CURSED MOON: THE LUNA’S FATE

Camille I wandered through the thick forest, completely lost. Frustrated, I cursed under my breath. Everything around me looked identical and every path looked the same. A branch cracked behind me, propelling me into a sprint through the dense trees. Each step I took echoed in the night's silence as I gasped for breath, pushing myself to the brink with adrenaline rushing through my veins. Someone was out there, probably trailing me. But I was weak, weak from days without food. My limbs trembled as I struggled to maintain my pace and move as swiftly as possible. Looking back, I couldn't spot the person that had been trailing me. I leaned against a massive tree, sliding down to catch my breath, grumbling as I inspected my hands. One glove had slipped off, revealing the telltale red mark on my skin. I hated it because Its scarred presence made me instantly recognizable—I was a gifted wolf. We were considered prey by other werewolves, who viewed us as valuable commodities to capture and trade for rewards within the Enclave clan. If not for the curse, I could have enjoyed a peaceful existence among a pack, alongside a mate. Unfortunately, fate chose a different path for me, thrusting me into a life of constant danger and pursuit without my say in the matter. I had the power to manipulate others' emotions, implanting specific feelings into their minds and making them experience what I wanted for a short while. However, I kept my distance from people to ensure my own safety, so I rarely had the chance to practice this ability. As a result, I was a little inexperienced. I couldn't recall exactly how long I'd been on the run, but it was hard to remember a time when I wasn't constantly on the move. My childhood had been far from ideal—my parents abandoned me at a young age when the red mark began to appear on my skin. I had become a liability to their pack, making them a target, so they decided to let me go. It only confirmed how little they had wanted me from the start. The rough bark pressing against my back jolted me back to the present, and I brushed my braided dark hair away from my face. The forest had fallen silent. I forced myself to stand and continued walking. I needed to find shelter; a storm was approaching. I began to trudge through the forest, whipping my head around every few seconds to check my surroundings, my body complaining. Suddenly, a force hit me so harshly that my breath was knocked out. I gasped, landing on the wet muddy ground, twisting around to see a large dark wolf hovering above me, snapping its jaw with drool dripping from its teeth. Shifting into my own wolf, I growled, kicking it off and scrambling to my feet. As I approached the wolf in the pouring rain, it suddenly lunged at me, sinking its teeth into my shoulder with a vicious bite. A cry escaped me as blood began to flow from the deep wound it inflicted. Refusing to surrender, I braced myself for a fight. But just as the wolf let out another menacing growl, both of us were violently knocked off our feet. My body went rigid, immobilized, while the other wolf struggled against its assailant's grip. The attacker sank its teeth into my assailant's neck until it went limp, blood spraying from the fatal wound, confirming its demise. Looking up, I beheld a massive wolf looming over me, effortlessly pinning me down with one paw. It regarded me curiously, seemingly puzzled by my lack of resistance. Unexpectedly, it withdrew its paw, allowing me to scramble to my feet and retreat cautiously. He shifted, and my eyes widened as I took in his naked human form, quickly averting my gaze. He stood tall, his muscles defined and hair tousled atop his head. “You're trespassing on our land,” the man stated, his eyes narrowing as he spoke. "We heard a commotion, but it's rare to encounter a lone female wolf in these parts," I dipped my snout , lowering my gaze uncertainty. All I wanted was to leave; I hadn't realized I was intruding on anyone's territory. As far as I knew, this area was unclaimed. “You've been bitten badly on the shoulder,” the man observed, nodding towards the bleeding wound. “We're cautious with strangers here. Shift back, prove you mean no harm, and we'll let you go unharmed,” the man stated firmly. I swallowed hard, torn between the urge to flee and the certainty they'd catch me in an instant, possibly with lethal consequences. The wolf who remained in his wolf form took a menacing step forward, his paws hitting the ground heavily. My legs trembled, feeling incapable of supporting me. Escaping them seemed impossible. I closed my eyes and shifted, standing naked before them without shame. I reasoned that I didn't know them and would likely never see them again, so their seeing me unclothed didn't matter. However, I made sure to discreetly cover my marked hand; revealing it could lead to trouble if they recognized its significance. The other wolf shifted back immediately after me, also nude. “What's your name?” the man asked. “Camille,” I said. That's the name I've been stuck with for as long as I can remember. What name was given to me by my parents? I had no idea, and frankly, it doesn't matter to me at all. “I'm Travis, and this is Noah,” the man introduced himself. I barely acknowledged them with a nod, my mind focused mainly on leaving. “You seem too young to be wandering around alone,” Noah observed. I gave a nonchalant shrug, though the motion made me wince in pain. My shoulder was seriously injured. “I prefer it this way,” I said, gritting my teeth against the searing pain coursing through my body. It was clear they weren't going to let me leave. They intended to take me with them. I swallowed hard, trying to muster some sympathy from one of them, hoping they'd let me go. But I was too weak, my mind failing at the effort. Damn it. “Well, at least let us help with your injury. It's not going to heal on its own, especially with how weak you look. Our Alpha wouldn't approve of us letting an injured female wander off to her death,” Travis insisted, making me grimace. I knew they were right. I was too thin, practically emaciated, and my shoulder hadn't started healing, showing how depleted I was. It was likely to get infected. I wrapped my arms around myself, ensuring my mark stayed covered. I'd gotten used to doing everything with my left hand, so hiding it wasn't a problem, though I had lost my gloves. “If you don't want our help, that's fine,” Noah said, tilting his head. “We can't make you accept our help, but I doubt you'll survive out here with that wound, especially with rogue wolves around. You won't stand a chance,” Travis said. Their blunt honesty stung because it was true. Venturing deep into the forest had been a reckless decision. From now on, I'd stick to the safety of cities. Once I'm stitched up, I'll be free to leave?” I asked, glaring at the two men, hoping this wasn't a trap or a trick and they hadn't noticed my mark. They both nodded. “Yes, of course.” “Fine, I appreciate it, but I need to leave as soon as possible. I have a lot of ground to cover,” I informed them. They motioned for me to follow as we pushed through dense shrubbery, the rain washing over us. At least it was cleansing my wound. I rehearsed my cover story, preparing in case anyone asked why I was out here alone. My parents had been killed by rogue wolves, leaving me to live by myself ever since. Solitude suited me just fine; And I had no desire to join a pack. After walking for about five minutes, the lively sounds of a village echoed through the dark night. I raised my eyebrows in surprise. The village seemed sizable, and I was astonished that I hadn't been aware of its presence before. Noah cleared a path through a thick cluster of tall vines, guiding me into a spacious clearing where people moved about and illuminated houses stood scattered across the grass. Feeling overwhelmed, I knew it was too late to turn back now. I just needed to get patched up and then I could make my escape. “Let's go,This is the way to the hospital,” Travis directed, leading me in a different direction from Noah. “Where's he headed?” I asked, feeling a pang of paranoia. “He's going to inform Alpha Ethan about your arrival,” Travis explained, and a chill ran down my spine as I gulped nervously. “What? Why?” I asked, panic rising in my voice. Travis looked at me, puzzled, as if the answer was obvious. "We have let you into our territory. We decided you're not a threat, but the Alpha still needs to be informed. It's a standard procedure." I swallowed hard, hoping the meeting would be very brief. Alphas were notoriously bossy, ruthless and arrogant, and I hated the thought of drawing their attention. If anyone could sniff out my secret easily, it would be an Alpha. “We'll find you something to wear once we're inside,” Travis said calmly. Nudity wasn't a big deal for wolves. “Preferably something with long sleeves,” I requested, needing to cover my hand. I hesitated as we entered the building, startled by the buzzing of the electronic doors. No one seemed to notice us, which was okay by me, and I was surprised to see a few other nude wolves in the waiting area. “Oh my Goddess, what happened?” a nurse exclaimed as she rushed over, her eyes full of concern. She immediately focused on my wound, quickly guiding Travis and me into a separate room. “She was attacked by a rogue wolf,” Travis explained, indicating for me to sit on the cot in the corner. “She will need some stitches, and could we also get her a long-sleeved top?” The nurse nodded, handed me a handful of tissues, and hurriedly left the room, muttering to herself with concern. “Alpha Ethan will really want to see you as soon as possible,” Travis informed me. “My guess is that if he's not busy, he'll come straight here,” Travis added. “As long as he doesn't try to make me stay,” I muttered under my breath, wiping my wound and then discreetly sitting on my hands, trying to appear as casual as possible. “He would never do that. He's a fair man,” Travis assured me. “Just make sure you don't say anything that might anger him, alright? He doesn't handle disrespect very well.” “Got it,” I murmured, my body tensing as voices approached from outside. After a few moments, one of them made my eyes widen, sending chills down my spine. It was cold here. I really needed those clothes. “He's here,” Travis announced, straightening up and clasping his hands in front of him, giving me a reassuring smile. Anxiety surged through me, my heart pounding loudly in my chest. I made a decision to remain mostly silent and let Travis take charge of the conversation. I couldn't imagine the Alpha needing much from me. Perhaps he simply wanted to assess whether I posed any threat. Clearly, I didn't. The door opened abruptly, and my surprise mounted as a towering brunette man strode into the room. His nostrils flared slightly, and his intense green eyes fixed on me. Our gaze held, neither of us willing to be the first to look away. I nearly forgot how to breathe as he scrutinized me, my fingers and toes tingling as I marveled at his striking beauty. His brows furrowed deeply as his gaze fell upon my bleeding shoulder, his hands clenched into fists as he took a deep breath. Time seemed to freeze, as if nothing else existed. His scent enveloped me, nearly overwhelming me with its intoxicating allure. I craved more of it. No, no no no…. this couldn't be happening. “Leave,” Ethan commanded Travis in a husky, authoritative tone that sent a shiver down my spine and caused my mouth to involuntarily fall open. His voice held a compelling allure that I found unexpectedly attractive. Travis appeared puzzled and surprised, he was taken aback, but he left without objection, swiftly exiting the room and closing the door behind him. Alpha Ethan moved nearer to me, and I felt an undeniable longing, as if an invisible force drew us together, inch by inch. “My mate,” he declared, crouching before me with a longing expression. His tanned form leaned in, and I struggled to steady my breathing. I shook my head repeatedly. “No, it can't be.”