“I didn’t expect it to feel like this,” I said quietly.
“Like what?”
“Calm.”
He looked at me for a moment before speaking.
“Power doesn’t always need to be loud to be real.”
Word of my arrival spread quickly. But unlike the Foreshadow Pack… There were no whispers. No pitying looks. No judgment. Just curiosity. And something else… Respect.
“She’s the one Elder Elisse sent,” I heard someone say.
“That means she’s important.”
“Treat her well.”
It was… strange. I wasn’t used to it.
Alpha Dominic led me through the pack grounds, introducing me to a few key members along the way. They greeted me politely, respectfully, without overstepping.
No one asked unnecessary questions. No one pried. It felt… safe.
“You’ll be staying here,” Dominic said, stopping in front of a modest but well-kept house.
I blinked.
“This is for me?”
“Yes.”
I turned to him. “This is too much—”
“It’s appropriate,” he interrupted calmly. “You’re under my protection.”
The words settled something inside me.
“Thank you,” I said again.
This time, he didn’t deflect it. He simply nodded.
“If you need anything,” he added, “someone will be assigned to assist you.”
“I understand.”
He hesitated for a brief moment before turning to leave.
But then he continued, “Stephanie.”
I looked at him. “Yes?”
His gaze lingered on me for a second longer than necessary. “Rest tonight.”
There was something in his tone. Something… reassuring.
“You’ve been through enough.”
My chest tightened slightly. “…I will.”
And then he was gone.
The house was quiet. I stepped inside slowly, my eyes scanning the space. It wasn’t grand. But it was warm. A place that felt… livable.
I set my bag down and exhaled softly, my shoulders finally relaxing.
For the first time in a long while… I was alone.
My hand moved instinctively to my stomach.
“We made it,” I whispered.
A small, fragile smile touched my lips.
“We’re safe.”
But as the silence settled deeper around me… Another thought crept in. What now?
I walked slowly to the window, staring out at the unfamiliar surroundings. I had left everything behind. My title. My position. My marriage.
Even my name, in a way. I was no longer Luna. No longer tied to Alpha Cain. No longer part of Foreshadow Pack. I was just… Stephanie.
And I was going to be a mother.
My fingers tightened slightly.
“I need to provide for you,” I murmured softly.
Because safety wasn’t enough. Not in the long run. I needed stability. Money. A future. For both of us.