Coming Back as Enemy's Luna

21. Knock

= Amara =

The cabin was quiet in the way only Mikael’s place ever was—too quiet, almost reverent. The kind of silence that made every sound feel louder than it should be. The crackle of the fireplace. The soft rustle of pages turning. Even my own breathing felt intrusive, like I was disturbing something sacred.

I sat cross-legged on the rug near the hearth, a heavy tome balanced against my knees. The book was old—older than anything I’d ever touched before—its leather spine cracked and darkened with age. The pages smelled faintly of smoke and earth, as if they had lived their entire lives near fire and soil.

Veyrath: Origins and Bloodlines, the title read.

I’d already gone through half of it, though “gone through” was a generous term. Reading about Veyrath felt less like learning history and more like stepping into a living thing—something that watched you while you studied it.

I swallowed and turned another page.

It still felt strange being here alone.

I have been here for almost two weeks now but I still couldn’t make myself comfortable with the new surroundings. Especially this…certain home.

Mikael had made it clear—repeatedly—that no one came to his cabin without his permission. Not warriors. Not Elders. Not even messengers unless he explicitly allowed it. Well, he mentioned Lorne is his frequent visitor.

This place was his sanctuary, tucked deep into the forest where the trees grew thick and the path twisted just enough to lose anyone who didn’t know it by heart.

And yet… he’d left me here.

That thought tugged at me, uncomfortable but not frightening.

I glanced toward the small window, where amber light filtered through pine branches. The sun is still up and maybe a couple of hours before it disappears behind the mountains.

Still time.

I exhaled and tried to focus again.

I was slowly getting focused on what I was reading when the knock came suddenly.

Sharp. Firm. Three precise raps against the wooden door.

I startled so badly the book slipped from my fingers, landing with a dull thud on the rug. My heart jumped into my throat as I stared toward the door, the echo of the sound still vibrating through the cabin.

That was… strange.

No one knocked here.

A small, nervous laugh escaped me as I stood, brushing my hands against my skirt.

“Mikael?” I called, already moving toward the door.

But the unease crept in anyway.

Mikael didn’t knock.

He never knocked.

He always announced himself before even reaching the steps, his presence rolling through the forest like a warning long before he touched the door.

I hesitated, fingers hovering inches from the handle.

Another knock followed, louder this time. Insistent.

I opened the door.

Cold air rushed in first, carrying the sharp scent of pine and metal. Then I saw them.

Three men stood on the porch, all tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in black sleeveless clothes. My eyes automatically looked at their arms and saw their tattoo. Gammas. Their expressions were neutral—too neutral—and their eyes flicked over me with quick, assessing glances before settling somewhere just past my shoulder.

“Miss…Amara,” the one in front said, dipping his head slightly. Not quite respectful. Not quite dismissive. “Alpha Mikael is looking for you.”

Relief washed through me so fast it made my knees weak.

“Oh,” I breathed, stepping aside automatically. “Alright. Where do I meet him?”

The warrior didn’t answer the question. He simply gestured toward the forest path. “He asked us to bring you to him.”

That was enough for me.

If Mikael was looking for me, then something must have happened. Maybe the council meeting had gone longer than expected. Maybe he needed me for something urgent. I didn’t question it—I couldn’t imagine a reason to.

I grabbed my shawl from the hook by the door and followed them outside, locking the cabin behind me out of habit. The forest greeted us with its usual hush, the light dimming as clouds rolled in overhead.

We walked in silence.

At first, the path was familiar—the same one Lorne and I took when we went to the town. But after a few minutes, the warrior in front veered left, steering us off the trail and deeper into the woods.

I frowned.

“Uh, where are we going?” I said carefully. Because Lorne said, Mikael usually stays at the Alpha's Hall.

“He’s not at the hall,” another warrior replied without turning around.

Something about his tone made my skin prickle.

Still, I nodded and kept walking.

The trees grew denser, the ground uneven beneath my boots. The air felt heavier here, pressing against my chest, and the birdsong faded until there was nothing but the crunch of footsteps and the faint rustle of leaves.

My fingers curled into the edge of my shawl.

“Mikael usually tells me where he is,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Did he say why he wanted to see me?”

No answer.

My pace slowed.

That’s when the third warrior fell into step beside me, close enough that I could feel the heat of his body through my sleeve.

“You shouldn’t worry,” he said softly. “You’re safe.”

The words did the opposite of reassure me.

Before I could respond, the world shifted.

A hand came down over my mouth, hard and unyielding. Another wrapped around my arm, wrenching it behind my back as pain shot up my shoulder. I gasped, but the sound was swallowed, panic exploding in my chest.

“What—!”

A strip of cloth slid over my eyes, plunging me into darkness.

“No—wait—!” I struggled, heart hammering, but it was useless. They were too strong. Too fast. My feet barely touched the ground as they dragged me forward.

Fear slammed into me, cold and paralyzing.

“No! No! This is a mistake!” I said, my voice shaking. “Don’t you fear the consequences—.”

A sharp scent filled my nose—bitter and sweet and wrong.

Something pressed against my face.

The world tilted.

My thoughts scattered, slipping through my grasp like water. The forest sounds faded, replaced by a roaring in my ears. My limbs grew heavy, unresponsive, as if they no longer belonged to me.