Chapter 7: No Turning Back
Meredith’s POV
Meredith’s breath caught as the man finally stepped forward from the shadows.
He was different from the other two. Jet-black hair fell in messy waves to his shoulders, and dark stubble traced his sharp jaw.
"Magnus," she whispered, out of nowhere.
“So, you remember my name." His lips curved. "That’s a start.”
She took a step back, but he moved forward. The ground felt too still beneath her, as if even the forest held its breath.
“You think you can run from us?” he said huskily. “You think that window was a door to your old life?”
Meredith couldn’t speak, and her entire being trembled.
Magnus stopped just before her, close enough that his heat licked against her skin. “Your wolf’s already stirring. I can smell it...”
Before she could respond, the underbrush rustled behind her. Damien and Xavier emerged from the trees.
“Magnus,” Xavier said lowly, stepping beside her.
Magnus’s eyes never left hers as he said, “You’re lucky I was here.”
Damien looked at her, sighing heavily.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
She turned in a slow circle, trapped between them. Her chest heaved. Her mind told her to run, to scream, to fight. But her body wanted something else entirely. It was like a need running through her blood, burning hotter with each breath.
“I don’t understand what’s happening to me,” she choked out.
“You will,” Xavier promised, brushing a damp curl from her forehead.
“We’re here,” Damien added. "All of us. But only when you're ready..."
Meredith shook her head, but tears lined her lashes. “Ready? How could anyone be ready for all this?”
Magnus stepped forward and gently placed a hand over her heart. “You don’t have to do anything, really," he assured. "You just have to feel it.”
Right then, Meredith swayed, the bond thrumming louder between them.
“Let go,” Damien whispered. “Just let go, Sweet Pup...”
And she did.
With a breathless sob, she collapsed against Damien’s chest. His arms caught her like they were made to. Xavier was there a heartbeat later, kissing the crown of her head. Then Magnus pressed his palm to the small of her back as her knees buckled.
Meredith didn’t fight the warmth flooding through her. She let it. She welcomed them.
And, suddenly, something inside her stirred.
Meredith was overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the Moonlit Pack’s territory. The vast landscape of dense forests, rolling hills, and sparkling rivers. Her heart raced as she passed through the main gates, escorted by Damien, Xavier, and Magnus.
The three men, now fully dressed, walked with a commanding presence that both reassured and unsettled her. Every step she took felt heavier than the last. She wasn’t just a visitor anymores Se was marked, claimed, and tied to these powerful men.
As they neared the entrance to the grand hall, the enormous oak doors swung open, revealing a breathtaking scene inside. High, vaulted ceilings stretched above, and the walls were lined with banners bearing the Moonlit Pack’s sigil—a full moon surrounded by intricate wolf patterns woven in gold thread. Pack members filled the long tables that spanned the length of the hall. Men and women of varying ages sat side by side, talking and laughing.
At the far end of the hall, a raised platform held a grand table, clearly reserved for the pack’s leaders—and now, it seemed, for her. Soon, all eyes turned toward Meredith. The conversations stopped abruptly, and a heavy silence filled the room. It was as if the entire pack had collectively held its breath, awaiting her next move.
Damien stepped forward. "Today, we honor our new Luna," he declared.
Luna. Meredith’s stomach churned as the reality of it all settled in. The silence was broken by cheers. The pack members rose to their feet, clapping and howling, but their excitement did little to ease Meredith’s growing discomfort.
"Come," Xavier whispered gently, his hand resting on her lower back as he guided her toward the grand table. "This is all for you."
Meredith allowed herself to be led, her steps hesitant. As they reached the head table, the feast laid out before them was nothing short of extraordinary—platters of roasted meats, steaming vegetables, fresh fruits, and an array of bread and cheeses, all spread out. The intoxicating aromas filled the room, reminding her of just how long it had been since she’d last eaten.
Damien, Xavier, and Magnus each took their seats beside her, with Damien at the head of the table. Meredith found herself seated between the two, her body stiff and uneasy. She felt like a fish out of water—completely out of place in this world of werewolves.
As she settled into her chair, a young woman approached the table, her head bowed respectfully as she set a silver plate before Meredith. "For our Luna," she said softly before retreating.
Meredith’s heart pounded in her chest as she stared at the plate before her. Damien leaned in, his eyes flickering with a softness she hadn’t seen before. "You’re safe here," he whispered. "This is your home now. You have nothing to fear."
She swallowed hard, nodding slightly, though she wasn’t convinced. Her hands trembled as she reached for the silver fork, but before she could take a bite, Magnus spoke from her other side.
"You’ll grow stronger with time," he said. "The pack will respect you as one of us, but they’ll need to see your strength."
Meredith glanced at him, her mind spinning with questions. How could she ever live up to this role? She didn’t feel strong. Instead, she felt lost.
The pack members continued to eat and drink heartily, the clinking of goblets and the low hum of conversation filling the hall once more. From time to time, curious glances were cast her way, but no one dared approach the head table without permission.
Meredith looked around the room, her gaze locking with several members of the pack. They were looking to her now, their new Luna. Her pulse quickened. She was no longer just Meredith Rossinger, a human trying to survive the Annual Purge.
Damien raised his goblet, signaling a toast. The room fell silent once again as all eyes turned to him.
"To Meredith," he said, "our new Luna, and the future of the Moonlit Pack."
The pack members raised their goblets in unison, their voices echoing through the hall as they chanted, "To the Luna!" Meredith lifted her goblet, her hand trembling slightly as she forced a smile.
"T-to the Luna," she echoed quietly, drowned out by the roar of the crowd. She watched the scene unfold around her, trying to relax, but the air in the room suddenly thickened. The pack’s attention shifted to a figure who had risen from one of the long tables. He was tall, muscular, and carried himself with a simmering arrogance that set him apart from the others. His gaze was locked on Alpha Damien.
The man stepped forward with heavy, deliberate strides, stopping just a few feet from the head table. His jaw was clenched, and a sneer pulled at his lips.
"Alpha Damien," the man growled. "You think bringing a human into our pack makes us stronger? This is an insult to our kind."
An uneasy silence fell over the room as the pack members shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Meredith’s heart raced as she cast a nervous glance at Damien.
Damien rose slowly from his seat, exuding a dangerous aura that could make even the most defiant werewolf hesitate. But this man didn’t flinch.
"Logan," Damien said, "you dare question my authority in front of the pack?"
Logan’s lip curled. "You’ve grown weak, Damien. Letting this filthy human sit beside you, as if she’s worthy of being our Luna. She doesn’t belong here. And if you think she does, maybe you don’t belong as Alpha."
A sharp intake of breath swept through the hall. Meredith could hear her pulse pounding in her ears. Without a word, Damien stepped around the table, descending to stand before Logan. Pack law dictated that such a challenge couldn’t be ignored. The Alpha had to answer or lose his position—and possibly his life.
"Is that what you want, Logan?" Damien asked quietly. "A challenge for the Alpha’s seat?"
"Yes," Logan spat. "I challenge you, Alpha Damien, for leadership of the Moonlit Pack."
Meredith’s heart sank as the words left Logan’s mouth. She felt Xavier and Magnus tense beside her. Damien’s expression hardened, his posture shifting as he prepared for the fight.
"So be it."
Without further warning, the two men lunged at each other, the sound of their bodies colliding echoing through the hall. Logan swung first, aiming for Damien’s face, but Damien dodged with lightning speed and countered with a blow to Logan’s ribs. Their claws extended, tearing into flesh, as growls filled the air. Logan fought fiercely, but Damien, a seasoned warrior, moved with calculated precision.
The pack watched in tense silence, while Meredith could hardly breathe. Blood spattered the floor as Logan landed a hit, slashing across Damien’s arm. But Damien didn’t flinch. His eyes glowed brighter as he tackled Logan, pinning him to the ground. Logan struggled beneath him, his claws digging into Damien’s back, but the Alpha didn’t relent.
With a swift motion, Damien drove his claws into Logan’s chest, tearing through muscle and bone. Logan gasped, his eyes wide with shock. His body went limp beneath Damien’s grip, and then, with one final gasp, he was gone.
Damien stood, chest heaving, his eyes scanning the room, daring anyone to challenge his rule. No one moved. Meredith’s stomach churned at the brutal sight. She had never witnessed anything so raw, so vicious. She realized then that the man she was bound to wasn’t just an Alpha in name—he was a predator who would kill without hesitation to protect his pack.
Damien’s gaze finally landed on her, softening slightly. He stepped over Logan’s lifeless body and returned to his place at the head table. When he reached his seat, he wiped the blood from his hands with a cloth handed to him by a nearby attendant.
"It’s done," he said quietly.
Meredith swallowed hard, her throat tight. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from him. The pack was no longer celebrating. The grand feast had been tainted by blood.
As Damien settled back into his chair, he gave her a nod and a smirk.
The message was clear.
This was her world now, and there was no turning back.