My Luna Has Returned

He nods, understanding what I said, and smiles, which looks odd on his rugged face.

"They're outside. Let me guide you," he says, placing a big hand on my shoulder, and we walk through the packhouse until we reach the gardens. There, my dad is sitting with the alpha of this pack, smoking a cigar. Noah and another guy around Noah's age are also present.

The conversation stops when they spot me, and suddenly, I feel nervous.

"Alpha," the big man says, bowing his head before leaving. I want to call him back, feeling like I need some backup. He exudes trust and warmth, despite his imposing appearance.

"I want to join," I say with as much confidence as I can muster, though my fingers betray my nerves as I fidget with them.

"Not now, Riley. We are discussing pack matters," my dad dismisses me.

My heart compresses and explodes at the same time, and my cheeks turn red from anger and disbelief.

"But you said I could come to get to know about pack business," I protest, my voice coming out a bit squeaky.

He sighs, clearly annoyed by my persistence.

"Riley, that may have been your excuse for coming, but let's be honest, you wanted to come to America with me. You don't really care about pack stuff," he says calmly.

He's not entirely wrong. While I don't have aspirations to lead a pack, I am curious about pack matters and believe that, as an alpha's daughter, I should have some basic knowledge about our community. Plus, I want to be taken seriously, and engaging in adult discussions seems like a good way to do that. It's frustrating that they assume I don't find pack business important.

"Fine. Whatever you say, father," I reply, emphasizing the word "father" to express my annoyance. For me, "dad" is a warmer and more personal term, so when I call him "father," he knows he's upset me.

I'm fuming, and my wolf feels restless. She's young and eager to run freely, just like me, and that's exactly what I intend to do.

Leaving the packhouse behind, I head towards the forest, its tree tops visible in the distance. I walk with determination, feeling like I'm in charge of my own destiny, even if I'm just a twelve-year-old with limited control over my life.

Once in front of the forest, I make sure no one is watching before I go deeper into the woods, finding a safe spot to leave my clothes. I shift into my wolf form, embracing the freedom and sense of control it provides. Being an alpha's daughter comes with its own set of challenges, as my dad's protective instincts can sometimes be overbearing, especially towards me, the youngest of the family.

I growl as my thoughts race in my head. I feel trapped and suffocated, craving more freedom and to be taken seriously. I want to be treated like a capable individual, not a naive child.

But my growl is interrupted by another growl that is not my own.

My heart races as I turn around to face a silver-haired wolf with wild red eyes, growling menacingly, ready to attack me.

Oh no! The rogue wolves! I had completely forgotten about my dad's warning in my anger and frustration.

Without a second thought, I whimper and dash away from the rogue wolf, even though I know I can't outrun an adult wolf, especially one that seems rabid.

I keep running, howling loudly, desperately seeking help. I don't stop until I reach the edge of a cliff. I come to an abrupt halt, realizing that there's no ground left beneath my paws.

I turn around, refusing to expose my back to the enemy. The rogue wolf growls, baring its fangs, and fear courses through me. I hear another howl in response to my distress call, but I doubt they'll arrive in time.

Before I can react, the rogue wolf lunges at me.

Instinctively, I jump back, trying to avoid the attack and certain death, but there's no ground left, and I plummet down the cliff. Mid-air, I shift back to my human form to be able to swim and breathe, but as soon as I hit the raging river below, pain envelops my head, and darkness consumes me.