---

The early morning light streamed through the thick curtains of Hailey’s room, casting golden rays over the wooden floors. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her body aching from the previous night’s ordeal. Her thoughts were on Varian, on the way his hands had trembled when he touched her, and the pain in his eyes when he told her he’d sent a letter to her family—her father and her sister. He knew what family meant to her, but still, his command for her to rest had sparked something rebellious in her.

“I’m not a fragile flower,” she muttered, sitting up, despite the sharp protest from her ribs. A deep sigh escaped her lips as she stretched, ignoring the discomfort.

Her mind raced with impatience. She was the Luna of the Crescent Pack now, and she couldn’t afford to be lying around, resting while danger loomed. She had to be strong, not just for herself, but for Varian. She had to be capable, in control, and—most of all—prepared.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, ignoring the wave of dizziness that momentarily blurred her vision. Her resolve strengthened. Rest? Not likely. She needed to train, to fight, to push herself harder. This was nothing.

"Hailey, you need to rest," Varian’s voice echoed in her mind, stern yet filled with worry. She recalled the moment he had cupped her face, his eyes dark with concern. But Hailey had always been stubborn, and today was no exception.

"No time for resting," she whispered to herself. She was determined.

A knock at the door startled her from her thoughts. She tensed, half-expecting Varian to have returned, but instead, it was one of the pack attendants, sent to check on her. She dismissed them quickly, offering a polite smile, before slipping out of her room and down the hall.

---

Hailey made her way toward the garden, her mind racing with ideas. The ache in her body was little more than a nuisance as she considered her next move. Training was what she needed, and no one—not even Varian—was going to stop her.

As she moved through the grand corridors of the mansion, Hailey caught sight of Lina, her trusted friend and the one person she could always rely on for a good chat or a bit of mischief. She smiled as Lina spotted her.

“Luna!” Lina gasped, rushing toward her, her long braids bouncing with every step. “What are you doing up? Varian said you should be resting!”

Hailey waved off her concern with a dismissive hand. “Resting is overrated. I feel fine.”

Lina frowned, placing her hands on her hips in a familiar gesture of disapproval. “You feel fine? You were practically thrown across the room last night! If Varian finds out you’re not resting, he’ll—”

“Lina, relax. I’m just going a little stir-crazy, that’s all. Besides,” Hailey added, grinning, “I need to get out. You know I hate being cooped up.”

Lina sighed, already sensing where this conversation was headed. “Hailey, no. You know if the Alpha finds out, we’ll both be in trouble.”

Hailey rolled her eyes, walking past her friend toward the mansion doors. “I’ll be careful. He won’t find out. And besides, I can’t stay indoors all the time just because Varian’s worried.”

Lina jogged to catch up, her face a mixture of concern and resignation. “This isn’t a joke, Hailey. I mean it. What if you get hurt again?”

“I won’t. I just need a change of scenery.”

As they stepped out into the warm morning air, Hailey breathed deeply, the fresh scent of pine and wildflowers filling her lungs. Freedom. That’s what she needed. Something to make her feel alive, like she had control again.

“You mentioned something the other day, Lina,” Hailey began, casually, as they walked. “About a stream? Where the women of the pack go to relax or… something?”

Lina’s eyes widened, instantly understanding where Hailey was going with this. “No, no, Luna. Absolutely not. If Varian finds out I took you there, he’ll have my head.”

Hailey grinned, mischief twinkling in her eyes. “Oh, come on, Lina. I just want to see it. You said it’s a beautiful place where women go to relax. What harm is there in just taking a look?”

Lina groaned, rubbing her temples. “Hailey, please. This is a terrible idea.”

“It’s just a stream. I’ll be careful.”

Lina hesitated, torn between her sense of duty to Varian and her loyalty to Hailey. Finally, with a dramatic sigh, she relented. “Fine. But we go, you look, and we come straight back. No nonsense.”

Hailey beamed, linking her arm with Lina’s. “You’re the best. Let’s go.”

---

As they made their way through the dense forest that surrounded the mansion, Lina’s voice echoed through the trees, chastising Hailey the entire time.

“This is reckless. If Varian finds out, we’re both done for. And what if you get hurt again? Do you have any idea how much trouble we’ll be in?” Lina huffed, her anxiety palpable.

Hailey smiled to herself, enjoying Lina’s protective nature. “I know, I know. But I can’t just sit in that mansion all day. I need to see the world out here, to feel like I belong to this pack.”

“You do belong,” Lina snapped. “But you’re also the Luna. That means responsibility.”

Hailey shrugged, glancing around at the towering trees. “I can be responsible later. Right now, I just need to breathe.”

Lina groaned but continued to lead the way, her fingers absentmindedly twirling a loose braid. “This is still a terrible idea.”

As they walked, the sound of rushing water grew louder, and soon enough, the forest opened up to reveal a stunning sight. The stream sparkled in the sunlight, its clear waters rushing over smooth stones, and the surrounding greenery seemed to glow with life. A group of women from the pack was gathered near the banks, laughing and chatting, their faces glowing with relaxation.

Hailey’s breath caught in her throat. It was as if they’d stumbled upon a hidden paradise, a place of peace and connection far removed from the troubles of the pack.

“This…” Hailey whispered, her eyes wide with wonder. “This is beautiful.”

Lina crossed her arms, glaring. “Yes, it’s beautiful, but we shouldn’t be here. This is where the women of the pack come to relax, not where the Luna comes to get into trouble.”

Hailey turned to her friend, her eyes soft with gratitude. “Thank you for bringing me here, Lina. I needed this.”

Lina sighed again, her expression softening. “Just… don’t make a habit of it, okay? And can we go now before someone spots us?”

But Hailey wasn’t ready to leave just yet. She watched as the women splashed in the water, their laughter filling the air, and felt a sense of longing. To be part of something so simple, so normal—it was a life she wasn’t sure she could ever have now that she was Luna.

“Just a few more minutes,” Hailey murmured.

Lina, rubbing her temples again, muttered, “Fine. But if the Alpha shows up, you’re on your own.”

--

Dear Fabulous Readers,

I owe you all an apology of epic proportions. I’ve been absent for so long that I’m starting to think my phone might file a missing persons report on me. I know, I know – you were probably left hanging, wondering if the characters in my story were trapped in a plot twist or if they simply wandered off to join a circus.😆😆

Here’s the deal: I was on a quest. A quest for inspiration, which, as it turns out, is a lot like hunting for a unicorn – elusive, magical, and often leading to dead ends. Between battling my Netflix binge-watching habits and trying to remember what my characters even look like, I’ve had my hands full.

But fear not! The fun is just getting started. You might have thought I was taking a leisurely stroll through the land of procrastination, but I’ve actually been on a secret mission to uncover the most ridiculous plot twists you can imagine. Spoiler alert: they involve talking cats, a time-traveling toaster, and possibly a romance between two very confused sock puppets.

So please, grab your popcorn and buckle up! I promise to bring you the most outrageous and hilarious adventures in the chapters to come. Your patience has not gone unnoticed, and I can’t wait to reward you with the chaos, laughter, and drama you didn’t know you were missing.

Thank you for sticking around, and for believing in my ability to hit “update💜💜💜😩