Warrior Luna and Her Dispell Poems

Stay Vigilant

Bella bounded up the stairs, her heart light and her mind still buzzing with thoughts of Asher and the whirlwind of emotions she had been feeling all day. She freshened up quickly, then darted back downstairs, eager for one of her mother’s famous brownies, her favorite treat.

The sight of them sitting on the counter made her mouth water instantly. Brownies usually meant something special, and her heart warmed at the thought that her mom had gone through the trouble of baking them. She wasted no time, grabbing one of the larger pieces and taking a satisfying bite, feeling the rich, gooey sweetness melt on her tongue. As usual, her father, Tim, made a mock grab for the plate, trying to beat her to the rest of the brownies.

"Hey! Leave some for your poor old dad," Tim teased with a wide grin, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Not a chance, old man!" Bella laughed, pulling the plate closer to her and guarding it like a dragon with its treasure. Her mother, Dana, rolled her eyes, but the warm smile on her face showed she loved their playful bickering. These small moments of family banter were Bella's favorite, moments that made her feel secure and loved.

But as the laughter faded, Bella’s sharp senses began to pick up something else. A shift in the atmosphere. Despite the smiles on their faces, both of her parents seemed... tense. Their eyes lingered on her longer than usual, and there was a stiffness to their movements that Bella couldn’t ignore. It was subtle, but it was there.

She took another bite of her brownie, chewing slowly as she glanced between them. Her father’s usual easy-going demeanor felt a little forced, and her mother, though smiling, looked like she was holding something back.

Her wolf, Banja, stirred in her mind, pacing restlessly. “They’re hiding something,” Banja said in a low growl. “They’re more tense than usual. And it’s strange that your father’s home now, isn’t it? He’s almost never here at this time.”

Bella frowned slightly, swallowing the last of her brownie as her gaze shifted to her parents once again. Banja was right. Her father was normally busy with his Delta duties around this time of day, and it wasn’t like him to be home on a weekday afternoon, even if it was Friday, unless something serious was going on.

She cleared her throat, sitting up a little straighter. "Mom, Dad... is everything okay?" she asked, her voice steady but tinged with concern.

Tim gave her a reassuring smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Of course, sweetie. Why do you ask?"

Bella narrowed her eyes at him, tilting her head. "You both look... tense," she said carefully.

Her father replied, “You know how work can be a bit demanding sometimes.”

But Bella was not fully convinced as she added, "Is it really just work? Because it feels like something more than that."

For a moment, there was silence. Her father shifted uncomfortably in his chair, while her mother’s hands fidgeted with the towel she had been using to wipe the counter. Bella could feel the unease rolling off of them now, thick in the air. She wasn’t a child anymore; she knew when something was being kept from her. Her instincts as a wolf, her bond with her parents, all of it screamed that something was off.

Banja’s voice echoed in her mind again. “They’re definitely hiding something, Bella. Push them. Don’t let them dance around it.”

Bella took a deep breath, gathering her courage. "Okay, spill it," she said, her tone more insistent now. "I can see something’s bothering you. We’ve always been open with each other, so please, tell me what’s going on. I’m old enough to handle it."

Her father exchanged a look with Dana, and for a second, Bella thought he might try to deny it again, but then her mother sighed, her face softening as she placed the towel back on the counter. Dana took a long breath, clearly trying to figure out how to word whatever she was about to say.

"Tim..." Dana started softly, glancing at her mate. "She has the right to know."

Tim hesitated, his eyes flashing with conflict. His lips pressed into a thin line, and Bella’s heart began to race. The tension in the room suddenly felt palpable, like a storm waiting to break.

"To know what?" Bella asked, her voice quiet but firm.

Tim let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as if trying to find the right words. He avoided her gaze for a moment, his expression troubled. "Bella..." he began, his voice heavy with emotion, "we’ve always tried to protect you, to give you a safe, normal life. But... there are some things about your past that we’ve kept hidden. Not because we didn’t trust you, but because we wanted to wait until the right time to tell you."

Her heart skipped a beat. "What are you talking about?" she asked, her throat tightening. Her mind raced through possibilities, but none of them seemed to make sense. She had always trusted her parents completely, and the idea that they had been keeping something from her felt like a punch to the gut.

Dana stepped closer, reaching out to take Bella’s hand. "Sweetheart," she said gently, "you know that we adopted you when you were a baby, right?"

Bella nodded, her mouth suddenly dry. "Yeah, of course. But... I thought that was the whole story."

Tim and Dana exchanged another glance, and then her father spoke again, his voice low and filled with regret. "There’s more to it than that, Bella. When we adopted you, we promised to keep certain details about your lineage a secret, for your protection. Only a few people know the truth, including Alpha Azriel, Luna Lora, King Markus, Queen Kaia and us."

Bella’s head spun, her grip on her mother’s hand tightening. My lineage? The royal family? Her mind struggled to process what they were telling her. "What... what kind of secret?" she asked, barely able to get the words out.

Tim hesitated again, but before he could answer, Dana spoke, her eyes filled with worry. "Queen Kaia, Asher’s aunt, she’s a seer. And... she had a vision. A vision of you, Bella."

"A vision?" she whispered, her heart pounding in her chest.

"A vision of you being taken away," Dana said quietly, her voice trembling slightly. "We don’t know when or how, but... it’s a warning. Something’s coming, and we need to be more vigilant now than ever."

Bella felt like the ground had been ripped out from beneath her. Taken away? She could barely breathe, her thoughts racing, her wolf Banja snarling inside her head.

"Why... why didn’t you want to tell me this?" Bella asked, her voice breaking as she looked between her parents, her mind reeling from the weight of what she was hearing.

Tim reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We wanted to protect you," he said softly, his voice filled with regret. "We didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily, especially since Kaia’s visions can be... fluid. But now, we can’t ignore it. We need to keep you safe."

But one question was still disturbing her, “Mom, dad… why would someone attempt something like this? I don’t understand.!”

Tim cleared his throat, his voice rough with emotion. "What we’re about to tell you, Bella, needs to remain an absolute secret. For your own protection and safety." His eyes locked onto hers, their usual warmth clouded by concern. "No one can know, not even your closest friends. It’s too dangerous."

Bella’s pulse quickened as she nodded, her heart hammering against her ribs.

"I understand," she whispered, though her voice wavered. "I won’t say anything. I promise."

Tim took a deep breath, glancing at Dana before continuing. "Bella, you come from a bloodline blessed directly by the Moon Goddess herself. Your lineage... it’s special. Extremely rare. And because of that blessing, your kind has always been hunted by all sorts of supernatural creatures, who seek to exploit your power for their own gain. Your bloodline carries immense power, and with that power comes danger."

Bella's breath hitched. Blessed by the Moon Goddess? It sounded like something out of a legend, something impossible to imagine being a part of her reality. She had always known she was adopted, but this, this was something else entirely. She felt her chest tighten as her father’s words sank in.

Tim continued, his face tense. "Your ancestors, those with your bloodline, went into hiding centuries ago to protect themselves. They concealed their abilities, disappearing from the supernatural world. But... somehow, your mother, your birth mother and you, were found."

Bella felt her throat close up as her eyes began to sting with tears. Her mind reeled, but one question pierced through the confusion, a question she could barely bring herself to ask. She swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she spoke. "So... that’s why my birth mom was killed, isn’t it?" Her eyes filled with tears as she met her father’s gaze, her heart breaking as the truth became clear.

Dana’s grip on Bella’s hand tightened. Her adoptive mother’s face was grave, her usual warmth now overshadowed by sadness. "Yes," Dana said quietly, her voice heavy with sorrow. "That’s why she was taken from you."

Bella’s heart shattered at her mother’s confirmation. A single tear slid down her cheek, followed by another, until they fell freely, silently.

"Your birth mother was trying to protect you," Dana continued, her voice thick with emotion. "She knew the dangers, Bella, and she did everything she could to keep you safe. She sacrificed herself... so that you could live."

Bella's tears fell harder now, the weight of her birth mother's sacrifice crushing her. She had always known her adoptive parents loved her deeply, but now she understood the depth of the love that her birth mother must have felt as well. A love strong enough to give up her life to ensure Bella's survival.

Her father’s voice cut through the thick emotion in the room. "We took you in to protect you, Bella. But now, with Kaia’s vision... we need to be more careful than ever. There are those who might sense what you are, who you are. And if they do, they will come for you. Trying to use you."

Bella’s hands trembled, her head spinning. Hunted. Taken away. A bloodline blessed by the Moon Goddess. The words echoed in her mind like a haunting melody. Everything she thought she knew about herself, about her life, felt like it had been turned upside down.

Bella wiped her tears, her heart heavy as she looked at her parents. "So... what do we do now? How do we keep this a secret? How do I protect myself?"

Dana leaned in, brushing a tear from Bella's cheek with a gentle touch. "We don’t know exactly what’s coming, but for now, we need to be vigilant. Keep your head down. Don’t attract unnecessary attention. And most importantly, trust no one outside this family."

Tim stood, moving toward her and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We’re not going to let anything happen to you, Bella. You’re our daughter. We’ve protected you for this long, and we’ll keep doing it. We’ll fight for you, no matter what."

Bella's eyes met her father’s, the sincerity and determination in his gaze brought her a sense of comfort, despite the storm swirling inside her.

Taking a deep breath, she wiped the last of her tears and stood taller, forcing a small but determined smile. "Okay," she said, her voice steadier than before. "I’ll be careful. I’ll stay vigilant."

Dana smiled softly, pulling her into a tight embrace. "That’s my girl," she whispered, kissing the top of Bella's head.