The world was still dark when Aira Moonstone awoke.
The cold air wrapped around her like silence, and she didn't need to check the clock to know it wasn't even 5 a.m. yet. She never needed to. Her body remembered. Just like her heart remembered.
She slipped out of bed, pulled on her hoodie, and walked quietly out of the house, careful not to wake her father or brother. She didn't need their voices this early. Not the shouting. Not the blame.
Outside, the ground was wet with dew, and the cemetery behind the pack grounds loomed with its usual stillness. She passed the iron gate with practiced steps, until she stood at the small headstone buried beneath a willow tree, half covered in moss.
Selene MoonstoneLoyal Mate, Fierce Warrior, Loving Mother
Aira knelt.
"Hey, Mom," she whispered, her voice barely a breath.
She ran her fingers over the cold stone, the wind gently blowing through her tangled hair. "I had the dream again," she murmured, eyes distant. "The red sword. The fire. Him."
She paused, her chest aching in silence.
"I miss you. Every day."
She stayed there until the sky turned a soft pink. Then, like always, she walked home quietly. Slipped inside. Showered. Pulled on clean clothes. And moved straight into the kitchen.
No one was awake. Thank the Moon.
She moved quickly, cooking breakfast — eggs, toast, coffee. She packed it all into containers and left them on the counter. Her father would yell if it wasn't warm. Her brother would complain if his toast was soggy.
"I shouldn't have to be afraid of breakfast," she muttered to herself with a bitter smile.
Her life had been one long punishment since her mother died.Her father, Kael Moonstone, blamed her.Her brother, Jack, mocked her.And the pack? They didn't even look at her. She used to be the Beta's daughter. Now? Just an omega.
She grabbed her worn-out backpack and left the house before anyone could ruin her peace.
The school bus ride was quiet. No one saved her a seat. They never did. She stared out the window, counting trees to distract herself. When the bus hissed to a stop outside the pack school grounds, she stood quickly—
And was suddenly tackled by a blur of blonde curls and warm perfume.
"Aira!" came the joyful squeal.
Aira stumbled back, laughing softly. Only one person had the guts to hug her like that in public.
"Lila," Aira breathed, hugging her tightly.
Lila Ashwood, Gamma's daughter. The only person in the entire pack who still saw her. Who still loved her. Who remembered her before the fall.
"I missed you so much this summer!" Lila beamed. "It was so boring without you. I wanted to sneak you into the farmhouse—ugh, I wish I could've."
A sudden silence fell between them.
They both knew why Aira wasn't allowed at the Alpha's summer farmhouse. Every family of status — Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Teta — had spent the summer there. Except Aira. Her father had removed her from the Beta line the moment her mother died.
Aira swallowed the lump in her throat.
"It's okay," she lied. "I had the house to myself. Peace and quiet, you know?"
Lila frowned, but didn't argue.
They walked together to their lockers. Lila chattered on about school drama, teachers, and rumors about the upcoming Cross-Pack Training Trials. Aira nodded, half-listening, half-floating through her morning fog.
And then—he walked by.
Tall. Sharp-jawed. Raven-black hair, golden eyes that practically glowed. Effortless power in his stride.
Asher Thorne. Son of Alpha Elijha. The future Alpha.
Aira's heart stumbled in her chest.
He didn't look at her. Why would he? He probably didn't even know her name.
But for a split second, as he passed by, she thought he might've glanced her way. Just briefly. Just enough to remind her she still had a heart. And that it still knew how to skip a beat.
"Still a Greek god, huh?" Lila whispered, smirking.
Aira laughed softly. "Yeah. Not that it matters."
"Don't be so sure, Moonstone," Lila said, bumping her hip playfully. "One day, they'll all wish they hadn't forgotten you."
And Aira just smiled.Because she wasn't so sure she believed that anymore.
But oh, how she wished it were true.