My Only Luna

Hailey's POV Behind my eyes is drawn the memory of his gaze, the last time we saw each other when we said goodbye in front of the sea. His eyes, clear and of a shade of blue that makes the ocean pale before his reflection, and the tousled jet black hair that danced against his face. Owen has full lips, and that day he was biting his bottom one so hard, a part of me feared he was going to bleed. His hands were clenched, and his gaze, distant, lost in the sunset. “Are you telling me you're not going to keep fighting, that you won't at least try to make it work for us?" I begged him, but he let out only a sigh, having held his breath for a long time as if it hurt him to inhale and exhale. “I'm sorry, Hals. I don't know what else you expect from me," he released his hands then and slipped them inside the pockets of his jeans. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up, as I recall, and the path of blue veins showed clearly on his toned forearms. “I told you from the beginning that this could go no further. You know well the weight I carry on my shoulders." I knew it, yes. I knew Owen's burdens better than anyone, because more than his lover, I was his confidant, his best friend. We'd told each other everything since we were kids. I knew him better than anyone. However, that didn't stop his statements from hurting me deeply. And that pain blinded me from everything else. “F*ck the weight on your shoulders!" I shouted, letting go of my anger, my frustration, and knowing that no one would be able to hear us. My eyes filled with tears at that moment. I wanted to hit him, and at the same time, all I wanted to do was hug him. “I know you love me, and you know I love you. Isn't that something worth fighting for?" “I'm sorry, Hals..." he apologized again. “I just can't.." “No, stop it. Say no more. If this is so important to you, I accept it. But don't think I'll come crawling back." “What do you mean?" he said, frowning. I know it bothered him that I thought of myself as someone who had to grovel before him, but in that instant, that's how he had made me feel, and I hated him for it. “What I mean is, this is over, Owen. You and me. It's best that from now on, we each go our own way." He hadn't responded to my statements, but at the time, he didn't need to. By then, everything had already been said between the two of us. From that conversation until now, a year had passed, but I still hadn't been able to forget it, and honestly, not a single day had gone by that I hadn't thought about what happened, even when I was trying very hard not to. My name is Hailey, Hailey Verity, and the boy I fell in love with is named Owen Bullock. Owen and I have known each other since we were just kids, as we both belong to the same pack, one of the largest and most important in the country, located in California. Our pack has lived in harmony with humans for generations. They don't know about us, mythical creatures that populate their folklore and tales, but we do know about them. We know of their wars and their prejudices, and for that reason, we stay hidden and out of sight. Usually, pack life is much more harmonious. We don't usually have as much hate in our system, so we lead more peaceful and balanced lives. And yes, I know that not all humans are bad; likewise, not all wolves are good, but in our case, it's more complicated to see hate crimes or discrimination among our ranks. In our pack, Owen plays a vital role, as he is the son of the Alpha, who would one day inherit his place. When the time came and Owen's wolf was strong enough, his father would cede the throne to him. Or at least, that was the way things were supposed to be. But I recently learned that our leader died from a terrible illness, just a few days after Owen's birthday. As a result, he has now taken the position of Alpha, so he is in charge of protecting us and watching over all of us. But I'm not that important, in fact, I'm nothing more than the cook's daughter. For years I served the Bullock household, as we all in the pack make it a rule to help each other, and in truth, Owen never looked at me as if I was more important than I was. I must say, in all honesty, that I loved him from the second I met him when we were just kids, but things didn't turn out the way I wanted them to, as Owen never wanted to commit to anyone, as he knew that an Alpha's place is with his Luna. He said that only when his wolf woke up and could recognize his Moon, he would decide to enter into a serious relationship. A relationship for life. That didn't stop me, all in all, from fighting for him, for our love, because I know he loved me. But Owen let me go, and a year before his twenty-first birthday, when his wolf would finally wake up, I left, determined never to look back. Now, however, I feel my pack needs me, and once again, I have decided to return home. Apparently, things are not going as well as we had hoped, and I know that, although Owen has all the cards in his favor to be a great leader, it must not be easy to face this challenge early, and after the death of his father. “Hailey!" My name in a familiar voice is enough, however, to snap me out of my reverie, and soon I am rammed by a whirlwind of orange-scented blonde curls. “Oh, I've missed you so much!" says Sabrina, my best friend, who also belongs to the pack. I squeeze her tightly as I laugh and look at her. She's still as beautiful as ever, with that natural California look of hers. Tan complexion, clear eyes, and radiant smile. “I've missed you too, but I'm here now!" I tell her laughing. Sabrina and my dad are the only ones who knew I was coming back to the pack today. My father, Phil, is preparing a huge feast for tonight, as apparently there will be a big party at Owen's mansion, so Sabrina has volunteered to look for me. Laughing, and as we catch up, she leads me to her car. We load my few belongings into the back seat and she starts the car, as the breeze, which always seems to be perfumed with the scent of the sea, wraps me in its arms. “I missed this so much," I say sighing. “I'm telling you. You need a little bit of sunshine, my friend." She winks at me and I smile. My skin is naturally tanned. It is a nice light chocolate shade that blends perfectly with the unruly curls that run down my back. “We'll have to fix that then," I joke. “We will." She clicks her tongue. “But first, we have to fix you up. You're not going to look like that at the party tonight!" “I wasn't planning on going to the party tonight," I make it clear, and I shut up what I already know: I don't feel ready to see Owen yet. “Oh, but of course you will!" “Brina, I really don't know if this is the best idea­­­—" I start to say, but she cuts me off on the spot. “It's the best idea. Period, you're going, Hals. You've run away from this for too long. It's time Owen sees you. Let him know what he lost and regret letting go of the best, most amazing girl in the whole world." She places a hand over mine and gives me a firm, but loving squeeze, which I return with no problem. Now, however, I understand that she won't hold back. A part of her, just as with me, is eager to put closure on all of this. Or perhaps, to ask for a rematch. And I know she's right. I'm not going to be calm until I see Owen one more time and know that I'm over him. “Okay," I agree, smiling, and as she does so herself. “Make me look pretty... It's time to see my ex." “That's the spirit!" she shouts, excited, and as she turns up the volume of the music, whose catchy melody accompanies us the rest of the way. I wish that were enough, however, to silence my crazed heart.