Luna woke up as the first light of morning lit up her room. She sat up slowly, looking around the space that was once so familiar but now felt a little distant. Getting out of bed, she walked over and opened the window. Cool, fresh air from Silver Hollow rushed in, filling the room. Luna took a deep breath, trying to clear her mind. Today was the start of a new chapter in her life.
After a quick shower, Luna put on a simple dress and sturdy boots. She tied her hair up in a bun, ready for the busy day ahead. She needed to collect herbs and supplies to reopen her mother's clinic, also stock the kitchen. Putting on her cloak, she stepped outside and breathed in the fresh scent of the village.
The morning mist still hung low on the ground as Luna walked to the edge of the forest behind the village, stopping at a spot where her mother had planted herbs. Her mother had once taught her to gather healing herbs here, warning her not to venture deep into the forest, where wild animals roamed and only the village hunters went to hunt for meat. She knelt down and gently picked sprigs of thyme, chamomile, and other herbs, her thoughts drifting to her mother and all the things she had taught her: how to recognize each herb, how to pick them carefully without damaging the plants. Luna placed the herbs in her mother's old basket, her heart feeling heavier than it had in years.
After gathering enough herbs, Luna decided to head to the village market. As she walked down the familiar path, she noticed a few villagers watching her with curious and wary looks. She could feel their judgment, the memories of her quick departure all those years ago still lingering in the air.
She kept her head high and her eyes focused as she moved through the market, picking up bread, vegetables, meat, and a few other ingredients. She was finishing her shopping when she overheard a conversation between two older women nearby.
"Poor Zane," one of them said loudly, as if gossiping was her favorite pastime. "To lose Liana like that and be left alone with the twins... Tragedy seems to follow him. I saw him with the children yesterday; they were making things difficult for him."
Luna's heart skipped a beat. Zane... children? She had tried not to think about his life while she'd been away, but hearing it now hit her like a punch to the chest. Her heart ached.
The other woman shook her head, her voice full of pity. "He's doing his best, but raising two young ones on his own isn't easy. His parents help him, but it's still a lot for one person."
The first woman sighed, glancing around as if expecting Zane to appear at any moment. "And he refuses to marry again. Stubborn, that one. Doesn't want anyone taking Liana's place."
The other woman lowered her voice even more, her tone thick with gossip. "You know, Zane's first fiancée ran off just days before the wedding, didn't she? And in their desperation, his parents arranged for him to marry a female omega from the neighboring pack. Such a tragic story… but I heard she came back yesterday."
The first woman's eyes widened in surprise, and she shook her head. "Came back? After all this time? That's something... I wonder what made her return."
Luna flinched as she realized they were talking about her. She was the first fiancée, the one who had left after leaving a letter. She stood frozen, her heart pounding, as she listened to the rest of their conversation, her thoughts swirling.
The second woman went on, her voice full of sympathy. "Liana was barely more than a girl. She died while giving birth to the twins. I heard it was a difficult labor, and she lost a lot of blood. She was only twenty when she passed. Far too young. She was such a kind girl too."
The first woman let out a soft sigh, her eyebrows drawn together. "Liana was such a kind and pretty girl. Always polite. It's so sad how things turned out."
She looked off into the distance for a moment before adding, "Zane's been through so much. No wonder he's become so closed off. I just hope he can be happy again someday."
Luna found out a lot about Zane's wife from the women. Liana, an omega from a nearby pack, had married him and died while giving birth to their twins. Now Zane was taking care of the children by himself. Luna felt a deep regret and a sadness she could not quite explain. She had left him when he was still a boy, and now he had grown into a man without her.
After buying everything she needed at the market, Luna went back home. She was making a simple breakfast. Since she had bought bread, she was preparing a warm vegetable stew to go with it. Her thoughts wandered as she stirred the pot, her mind far away, unable to stop thinking about what she had overheard.
She didn't know how to feel. Luna had never told Zane how she truly felt, always afraid it would ruin their friendship. She let out a quiet sigh, thinking about her best friend. And besides, she had no right to feel this way, not anymore.
Did Zane love his wife? she wondered. He must have, right? If not, why would he have had children with her? Maybe he grew to care for her over time. From what the women said, Liana was kind, polite, and pretty, everything a good alpha would want in a wife.
In the city, Luna had learned that people could sleep with each other without falling in love, but they wouldn't have children unless they were serious about the relationship. And if someone did get pregnant by accident, they usually chose to end it.
After finishing her breakfast, Luna packed her certificates and walked to the council building to ask for permission to reopen the clinic. The building stood in the middle of the village, with stone walls that showed its importance. Luna took a deep breath to calm herself before going inside.
The main hall was big, with long benches and a raised platform where the chief sat at a table doing his work. Luna's heart skipped a beat when she saw who was sitting there. It was Zane.
She suddenly realized that Zane had become the new chief, taking over his father's place.
He sat there, his dark grey eyes lifting from his paperwork to meet her gaze, showing quiet authority. His black hair was longer than she remembered, and his features were more mature. His expression was cold as he stared at her. He had changed, and there was a seriousness in his eyes that showed the responsibilities he now had. The carefree boy she once knew, the one who laughed and ran through the woods with her, was gone. Now, he was a man, a chief, carrying the weight of leading their people.
"Luna Brightwood," he said, his voice low and formal. "You've returned."