When I woke, everything felt unnaturally soft. I blinked beneath dim lantern light, pale stone walls surrounding me. My body hurt, but the pain felt distant, dull. I turned toward the movement near the wall.
“Alden…?” I whispered.
It was not him.
A man sat quietly nearby. Tall, dressed in dark cloth, his eyes unreadable. He did not move until I tried to rise.
“You are awake, my Luna,” he said calmly. “Do not strain yourself.”
“Who… are you?” I asked.
“Kaegan,” he replied. “I found you after the accident and brought you to the Healer Sanctum. You were unconscious.”
I wished to ask more, but the room spun and darkness returned.
When I woke again, Kaegan was gone. No message. No mark. No trace through the mindlink.
Only one message remained on my crystal communicator.
From my mother. [Mindlink me when you begin your journey. Everything is prepared. Go back to our pack, my darling.]
I did not tell her what had happened. I could not. I would not burden her heart.
The healer told me I was fortunate. The moonchariot struck from the side. No bones were broken. Still, I needed several more days to rest.
So I stayed. Alone.
When the day of release arrived, I returned to the manor only to gather the final remnants of my belongings before leaving the Stormfang pack lands.
That was when Alden appeared in the chamber doorway.
“Good, Luna, you returned,” he said lightly. “We needed to tell you… We sold your moonchariot. And some of your belongings. Selene required emergency moon-credits and….”
“What?” I froze. “You sold my things?”
“Calm yourself,” Draven said, entering. “We will repay you. Selene has suffered since the attack. She needs care. Could you prepare meals for her? She has not eaten well.”
I stared at them. “Are you truly saying this to your Luna?”
Draven frowned. “Where were you anyway? Selene said you attended a gathering after the den meal. You were absent when she needed you. That was selfish.”
I laughed, empty and bitter. “A gathering. Of course.”
Then I threw the parchment toward them.
“There. That is where I was. The Healer Sanctum. You left me in the storm. I walked through thunder and rain. I was struck by a moonchariot.”
“What…?” Alden whispered. “You were injured?”
“I thought you were safe with others,” Draven murmured. “Selene said….”
“Of course she did,” I interrupted. “It is always Selene.”
Before they could respond, a sharp cry echoed through the stone passageway.