Fate of the Lost Moon

I pressed my hand against the cool, rough bark of the ancient tree, its roots twisting through the Ravenwood forest and grounding me even as my thoughts drifted. The shadows around me felt comforting, almost familiar, like the forest was listening to my unspoken worries. My eighteenth birthday was only a few weeks away, but instead of excitement, I felt… empty. For most, that day would mark the awakening of their wolf. But for me? There was only the familiar ache of anticipation that always led to disappointment. Cassandra emerged from the shadows, her auburn hair catching the moonlight, casting her in an ethereal glow. I could see the sharp, questioning look in her eyes as they landed on me. “Steph, you shouldn’t be out here alone,” she said, her voice tinged with both annoyance and concern. “You know the rogues have been getting braver.” “Maybe a rogue would be the best excitement I’d get all year,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. We had just returned from the Silverpine Pack, where our uncle was Alpha. Their pack had welcomed us with open arms, and despite my wolflessness, I felt more at home there than I ever did here. The comfort of their hospitality only highlighted how out of place I felt now, back in Ravenwood. “It’ll happen, Steph. I know you’re... waiting,” she said, her voice wavering. “Waiting for what, Cass? To be something I’m not?” I shot back, frustration bubbling to the surface. The tightness in my chest grew worse with each passing moment. Cassandra, on the other hand, had already met her wolf, Lilith, and I could see the pride and joy in her eyes when she spoke about her. It only intensified my own feelings of inadequacy. “Are you okay?” Cassandra asked, concern furrowing her brow. “I’m fine,” I lied. “Just… thinking about what it would mean to actually join Silverpine.” The thought of leaving Ravenwood behind sent a shiver down my spine. I didn’t want to go; I wanted to stay with my family. But the idea of finding a place where I felt accepted, despite not having my wolf, was tempting. Cassandra’s eyes lit up at the mention. “That would be amazing! They have such a strong pack, and Uncle Magnus is a great Alpha. They would be able to watch out for you! But I’m happy to be back in Ravenwood,” she added quickly, her enthusiasm shifting. “I want to stay here, with our family.” “Yeah, I know,” I mumbled, my voice trailing off. The idea of joining Silverpine was appealing, but it felt like I was running away from something I didn’t want to leave behind. Just then, a playful voice called out from the treeline. “What’s this? The Lunaris twins out for a midnight stroll? I didn’t know we were hosting a ghost tour!” Rowan Castor stepped into view, his trademark grin lighting up the night. He leaned casually against a tree, arms crossed, clearly enjoying the moment. His tousled hair caught the moonlight, and his bright blue eyes sparkled with mischief. I couldn’t help but notice how he had grown into his features over the past two years, his playful charm even more evident. “Rowan,” Cassandra hissed, shooting him a glare. “This is not the time.” “Oh, come on,” he said, pushing off the tree with a mockingly dramatic sigh. “It’s the perfect time! We all know the birthday girl here is just waiting for her wolf to leap out and surprise her. Or maybe she’s just too scared to let it happen.” He stepped closer to me, a teasing glint in his eyes. “What’s the matter, Steph? Afraid it’ll be more of a pup than a wolf?” Heat rushed to my cheeks, anger mixing with embarrassment. “You’re hilarious, Rowan. Really. Just keep cracking jokes while I stand here, waiting for a miracle that’s never coming.” Cassandra stepped in, attempting to diffuse the tension. “Rowan, leave her alone. This is serious.” “Serious? Or just boring?” he shot back, clearly unfazed. “Besides, if you’re still wolf-less tomorrow, I might have to give you a new nickname—something fitting like ‘The Wolf Who Cried.’” His eyes twinkled as he turned his attention back to Cassandra. “But I can’t wait for you to find your wolf, Cass. You know Lilith is gorgeous, just like you.” Cassandra rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. “Flattery won’t get you anywhere, Rowan. Not after everything. I’m seeing someone now, you know.” Rowan’s grin faltered for a split second, then he leaned closer to me, a playful smirk returning to his face. “Oh, really? Who’s the lucky guy?” His voice was light, but there was a hint of something deeper in his gaze as he looked at me. “Someone you don’t need to worry about,” she shot back, crossing her arms defiantly. “Good for you,” he said, but this time it lacked the usual enthusiasm. Instead, he turned to me, his tone shifting. “But I’d like to think you and I could have a bit of fun while you’re still on the market, Steph.” A sharp howl pierced the night, cutting through the banter. Cassandra straightened, alert, her wolf instincts responding instantly. But I felt nothing—just the emptiness tightening in my chest. “Rowan, stop it!” Cassandra snapped, taking a step toward him. “Can’t you see she’s not in the mood?” Rowan shrugged, still grinning. “Just trying to lighten the mood. You know I can’t resist a good tease, especially when it comes to our resident ghost.” As the cousin to Remus Proctor, the pack’s golden child and future Alpha, Rowan always found a way to stand out. Where Remus was polished and perfect, everyone’s idea of the ideal future leader, Rowan was the playful rebel, defying expectations and bringing refreshing chaos to the order of our lives. As we broke through the treeline into the open field near the pack’s main grounds, I couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight would be different. With Rowan’s laughter still ringing in my ears and the way he looked at me igniting something I couldn’t define, I found it hard to believe that anything could change. As we approached our family home near the pack house, the warm glow of lights spilled from the windows, and I could hear the familiar sounds of our little siblings playing inside. My heart swelled with a mix of happiness and nostalgia. “Look!” Cassandra said, her eyes lighting up. “They’re waiting for us!” We stepped through the door, and I was immediately engulfed in a flurry of movement as our younger siblings rushed toward us. “Gwen! Henry!” I called, crouching down to scoop them into my arms. Gwendolyn, who was ten, had long dark hair that matched our mother’s, her blue eyes bright with excitement. She was the responsible one, always looking after her younger brother, who was now clinging to my leg, his curly brown hair bouncing as he laughed. Henry, just five, was the epitome of curiosity and energy, his small frame darting around with boundless enthusiasm. “Did you bring us anything?” Henry asked, his big eyes pleading. “Just our charming selves,” I replied, ruffling his hair, earning a delighted squeal from him. Our grandmother stood in the kitchen, a warm smile on her face as she prepared a late-night snack, while our father looked up from the table, where he had been working on something. Fynn, our older brother, stood a little further back, arms crossed but a smile creeping onto his face. “Took you long enough,” he said, shaking his head with mock seriousness. “We thought you’d gone off to join the Silverpine pack permanently.” I laughed, the tension of the night melting away. “As if they could handle us both!” Cassandra laughed, before she hugged our siblings. As we settled in, surrounded by the chaos of family, laughter, and the comforting presence of our grandmother and father, I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this birthday would be the start of something new.