Capítulo 29: Twenty nine
Rhea.
Standing at the entrance of Silvermoon Pack, I feel a rush of emotions that I haven't felt in months. This place—my old home—feels both familiar and foreign at the same time.
The scent of pine and earth that always made me feel safe is still here, but there's something different now, something that stirs unease deep in my chest.
The thought of seeing Damien again lingers like a shadow, refusing to leave me in peace. But Remus is right beside me, his protective hand brushing against mine. He's my anchor, the calm in the storm that this place has become in my mind.
I take a deep breath, pushing aside my worries. Today isn't about Damien or the past. It's about seeing my family again, something I've been longing for since I left for Shadowclaw.
As we step into the familiar territory, my eyes scan for the two people I've missed the most. It doesn't take long before I spot them—Aria and Mom, standing near the entrance, their faces lighting up the moment they see me. The sight of them makes my heart ache with a happiness that's almost overwhelming.
I break into a run, and as I crash into their arms, all the time and distance between us melts away. I hold them tight, as if letting go would mean losing them all over again.
"I've missed you both so much," I say, my voice thick with emotion. "It feels like it's been years, not months."
Aria pulls back first, grinning from ear to ear, her excitement practically buzzing off her. "You wouldn't believe how much has changed, Rhea! There's so much to show you! The pack has grown since you left. You won't even recognize it!"
Her enthusiasm is contagious, and for a moment, the anxiety I've been carrying around slips away. I take a step back and look around, noticing for the first time how much Silvermoon has truly evolved.
The buildings are taller, sturdier, and the energy of the pack feels more united, stronger than before. It's as if Silvermoon has rebuilt itself while I've been gone—just like I've rebuilt myself in Shadowclaw.
But despite the joy of being here with my family, there's a persistent burden in the back of my mind. I can't shake the unease that comes with being so close to Damien's presence again. The memories of our last encounter still feel raw, and I don't want anything ruining this day with my family.
Remus and my family exchange pleasantries. His presence is reassuring as always. Gently, he leans in and presses a soft kiss to my forehead. His touch is warm, grounding me in the present. "I'm going to explore the grounds a bit," he murmurs, his voice calm but his eyes sharp, scanning the area like he's already on high alert. "You spend time with your family. I'll be close by."
I nod, smiling, feeling that familiar warmth he always gives me. My mother reminds him that lunch will be ready in two hours, and he thanks her before walking away to explore.
Once he's gone, my mother heads back home, leaving just me and Aria. Together, we start wandering through the pack grounds, taking in all the changes.
The Silvermoon Pack had certainly grown in my absence, and I can't help but feel a mix of nostalgia and curiosity.
"This place looks different," I say, glancing around as we walk. "A lot has changed since I've been gone."
Aria beams, her excitement spilling over as she starts pointing out all the new additions. "You won't believe it! We've had so many new people join the pack. Some families from nearby territories moved in, and it's been great. The pack feels more alive now."
I nod, taking it all in. The atmosphere does feel different, in a good way, like the pack is thriving. "Who are these new people?" I ask.
"There's this one family, the Martins. They have a son about our age—he's training to be a warrior. Then there's the Collins family, they're merchants, and oh! You have to see the new bakery that just opened up. It's run by the sweetest couple. They make the best pastries; I'm telling you, Rhea, you've been missing out."
I chuckle at her enthusiasm, and for a moment, I forget all the worries that have been weighing on me.
Aria has always had that effect on me, making everything seem lighter and easier. "I could definitely use some of those pastries," I say, smiling. "It's been a while since I had something sweet."
"We'll go there later!" Aria practically skips ahead of me, her energy infectious. We walk like that for another thirty minutes, just catching up. She tells me more about the new pack members, the recent improvements to the training grounds, and how the market has expanded. It's nice hearing about life here, about how things have moved on.
But as the conversation winds down, Aria's expression changes, and I can tell she's about to bring up something more serious. "So...how's it going with your mother-in-law? Elara, right?"
I sigh, feeling the heaviness return. "It's...difficult," I admit. "She finds fault in everything I do. No matter how hard I try, it's never good enough for her. Sometimes I feel like she's just waiting for me to make a mistake, like she's looking for reasons to criticize me."
Aria frowns, clearly frustrated on my behalf. "That's so unfair, Rhea. You've done nothing but stand by Remus and lead with him. What more does she want?"
"I don't know," I say, my voice soft but laced with annoyance. "It feels like she doesn't think I'm good enough for her son, like I'm not the right Luna for this pack. And it hurts because I'm really trying."
Aria reaches out and squeezes my arm. "You're more than good enough. Elara just doesn't see what we all see. She's too caught up in her own judgments."
We continue walking in silence for a few moments, the weight of my words hanging in the air. Just as I'm about to say something more, Aria's eyes narrow, and she stops in her tracks. I follow her gaze and see them—Damien and Rosy, heading in our direction.
My heart sinks. Of all the people to run into...
Rosy's smirk appears before she even says anything, her eyes filled with the same mockery I remember too well.
"Well, look at you, Rhea," she sneers. "Finally grew some wings, huh? Not a slave in your own pack anymore, I see."
Her words sting, anger bubbling up inside me, but before I can reply, Aria steps forward.
"Watch what you say, Rosy," Aria snaps, her voice sharp. "You have no idea what my sister's been through."
I quickly place a hand on Aria's arm, urging her to stop. The last thing I want is for Aria to get into trouble because of me, especially with Rosy. But that doesn't mean I'll let her insult go unchallenged.
"I don't need wings, Rosy," I say, keeping my tone controlled. "Unlike you, I've never had to fake my strength just to survive. My power doesn't come from a title."
Rosy's face pales at my words, her confidence cracking as she glances toward Damien. But he doesn't say anything, just stands there, staring at me with an intensity that makes me uncomfortable. It's unsettling, the way his eyes follow me, like he's trying to read something in me that I don't want to give.
Before the tension can escalate further, I feel a familiar presence behind me. Remus. His aura fills the space, and when I turn, I see him walking toward us, his gaze locked on Damien, anger simmering beneath his calm exterior.
"You've done enough staring, Damien," Remus says in a low, dangerous tone. "Keep your eyes where they belong."
Damien's eyes narrow as Remus steps closer, his jaw clenched tightly. The fury between them was almost suffocating, and it didn't take long for the argument to erupt.
"You can't just walk into my pack and disrespect me like this, Remus," Damien said, his voice laced with anger. "I'm still the Alpha here, and I won't have you acting like you run the place."
Remus glared back at him, unflinching. "Respect is earned, Damien, not demanded. And you lost whatever respect I had for you a long time ago."
Damien's expression twisted with bitterness, and before anyone could react, he threw out the words that made the air freeze.
"And what about Rhea, huh? The woman you're so proud to claim now—she loved me before she ever looked your way. She was mine first, my mate, and if I wanted to, I could still claim her. She belongs to me."
Rosy gasped at Damien's words, her eyes widening in disbelief at her husband's audacity. Her hand flew up to his arm as if to stop him, but before she could speak, Remus stepped forward, his voice dangerously low.
"I dare you to try, Damien," Remus said, his eyes darkening with a lethal intensity. "Claim her if you can. You'll regret it."
I could feel the anger radiating from Remus, his body tensed like he was ready to tear into Damien at any moment. I wanted to speak, to tell Damien how wrong he was, but I couldn't get a word in between the two Alphas.
Damien sneered, clearly enjoying the conflict. "You think you can just take her and walk away? She was mine. She knows it, and so do you."
Remus took another step closer, his fists clenched. "She was never yours. And if you think you have any claim to her, you're a bigger fool than I thought."
The two Alphas stood chest to chest, the mayhem so thick it felt like a fight was inevitable. Damien's eyes flickered with anger, but there was something else there too—something dark and possessive. I shuddered, hating the way Damien was looking at me as if I was ever his.
"Enough," Remus said coldly, his patience running out. He turned to me, his voice softer now, though still simmering with anger. "We're leaving."
Without waiting for a response from Damien, Remus wrapped a protective arm around my waist, leading me away. As we walked off, I could feel the anger in Remus's body, his fury barely contained.
We reached the car where the driver was already waiting. Remus opened the door for me, his movements stiff and tense, and once we were inside, he slammed the door shut.
The silence in the car was thick as we drove away from the Silvermoon Pack. I wanted to say something, to ease the tension, but before I could, Remus spoke, his voice sharp and filled with resolve.
"You're never going back there again."
I blinked in surprise, his words catching me off guard. "Remus—"
"I mean it," he cut me off, his eyes dark with anger. "I can't let you go back there, Rhea. Damien is dangerous. You saw it yourself—he's not finished with you. He's twisted enough to hurt your family just to get to you."
My heart sank. I knew Remus was right, but the thought of never returning to my old pack, of being cut off from my mother and Aria, was painful.
"Then what about my family?" I asked quietly, my voice trembling slightly. "I can't just leave them there. Damien will take it out on them."
Remus's expression softened slightly, but his decision didn't waver. "I want you to talk to your mother and Aria. Convince them to move to Shadowclaw. I'll make sure they're protected there. I won't let Damien torment them because of us."
I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. But even though I knew it was the right thing to do, the thought of uprooting my family bothered heavily in my heart.
I leaned back in the seat, watching the Silvermoon Pack disappear into the distance through the car window.
The confrontation with Damien still lingered in my mind, but with Remus beside me, I knew we would face whatever came next—together.
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