Blood Moon Reckoning

Chapter 4: Life in Exile

The small village where Estella now lived was a stark contrast to the grand halls of the Vesper Pack’s territory, a place she once called home. This village, nestled deep in the mountains and cloaked in thick forests, was quiet, isolated, and utterly free from the influence of the world she had fled. But the safety of its remoteness came with a price - loneliness, uncertainty, and the constant fear of being found.

Elena had been her sole companion through the transition. When Elena had brought her to the village, she promised that it would be a safe haven for Estella and her unborn child, far from the rumors and accusations that had destroyed her. The small cottage she now called home stood at the edge of the village, overlooking the dense forest that stretched as far as the eye could see. It was a modest place- two small rooms, a wood stove, and sparse furnishings- but for now, it was a sanctuary.

Days turned into weeks as Estella tried to rebuild her life. She spent her mornings collecting herbs from the nearby forest, her afternoons preparing tinctures and medicines, and her evenings sitting by the fire, her hands resting on the gentle curve of her stomach.

The villagers were kind, though they kept their distance, and Estella preferred it that way. She didn’t want them to ask too many questions about her past, about the child growing inside her, or about why she had appeared out of nowhere, under Elena’s care.

Elena had introduced her to the villagers as her “niece”, a distant relative who had come to help with her herbal remedies. The villagers accepted this explanation easily enough, grateful for the healing skills that Estella brought with her. It wasn’t long before word spread that Elena’s niece had a special talent for herbs, and soon people from neighboring villages began to visit the small shop that Estella had set up.

But despite the small comforts her new life provided, Estella’s heart was still burdened with the weight of her past. The betrayal, the accusations, and the public humiliation still haunted her, playing over and over in her mind like a nightmare she couldn’t wake from. Some nights, she would sit by the window, staring out into the darkness, her thoughts filled with the image of Carlos raging at her, accusing her of things she had never done. And Margaret, her supposed best friend, standing by his side with that damning footage, sealing her fate.

Estella’s hands would often shake as she worked, her mind flashing back to the moments when everything had fallen apart. She had been so sure of her love for Carlos, so sure that they would spend their lives together, raising their child in the heart of the Vesper Pack. But now, that dream was nothing but ash. Every day, she felt the sting of that loss, the deep, gnawing pain of betrayal.

Elena noticed, of course. The old woman was sharp and observant, and she knew when Estella’s thoughts were spiraling into darker places.

“Estella,” Elena said one evening as they sat by the fire, sipping tea. “You can’t live like this. You need to find peace with what happened, or it will consume you.”

“I don’t know how,” Estella replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Everything I believed in… everything I loved… it’s all gone. I don’t know how to move on.”

“You have something to live for,” Elena reminded her, glancing pointedly at Estella’s growing belly. “That child needs you. And you need to focus on building a future, not dwelling on the past.”

Estella knew Elena was right. The baby was her reason for living now, the only thing keeping her anchored in this world. But still, the fear lingered, gnawing at her insides. She couldn’t shake the feeling that her past would eventually catch up with her, that someone would discover where she was hiding, and that the Vesper Pack would come looking for her. The thought of facing Carlos again, of seeing the fury and betrayal in his eyes, sent shivers down her spine.

As Estella began to settle into her routine, a few people from the village had slowly become a part of her daily life. There was Eamon, a woodsman who lived at the far end of the village. He was gruff and quiet, keeping mostly to himself, but he had a gentle way with animals and often brought Estella fresh herbs he found on his journeys through the forest. He never asked questions, and Estella appreciated that.

Then there was Madeline, a young woman who had recently lost her husband in a hunting accident. She was one of Estella’s most frequent visitors, coming to the shop nearly every day for teas and tonics to ease her grief and help her sleep. Over time, Madeline and Estella formed a quiet bond, both of them carrying heavy burdens, though neither spoke openly of them. It was an unspoken understanding between them - pain recognized pain.

Despite these new connections, the village still felt like a cage. Estella couldn’t shake the feeling that she was living on borrowed time. Every time the bell above the door of her shop rang, her heart would leap in her chest, fear gripping her like a vice. She would look up, expecting to see a face from her past - Carlos, or worse, her father. But it was always just a villager, another customer seeking a remedy.

“Do you think they’ll ever find me?” Estella asked one evening, her voice filled with the uncertainty that had plagued her since she arrived.

Elena looked at her thoughtfully, setting down the tea she had been drinking. “The pack? Perhaps. But they have no reason to come here. You’ve done nothing wrong, Estella.”

Estella wanted to believe that. She wanted to believe that she was safe, that the village was far enough away from the Vesper Pack’s reach. But the nagging doubt never left her.

One evening, as the sun set behind the mountains, casting long shadows across the village, Estella sat outside her shop, watching the sky darken. The air was crisp and cool, carrying the scent of pine and earth. She rested a hand on her stomach, feeling the faint movement of the child within her.

A flicker of movement caught her eye, and she turned to see a figure emerging from the forest- a man, tall and broad-shouldered, with a hood pulled low over his face. He moved with a quiet grace, his footsteps barely audible on the dirt path.

Estella’s heart raced, her pulse quickening with a sudden jolt of fear. She didn’t recognize him. He wasn’t one of the villagers, and there was something about the way he carried himself that set her on edge.

The man approached slowly, stopping a few feet away from where Estella sat. He lifted his head slightly, but because of the darkness, his face wasn’t revealed.

“I hear you’re good with herbs,” he said, his voice rough, as if it hadn’t been used in a long time.

Estella nodded slowly, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. “I am… What do you need?”

The man glanced around as if checking to see if anyone was watching. Then, he reached into his coat and pulled out a small vial filled with a thick, dark liquid.

“I need more of this,” he said, his voice low. “Can you make it?”

Estella took the vial, holding it up to the fading light. The liquid inside was unfamiliar, its scent pungent and bitter.

“What is this?” she asked, her tone cautious.

The man’s gaze darkened, his jaw tightening. “It’s a remedy for… certain afflictions. Can you make it or not?”

Estella’s mind raced as she studied the vial. Something about this felt wrong - dangerous. But she couldn’t afford to make enemies, not here, not now.

“I’ll see what I can do,” she said, her voice steady despite the unease swirling in her chest.

The man nodded once, then turned and disappeared back into the forest, leaving Estella alone with the vial and a growing sense of dread.