Bound by the Luna's Song

ONE

I did not realize how small my world was, not until he brought me here—the said biggest pack in the continent, Storm Surge.

Taking my wrist, he led me through the luxurious grand hall, ignoring everyone who stopped walking and lowered their heads to show their utmost respect for him. Ever since he took me out of the zoo, he hasn’t said a word even when he returned back to his human form.

Keeping my silence, walking with him in front gave me a clearer view of his wounds—he has three, one on his left arm, and two on his right. I wonder what has caused it…but I don’t dare to speak up against a man like him.

He stopped and hid me behind him when we reached an office on the second floor and a man was inside. “You left on your own, sir.” Frustrated, the man with blonde locks and blue eyes approached us with visible anger in his face nearly as intimidating as Thoren.

When his eyes darted on me, I hid behind Thoren. “A mouse doesn’t belong here, sir.” Spatting in pure hostility, his words stung my already anxious pride. “You left the patrol to rush for a woman? A WOMAN?” he asked, repeating it as if my very existence is a plague to be avoided, not embraced.

A patrol…? Did he really come all the way just for me? My questions reached another height as I listened, hoping that my silence would at least stop the tension from escalating further.

“Enough, Venson,” Thoren’s voice was a low warning, edged with a command that even the hostile blonde seemed hesitant to ignore. I peeked out from behind him to find his icy gaze still locked onto me, assessing, searching, and judging.

As fear burned within me, I held Thoren’s shirt tightly, trying to keep my eyes on the man he just called Venson. I can feel my body trembling, and ironically, the man whom I was afraid of earlier is now my sole source of comfort.

“Tell me, sir,” Venson continued, his tone challenging as his blue orbs returned to fixed his gaze on Thoren’s golden ones. “What do you intend to do with her? The pack already have enough excess baggage. I hope you can justify why you left us without warning earlier.”

His words are undeniably hurtful, but the frankness is enough to tell me his dedication to protecting their pack.

Thoren’s fingers tightened briefly around my wrist before he let go, his stance tall and unyielding. “She stays,” he said, his tone leaving no room for debate as he kept me completely hidden behind him. “She’s my mate. And she’s more than earned her place here.”

That word—mate—carried a weight I barely understood. But seeing Venson’s scowl only confirmed that I was very much an outsider here. The hostility etched into every line of his face was unmistakable, yet I couldn’t understand what I’d done to provoke such disdain.

And then all of a sudden, a thought sprung in my head. Maybe…because I look different?

After a long pause, Venson’s gaze flickered back to Thoren. “What?” he angrily spat. His footsteps are heavy and firm, making me search for Thoren’s hand, seeking his warmth as all the heat leave my body, filling me with nothing but ice cold fear.

“She’s mine, Venson.” Speaking authoritatively, his words stopped him from walking. “Renoir recognize her as mine. That is more than enough.”

Renoir? Who is—“Are you certain that you wolf identified her as your mate, sir?” Venson rebutted.

Oh…Thoren’s wolf form has a separate name?

“That woman is not a werewolf.” He spoke as if that is the most obvious thing in the world. “She smells odd—not like anyone I’ve encountered. Where did you even pick up a thing like her?” he sneered, adding more fuel to the fire that currently drains me of life.

“She is…” Even Thoren can’t put a word on what am I—and that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

After a few moments of silence, Venson let out a cruel laugh. “You don’t even know what she is, and yet you claim her as yours?” completely disagreeing on me being here, his tone didn’t change despite Thoren’s firm attempts of keeping him away from probing further.

“She will stay close to me at all cost. She’s mine to observe and keep.” Thoren replied. “I will make an announcement to the pack tomorrow about my mate, and I need you to—”

Venson cut him off. “I suggest you not to, sir.”

“What?” Thoren growled, and his grip on my hand tightened, making me put my free hand on top of his,, hoping to soothe him in some way. “You want me to deny my mate?” he asked, the edge of his tone is far more demanding and scarier than before.

“She is a woman of questionable origin. She’s not a werewolf. You don’t even know whether her name is truly hers or not.”

Mentioning my shortcomings as a living being, I felt so small compared to these men who clashes with words. “Revealing her without proper knowledge of who she is will ruin the pack.”

Angered, Thoren took a step forward, making me pull him back. “P-please don’t fight…”

When he turned to look at me, I gulped, keeping my eyes on him. “He means no harm, sir…he is just being righteous.” As much as I wanted to prove myself, Venson is right—I am a nobody, and having me here is like adding a pebble in a chest full of gold.

“Your voice,” when Venson pointed it out, I looked at him, anxious about what he would say next. He stared at me for a while before clicking his tongue and looking away.

“For now, keep her a secret, sir.” His change of tone made my eyes widen in shock. “You shouldn’t let the pack see her like that. Have her hide her ears and tail, and make sure she won’t be anywhere here alone…for the sake of the pack.” He mumbled, but his sudden retreat made me happy.

Looking at Thoren, I was hopefully waiting for him to end this discussion and have me breathe in a much stable air. He locked his gaze with mine, and I felt him gently squeezing my hand, almost as if he is telling me to keep my focus on him.

“Can you retract them?”

“No…” I answered. “Ever since I was born, I have them,” gulping, I turned to Venson, hoping that he too, was listening to me. “I’m afraid I can’t hide them like how you can change your forms freely.”

Contemplating on what will they say to me next, I waited for either of them to speak, lowering my head as time passed by with none of them responding.

Soon, Thoren spoke. “Very well, I will have Estelle to cast a spell for you to hide them. You cannot leave them exposed.” he said, each word an unspoken warning. “For the safety of the pack.” He repeated what Venson said.

Looking up, I nodded, smiling a little. “Tomorrow, I will escort you to the pack’s sorceress. Only us three will know of what you are.” He added, making me nod again.

Then, his eyes darted back to Venson. “You will accompany her in times I cannot be by her side.” With that order, I looked at him, and found him staring at me. “Estelle will lead the identification of Serena’s race. If any of this information is leaked, only you two are to blame.”

I felt Thoren’s hand on my shoulder, a silent reassurance, yet I couldn’t ignore the tense energy still lingering between them. “Yes, sir.” Venson’s gaze shifted away from me and back to Thoren. “I trust that you won’t judge unfairly, sir. Do know that the chance you misunderstood your wolf’s response to that woman is high—she is NOT a werewolf.”

Thoren’s grip on my hand tightened, but he didn’t reply and just guided me through a doorway to a quieter room.

The tension in the room dissipated slightly, but my heart continued to pound as I looked up at Thoren, finally finding the courage to speak. “Why did you bring me here?” My voice came out in barely a whisper. “I am thankful that you saved me…but…still, why?”

He studied me for a long moment, his eyes still unreadable, yet my heart tells me he is softening ever so slightly with how he spoke to me. “Because I need you here.”

His words were simple, but I could feel their weight. I wanted to believe him, wanted to find solace in the thought of being wanted after a life of captivity and loneliness. But as much as I craved his acceptance, fear still rooted itself deep within me.

“Is this…is this really okay?” I asked, my voice trembling. “I mean, for me to be here. That man, Venson…he has a point, sir. I am not a werewolf. There will always be a chance that you just…mistook me for someone else.” I looked away.

“Venson is my beta, so he is protective of the pack,” Thoren replied. “He doesn’t understand yet. But he will.” His voice held a promise, one that made a faint spark of hope ignite within me.

“And it doesn’t matter if you’re a werewolf or not. As long as my wolf howls your name, you are mine.”

Hearing his heartfelt words, I looked at him—but this time, Thoren turned his gaze away briefly, as if catching a thought. “And, the song you sung…and what happened afterward,” upon the mention of it, I stiffened on my spot.

“I won’t tell a soul about it.” He mumbled. “Don’t worry about a thing.” Heaving a deep breath, he looked at me.

“For now, rest. No one will harm you here. I won’t allow it.” Brushing a few locks away from my face, he stared at me for a little while before stepping back, and without another word, left the room.

I stood there, my thoughts racing, uncertainty filling the quiet. But before I could dwell on it, the door opened—I thought he returned, but to my surprise, Venson walked in, his gaze sharp as ever.

“So,” he said, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall. “A shifter who can’t hide her ears and tail…sounds a little too suspicious, don’t you think?” he asked, his tone is less firm now, but without Thoren, the tension is still undeniable and almost as nerve-wracking as earlier.

My heart hammered in my chest, feeling exposed under his scrutinizing stare. “I didn’t…mean to be different and suspicious,” I replied, my voice barely audible. “It just happened.”

He raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. “That’s what makes you dangerous for the pack, Serena…in all aspects, you don’t belong here.” His words stung, each one an icy reminder of how unwelcomed I was.

I didn’t know what to say, so I stayed silent, my gaze fixed on the floor.

After a long pause, Venson finally sighed. “Prove me wrong.” With that, he turned and left.