Third person pov
The forest was unusually quiet that evening. After Astra's test, the air itself seemed to hum differently, as if the world had witnessed something sacred and was now holding its breath. The moon shimmered pale gold through the treetops, its reflection glowing faintly on Selene's hair as she walked beside him.
Neither of them spoke for a long while. The silence between them was not awkward; it was heavy with meaning, a quiet acknowledgment of all they had endured. Finally, when the trees parted, a small house came into view at the edge of the clearing.
Selene paused, looked around and her eyes softening, she lift her head as she read the words carved into the wooden arch above the front door.
"Peace Abode," she murmured with a smile. "That is a beautiful name."
Lucian smiled faintly, glancing at her. "It seemed fitting. Whenever I am restless or weighed down by the burden of the pack, I come here. The moment I step onto this land, the noise in my head fades. I feel… at peace."
Selene tilted her head, her curiosity stirred. "You built this house yourself?"
He nodded. "Years ago."
She looked around the surrounding garden and then laughed softly. "Now I understand. I have been here before."
Lucian turned to her, surprised. "You have?"
"Yes," she said with a faraway look in her eyes. "There was no house then. Only wild herbs and bad energy hanging over the soil like smoke. I remember needing moonbloom roots for a healing potion, but the energy here felt corrupted. So before I picked anything, I cast a chasing and calming spell to cleanse the land."
Lucian blinked, stunned. "You… you did that?"
She nodded, smiling faintly. "I wanted the herbs to remain pure and I could not allow darkness to dwell where life grows."
He exhaled slowly, realization dawning on him. "So that was you. No wonder this place always feels different. Every time I come here, my heart quiets. My thoughts clear." He looked at her in awe. "The moon goddess truly has guided me all along, even when I did not know it."
Selene laughed softly, brushing her fingers along the carved wooden doorframe. "Perhaps peace has always been your destiny, Alpha."
He pushed the door open and gestured for her to enter. "Then come inside and see what peace looks like."
The moment Selene stepped in, her breath caught. The house was simple yet elegant, made from smooth ashwood and accented with soft grey stones. The living room smelled faintly of pine and sandalwood. Large windows welcomed the moonlight in, bathing the polished floor in silver.
"Lucian…" she whispered, turning slowly. "It's beautiful. Your taste in wood and decoration is exquisite."
Lucian smiled, his deep voice carrying a hint of pride. "I wanted it to feel like a refuge. A place untouched by chaos."
"It does," she said warmly. "It feels alive."
"Make yourself at home," he said. "This place belongs to you too, now."
She blinked at him, startled, but before she could reply, he asked, "Are you hungry?"
Selene laughed softly. "I could eat. But anything simple will do."
Lucian walked to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. The cold air hissed softly, revealing mostly empty shelves. A few jars of honey, two apples and a bottle of wine stared back at him.
Selene leaned on the doorway, amused. "Are you planning to cook the fridge for me or for yourself?"
He turned to her with a smirk. "You mock me too easily, darling."
She looked at him and smiled playfully. "I simply state the obvious."
He closed the fridge and chuckled. "Fine. What do you want me to get? I will mindlink Darius to bring supplies."
"Anything is fine," she said, shaking her head. "I'm not staying long, anyway. Just a few hours. I need to go back to my apothecary before dawn."
Lucian frowned slightly. "You could stay for a few days. The pack would not dare disturb you here."
She hesitated, looking away. "Lucian, I cannot. Elara needs me and Flora is still learning to control her aura. Leaving them too long could be dangerous. Besides…" Her voice softened. "If I stay too long, people might talk."
He shrugged. "Let them. A man cannot hide what his heart already knows."
She met his gaze and for a moment, the air between them thickened. He moved closer to her and hold her hand, he leaned in to kiss her, but she quickly looked away, cheeks warming faintly. "Lucian…"
He sighed and sent the mindlink anyway.
Within the hour, Darius arrived with several baskets. "You really emptied the kitchens for your mate, didn't you?" he teased, setting the crates down.
"Not a word," Lucian warned, but his grin gave him away.
Selene giggled quietly as she unpacked the groceries, fresh vegetables, herbs, grains, fish, bread, wild fruits and a jar of honeycomb. Darius even brought some of Alora's sweet rolls.
"Alora insisted you might have guests," Darius said with a wink toward Selene.
They cooked together or rather, Selene cooked while Lucian tried not to burn anything. Her laughter filled the house like music. Even Darius, watching from the table, shook his head in amusement.
"Never thought I'd see the day our Alpha would fetch spices and chop onions," Darius muttered.
"Do not test your luck, Darius," Lucian warned, but there was warmth in his tone.
When they finally sat down to eat, the air felt light, almost domestic. For the first time in years, Lucian felt something rare, peace that came not from silence, but from presence.
After the meal, Selene reclined on the rattan chair near the hearth. The fire crackled softly and soon her eyelids fluttered closed. Lucian watched her for a moment, the golden firelight brushing her skin like a lover's hand. Then he turned away, afraid of what his heart was already whispering.
************
Sleep came gently at first, then deepened, until the vision struck.
Darkness swallowed her. The forest appeared, drenched in shadow. She stood beneath a crimson moon, facing a woman she had never met but somehow recognized. Her hair was black as midnight, her eyes wild with fury. The woman held a silver dagger, her voice sharp like wind cutting through glass.
"You took what was mine!" she screamed. "I will not allow you to keep it!"
Selene's pulse thundered. She looked down and realized they were both clutching something, a glowing orb, pulsing with lunar light.
"I do not want what belongs to you and i didn't take what was yours. But this belong to me" Selene shouted back, by raising the orb up, but her voice trembled.
The woman's laughter echoed coldly. "You lie, witch. You will not have it. And soon, I will take it back. I Kira Ronan will not let you have peace, until i get what was mind back."
The orb shattered. Light exploded.
Selene jolted awake with a gasp, her body shaking.
Lucian and Darius rushed to her at once. Lucian knelt beside her. "Selene! Are you okay?"
She pressed a trembling hand to her forehead. "Yes… but I saw someone."
Lucian frowned. "Who?"
"A woman. Her name is Kira Ronan."
The color drained from both men's faces.
Darius froze, his voice dropping. "Kira… she's still alive?"
Selene looked between them. "You know her?"
Lucian's jaw tightened. "She was once part of our pack. My mother wanted me to marry her, since i haven't found my mate. But she betrayed us, she acted as a spy for a rival pack. I banished her. No one has heard of her since."
Selene's eyes darkened. "Then prepare yourself, Alpha. She is coming back for you."
Lucian's voice deepened, cold and resolute. "She would not dare."
Darius's tone was grim. "If she's still alive, she has a reason for returning, which i know is not a good one."
Selene rose from the chair, her hand brushing over her pendant. "In my vision, she was consumed by rage. Whatever she wants, it will not end peacefully."
Lucian took a step closer, his gaze fierce. "Then she will learn that some ghosts are better left buried. If Kira Ronan returns to Moonfang, I will end her myself."
The fire flared higher as if answering his vow.
Selene met his eyes. "We must be careful. If Astra's warning was true, this could be the beginning of what she saw — love and war intertwined."
Lucian exhaled slowly. "Then let it come. I will not lose what fate has already placed in my hands."
For a long moment, neither spoke. Only the sound of the crackling fire filled the room, mingling with the soft hum of the night beyond the windows.
Somewhere deep in the forest, the wind carried a faint, unfamiliar howl. A warning.
Selene shivered, her fingers tightening on the pendant around her neck. "The peace you found here, Lucian… I fear it will not last long."
Lucian's eyes darkened. "Then we will fight for it."