
…
The drive felt like it stretched on forever. Conor had Lynyrd Skynyrd blasting at full volume, the music wrapping around us like a warm blanket.
The evening sun cast a cozy glow over the horizon, but the cold air was whipping my hair into a wild mess, so I quickly threw it up into a bun.
We belted out “Free Bird” at the top of our lungs, laughing as we tried to keep up with the lyrics. Every now and then, Conor glanced my way, a dreamy smile on his face. I wondered if he was remembering his buddy or reflecting on the moments we had shared together.
I could not be sure.
“Hey, at least those bruises are almost gone,” he laughed, nodding at my face.
I smiled and shook my head, appreciating his effort to lighten the mood.
What felt like forever was actually just two hours.
Did I mention that Dark Moon is super close to Praimfaya Moon? It is just a packland away on the southern side, divided by the Silver Moon pack.
I would be closer to my home pack than I would like. I just hoped nobody figured out I was around—not until I figured out who I really was and toughened myself up.
As the sun set and the moon shone brightly overhead, I struggled to keep my tears and emotions in check as Conor drove onto a gravel path that I guessed led to Dark Moon. It was only 45 minutes from my old pack.
The gravel crunched beneath the tires as we cruised slowly down the most gorgeous tree-lined drive I had ever seen. The trees seemed to lean in, kind of meeting above us as we drove on. I had to hide my surprise as we rolled up to this old stone mansion, something you might come across in Europe. Two big gargoyles perched on the terrace above, as if they were keeping a watchful eye on everything. Bright security lights illuminated the circle drive as Conor parked the truck and turned off the ignition, looking my way.
“Alright, here we are.” He made a face, glancing at the mansion, lost in memories from his childhood. This was the place he had called home, where he spent time with Cilla.
“Yeah,” I replied, taking a deep breath.
Suddenly, Conor’s hand was under my chin, gently urging me to look right at him. His navy eyes were serious, and I felt the weight of his words. “Hey, Edeline, just a heads up—they might try to mess with your vibe, but do not let them get to you. This pack is solid for picking up warrior skills. Just remember, you have to put up a fight. Trust your wolf; do not try to control her, or it will be tough on you. If she is ready to fight, go with it. If she wants to shift, let her do her thing. You will be in wolf form a lot more here than you are used to, so just roll with it. Got it?”
I nodded, my eyes wide and filled with fear. There was no turning back now.
He leaned in and gave my cheek a quick kiss, rubbing his against mine in a sweet gesture. I felt him take a moment to breathe in my scent before he let go. Taking a calming breath, I stepped out of the truck, following his lead.
As Conor pulled my luggage out of the truck bed, the massive front doors of the mansion swung open. Out came the biggest wolf I had ever laid eyes on—a buff dude, way bigger than Conor. He could even be taller. He wore a light gray t-shirt, and tattoos crept up his hand, disappearing into his sleeve as he approached, a sparkle in his eyes as he checked me out.
“Wow.” The deep baritone voice pulled me from my thoughts as Conor dropped my bags and walked over to him.
“She totally looks like Cilla; it’s kinda crazy,” he said, his tone contemplative.
Conor let out a low growl. “She’s paired up.”
A sly grin spread across the newcomer’s face. His hair was short on the sides, long in the front, giving him a carefree vibe. “I totally get it. Oh yeah, I know. It’s about Percival from Praimfaya Moon. He’s a solid wolf. I’ve been hanging out with their pack for the last couple of weeks, helping him out.”
This caught my attention. What did Percival need help with? Was he really that messed up?
Alpha Maxim checked out Conor before pulling him in for a hug, leaning his cheek against his. “Hey, cousin. You look good.”
Conor’s lips curled into a faint smile. “You too. Just make sure to look after her... she deserves it.” With that, Maxim glanced my way, giving me an appraising nod. “No problem, cousin. She’s all good.”
As Conor and I said our goodbyes, I felt a wave of sadness wash over me. My wolf whimpered inside; she had grown used to his presence—her main guy.
Two big, hefty wolves appeared, snatched up my luggage, and vanished inside. I could hear the sound of warriors rolling in from the backyard—grunts and shouts filling the air. They were easy to spot, their energy palpable.
“Come on.” Alpha Maxim grinned, waving me in. “Alright, let’s go through the rules. I can tell your wolf is pretty strong, so I’ll need to initiate you... help your wolf understand who the Alpha is now.” He had a playful vibe, the kind of guy who might mess with friendships. Just not my thing.
He led me into the big house with high ceilings. A stunning chandelier hung above, glinting in the light. The exterior of the mansion felt old-world, but inside was sleek and modern—totally unlike anything I had ever seen.
“What’s all that noise coming from the back?” I raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
A smirk crept onto his lips as he guided me through a grand room before swinging open a pair of French doors that led out to a terrace. The stars lit up the sky above, and below was a pool that looked like it belonged in a luxury magazine.
But what truly took my breath away was the field beyond the pack house.
Warriors were everywhere—both guys and gals, some in fur and others in leather. They were strutting around, while others were engaged in fierce battles, tearing into each other’s skin with messy bites. Girls snapped their opponents' arms in brawls, the air thick with adrenaline and raw energy.
It was chaos, and yet there was a strange beauty to it all.
I went pale, doubt creeping in. I didn’t think I was good enough to hang with them.
Maxim turned to me and said, “Hey buttercup, just a heads up? Don’t challenge anyone unless you’re cool with them meeting the moon or you’re ready to meet it yourself. We don’t do submission around here. It’s all or nothing.” He winked, and I stood there, totally taken aback by the wild scene below.
Wild ones.
They were a bunch of wild ones, and I was about to be trained by them.
…
Edeline
I stood in front of the mirror, staring hard at my reflection. My bright green eyes traced over the fresh bruises and every scar carved into my skin, each one telling a story.
Being here at Dark Moon changed me in ways I never expected. There was a new look in my eyes now—a sharp, determined gaze that didn’t back down. It was the look of a hunter. A fighter.
I was not following anyone’s lead anymore.
I was the wolf.
I had become the beast I always wanted to be. There was not a single member of this pack I could not handle. They were all wild, but that only made me wilder. I supposed that made me a little savage too, and honestly? I liked it.
Some of the guys could be a lot to handle, coming at me harder than necessary. But I had learned to stay quick on my feet. I could tell which wolves were worth challenging and which ones to avoid, slipping out of their grip just before it was too late.
Every part of me had been broken before. Both arms snapped. Teeth sunk deep into my skin, ripping it apart. Ribs shattered. Femurs fractured. It was like every bone in my body had gone through hell. My pelvis had been crushed too, though it only took a couple of days to heal, thanks to the wolf inside me. The small stuff? Bruises and tears? They barely lasted a few hours.
I already had my first official challenge—just two months after arriving. I knew going in that if I did not take my opponent down first, they would take me out without hesitation. So, I did what I had to do.
Diego.
The name still lingered in my mind. My first takedown. My only takedown. No one else had dared to challenge me since.
The wolf inside me felt strong, maybe the strongest it had ever been. Mentally, I was sharper too. My wolf and I were not weak anymore. We did not depend on anyone but ourselves. That was how it was meant to be.
I shifted my gaze, taking in my reflection again—searching my face. I still looked the same, just with a few more scars scattered across my features, though nothing that stood out too much. My cheekbones seemed sharper now, more defined, and my lips looked fuller than before.
Maybe it was because of the heat coming soon. I could feel it creeping in. My lips kept tingling, turning red. I licked them without thinking, as if that would ease the sensation. No matter how hard I tried to stay focused, I could not get Percival out of my head.
My eyes dropped lower, roaming over my body. My breasts looked fuller, heavier. My arms and thighs were more toned than ever, and I had some nice muscle definition along my waist. My stomach was flat—not quite abs yet, but close—and my hips had grown curvier. It felt like my body was getting ready for something big, even though nothing had happened just yet.
I had already gone through my second heat. Six months since the first one. And in just a week, I would be dealing with it again.
The scars across my skin barely registered anymore. They were just part of me now. Lifting my arms, I pushed my hair back, catching sight of the tattoo on my inner bicep. It stood out in bold black ink—a circle filled with little triangular shapes.
The triangles from the north sat on top, with two on each side for the beginners. But mine had more now. The south triangles were at the bottom, and I had added two more in the center—canine-shaped triangles. That meant I was no longer a beginner. I was an intermediate.
No, I was beyond that. I had reached the pro level now.