Alison’s POV
The aroma of sizzling spices and freshly baked bread wafted through the kitchen, wrapping me in a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in days. The soft hum of the stovetop and the clinking of pots and pans created a rhythm that matched my joyful mood. It had been nearly a week since the confrontation with Felix, and the silence from him felt like a small victory.
Two more days. Two days until Xander would arrive at Crimson Pack to finalize the arrangements for our mating ceremony and finally take me with him as his Luna, My chest swelled with excitement at the thought. It was almost surreal that the chaos of the past months was finally settling into something that resembled normalcy or as normal as life could get for someone like me.
“Miss Alison, should I start packing these?” Lila, one of the castle staff, asked from across the counter.
I looked up from the platter of roasted vegetables I was garnishing. “Yes, Lila. Pack everything carefully. Simone deserves the best, and I’m not letting anything spill on the way.”
Her face softened with a smile. “You really care about her, don’t you?”
I nodded, wiping my hands on a towel. “She’s been through so much, Lila. She deserves to feel cared for. Plus, she’s become like a sister to me.” The words warmed me, and I realized just how true they were. Simone had been my rock in ways I hadn’t expected. There was something grounding about her presence, a quiet strength that calmed the storm inside me.
As Lila busied herself with packing the food, I dashed upstairs to change into something more casual yet elegant. A soft sundress in pastel blue seemed perfect for the day, light, airy, and cheerful, matching my mood. I tied my hair back into a loose braid and grabbed a wide-brimmed hat. The thought of surprising Simone had me practically buzzing with excitement.
When I returned downstairs, Lila had the food packed and ready in neat containers. “Load these into the car, please,” I instructed. “We’re heading out as soon as I grab my bag.”
Minutes later, we were on the road, the cool breeze rushing through the open window as I tapped my fingers on the dashboard in rhythm with the soft music playing in the background. Simone’s cottage wasn’t far, tucked away on the edge of the pack’s territory. It was a cozy place surrounded by wildflowers and dense woods, a haven she had chosen for herself.
As we pulled up, I spotted her sitting on the small wooden bench outside her door, her face tilted toward the sun. The sight made me smile. Even in her simplicity, Simone carried a quiet grace that made her presence almost ethereal. The sound of the car’s engine must have reached her, as she stood and turned her head toward us.
Her lips curved into a knowing smile. “Alison,” she called out, her voice light and teasing. “Only one person would come all the way out here to disturb my peace.”
I laughed, stepping out of the car. “Am I that predictable now?”
“Absolutely,” she said, her tone warm. She started to bow out of habit, but I waved her off.
“Oh, stop that,” I said, grinning. “You know I hate it when you do that.”
Simone chuckled softly, and I could see the genuine affection in her smile. “I only do it because it annoys you.”
I introduced Lila, gesturing to the young woman carrying a box of food. “Simone, meet Lila. She’s your new personal helper.”
Simone’s face fell slightly, her brows knitting together in protest. “Alison, you’ve done enough. I don’t need.. ”
“I don’t want to hear it,” I interrupted, shaking my head. “This isn’t up for debate. You’ve spent enough time taking care of yourself now Let someone else take care of you for once.”
Her lips pressed together in reluctant acceptance, but there was a shimmer of gratitude in her eyes. “Thank you,” she murmured, her voice barely audible. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”
I squeezed her hand gently. “You don’t have to thank me. You’re family now, Simone.”
I instructed Lila to take the food inside and set everything up while Simone and I sat on the bench. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers, and the sun cast a golden glow over the clearing. It was the kind of moment that felt suspended in time, untouched by the worries of the world.
Simone’s fingers brushed against mine as she reached for my hand. Her touch was light but firm, like she was grounding herself. “You’ve changed my life, Alison,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
“You don’t have to,” I replied. “Just seeing you happy is enough.”
Before I could say more, Simone’s body tensed. Her grip on my hand tightened, and her eyes widened as a strange glow overtook them, a luminous, sparkling blue that seemed to shimmer like the surface of a calm lake. Her breath hitched, and when she spoke, her voice was not her own.
“You are special Alison” the voice intoned, deep and commanding, echoing with a power that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. “Your star is about to finallyshine, but the obstacles on your way will try to halt it. Stay strong and watch what I, the Moon Goddess, will do for you.”
My heart pounded in my chest, each word reverberating through me like a bell tolling in the distance. I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. The voice felt ancient, otherworldly, and it filled the air with a weight that pressed down on me. And then, just as suddenly as it began, the glow faded from Simone’s eyes, and her body went slack.
She pulled her hand away from mine like it had burned her, her expression one of panic and confusion. “What just happened? Did I do it again?” she asked, her voice trembling.
I stared at her, utterly speechless. What had just happened?
Simone’s question hung in the air, heavy with a mix of dread and disbelief. I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. My thoughts were a whirlpool of confusion, spinning too fast to make sense of anything. The bench beneath me felt as though it had disappeared, leaving me weightless and untethered.
Simone’s wide, terrified eyes locked onto mine, her breathing shallow. “Alison,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Did you hear it? Did it happen again?”
It was the second time she’d asked, her desperation slicing through the fog in my mind. I forced myself to nod, my throat dry. “Yes,” I croaked, my voice barely audible. “I heard you but what was that?.”
Simone pressed her palms to her temples, her fingers curling into her hair. “I thought… I thought it was gone. That it wouldn’t happen anymore, it’s been a year ,” she muttered, her words tumbling over each other. “I have lost friends because of this, I didn’t ask for this.”
“But what just happened?” I asked
“If you haven’t noticed in not a wolf like everyone else in this pack, I am a Witch” she said with a small smile on her face
“Witch? How? Shouldn’t you have coven?” I asked confused
“My father was a wizard who fell in love with a she wolf, according to what I was told it was forbidden so my father left his coven and joined my mother’s pack but during the raid they were killed leaving their blind daughter behind, when I turned eighteen I realized I wasn’t a wolf like my mother I was a witch, not knowing my father’s coven I decided to live here”
I reached out, my hands trembling as I placed them over hers, pulling them away from her face. “Hey,” I said softly, trying to anchor both of us. “It’s okay. You are still part of this pack no matter your identity and it doesn’t stop you from being my friend, I would still be by your side, Simone. You’re okay. We’re okay.”
But was it truly okay?