Chapter 362 362
Sabine POV
Another day. Another small white pill.
Each one took longer to swallow than the last. The guilt clung to me, heavier with every passing day, and the question I kept pushing aside pressed harder what would I do when they were gone? When the bag was empty?
That was a problem for another day.
Another day.
My little farm project was coming along well. Seeds had been sown, neat rows marked with care, and I was waiting on a delivery so I could start building the chicken coop. I’d been out here since the early hours, finding it far too easy to lose myself in the soil and the quiet. Maurice came by once before training to check on me, and again afterward, just to make sure I was still here.
Time slipped past unnoticed. I’d planned to clean up and join him for breakfast, but when I finally glanced up, it was already midday.
“Luna?”
I looked up to see a young man approaching no more than a few years older than me.
I bit my tongue, swallowing the instinctive correction. Bee, not Luna. But that title wasn’t really mine to refuse. To strip myself of it in their eyes would be to strip it from Maurice, and I wouldn’t do that to him.
So I let it pass.
“Hugo, right?” I said instead. I was getting better with names. I remembered him because he was Odette’s younger brother—Odette, who never missed an opportunity to glare at me.
I understood why. Maurice was powerful, devastatingly attractive, and admired by many within his own pack. Here I was an outsider, untrained, undeserving in their eyes standing in a place any of them would have leapt at the chance to claim.
“Yes, Luna,” he replied. “You’ve had a delivery at the gate. Were you expecting one?”
He stopped in front of me, his eyes flicking briefly to the mud smeared on my knees as I stood.
“Yes,” I said. “I was.”
His gaze glazed over as he slipped briefly into a mind-link, then returned to me. It must have been irritating for them to be sent to physically find me instead of just contacting me mentally.
“Sorry,” I added. “Next time, you can just let the Alpha know. You don’t need to stop what you’re doing to find me.”
“It’s no trouble, Luna,” he said politely too politely.
“You’re a warrior, right?” I asked.
“I was promoted a few days ago,” he said, pride lifting his chest. “I’d been training before that.”
“Congratulations,” I replied. “Hopefully you won’t be needed.”
“On the contrary,” he said easily. “That’s what we live for. Ever since the lake house”
The words hit like a blow.
“Excuse me?” I cut in sharply.
“I was there when the lake house was burned down near Luna Aurélie’s pack,” he continued, unaware. “The adrenaline was unreal. I knew then it was my calling.”
His voice echoed, but I barely heard him.
The lake house.
Pain detonated in my chest as the memories surged forward, vivid and merciless. My lungs tightened, breath coming too fast, too shallow. My heart slammed painfully against my ribs, each beat stealing more air from me.
“Luna?” His concern was immediate.
I lifted a hand, waving him off, trying to tell him I was fine just needed a moment. But the world tilted, dizziness threatening to drag me under as I folded forward, clutching my chest.
I missed the farm. Missed my friends there. I’d never been triggered with them. Never forced to confront the past. I’d been able to stay hidden safe, even from myself.
Now the images flooded in. Flames licking the night sky. Smoke choking the air. Dragging Aurélie’s lifeless body from the water.
Memories that would never loosen their grip. Memories I would carry to my grave.
“Luna,” Hugo said again, panic edging his voice. “What is it? Should I get the Alpha?”
“No,” I gasped, hands still pressed tight against my heart as I fought to slow my breathing. To regain control.
“Luna”
The fear in his voice anchored me just enough.
“It’s okay, Hugo,” I managed between breaths. “I just… struggle with the memories.”
“Here,” he said gently, lowering me to the ground. He guided my head between my knees, crouching beside me, concern etched deep in his eyes. “I really think I should call the Alpha.”
“No,” I insisted. “Don’t worry him. This is mine to deal with.”
“But”
“Honestly,” I said, forcing a weak smile as the tightness in my chest began to ease. “I’m fine.”
It had been a long time since the memories had hit me this hard.
“You said there was a delivery?” I asked, clinging to the normalcy of the moment.
“Yes,” he replied. “At the gate.”
“Then let’s go.”
“I think”
“Like I said,” I cut in gently but firmly, straightening. “I’m fine.”