Chapter 10 - Instincts That Cannot Be Taught
The days that followed slowly settled into a rhythm that was still unfamiliar to me, yet comforting in ways I had never experienced before.
Life inside the Blood Moon packhouse moved with a sense of order and warmth that contrasted sharply with the cold, tense atmosphere of Crescent Valley.
Every morning began with breakfast in the large dining hall, where laughter and conversation filled the room before the warriors headed out to patrol or training.
I had begun joining Dhruv and Alya on the training grounds each morning as well.
At first I had been reluctant to participate, convinced that I would only embarrass myself.
But Dhruv's patient guidance and Alya's constant encouragement had made the experience far less intimidating than I expected.
They treated my mistakes as part of learning rather than proof of weakness, something I was still struggling to believe I deserved.
Cabir had also made it his personal mission to observe my progress, though most of his commentary consisted of teasing remarks that somehow managed to make everyone laugh.
Even when he joked about my concentration or the way I sometimes froze mid-movement, there was never cruelty behind his words.
Instead, there was an easy familiarity that made it clear he had already decided I belonged there.
Despite the gradual comfort I felt around most of the pack, my attention often drifted toward Mukti.
Since learning about her pregnancy, I found myself watching her more closely than before.
I could not explain why the instinct felt so strong, but every time she entered a room my awareness sharpened.
Perhaps it was because she had been the one who saved me when I had no strength left to defend myself.
Or perhaps it was simply because she had shown me kindness when I had expected none.
Whatever the reason, my mind remained alert whenever she was nearby.
That morning, the packhouse was unusually lively. Navya and Alya were discussing preparations for a small celebration to honor Mukti's pregnancy, while Cabir had begun loudly suggesting names for the future pup simply to irritate Dhruv. The dining hall was full of the comfortable noise of family.
Mukti was sitting near the end of the table with Neyonika, speaking quietly with her mother while Abhimanyu listened beside them. She looked relaxed, though I noticed that she occasionally pressed a hand lightly against her side as if steadying herself.
At first, I thought nothing of it. But a few minutes later, as she stood from her chair, something changed.
Her movement faltered.
The shift was subtle, yet my body reacted instantly.
"Mukti," I said before I even realised I had spoken.
She reached for the edge of the table, her expression tightening as a wave of dizziness seemed to pass through her.
Abhimanyu stood immediately. "What's wrong?"
"I'm fine," Mukti said, though her voice lacked its usual confidence. "Just a little lightheaded."
I had already moved closer without thinking. The memory of Crescent Valley flashed briefly through my mind—wolves collapsing after days of punishment, no one stepping forward to help them.
My hands hovered uncertainly near Mukti's arm before I gently steadied her.
"You should sit," I said quietly.
For a moment Mukti looked surprised by the firmness in my voice. Then she allowed me to guide her back into the chair.
The room had grown noticeably quieter.
Navya was already pouring a glass of water while Neyonika leaned closer to her daughter with obvious concern.
"It's normal," Neyonika said reassuringly. "Early pregnancy can cause sudden dizziness."
Abhimanyu knelt beside Mukti's chair, his usually composed expression softened with worry.
"You should rest for a while," he said gently.
"I will," Mukti replied, offering him a small smile. "I promise."
Only after she seemed steady again did I realise that my hands were still clenched tightly at my sides.
The protective urge that had surged through me moments earlier had been so strong it almost startled me.
Mukti noticed.
Her gaze lifted toward me, warm and thoughtful.
"Nandini," she said softly, "I'm alright."
I nodded slowly, though part of me still felt uneasy.
"I know," I replied. "I just wanted to make sure."
Mukti reached out and squeezed my hand briefly.
"Thank you."
The simple gesture sent an unexpected warmth through my chest.
From the moment Mukti stumbled, my attention had shifted entirely to the scene unfolding at the dining table. Instinctively, my senses sharpened as I evaluated the situation, but it quickly became clear that the dizziness was nothing more than a temporary effect of her pregnancy.
What caught my attention instead was Nandini.
The speed with which she reacted had been remarkable. She had moved before anyone else, her entire focus fixed on Mukti's safety as though the instinct had been built into her bones.
I watched her carefully as she stepped back once Mukti seemed stable again.
Her posture was tense, her shoulders slightly rigid, as if she was still prepared to intervene if something went wrong.
Cabir leaned slightly closer to me, lowering his voice.
"She didn't even think about it," he murmured. "She just reacted."
"I noticed," I replied.
Shadow stirred quietly in my mind.
My wolf had observed the moment with the same interest.
There was something about Nandini's instincts that felt unusually strong, especially for someone who claimed to have grown up without a wolf guiding her actions.
Across the room, Mukti was now speaking softly with Neyonika while Abhimanyu remained beside her chair. The tension had eased, and the packhouse gradually returned to its usual activity.
Yet my attention remained fixed on Nandini.
She stood slightly apart from the group now, as if uncertain whether she had overstepped.
I crossed the room slowly until I stood beside her.
"You handled that well," I said quietly.
She looked up at me with clear surprise.
"I only helped her sit down."
"You noticed the problem before anyone else did."
Her gaze shifted briefly toward Mukti.
"She saved me once," Nandini replied after a moment. "Protecting her feels... natural."
Her words were simple, but they carried a quiet sincerity that made Shadow stir again inside my mind.
Loyalty like that could not be forced.
It had to grow naturally.
And Nandini Murthy was already proving that the Blood Moon Pack mattered to her more than she probably realised.
______________________
Far from the warmth of Blood Moon territory, the atmosphere inside Crescent Valley's packhouse remained tense and restless.
Abhay stood near the training yard, listening impatiently as two warriors discussed recent patrol reports. His mood had worsened steadily over the past several days as the strange ache in his chest continued to return without warning.
That was when one of the younger wolves spoke up.
"I heard something interesting from the northern patrol," the warrior said cautiously.
Abhay's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What?"
"There are rumours," the wolf continued carefully. "About a woman staying with the Blood Moon Pack."
Abhay felt a sudden chill run through him.
"What kind of rumours?"
The warrior hesitated.
"They say she came from Crescent Valley."
The pain in Abhay's chest returned sharply.
And for the first time since the rejection, a single thought forced its way into his mind.
Nandini.