Chapter 29
Lisa’s POV_
The morning light spilled through the large windows, painting my room in soft gold. But even the warmth of the sun couldn’t chase away the chill left by my dream. I had barely slept. My body ached with tension, and my mind was a tangled mess of questions I couldn’t answer.
I made my way downstairs, trying to shake it off. But the dream lingered in the corners of my mind like a
shadow.
Rylan and Alexandra were already seated at the breakfast table. Alexandra was buttering a croissant while Rylan sipped his coffee and read something on his phone.
“Morning,” I mumbled and slid into my seat.
Rylan looked up and raised an eyebrow. “Well, well, someone’s unusually quiet today. What’s wrong, Lisa?”
I poked at my toast. “I had a bad dream last night.”
Alexandra’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she leaned forward. “Ooh, do tell!”
I hesitated. It felt silly now, like a ghost story I had imagined as a child. But the weight in my chest said
otherwise.
“It felt real,” I began slowly. “Like it wasn’t just a dream. More like… a memory. But not mine.”
They both grew quiet and listened.
“I was in a clearing,” I continued. “There was a woman….her name was Althea. She was running with a baby. She was being chased by someone terrible. A man. He said her name like he owned her. Like she and the baby belonged to him.”
Alexandra frowned slightly but didn’t interrupt.
“She was bleeding. Her clothes were torn. She looked desperate. She gave the baby to a warrior and begged him to protect her child. She called her ‘my little moon.’ And then she ran… and I just knew she wasn’t coming back.”
I looked up, my heart pounding again just from recalling it. “It felt like I knew her. Like I felt her pain.”
There was a pause.
Then Rylan leaned back in his chair and smirked. “Sounds like you have been watching too many thriller movies, Lisa. That’s what happens when you binge those late at night.”
Alexandra rolled her eyes. “Rylan, not everything is about movies.”
He chuckled. “Hey, I’m just saying. Dreams are weird. They mix up everything. Maybe you just need some
rest.”
Alexandra reached over and squeezed my hand gently. “It could be important, Lisa. Our wolves sometimes show us things in dreams. Just… don’t ignore it.”
I nodded slowly. “I won’t.”
They both tried to lighten the mood after that. Rylan teased Alexandra about her hair being a bird’s nest, and she threw a piece of toast at him. I laughed, and for a while, the heaviness in my chest lifted.
But deep down, I was still worried. That dream didn’t feel random. It felt like a piece of something bigger. Something I wasn’t ready to remember.
Afternoon came too quickly, and it was time to get ready for Alpha Damien’s engagement party.
I stood in front of the mirror in my red dress. It hugged my figure softly, with a flowing skirt and delicate lace along the shoulders. My hair was curled lightly, and I wore a silver chain with a small moon charm
around my neck.
When I stepped out of my room, Rylan was waiting in the hall.
He wore a black suit that fit him perfectly. The fabric was smooth and crisp. His white shirt contrasted sharply beneath the jacket, and his dark tie matched the stormy brown of his eyes. He looked…
breathtaking.
Alexandra walked up behind him in a deep blue dress that shimmered when the light hit it. Her hair was pinned in an elegant updo and she looked like royalty.
Rylan’s eyes found me. He gave a low whistle. “Wow. Lisa, you look… stunning. Red suits you.”
I felt my cheeks heat up. “You clean up well yourself. I didn’t know you owned something other than
flannel.”
He laughed. “I keep the good stuff hidden for special occasions. Like tonight. I knew I had to impress you.”
I raised a brow. “You trying to impress me, Alpha Rylan?”
He leaned in slightly, his voice low and playful. “Is it working?”
I smiled. “Maybe.”
Alexandra rolled her eyes dramatically. “Okay, okay, lovebirds. Can we please go before we’re late and I have to explain to Damien that you two were flirting instead of arriving on time?”
We all laughed and headed out.
Jared was already waiting with the car. Rylan took the front seat while I slid into the back with Alexandra.
As we drove, I stared out the window.
The forest blurred past us. The trees were tall and endless. Sunlight flickered through the leaves, dancing across the car interior like sparks.
We were going to the Crescent Pack.
It didn’t take long before the forest gave way to wide open land and the tall iron gates of the Crescent territory. Two guards stood at the entrance. They were dressed in dark uniforms.
Rylan rolled down the window and handed one of them an ivory envelope. The guard studied it, then nodded and waved us through.
“Welcome, Alpha Rylan.”
The car rolled forward slowly and we entered the Crescent Pack grounds.
Inside, the entire area was transformed. The gold-themed decorations glittered in the sunlight. Golden banners draped from every post. Tables were arranged with white cloths and golden centerpieces. A string of fairy lights hung between trees.
The Crescent Pack was huge. I had heard it was one of the biggest and strongest packs in the region, but
nothing had prepared me for the sight in front of me.
People were everywhere. They were dressed in fine clothes and gathered in small groups. They were chatting and laughing. The women wore long, flowing gowns in colors that sparkled under the light. The
men looked sharp in suits and tailored jackets.
I gripped the edge of my dress nervously.
Rylan turned to me with a soft smile. “Come on. Let’s go say hello to Alpha Damien.”
I nodded and followed him through the crowd. Alexandra walked beside me. She was already waving at a
few familiar faces.
My heart beat a little faster with each step. I didn’t know many people here. This was their home, not mine. I felt like an outsider….again. But I held my head high and kept close to Rylan.
Near the entrance of the pack house, a tall man with dark blond hair stood with a woman who looked like she had stepped out of a fashion magazine. That had to be Alpha Damien and his fiancée, Ella.
As we approached, Rylan placed a hand gently on the small of my back, guiding me forward.
“Alpha Damien,” Rylan greeted with a respectful nod. “Congratulations on your engagement. You and Ella
look great together.”
Damien smiled broadly and reached out to shake Rylan’s hand. “Thank you, Rylan. It means a lot. I’m glad
you could make it.”
Ella turned to us then. She was beautiful. Her dark brown hair fell in perfect waves down her back. Her eyes were a striking shade of hazel, framed by long lashes. She wore a golden gown that shimmered with every movement. It was clinging to her curves like it had been made just for her. A soft golden crown
rested on her head.
She gave us a graceful smile. “Welcome. And thank you, Rylan. It’s so nice to finally meet you in person.”
Rylan gestured to me. “This is my good friend, Lisa. She’s new to the Frostbane Pack.”
I stepped forward carefully and offered a polite smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alpha Damien. And you too, Ella. Congratulations on your engagement.”
Ella smiled warmly. “Thank you, Lisa. That’s kind of you.”
Damien nodded as well. “You’re welcome here, Lisa. Any friend of Rylan is a friend of ours.”
Alexandra leaned in with her usual cheerful tone. “And I’m Alexandra, by the way. I grew up with these two troublemakers. You have my blessing and best wishes too!”
Ella laughed. “Thank you, Alexandra. That means a lot. I love your dress, by the way.”
“Yours is stunning,” Alexandra replied and spinned slightly to show off the shimmer in hers.
They chuckled together, and the conversation flowed naturally between them. I tried to relax. For a
moment, I even smiled.
But then I saw him.
At first, it was just a feeling, a strange pull in the air. My heart skipped a beat, and I turned my head slightly
to look over Damien’s shoulder.
There he was.
My breath caught.
He was tall with broad shoulders and dark hair. His profile was all too familiar, even with the crowd around
him. I wasn’t making a mistake. It was him.
