Chapter 6: The Woman Who Walked Away

The ceremony ended without a Luna.

No vows were completed.

No crown was placed on my head.

And the mate bond remained unfinished.

Yet somehow, the entire werewolf world was already talking about me.

The First Moon bloodline had awakened.

The ancient power had chosen me.

Every Alpha wanted to know what that meant.

Every elder wanted to control the answer.

And Falcon...

Falcon simply wanted to know whether I was alright.

I sat alone in the private chamber beneath the council hall.

My body felt exhausted.

My blood still hummed with unfamiliar power.

My brother entered quietly.

"How do you feel?"

"Like I was struck by lightning."

He smiled faintly.

"That's one way to describe awakening the First Moon."

"You knew this could happen."

"I suspected."

"You should have told me."

"You're right."

He sat beside me.

"I wanted you to have a normal life for as long as possible."

"That didn't work."

"No."

I laughed weakly.

"So what happens now?"

His expression became serious.

"Now every powerful faction will try to reach you."

"And the council?"

"They will want you to accept a political position."

"No."

"Sloane—"

"I didn't ask for power."

"I know."

"I wanted to be a healer."

"Then be one."

I looked at him.

"Can I leave?"

"Where?"

"Back to the neutral lands."

He hesitated.

"It's dangerous."

"So is staying here."

He finally nodded.

"I'll arrange protection."

"I don't want a royal escort."

"You don't understand."

"I do."

"I need somewhere I can breathe."

He looked at me for a long moment.

"Then go."

"I'll make sure no one follows you without your permission."

I smiled.

"Thank you."

That evening, Falcon came to see me.

He stood outside the door for several seconds before knocking.

"Come in."

He entered.

He looked exhausted.

The powerful Alpha who had faced armies without blinking now seemed uncertain about stepping into my room.

"The council wants another ceremony," he said.

"I heard."

"They want to postpone it until your bloodline stabilizes."

"There won't be another ceremony."

Falcon's eyes lifted.

"What?"

"I'm leaving Northmere."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want my life decided by elders."

"And because I don't want to be married simply because two families think it would be convenient."

He was silent.

"What about our bond?"

"It wasn't completed."

"But I felt it."

"So did I."

"Then why are you walking away?"

"Because you still don't know me."

His expression tightened.

"I can learn."

"Maybe."

"Give me the chance."

I looked at him.

"You didn't even know my number yesterday."

"I know."

"You didn't ask whether I wanted the ceremony."

"I know."

"You allowed Julia to behave as though she owned you."

"I know."

He lowered his head.

"I'm trying to fix it."

"You can't fix seven years of my life in two days."

"Then let me take longer."

His sincerity surprised me.

But I still shook my head.

"I need time without you."

"How much?"

"I don't know."

Falcon nodded slowly.

"Then I'll wait."

"You don't have to."

"I want to."

I looked away.

"Goodbye, Falcon."

"Not goodbye."

"Just... until you decide you're ready to see me again."

I didn't answer.

The next morning, I left Northmere.

I returned to the neutral lands with only a small bag and my healer's equipment.

For the first time since graduation, I felt free.

The neutral lands were exactly as I remembered them.

Wild.

Unregulated.

Full of wandering wolves and people who had nowhere else to go.

I opened the small clinic my mentor had left in my care.

Within days, injured werewolves began arriving.

Broken bones.

Silver wounds.

Poisoned claws.

Battle injuries.

I treated them all.

No one cared about my title.

No one cared that I was the First Moon heir.

They simply cared whether I could save them.

For the first time, that was enough.

Three weeks passed.

Then one evening, a wounded young Rogue arrived at my clinic.

His breathing was dangerously shallow.

I immediately started treating him.

The wound was coated in silver.

I carefully removed the contaminated metal.

"Stay awake."

"You're going to be fine."

The Rogue opened his eyes.

"You're the First Moon."

I froze.

"Who told you?"

"Everyone knows."

I sighed.

Even here, rumors had followed me.

The Rogue looked at me carefully.

"Why did you leave Northmere?"

"Because I wanted to be a healer."

"And the Alpha?"

"He's not my Alpha."

"Not yet?"

I smiled despite myself.

"We'll see."

The next morning, my mentor entered the clinic.

His expression was serious.

"Sloane, we have a problem."

"What?"

"Someone has been searching for you in the neutral lands."

My hand stopped over the medical tray.

"Who?"

"Several powerful wolves."

"They aren't from one pack."

"They're working together."

My blood went cold.

"The First Moon faction?"

"Yes."

"They believe your bloodline can restore the ancient hierarchy."

"They want you to become their leader."

"No."

"I know."

"But they won't accept no easily."

I looked toward the clinic window.

Outside, the neutral lands stretched into the forest.

It had been my refuge.

Now even this place was no longer safe.

"What should I do?" I asked.

"Stay hidden."

"For how long?"

"Until your brother can secure the territory."

I laughed bitterly.

"My brother already has enough problems."

"Then perhaps you should call Falcon."

I looked at him sharply.

"Why?"

"Because whether you like it or not, he is the strongest Alpha in Northmere."

"And your bond with him may already be attracting attention."

"You think the unfinished bond can still be sensed?"

"By powerful wolves, yes."

I sighed.

Of course.

Nothing was ever simple.

That evening, I stood outside the clinic.

A silver moon hung above the trees.

Then I heard footsteps.

Several.

Too many.

My instincts immediately awakened.

I turned.

Figures stood between the trees.

Their eyes glowed in the darkness.

"Sloane Lunebom," one of them called.

"You should come with us."

I released my aura.

The forest shook beneath my power.

"No."

The wolves hesitated.

"You don't understand what you carry."

"I understand enough."

"This isn't your fight," another said.

"It is now."

Suddenly, a second aura crashed into the forest.

Cold.

Powerful.

Familiar.

The wolves froze.

A voice came from behind me.

"She said no."

I turned.

Falcon stood at the edge of the trees.

His eyes were glowing silver.

He had come alone.

"You followed me?" I asked.

"No."

"I came because I promised I'd protect you without controlling you."

He stepped beside me.

"There's a difference."

I stared at him.

For the first time, I believed him.

The wolves surrounding us suddenly dropped to one knee.

Not before Falcon.

Before me.

The First Moon power had returned.

And now the entire supernatural world was coming to claim it.