Chapter 132 The Moon Path
The next morning felt different.
Not heavy like the day of cleansing.
Not overwhelming like Mara’s endless lessons.
This morning buzzed with something lighter.
Energy.
Excitement.
Anticipation.
By the time I stepped out of the House, the sun had already begun to warm the air, burning off the early mist that clung low to the ground. The pack lands were alive again,but this time, not with scrubbing or quiet reflection.This time, they were building.
The Moon Path.
I stopped at the top of the steps for a moment, taking it all in.
A long stretch of earth had already been marked out, running from the Alpha House down through the clearing and continuing toward the lake beyond the trees. Blood gaurds and all members of the pack worked side by side, spreading pale dust along the path, smoothing it into the ground with wide wooden boards.
Silver dust.
It shimmered faintly under the sunlight, catching the light with every movement.
It looked like someone had drawn a river of moonlight straight through the pack lands.
“That’s… actually beautiful,” I murmured.
Mara, who had appeared beside me at some point, nodded once.
“It will be more so at night.”
I believed her.
The path already felt like something sacred,and it wasn’t even finished yet.I made my way down the steps, drawn toward the activity. The closer I got, the more details I noticed.
The silver dust wasn’t just scattered randomly,it was layered carefully, pressed into the soil so it wouldn’t scatter with the wind. Along the edges, shallow grooves were being carved for where the torches would stand. Everything was being done with so much precision and care.
“Careful,” someone called as I stepped closer. “It’s not set yet.”
I paused just short of the freshly laid section and raised my hands slightly.
“Noted.”
A familiar laugh sounded beside me.
“Look at you,” Tessa said, appearing at my side with a grin. “This Luna thing really looks good on you .”
I snorted.
“Don’t get used to it, it’s so tiring I may change my mind.”
She bumped her shoulder lightly against mine, both of us watching as a group of warriors worked a few feet ahead of us.
And that’s when I noticed it.
Or rather…
Them.
Shirtless.
Everywhere.
Warriors had stripped down to work faster in the rising heat, their shirts discarded somewhere along the edges of the clearing. Muscles flexed as they lifted sacks of silver dust, arms moving with practiced strength, skin glistening faintly with sweat under the sunlight.
I blinked. Once. Then Twice.
Then slowly turned my head toward Tessa.
“…Is this part of the ceremony too?”
She followed my gaze. Paused.Then burst out laughing.
“Oh, you just noticed?”
“I—” I gestured vaguely in front of me. “There are… a lot of them.”
“Yes,” she said, completely unbothered. “The pack has always been well-built.”
I huffed out a laugh.
“That’s one way to put it.”
We both stood there for a moment longer, watching as one of the warriors lifted a heavy sack over his shoulder, muscles shifting under his skin with the movement.
Tessa leaned closer to me.
“It’s a sight for sore eyes, right.”
“Oh yeah,” I nodded.
She laughed again, loud and unrestrained, and I couldn’t help but join her. For a brief moment, everything felt… normal. Light and easy.
Not like I was standing on the edge of a ceremony that would define my place in this pack. Just two women laughing in the sun and enjoying the view.
That moment didn’t last.
“Well,” a familiar voice drawled behind us, “if you wanted a show, all you had to do was ask.”
I froze.
Tessa’s grin widened.
Slowly, I turned around.
Darius stood a few feet away, arms crossed, watching us with that infuriatingly calm expression that always meant he had heard everything.
Of course he had.
Darius walked toward us, his gaze flicking briefly to Tessa before settling fully on me.
“You seem distracted.”
“I’m not distracted.”
“You are.”
“I’m observing.” I answered
Tessa choked on a laugh.
Darius raised an eyebrow.
“Observing what?”
I gestured vaguely “The… work.”
His gaze followed the motion.To the shirtless warriors.Back to me.His expression darkened slightly.
“Oh.”
Tessa made a small noise that sounded suspiciously like she was trying not to laugh again.Darius didn’t say anything for a moment.
Then, very deliberately, He reached for the collar of his shirt. My eyes widened.
“Darius….”
Too late. He pulled it over his head in one smooth motion. Tessa gasped. I blinked.Once.Twice.
Because…
Wow.
Okay.That was…
“…unnecessary,” I finished weakly.
Darius folded the shirt casually and tossed it aside before stepping forward and grabbing a wheelbarrow from Thane, who stood nearby looking far too amused.
“Like I said if you wanted a show,” Darius said calmly, his voice low, “all you had to do was ask.”
My face went hot instantly.
“I did not ask.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Tessa actually snorted this time.Thane leaned casually against one of the wooden posts.
“This just got interesting.”
Darius ignored him, adjusting his grip on the wheelbarrow handles.
And then.He flexed.Not subtly.Not accidentally.Very deliberately.I stared at him.“You’re ridiculous.”
“And yet you’re still looking.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”he smirked.
“I’m literally not.”
“Everyone can see you drooling right now.”
Tessa leaned in again, her voice low and wicked.
“Oh, she definitely is.”
I turned on her,“You’re not helping.”
“I’m not trying to.”
Darius smirked slightly before pushing the wheelbarrow forward, muscles shifting under his skin as he moved.
And I immediately looked away.
Very mature.
Very composed.
Absolutely not flustered.
Tessa nudged me again, “You’re turning red.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
“I hate you.”
“No you don’t.”
We continued walking along the path, though now my focus was significantly less on the silver dust and significantly more on not looking behind me.
Which, unfortunately, made me very aware of every sound.The scrape of the wheelbarrow.The low murmur of voices.The occasional laugh.
And then..
“Careful,” Tessa said suddenly.
I looked down just in time to avoid stepping into a freshly laid section of the path.
“Thanks.”
She grinned.
“You’re welcome. Wouldn’t want you ruining all this hard work.”
“Or embarrassing myself in front of the entire pack.”
“That too.”
We reached a point where the path widened slightly before curving toward the clearing. Workers were spreading the silver mixture more carefully here, creating a smooth, uninterrupted stretch.
“It’s going to be beautiful tonight,” Tessa said softly.
I nodded.
“It already is.”
For a moment, we just stood there watching.Then Tessa spoke again.
“So…”
I sighed.
“What.”
She grinned.
“When are you two having pups?”
I choked.“What?”
“You heard me.”
“That is not happening.” I said matter of factly.
“Not even a little?”
“No.”
“Not even a tiny….”
“No!”
She laughed.“You should see your face right now.”
I covered my cheeks with my hands.“I hate this conversation.”
“Why? It’s a natural question.”
“It’s not a question you ask at seven in the morning while I’m being emotionally attacked by shirtless men.”
She laughed even harder “That’s fair.”
Behind us, I heard Darius’s voice again.“Emotional attack?”
I dropped my hands slowly.
“Don’t.”
He stepped closer, clearly enjoying this far too much. “What’s this about pups?”
“Nothing.”
“Lyra, all you have to do is ask,” he said closing the distance between and rubbing his crotch against me, I could feel his hardness and heat rushed to my face.
“Nothing, leave me alone Darius, don’t be so shameless.” I said as I created some distance between us.
Tessa, the traitor that she was, leaned past me slightly.
“I asked when you’re giving the pack heirs.”
I spun toward her.
“You’re unbelievable.”
Darius’s gaze shifted to me again.And the look in his eyes,It made my stomach flip in a way I did not appreciate.
“Is that so?” he murmured.
“No,” I said immediately.
“Not even a little?”
“No.”
He stepped closer, again ,Close enough that I could feel the warmth of him even without touching.
“Shame,” he said quietly.
My face burned,“I’m going to walk away now.”
“You could try.”
“I will.”
I turned and started down the path again before he could say anything else.Tessa’s laughter followed me.Darius’s footsteps did too.And despite everything.The teasing.The heat in my cheeks.
The chaos of it all.
I couldn’t stop the small smile that crept onto my face as the silver path stretched out before us, slowly taking shape under the hands of a pack that, for the first time…
Felt like it might actually be mine.