Bound by the Luna's Song

TWO

I could barely sleep in the room he gave me—it is a minimalistic bedroom, but its space is almost twice as big as my enclosure, and it has everything I needed. Thoren even brought me clothes that’ll fit me for the night, and the unexpected gesture has made my heart jump out of joy.

Today, dressed in a white dress that he claims to be a spare from the maids’ quarters, he hid me with a cloak and escorted me out of his mansion, holding my hand as we made way to the pack’s hall of officials. He brought me to the south wing, and as we went deeper, the lights grow dimmer and the interior gradually changed from lavish to darkness and gothic designs.

“Here we are,” glancing at me, he gave me a firm nod before knocking on door twice. It a huge, wooden for with engraved texts and symbols I couldn’t understand.

And when the door opened, we were welcomed by smoke, and a gentle, feminine voice. “No wonder the souls are agitated this morning.” As she spoke, Thoren pulled me in, and the door shut close as soon as she was done speaking.

“Estelle.” He called, and the smoke dissipated as the windows flung open, allowing light to enter and give me a view of the room we are currently in.

It is a room full of shelves with jars and glasses of various herbs, liquids, and parts. There are several scattered papers, and hints of ink, shattered glasses, and spilled contents, almost as if she just had an explosive experiment going on before us.

“Hello, sir.” Standing up from her skull-themed seat, a woman dressed in violet and face colored in fierce shades of black greeted him with a bright smile, contrasting her appearance. She is smaller than me, and seeing a woman after the tension last night somewhat brings me joy.

“Do you have any spell to hide her ears and tail?” as he spoke about it, I took off my cloak, revealing my red fur for her to examine.

Humming, she looked at me from head to toe before circling around, her heels clicking through the tiled floor. “She’s probably a fox shifter, but there’s something unsettling…” mumbling to herself, she stopped in front of us and smiled. “You’re safe with me!” she proudly sated.

“Conduct research about her too. She,” hesitating, he cleared his throat. “The place where I found her has no traces of her origin. Find it out.”

He didn’t say I was from a zoo, and it made butterflies fly in my stomach.

Estelle caught on to his pause and gave me a curious look—but fortunately, she didn’t press more about it “Alright, I have a spell that will keep those red ears and tail of yours hidden, but it’s temporary. You’ll need to be mindful, as the spell may falter if you become… emotional.” She raised an eyebrow knowingly, as if she sensed the turmoil stirring beneath my composed exterior.

I nodded, a bit nervous about how to control this so-called "emotion," knowing all too well how easily affected I am by everything and everyone around me.

Still, I was grateful. I wanted to experience this place—the Storm Surge Pack—without standing out too much, to blend in even as a stranger among them.

Estelle lit a small bundle of herbs, filling the air with a warm, herbal scent that made my senses tingle. She began chanting softly, her words were audible, yet foreign to me. She lifted her finger, tracing intricate symbols in the air around me.

Her movements were deliberate, precise, as though each word and gesture held power. My skin prickled as the spell settled over me, a comforting warmth washing through my body.

“There,” she said, dusting off her hands, a satisfied smile tugging at her lips. “For now, you look as human as any wolf around here.” She gestured toward a mirror in the corner.

I caught my reflection—no red tail or pointed ears, just an ordinary girl with blonde hair and green eyes in a white dress. It was almost surreal to see myself this way, as if I’d peeled off layers of my true self to blend into the pack’s world.

Thoren glanced over, nodding his approval. “This will do.” He extended a bag of gold coins toward her, and she took them with a playful grin, her black-painted lips quirking.

“Always a pleasure, Thoren. And you—” she turned her gaze on me, her expression softening. “You’ll be alright. You belong here more than you know.” Her words settled in my heart, a comforting balm for my lingering doubts.

She knows a lot—probably, and I am thankful for her silence about it.

With the spell cast, Thoren guided me back out into the hallway, his hand on the small of my back as I kept my cloak folded in my arms. It was a simple touch, but I felt the warmth of his palm, grounding me, steadying my anxious heartbeat.

As we walked down the corridor, Venson appeared from the opposite side, his sharp gaze zeroing in on me with a wary look.

He didn’t speak, but his eyes seemed to say everything he was withholding—questions, suspicions, doubts all lingering in that silent exchange. Thoren, seeming to sense the tension, stepped protectively beside me.

“Venson,” he greeted, his tone sharp but neutral. “Everything set for the meeting?”

The beta nodded, making me gulp and take a step back, which in turn caused Thoren to gently squeeze my hip to prevent me from taking more steps away. “You go first. I shall escort her back to her chambers before-”

“A ROGUE CRASHED THROUGH THE NORTHERN GATES!” A loud voice echoed through the halls as a group of men rushed towards us.

“Fools.” Grumbling to himself, Thoren looked at me. Before he could even utter any word, I nodded, making open the window and jumped down from the third floor.

“You were just here for a day and this happened.” Pinning the blame of misfortune on me, Venson gave me a glare before turning to their men. “You two, follow me to the council. Finn, sound the alarms, have the other men guard along to secure the area and give boss enough time to deal with it.”

As they buzzed with their own tasks, I was left alone in the hall that was once quiet.

***

I didn’t know whether I should go back on my own, or wait in the very spot I was left until he returns—in the end, I found myself retracting our steps and knocking into Estelle’s room, hoping that having company would neither make them scold me for venturing alone, nor scold me for acting on my own accord.

“Storm Surge has gotten quite lovely,” stirring her pot, her sweet voice gently spoke, breaking my gaze away from the window and into her side view. “The pack’s expansion to the Growling Herd’s territory has rendered this place boring—always fighting, always about systems and powers.”

“Oh, I’m Estelle Yshkhan, by the way.” She giggled, sounding as if she wasn’t complaining earlier. “The souls tell me that there will be a change in the boring winds.” When she said that, she stopped stirring and turned at me, smiling.

“I’m on your side, Serena.”

Those were just five words, but it tugged my heart so deeply that I was nearly moved to tears. In this place where Thoren didn’t explain much, and Venson is openly showing disdain, I’ve yet to encounter another person and my anxiety about fitting in is worsening—yet here I am, being comforted by a sorceress who seemed to see through me.

“Thank you, Estelle.”

“Your voice is really charming. Has anyone told you that?” suddenly complimenting me out of nowhere, I laughed, and that brought a softer smile in her lips. “If people are making it difficult for you, just knock twice and the door will open.”

“And oh!” she went to her desk and rummaged through her drawers. “Where is—aha!” pulling out a rectangular mirror with intricate designs on its back and handle, she walked towards me.

“If you need to talk to me, just speak of my name and it’ll link you to me! It’s like a phone, but it’s much better.” She bragged, making me smile as I took it from her.

Before I could utter a word of thanks, the doors opened, revealing Venson with a grim look on his face. “You. On the council.” Speaking in a tone resembling his hatred yesterday, I glanced at Estelle who is now blankly looking at him.

“Go on, Serena.” With her approval, I gulped and faced Venson once again.

Taking my wrist, he gave me one last look before pulling me out of the room. His silence as he guided me towards where the council is suffocating. I wanted to ask, but I was afraid of making him anger worse with how tight he is holding me.

Reaching the fifth floor and after a few turns, we stopped at a double-door whose presence alone makes me shiver. Opening one door, he went in, dragging me in.

The first thing I noticed is how the room is lit in cold lights, and everyone—except Thoren, is wearing black cloaks, hiding their faces from me. In front of us is Thoren, looking at me with his usual unreadable expression. “Come here.” With that, Venson let go of my hand.

Steadying myself, I hid my wrist behind me, hoping that no one will notice the redness from his grasp as I walked through the middle of everyone whose gazes were boring into me.

Reaching the top of the stairs where Thoren was waiting, my eyes panned on another person who was tied behind him, sitting down as she stared at me with a smirk and coldness in her gray orbs.

“This rogue—”

“Yesha.” She corrected.

“—crossed through the boundaries and claims a prophecy where she’s summoned to be my mate.” Ignoring her words, Thoren kept his gaze on me as he spoke the words that made my heart sink.

His mate? This woman? Looking down at her, I can feel my heart throbbing in emotions that make my stomach churn. She has brown, wavy hair, reaching a little past below her shoulders, and is wearing a white tank top and black pants.

A rogue werewolf claiming to be an alpha’s mate, it sounded…real.

“She’s not it.” Thoren confirmed, snapping me out of my thoughts and look up at his golden orbs—he still doesn’t show enough affection to comfort the coldness within me, but with him subtly easing my nerves, the blankness of his golden orbs was somewhat endearing.

“You can’t defy what’s written by the fate that predetermines life.” Confidently, the woman named Yesha spoke, breaking my newfound hope. “Don’t lie to her, Thoren.”

“You’re not it.” He repeated, eyes focused on her.

“And how could you tell?” she chuckled.

“Because—”

“Sir.” Venson cut off, silently reminding him of the promise he made last night.

If I can’t be revealed and this woman claims to be his mate…what will happen now?