Chapter 1 – The Dawn
The Moonrise pack rests on a privileged spot atop a mountain, offering a breathtaking view of majestic peaks and a valley where the river reflects the golden dawn. The morning mist glides like a living cloak, and the scent of damp earth announces the arrival of spring.
At night, the moon rises as a guardian, spreading its silver mantle over a landscape that feels enchanted. But this beauty is wrapped in a heavy silence, as if the land itself were hiding something. Peace seems to reign, but even the most beautiful landscape can be a disguise. Is this peace real, or just a shadow of an illusion?
POV Aurora
I feel the soft warmth of the sun caressing my skin, but the scars on my wrists still ache with the morning chill. They are a constant reminder that in this pack, the light is nothing more than a disguise. I open my eyes slowly, and a serene smile appears on my lips... it’s morning. The fresh air still holds a touch of winter, but spring is already waking up, bringing the rebirth of life. The sun warms me, and I must confess, I love mornings like this. Every ray of sun seems to warm not just my body, but also my soul, bringing me peace.
Toc, toc, toc. The sound of the door opening interrupts my state of lightness. I turn my head and find the silhouette of my mother, Adella.
“Aurora, are you ready for breakfast? If not, it will be too late,” her voice sounds soft but firm.
“Yes… I’m getting up now,” I answer, my voice still marked by sleep.
I push the covers aside, then reach for my phone and check the time—10:00 a.m. I slept longer than usual. Yesterday, the training was merciless, and I came home exhausted.
“Don’t take too long, or the coffee will get cold,” she adds, in a calm but sharp tone, before closing the door gently.
I stretch, feeling my body wake up. I stand and walk to the window, pulling the curtains to let the sun flood the room with a radiant glow. Outside, the snow has almost vanished, with only a few small white patches resisting the change of season. I head to the bathroom, take a refreshing shower, get ready, and go down to the kitchen, where my mother is already sitting at the table, focused on her phone.
“Did you sleep well?” I ask, pulling her from her thoughts.
“Yes. And you? I got the impression you went to bed late,” she answers with a hint of criticism.
She always tells me not to stay up late; she knows me well and knows that when I do, I’m slow and sleepy all day.
“Not really. But the training was so hard… it seems to get more difficult every day.”
“Hmm… is the Beta being more demanding?” she asks with concern.
“Yes. He never goes easy on me.”
I see my mother’s gaze settle on me, intense. After a few seconds, she speaks:
“You know you don’t have to do this, right? You don’t have to prove anything to anyone,” she says, bringing the coffee cup to her lips.
I feel that her words are meant to protect me more than to scold me. I take a deep breath before replying:
“I know... I don’t want you to think I do this for anyone else. I just want to feel prepared.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice she’s still watching me, tender and worried, but she says nothing. We finish the meal in silence.
When I get up to take the dishes, her voice sounds again, low but full of affection:
“I just don’t want you to suffer anymore.”
For a moment, I’m speechless. Then, I step closer, place my hand on her shoulder, and say:
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’m not doing this because of the Alpha, or anyone else. I just want to know how to defend myself… to have a purpose in life.”
She looks up, and her tone becomes more serious:
“You know the royal family hates us. They do everything to keep us away… in the shadows. The warriors’ trainer is exactly the Beta Joshua, the Luna’s brother. He will always make your life difficult. Or have you already forgotten what he did to you?”
The words fall on me like an old weight. I feel my eyes burn. The memories return, sharp and cutting, as if no time had passed. A need to cry tightens my chest… but I resist. My mother has always been frank and direct with me; I know she didn’t say that to hurt me, but to make me think. And she’s right.
Sensing my vulnerability, she opens her arms and pulls me into her lap. I let her embrace me, hugging her back. Her touch has always given me the security that the world so often took away.
“You know how I hate seeing you suffer. I don’t want anyone to hurt you. If anything happens, you talk to me, alright?”
I nod, feeling her gentle kiss on the top of my head.
After tidying the table, I go back to my room and fall onto the bed. Her words echo in my mind. I feel like I need to talk to someone, but I don’t want to worry her. The first name that comes to mind is Hayden.
Since I don’t have my wolf yet, I can’t communicate with him through the mindlink, so I decide to send him a message.
