The Nameless Luna – Book One: Chapter 5

The sun rises not long before we arrive at the edge of Tristan’s territory. It’s a chilly morning, with the cool mountain breeze coursing through the little town. I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting, but it was certainly not this.This is… different.My uncle’s domain extends along most of the northern and western lands of Silvertooth Peaks. Still, the majority of the pack’s activity is centered around the small city in the valley, with most of the members living in clustered townhouses or the commune by the pack house. Viktor likes being able to keep a close eye on his wolves; he enjoys surveying everyone who answers to him and knowing that it’s all his.Tristan’s pack is smaller, but the rogues’ settlement feels sprawling and peaceful in contrast to my uncle’s. I can tell it was not built as a cohesive city; rather, it looks like new buildings and sections of the town were added over the years as the pack grew, making it a mismatched home for misfits.The cobbled streets wind through the town, and everything seems open and boundless. Though most of the houses and businesses are either built with stone or wood, no two homes look the same, with an impressive assortment of little gardens and oddities setting them all apart. There are colorful strips of cloth tied across a string in the square, so it looks like there are dozens of little flags fluttering in the breeze.Tristan slows his pace once we’re further into his territory, and I spot a few members of his pack. Some of them are in wolf form, but those in their human form wave merrily as we pass by. They exchange curious glances among themselves when they notice the scrawny blonde girl with purple eyes straddled atop their Alpha’s back.They are not nearly as fearsome as I’d expected. A little rough around the edges, all of them in excellent shape, and many of them bearing scars from their time as lone wolves, surviving on their own. They all seem comfortable and content.Every wolf here left a pack of their own behind, either by choice or by exile, and there are endless little details scattered across the Rovers’ territory that make it clear that they all have their own stories. I can catch glimpses of them on the rusting bikes and flower-filled terraces. If I didn’t know better, I’d think we traveled into some picturesque village in the Alps from an illustrated fairy tale, instead of merely crossing territories within Silvertooth Peaks.There is a bright lake on the edge of the town, with clear blue waters and a beautiful villa off to the side. It’s a large property but still smaller than Viktor’s pack house, which was a fortress-like mansion that makes it clear who’s in charge.That’s not to say that the rogue Alpha’s home is any less impressive. It’s a surprisingly modern structure, with countless windows and a massive balcony built right into the edge of the mountain, overlooking the lake. The front door of the villa opens as we draw near, revealing a burly-looking fellow with curly black hair and a freckled face.“Oh hell, Tristan, tell me you didn’t,” the man groans.Beneath me, Tristan’s wolf growls a warning as we come to a stop outside the villa. Hesitantly, I slide off his back, my joints aching from the long trip. If I’m sore and tired, I can only imagine how exhausted Tristan must be after making the journey twice. I wrap my arms around my petite frame to shield myself both from the cold and from the freckled stranger’s appraising stare as he approaches us.“So you’re the one from Sophie’s prophecy,” he says, then he turns his attention back to his Alpha. “I hope she’s right about this, boss; otherwise, you just pissed off the Bane pack for no good reason.”I’m unsure what they’re talking about, and since I cannot mind link, I am not privy to whatever telepathic explanation Tristan is giving the man. I can only presume they’re discussing the Seer’s vision of me.From the open door behind him, a black-haired young woman appears. She has grey eyes and bears a striking similarity to the larger man, sharing the same freckled features. She looks at him, then at Tristan in his imposing wolf form, and then finally at me. “Hi, I’m Lucy,” she says brightly, pushing past the man and trotting happily down the steps of the villa’s entrance toward us. She gives a playful little curtsy in Tristan’s direction before approaching me. “And the big guy glaring at us is my brother, Mark. He’s Tristan’s Beta, but try not to take him too seriously or it’ll get to his head.”I blink, unsure of what to say. Growing up in indentured servitude to a power-hungry Alpha who kept me locked in an underground cellar hadn’t taught me great social skills—not to mention I’m exhausted and frightened to my bones.“Why don’t you come inside with me while the boys talk politics? I’ll show you around and help you get settled in,” she says.I’m not sure what to do with that. I can’t think of anything to say or do, feeling drained and overwhelmed by everything that happened in the last few hours. Fortunately, I learned from my old pack that it’s harder to say the wrong thing if you don’t say anything at all.Without a word, I turn to Tristan, and the wolf gives me the slightest nod of approval before looking back at his Beta.It seems I’m dismissed.Mark folds his arms across his chest as he glares at the King of Outcasts, looking more like a child scolding an irresponsible parent than a concerned Beta addressing his Alpha. Whatever the two men are discussing through their mind link… I don’t want to know what it is. Mark’s furious staring tells me that much.Eager to avoid any argument that might be about to break out, I follow Lucy into the villa. Before we go inside, Mark calls out to his sister without looking away from Tristan for a single second. “Boss says the girl hurt her foot. Have a healer look at it once she’s calmed down a bit.”Lucy slows her pace, frowning as her attention momentarily flickers down to my swollen ankle. “It wouldn’t kill you to say please and thank you every now and then,” she shoots back at Mark, but her brother ignores her.Lucy rolls her eyes, and I trail numbly after her as she leads me into the villa. Right before she closes the door behind us, I dare glance back at Tristan. I’m surprised to find he’s broken off the angry staring contest with his Beta to look at me. There’s a suspicious sort of weariness in those amber eyes that worries me, but as he gazes at me, I can almost see something else, something… kind. Almost encouraging.Then Lucy slams the door shut behind me, and all I can do is keep walking, following her further into the unknown.