Chapter 4

The moon was high in the sky, but Luna couldn't shake the tension in her chest as she sprinted through the forest. Every step was a blur as she moved, but her mind was clear—too clear. She could feel Ronan's gaze burning in her memory, his voice low in her ears, the way he'd looked at her with that strange mixture of curiosity and something deeper, something more.

The distant howls grew louder, and with them, her heart began to race. Something was wrong. The urgency in the call had not been a drill or a training exercise—it was a warning.

She pushed herself harder, ignoring the sting of twigs against her skin, the scratch of branches as they clawed at her arms. Her wolf was restless inside her, sensing the danger, urging her to move faster.

When she reached the edge of the Night Howlers' territory, the familiar scent of pine and smoke hit her, but the sight of the village was not what she had expected. Smoke curled into the air, and shouts echoed from within the village. The once calm and orderly settlement was now filled with chaos.

Luna's breath caught in her throat as she ran toward the heart of the village, where the source of the commotion seemed to be centered. Her eyes scanned the scene, landing on her father, Alpha Darius Nightshade, standing in the middle of a gathering of pack warriors. His face was twisted in a grimace of frustration and anger, and the air was thick with tension.

"Luna!" Her mother, Sylva, was the first to see her, rushing toward her with a look of pure concern in her eyes. "You've returned. Where—"

"It's the pack," Luna interrupted, her voice urgent. "Something's wrong. I heard the call—who was it?"

Sylva's face tightened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "It's a warning. There are intruders. The Dawn Chasers have crossed our borders. We're under attack."

Luna's heart dropped. She knew the consequences of this. If the Dawn Chasers had crossed the border, then all alliances—everything—was at risk. War was imminent.

Before she could ask any more questions, Darius turned to her, his amber eyes flashing with anger. "Luna. You've put us in danger again. You were seen crossing the border, and now the Dawn Chasers have taken advantage of your recklessness."

Her father's words hit her like a slap, but Luna's anger flared. "You can't blame me for this. We don't even know if Ronan's involved."

Darius's gaze darkened at the mention of Ronan's name. "You should not be associating with him. He is the heir to the Dawn Chasers, Luna. He is not a friend. He is your enemy."

Luna clenched her fists. "I know who he is."

Sylva stepped in between them, her voice calm yet firm. "Darius, enough." She turned to Luna, her eyes softening. "You need to understand that whatever happened out there... the tension is real. It's not just about you and Ronan. There are bigger forces at play now."

Luna's mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle. The attack was too coordinated to be a coincidence. "I don't understand. Why now? Why are the Dawn Chasers making their move? What do they want?"

Darius's jaw tightened. "There have been whispers for months. The packs are on the verge of war, and your actions have only stirred the pot. We've tried to maintain the peace, but if this escalates, there will be no turning back."

Luna felt a cold shiver creep up her spine. "What's the next step?"

"We prepare for battle," Darius said, his voice hard. "Gather the warriors, secure the borders, and get ready to defend our land. The Dawn Chasers won't stop until they've taken everything."

Luna's chest tightened. There was no going back now. Her curiosity had led her to cross the line, and now everything she had feared was coming to life.

As the pack warriors began to assemble, preparing for what was to come, Luna stood on the sidelines, the weight of her actions pressing heavily on her chest. She had never felt so alone, so unsure of her place in all of this.

And then, as if by fate, she saw him.

Ronan.

He stood at the edge of the clearing, his silhouette outlined against the flickering firelight. His storm-gray eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, the chaos around them seemed to fade. There was no anger in his gaze, no hate, only that same strange pull she had felt before. His presence was like a storm cloud on the horizon, something she couldn't escape, something that was already here.

She couldn't breathe, couldn't move, as the world around them seemed to fade. He stepped forward, his eyes never leaving hers, his lips pressing together in a tight line.

Luna felt her heart race, but she pushed the feeling aside. She couldn't afford to be distracted by him—not now, not when everything was falling apart.

The Dawn Chasers had crossed their border. The pack was preparing for war.

And Ronan Valen was standing at the edge of it all.

The inevitable confrontation loomed between them, and Luna had no idea what the future held. Would they remain enemies, or would the fate the moon had bound them to change everything?

The world was spinning out of control, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.