Chapter 60: A girl from years ago

On a cold, stormy night years ago, the guards at the borders of Stonecrest pack dragged a captured fugitive into the pack house.

Luna Kalista, who had already gone to sleep, was awakened by her personal maids. She quickly threw on her robe, tightened the belt, and hurried out of her chambers.

"What happened? What is this chaos?" she demanded, hurrying down the stairs as thunder crashed outside, rattling the stone walls of the mansion.

"The border guards caught a fugitive, Luna," one of the maids explained quickly. "They think she is a spy."

"A spy?" Kalista repeated.

"Yes, my lady. She was caught trying to sneak into the pack."

Kalista fell silent, rushing toward the foyer where the guards were holding the girl.

The moment she stepped into the room, the four guards went rigid, bowing their heads in respect. Two of them held the fugitive tightly by her arms, their grips bruising.

"What happened, Kaleb?" Kalista demanded, addressing the commander of the guards.

"Luna, we found her trying to sneak across the border lines," Kaleb reported. "When we tried to stop her, she fought back. She had a silver dagger, and she almost took out Gwaine’s eye."

Kalista glanced at Gwaine, who had a deep cut on the side of his face. Because of the silver, the wound was healing slowly, blood and rain dripping down his cheek.

"She has a package with her," Kaleb continued. "But she won’t let anyone go near it."

Kalista lowered her gaze to the strange girl. She looked young–too young. Her hair was a wild, blood-red mane, flowing down her face and back like a river of fire. Her eyes were a fierce, defiant blue.

That hair, Kalista thought, stunned. She had never seen any shifter with hair as red as blood. The young girl looked absolutely terrified, shivering from the cold and clutching a bundle of clothes tightly to her chest.

Kalista’s maternal instinct suddenly flared, and a powerful urge to protect this strange girl surged within her.

"Release her," she ordered.

Kaleb drew back in confusion. "Luna?" he asked warily. "We don’t know who or what she is, especially with that hair. She could be dangerous."

"It’s okay, Kaleb," Kalista said, offering a reassuring smile. "I don’t think she’s dangerous. The poor thing is just terrified. Release her."

The guards slowly let go of the red-haired girl. She cowered back instantly, her blue eyes darting around the room frantically. Her lips trembled from both the cold and the sheer terror of being surrounded by strangers.

Kalista stepped toward her slowly, her hands held out in a peaceful gesture. "It’s okay, child. You’re safe. I’m not going to hurt you."

The girl stared at her with deep distrust, but she stopped trying to back away. Kalista crouched down, keeping her smile warm and gentle.

"It’s okay," she repeated. "No one is going to hurt you here."

The girl glanced at the guards. Seeing her fear, Kalista turned to Kaleb and the others. "She is terrified of you. Leave us."

"But, Luna..."

"It’s okay, Kaleb. I’ll handle this."

Kaleb swallowed his protests and nodded. He turned and walked back out into the storm, the remaining guards following close behind him.

Once they were alone, Kalista focused back on the young girl. "Can you tell me your name?"

The girl hesitated for a long moment before finally whispering, "Rachel."

​"Rachel," Kalista smiled. "I’m Kalista, the Luna of this pack. You don’t have to be scared. No one will harm you."

Rachel’s eyes remained wary, but a flicker of trust appeared in their blue depths. She seemed to be contemplating if she could trust Kalista.

"What do you have there?" Kalista asked gently, pointing toward the bundle of clothes.

Slowly, Rachel unwrapped the bundle, and Kalista let out a soft, shocked gasp. A tiny newborn baby was wrapped snugly inside, fast asleep.

Her eyes flew back to Rachel’s face in shock. "Is that... is that your baby?"

Rachel nodded, tears shining in her eyes. "We were being hunted by Ozai and his army. I got separated from my husband in the woods. He will be looking for us."

Kalista frowned. "Ozai? Who is Ozai? A rogue?"

Rachel suddenly froze, realizing how much she had just shared. Her husband’s warning about not trusting anyone flashed in her mind. She quickly lowered her eyes, refusing to speak another word.

Seeing the shutters go up, and not wanting to scare her further, Kalista straightened and smiled. "You must be hungry and cold, and your baby needs warmth. Come with me. I promise I only want to help."

Rachel looked at Kalista’s outstretched hand, then back up at her face. After a brief internal struggle, she slowly stood up, holding her baby tight with one hand and placing her other hand in Kalista’s.

That night, Kalista took care of Rachel and her baby girl, settling them into a comfortable room right next to her own so she could keep an eye on them.

But before morning came, Rachel snuck down to the kitchen, stole some bread and water, and fled from the pack house into the night.

***

THE PRESENT

Alyssa stared at Kalista in confusion, wondering who Rachel was. At the same time, she was shaken by the strange, lingering feeling that she somehow knew this woman from somewhere.

Dorian stepped in, sensing her confusion. "Aunt Kalista, this is Alyssa, my wife."

Kalista remained silent for a long time, her eyes clouded with memories. She had never forgotten Rachel or that stormy night, and looking at Alyssa now, the resemblance was uncanny.

The only real difference was the hair. Rachel had a full head of blood-red hair, while Alyssa’s was dark with blood-tipped streaks. Still, the likeness was impossible to ignore.

"Aunt Kalista?" Pandora called out tentatively, trying to break the uncomfortable, growing silence.

Kalista finally pulled herself out of her thoughts. The shocked look vanished instantly, replaced by a warm, bright smile.

"It’s wonderful to meet you, Alyssa," she beamed, holding her arms open for an embrace.

Alyssa stepped away from Dorian’s side and stepped into the embrace. A strange, comforting sense of warmth washed over her as the older woman’s arms wrapped around her. She couldn’t understand why she felt such an instant, deep connection to a stranger.

Kalista pulled back, holding her gently by the shoulders as her green eyes studied her face. "You’re beautiful. No surprise there, since I know my nephew has good taste."

Dorian rolled his eyes in response.

Alyssa smiled, warming up to her immediately. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Luna Kalista."

"Such a sweet girl," Kalista beamed. "Ignore the little name mishap, and the slip of tongue. My family knows me for being a bit dramatic."

It was Sage’s and Morgana’s turn to roll their eyes.

Kalista turned on them instantly, her voice sharpening. "Why don’t you pluck your eyes out if you really want to roll them so much?"

Alyssa laughed softly. She realized Kalista knew exactly how much Sage and Morgana disliked her, but simply didn’t care.

Kalista gestured for Dorian to come forward. He stepped up behind Alyssa, his hand automatically slipping around her waist to pull her close.

"She’s perfect, Ri. The perfect Luna this kingdom needs. You have my full acceptance."

Alyssa smiled happily, and Dorian’s hard expression softened slightly. However, he wasn’t about to let the name mistake go.

"When you called her Rachel, who did you think she was?"

Kalista waved it off dismissively. "Oh, just a girl I met years ago. Alyssa bears such a strong resemblance to her, I actually thought I was looking at her."

Dorian’s eyes narrowed. "How many years ago did you meet her?"

Kalista frowned, her matriarchal authority rising. "Don’t interrogate me, boy. I’ve had a long, exhausting journey and my bones are tired. I need to rest."

Dorian let out a quiet sigh, knowing better than to press her in front of the family. He snapped his fingers, and several maids quickly hurried to Kalista’s side, bowing.

"Welcome, Luna Kalista."

​"Get her settled in," Dorian ordered. "Ensure she has everything she needs."

"Yes, Alpha," the maids nodded.

Before Kalista walked away, she turned back to Alyssa, a strange look flashing quickly through her eyes. "I’ll see you at dinner, my dear."

Alyssa smiled and nodded, leaning back against Dorian’s side. She watched as Kalista walked away, sharply criticizing Sage and Morgana’s posture before exchanging stiff greetings with Conrad and Devon.

She looked up at Dorian, her eyes bright. "I like her. She seems so nice. And motherly."

Dorian forced a warm smile for her, but inside, his mind was racing. He had caught the subtle, guarded look in Kalista’s eyes when she tried to brush off his questions.

Calling Alyssa "Rachel" hadn’t been a mistake. Kalista’s memory was sharp, and she clearly knew something. His instincts told him that whatever secret his aunt was guarding, it held the key to who, and what his wife really was.