Chapter 10
I had no idea how long I drifted on the river or wandered aimlessly after finally pulling myself to shore. When I woke up, I was draped in a blanket, the air thick with the scent of herbs and incense. Soft light filtered through two small vents in the stone walls, casting faint beams into the room. A handful of candles were scattered around, their flickering flames adding to the dim, warm glow. I noticed a few other beds nearby, but I seemed to be the only one occupying this space. “Ugh…” I groaned, my whole body aching.
The escape had been chaotic–an assault I never imagined I’d endure.
“You‘ re awake.” A voice broke the silence as a man entered through the curtain–draped doorway. What struck me first was the aura of authority that radiated from him. He had the commanding presence of someone who was at least a beta, if not an alpha, in these parts.
held a
He had a strong jawline and high cheekbones. His eyes, a calm blend of brown and green, sharpness and intensity that reminded me of an ideal leader. His silver hair was tied back in a casual ponytail, but there was no mistaking the strength he carried with him.
I tried to sit up, but pain surged through my body, leaving me unable to move much from where I lay. “Where am I?” I managed to ask, my voice weak but steady.
“Good, you‘ re awake,” he replied, his voice deep and smooth, laced with an undeniable authority.
It was the kind of tone that made it clear he was someone used to being obeyed.
“You‘ re in Blue Moon territory. This is one of our emergency infirmaries near the border,
he
continued, his gaze steady on mine. “I‘ m Caius Blacknight, recently coronated alpha of the Blue Moon pack. I found you in the woods while patrolling the border with my warriors. You were in pretty rough shape.”
If I had been thinking clearly, I might‘ ve leaped from the bed upon hearing his name.
The Blue Moon Pack was a rival of Night Howl. Though I had no hand in Night Howl‘ s politics, I knew about the long–standing territory disputes between the two packs. Truthfully, I was nervous about being in Blue Moon, especially as a former Luna of Night Howl.
Yet, my fear had lessened since waking up here. Instead of being thrown into a prison cell, I was bandaged and resting in an infirmary. They hadn‘ t treated me like an enemy but rather with care, and for that, I felt a surge of gratitude.
“My deepest thanks, Alpha Caius,” I said earnestly. “I was fleeing from bandits… I didn’t think I’d survive their attack yesterday.”
“That was four days ago, actually,” Caius corrected gently, “But regardless, I did what needed to be done. However, due to our security protocols, we couldn’t bring you further into our territory. This is the safest place we could offer you.
“This is far more than I could” ve hoped for. I can’t thank you enough,” I said sincerely.
He nodded briefly. “How should I call you?‘
I hesitated, unsure of how to introduce myself without raising suspicion.
“I go by Elmyra,” I finally said, keeping my response vague. “I was on the run…”
Caius raised an eyebrow, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Well, Elmyra, the healers said you‘ re just out of critical condition. It would be wise for you to stay here a few more days to recover.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
“But to be clear,” he added, his tone firm, “we don’t allow strangers inside our inner territory. You’ll be monitored by a few of our warriors while you remain here. They’ll explain the rules and restrictions.‘
“If they believe you pose any threat to Blue Moon, they won’t hesitate to act. I hope you understand that.
“I do, Alpha,” I replied, meeting his gaze.
The days passed in a haze, with me drifting in and out of consciousness. Slowly, I began to recognize the faces of those caring for me.
Baum, an elderly healer, would often talk about her family, proudly mentioning the recent birth of her third grandpup. Then there was Stella, her apprentice, whose striking beauty often made people doubt she was a healer, though her skill left no room for question.
At some point, I realized that my bond with Balthar had been completely severed.
Perhaps he had truly followed through on his promise to exile me.
There was also the chance that the Lunar Crystalis cutting away everything that weighed down my wolf spirit so it could recover–after all, I’d been in a nearly wolfless state for years.
When I was allowed to step outside of the infirmary, I got to spent a few more days and experiencing the kindness of the border staff that were stationed here.
However, tension would still linger between me and them even after we exchanged greetings and a bit stories between ourselves.
I couldn’t blame them. I was a stranger who had suddenly appeared in their territory. I suspected that some of the staff-or perhaps even Caius himself–had guessed at my past ties with Night Howl, Yet, no one brought it up during my recovery, and for that, I was grateful. Still, I knew I couldn’t avoid revealing my true identity forever.
So, when Caius came to the border one day to check on me, I approached him and asked for a moment of his time. We returned to the infirmary where I had been staying for the past few days.
‘Alpha Caius,” I began, my voice trembling slightly as I gathered the courage to speak. “You and your pack have shown me nothing but kindness. I owe you an explanation.
I looked up at him, then lowered my gaze. “I am Elmyra of Night Howl.” I shook my head, correcting myself. “No, I was of Night Howl.
“I was the Luna, mated to Alpha Balthar. The night you found me in the woods, I was attacked–by my own sister and someone I recognized as a member of the Calamity Cult.
“Calamity Cult?” Caius‘ s brows furrowed, surprise flickering across his face. “Are you saying Night Howl was involved with them?”
I shook my head quickly. “I don‘ t know. That’s not something I can confirm. Before the attack, I had already left my pack… because…” I took a deep breath, fighting back the wave of sorrow
threatening to overtake me. “I lost my son in a tragedy within the pack. The grief was too much, so I left everything behind.‘
“I was planning to seek refuge in Blue Moon,” I continued, my voice steadying as I spoke. “I had heard rumors that Blue Moon treated outsiders fairly. But before I could get far, my sister and the Calamity Cult member ambushed me.
A heavy silence settled between us.