The night whispered secrets to those who knew how to listen.
Raymond stood beneath the canopy of a tall cedar tree, eyes narrowed as he observed the scene playing out in the clearing behind the house. He had followed Luna the moment he realized she'd slipped away after dark—his instincts warned him something was off.
He hadn't expected this.
Not the roof. Not the fall.
And definitely not the man who leapt from the shadows and transformed in mid-air to save her.
His heart clenched as he watched Damian cradle her, soothe her, speak gently to her unborn child—their child. His mouth was dry, but not with fear. It was the heavy weight of confirmation.
"So… it's him," Raymond muttered under his breath. "The Alpha King himself."
He wasn't surprised that Luna's baby was special—he had suspected it from the moment she collapsed in his arms with pain the doctors couldn't explain. The untraceable energy. The shifting aura. The strength she was starting to exhibit.
But Damian.
Raymond had only heard rumors. Myths wrapped in blood and shadow. A child born of moon and fang. The last of an ancient, sacred bloodline—untouchable, unstoppable. An Alpha not of one pack, but of all.
And now he was here, in human skin, holding Raymond's goddaughter like she was his entire world.
Raymond exhaled deeply, stepping back into the shadows as Damian kissed Luna's stomach. The moment was too intimate, too sacred to intrude upon.
But there were decisions to be made. Secrets to keep—or reveal. He would have to choose a side soon.
And the world? The world had no idea what was coming.
---
The moonlight bathed the garden in silver as Luna sat quietly on the bench outside her house, wrapped in Damian's jacket. Her body still hummed from the strange connection she'd felt earlier—his kiss on her belly had calmed the storm inside her, but her heart still ached with questions.
Damian stood nearby, arms crossed, his eyes scanning the surroundings like a watchful guardian. He hadn't spoken since Raymond left unnoticed, though Luna had felt something shift in him—tense, alert, on edge.
"You're leaving again, aren't you?" she finally asked, voice low.
He turned to her, his gaze softening. "Just for a while."
Her lips trembled. "Why do I feel like I lose you every time I blink?"
Damian approached slowly, kneeling before her. "Because the world I come from doesn't allow peace, Luna. Not yet. And now that I know what you're carrying… I need to make sure it's safe. That you're safe."
"You're talking in riddles again," she muttered, but her hand clutched his sleeve.
He took her hand gently, placing it over his heart. "There are people who would kill to stop what's growing inside you. Not because of what you've done, but because of what he'll become. This child is not just mine. He's prophecy."
Luna swallowed hard. "Then don't leave me here."
"I'll come for you," Damian promised, his voice firm. "I'm preparing a place far from here. Hidden. Protected by ancient magic and loyal wolves. It won't be long. Just trust me."
Her eyes filled with tears. "And if something happens before you come back?"
He leaned closer, his hand on her cheek. "If you feel danger—real danger—say my name. Call me. I'll hear it, no matter where I am."
"Why do I believe that?" she asked, a soft, broken laugh escaping.
"Because it's true," he whispered. "Because we're bound now, Luna. Not just by this child… but by something older, deeper."
He kissed her forehead and then her lips—tender, lingering.
As he stood and turned to leave, he paused, looking back over his shoulder.
"Stay away from anyone you don't trust. Watch your step… and watch the stars. They always show signs."
Then he disappeared into the shadows.
And Luna sat there, her heart torn in two—part of her aching for him to stay… the other burning with the fire of something she didn't yet understand but knew would change everything.
---