Chapter 5 Luna
Luna
Notebook: When surrounded by large alpha shifters, do your best not to shit your pants.
The landscape unfolds like a wild tapestry, a vast expanse of emerald pines interspersed with jagged mountain peaks that pierce the sky with their snow-capped tips. I press my nose against the cool glass, watching civilization fade into the rearview mirror.
“Never been this far north before,” I murmur, more to myself than Alpha Hudson’s ears.
“Few shifters have,” he responds, his gaze unwavering on the twisting path ahead. “It’s a different world here—the Northern Districts are unforgiving, but there’s an undeniable beauty in its rawness.”
“The Northern Districts?” My voice jumps an octave. “Wait, we’re not crossing the border, are we?” My heart is hammering wildly against my ribs.
“Sure are,” he says with a wicked smile.
“Rumors say more than harsh. They say the shifters in the North are…”
“Savages?” His tone carries a teasing lilt, though his grip on the steering wheel tightens.
“Yeah.”
“Rumors are easy to spread, and we spread most of them ourselves,” Alpha Hudson retorts. He laughs and adds, “You’ll see the truth soon enough.”
I nod, though a wave of dread churns in my stomach. The trees outside blur into a dark wall, pressing closer. The wilderness stretches endlessly in every direction.
I hate this wilderness—no, I love it—no, it terrifies me.
My fingers twitch with the urge to roll down the window and breathe in the air, even as I curl tighter into my seat.
The knot of anxiety within me tightens with every mile we drive.
I steal a glance at Alpha Hudson, his massive frame making the driver’s seat look almost comically small. My eyes linger on his hands gripping the steering wheel… they’re freaking enormous.
I imagine them around my throat or cradling my face. There’s a certain gentleness in how his thumbs absently trace the leather.
My chest tightens with fear… or is it anticipation?
Protector or captor?
Guess only time will tell. I quickly look away when he shifts in his seat.
“Something on your mind, Luna?” he asks, looking at me from the corner of his eye.
“Is it much further?” My voice comes out smaller than I intended.
“Nearly there,” he assures me. “You holding up alright?”
“Define, alright?” I quip, trying to pull on the armor of sarcasm, even as it feels brittle against the vastness of the wilderness.
Alpha Hudson’s mouth twitched in what might’ve been the beginning of a smile. It’s gone too quickly to be sure.
“‘Alright’ means not bolting out of a moving vehicle because you’re second-guessing your life choices.”
“Then yeah, I’m golden,” I declare, forcing a bravado I don’t feel.
As we drive on, the air grows colder, biting at my exposed skin. I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly nostalgic for the warmth of the Institute—not the place so much as the walls that enclosed me.
“Here we are,” Alpha Hudson announces, steering past a heavily fortified entrance and continuing a few miles deeper into the territory.
The dense trees finally part to reveal a sprawling compound, and a massive log cabin-style house stands impressively before me.
“Welcome to Northcrest Territory.” Pulling the SUV to a stop, he adds, “Home.”
I step out, inhaling the crisp air that bites at my lungs. For a fleeting moment, I’m awestruck by the sheer scale of the thick forests and towering mountains, likely part of the Canadian Rockies. It’s breathtaking.
I hope my wolf finds comfort here and feels safe enough to shift.
I’d love to meet you, I tell her through our bond. She’s been quiet, still healing, but knowing she’s there is enough for now.
“Scared?” Alpha Hudson stands beside me, his presence as solid as the mountains.
“Terrified,” I admit, the truth slipping past my usual defenses.
“Good,” he says, surprising me. “Means you’re alive. Come on, Luna. Let’s introduce you to freedom, no matter how savage it might look.”
I nod, my heart thundering in my chest as I follow him.
Whether this will be home or a prison for the next three years remains to be seen.
The log cabin emerges ahead, massive and weathered, with logs of warm wood, like something pulled straight from a wilderness dream.
My heart pounds louder as I cross the threshold.
Inside, the air is laced with the scent of cedar, and the place has a cozy feel despite its size.
A stone fireplace dominates the living room, flanked by comfy-looking sofas that make me want to curl up and forget the world; rustic yet undeniably luxurious, not precisely what I expected from a pack of shifters in the middle of nowhere.
A lean alpha with an attentive gaze steps forward, his dark brown hair shaved on the side and swept back at the top.
His Asian heritage is evident in the almond shape of his dark eyes, which crinkle slightly at the corners when he offers his hand with a kind smile.
A leather pendant hangs at his neck, disappearing beneath the shirt collar sleeves rolled to the elbows, revealing toned forearms. He looks to be in his early thirties, maybe a few years younger than Alpha Hudson.
“You must be Luna. I’m Ethan, one of Hudson’s pack members. Welcome.” His words radiate warmth, but I can’t shake the feeling that he’s quietly assessing my every move.
“Hi,” I manage, my voice caught in a tangle of nerves.
“Where’s your stuff?” he asks, glancing behind me.
Heat crawls up my cheeks. “Just this,” I say, holding up my duffel bag.
“Travel light, huh? I like that.” He takes the bag from me, and I reluctantly release it, feeling strangely vulnerable without it.
A shadow towers behind Ethan.
Another alpha, built like a tank and impossibly larger than Alpha Hudson, with a scowl etched into features so perfectly sculpted they seem almost cruel in their beauty.
He’s dressed entirely in black: a tight t-shirt stretched across broad shoulders.
His biceps strain against the fabric as he crosses his arms, visible beneath tanned skin.
His midnight-black hair is cropped short at the sides, longer on top.
A few curls slip onto his forehead like he can’t be bothered to tame them.
He glances my way, eyes the color of a thunderstorm—steel gray with flecks of blue lightning—before looking away, muttering about “unnecessary additions”.
My wolf stirs slightly at the sight of him, pressing against my consciousness with unexpected interest.
“Ah, ignore Damien. He’s a moody fucker, even on his best days,” Alpha Hudson says from behind me. “The others are out. You’ll meet them tomorrow.”
He taps a hand on my shoulder, making me jump and step away. “Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to startle you, Luna.”
“It’s okay,” I say. “I’m just not used to being touched.”
“Well, she seems perfect,” Damien’s voice cuts across the room, low and edged with a growl that prickles my skin, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “A female meant to please five males who can’t even stand being touched.”
His stormy gaze slowly drags over me, and my wolf whimpers in the back of my mind. But not in fear.
I square my shoulders. “I said I’m not used to it, not that I don’t like it.”
Ethan smiles at Alpha Hudson. “Anyone who can face Damien has my vote,” he says, winking at me.
Alpha Hudson nods, his expression softening. “We’ll give you a few days to settle in, Luna. No need to rush things.”
I nod. I have zero experience. The thought of all these males makes me seriously want to hyperventilate.
“Well, count me out,” Damien says, his tone dripping with disdain. “She’s not my type, anyway.”
“Aren’t you all sunshine and rainbows?” I retort, lifting my chin defiantly. “Dickheads aren’t my type either.”
“Come on, I’ll show you to your room,” Ethan says, waving to the stairs, so I follow him.
I cast one last scornful glance at Damien, then smile at Hudson before sauntering behind Ethan.
As I curiously look around, each step creaks underfoot, a symphony of old wood.
We arrive on the top floor, where I’ll be staying and having my personal space away from the guys.
My eyes widen. “Whoa…”
The room is enormous, with exposed-beam ceilings and large windows that offer a breathtaking view of the mountains.
It feels too big for one scarred girl, too beautiful for someone like me. My wolf stirs inside, pressing against my skin as if she wants to roll in the plush blankets, sleep in front of the fireplace downstairs, and call this place ours.
I shut that thought down hard. Nothing this good comes without a price.
A king-sized bed piled high with pillows is against one wall. There’s also a sitting area, a large en-suite, and a sundeck.
I enter slowly, absorbing the luxury of it all. After the cramped, dingy dorm rooms I’ve endured, this feels like a dream. I can hardly believe it’s meant for me.
“Is it… to your liking?” Ethan wonders with a raised eyebrow.
A startled laugh escapes me. “It’s incredible! I was expecting a cell or maybe to be chained up in the basement.”
He frowns slightly, concern etching his features. “You’re our guest, not a prisoner, Luna.”
I turn around to smile at him. “I love it.”
“Great,” he says, rubbing his head with a shy grin. “Get settled, and holler if you need anything,” he says before leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I drop my duffel bag onto the bed, feeling the weight of my situation. I am in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by huge males.
Fuck my life.
My wolf stretches inside me, pawing at my consciousness, while my human side calculates escape routes.
Five alphas. One me.
Miles of wilderness in every direction.
I press my palm against my sternum, trying to quiet the war between relief and terror.
“What have I done?” I whisper, even as my wolf howls her delight at finally being away from those sterile institute walls. Her excitement bleeds into me, and despite everything, I’m grateful to have her with me.
“Okay, Luna, you can do this,” I tell myself, trying to bolster my confidence.
I unpack my few clothes and toiletries, but my gaze keeps drifting toward the enticing en-suite bathroom. The promise of privacy and endless hot water is too tempting to resist.
I strip off my clothes and step into the shower, releasing a sigh the moment the warm spray hits my skin. The heat eases the tension in my shoulders, and I close my eyes, letting the water wash over me, like it might rinse away the feeling of not being enough.
I stay longer than I should, savoring the simple luxury of a hot shower—no timer, no banging on the door, no one yelling that I’ve used up my allotted five minutes of steam.
When I’m clean and my skin is pruned, I slip into a tee and curl up on the large bed, pulling the throw blanket over myself and hugging a pillow.
The bed is sinfully comfortable, and the mattress conforms perfectly to my body.
I’m exhausted.
I’ll have a quick nap.
As I drift off, images of Damien’s furious face flicker. It’s nothing new for a male to be disappointed in me, especially once they see my scars. One might assume Alpha Hudson had shared my pictures with the others, letting them decide if they wanted me here.
Still, I grumble as I hug the pillow tighter, “Not his type. As if I care.”
Moments later, sleep claims me, oblivious to the dark shadow slipping into my room as the world fades away.