Daughter Of The Moon

CHAPTER 3 - THE NEW PACK

The first night in this house was restless. I didn’t get much sleep at all, with wolves running past constantly. I’m not sure if this is their usual route, but I felt like they might be making it a new path just to watch us.

I went downstairs at 5 a.m. for a coffee and sat on the front verandah. Wolves patrolled nearby, slowing to look at me but not stopping. I tried to ignore them—I didn’t want a fight, even if they’d kept me up all night.

When they weren’t around, it was perfect. I could hear the wildlife: birds, an elk, rabbits jumping in the forest. That was what I wanted—peaceful nature, nothing else.

“You’re up early.” Kael said, coming outside.

“I don’t know how the others sleep with those wolves running all night.” I said.

“You know them—they wouldn’t wake up even if the house fell into a sinkhole.” He said, sitting beside me.

“Tell me about it.”

“Ready for today?” He asked.

“Our first training session? Think we can pick partners?”

“Maybe.” He said.

“Kael. I need to train with you.”

“I know. I’ll try. Hopefully they won’t care who we pair with for sparring.”

“Okay.”

Kael and I got ready; I wore a baggy shirt, tights, socks, and sand shoes, while the guys wore singlets, sports shorts, socks, and sand shoes. Mom gave us a quick breakfast before the five of us headed out for our first training session in a new pack.

At the training grounds, everyone stopped to stare. Not surprising, I just started stretching, keeping my back to the others while watching the guys.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to train with you today.” Kael said.

“Yeah. I was just hoping.” I said.

“I’ve got you covered. Don’t stress.” Soren said.

“Thanks.” I replied.

“Alright everyone.” The trainer approached. “I’m Ronan. We have new members training today, and current warriors here to help out.”

I noticed the warriors’ gaze on Kael. It was a challenge—that’s why he couldn’t train with me. They were testing us: threat or ally, asset or liability.

We started sparring. Soren stayed by my side, but a warrior immediately challenged Kael. Being the oldest, he stepped into the middle of the field while everyone watched.

The training yard was buzzing, the scent of sweat and dust hanging in the air. I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching as Kael stepped forward. His usual calm expression didn’t waver, even when an experienced warrior, broad-shouldered and glaring, stepped up to challenge him.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” The warrior sneered, circling Kael like a predator.

Kael’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. Then, in a blur, the fight began. The warrior struck hard, fast, a flurry of punches and kicks honed over years. Most would have staggered, maybe even fallen. But Kael moved with uncanny precision, ducking, countering, and then—just like that—he shoved forward with a force that sent the seasoned fighter flying across the dirt. A collective gasp rose from the watchers.

Before anyone could recover, another warrior, bigger and faster, stepped up, cracking his knuckles and grinning. “Alright, let’s see if luck follows you twice.”

Kael just nodded once, eyes narrowed. The clash was brutal, each strike echoing in the yard, but Kael didn’t falter. In moments, it was over. The second warrior hit the ground hard, scrambling to his knees, stunned. Silence fell.

Whispers started to ripple through the gathered pack. “Did you see that? His strength… it’s unnatural.”

“Yeah… no one moves like that.”

I frowned, a flicker of worry twisting in my chest. Unnatural? Was that a warning, or a compliment? The uncertainty clung to me as Kael walked away, brushing dust from his shoulders, calm as if nothing had happened. But the eyes following him weren’t just curious—they were cautious, wary, like they’d glimpsed something they didn’t fully understand.

And I couldn’t decide if that was good… or very, very bad.

“Alright. That’s enough. Let’s get back to it.” Ronan ordered.

So I walked back towards the field with my brothers and we were sparring lightly. Sorren was with me the whole time, but I noticed the guy beside me inching closer. He was of high rank. I could smell it on him. Not the Alpha’s son. Maybe the beta’s son.

“Funny… all this talk about you being special, and yet I can’t tell if the pack fawns over you for your strength—or for other… reasons. Bet half the men here wouldn’t even bother breaking a sweat to keep you happy.”

Suddenly Sorren turned and was between me and him, holding that guy by the shirt.

“What the f**k did you just say?” Sorren growled in his face.

“Hey, what’s going on over there?” Ronan yelled running over.

“If you ever speak to my sister like that again, I will f*****g kill you.” Sorren growled.

“Hey. Sorren. Forget it.” I said, grabbing his arm. I eventually got Sorren to let go and he backed away with me. “Don’t worry about him. Who cares what he says?”

But then the Beta’s son, whose name was Magnus, walked up behind me and grabbed me around my neck putting me in a choke hold.

Suddenly I grabbed his arm, spun around and flipped him over my shoulder. He landed on his back, hard.

Everyone around the field went dead silent and I was suddenly surrounded by all four brothers and Ronan was standing to the side watching as well.

I was waiting for him to do something. Say something. Reprimand us for what happened. But he looked down at Magnus on the ground.

“Well, that’s what you get for attacking someone with their back turned.” Ronan said, trying not to smile. “Alright everyone, get back to work.”

I looked at my brothers strangely, but they were just as confused as me.

I did the only thing I could and backed away from Magnus, pretending to be freaked out myself. Acting like it was just dumb luck, like my wolf was in charge.

“Kaia.” Kael said.

“I didn’t know I could do that.” I said loud enough for everyone to hear.

He looked at me strangely at first, but I gave him a warning look to play along.

“It was your wolf. He scared her. That’s all. I know you didn’t mean it.” Kael said.

I walked a little from the training field to gather myself and noticed the Alpha’s son leaning against a tree nearby, watching the whole thing.

I looked at him, but his expression was unreadable—curious, maybe. I didn’t know why he always hung around or what he wanted. The best thing was to ignore him, so I sat on the side of the field, back to him, watching the others.

After training, I went straight to my room, warning the guys I wanted to be alone. But I knew it wouldn’t last once Dad got home.

He came in, closing the door behind him.

“I heard about training.”

“I had a feeling you did.” I said.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, just a little freaked.” He sat on the edge of my bed.

“Honey, you can’t show them your strength.” He said.

“I know, Dad. I tried to play it off. Kael helped. Hopefully it worked.”

“I’m sorry that this happened. I know that it’s not the way you wanted it to happen, but we knew that it was going to. People are going to challenge you. All five of you. They are scared of what they don’t understand.” He said.

“I know that. Dad, believe me, I didn’t mean to. He caught me by surprise. The bastard snuck up behind me and put me in a chock hold.” I said.

“He did what?” Dad asked, shocked.

“I just reacted. I didn’t mean to.” I said.

“Was he punished for that? I mean, attacking you from behind when you weren’t looking? That’s not allowed in training. At least not yet.” He said.

“Well, the training told him he deserved what he got.” I said.

“Yeah. That punishment. You weren’t punished, so it showed he was. But he’s the Beta’s son.” Dad said.

“I know. I just hope I haven’t made things worse for you.”

“Of course not. You know I wouldn’t be talking to you unless I was worried. I can take care of myself.”

“I know. I’ll be more careful.”

“That’s all I ask.”

I wasn’t sure when I finally slept, only that it was between patrols—and it wasn’t restful. I saw my silver wolf under the full moon, staring at it like it whispered secrets only she could hear.

Then a voice came through the dark.

“Moonbound.”

I jolted awake in my room, checking myself. A faint light glowed from my wrist. A mark I hadn’t had before shimmered softly under my skin.

“What the f**k…?”