Chapter 52 Journey to Mooncrest hall 1

Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Journey to Mooncrest hall 1

Talia’s POV

The morning of the journey to Mooncrest Hall arrived faster than I expected.

I woke before the sun came out, and my body was stiff from lying in the same position for too long. The fire had died a long time ago, because the room felt very cold. But I had not felt it until now, because of the thick blanket I was covered with.

Kaelen was already gone, and his blanket was folded on the floor and kept in its usual spot.

I sat up and looked at the bag I had packed the night before. It sat at the foot of the bed, full of all the things I needed and just waiting for the journey.

Today, we would leave for Mooncrest Hall, and today, I would start the journey that would end with me facing Vivienne.

I climbed out of bed and walked to the bathroom to shower. The water was cold, but I did not care. I just washed my face, brushed my hair, came out and dressed in the gray dress that was simple and plain, because it did not draw attention.

I thought of wearing one of the dresses that Kaelen had bought me, but I did not know if the road was as rough as the one from Cresswood. So I decided that I would save the beautiful dresses for the celebration.

A knock came at the door.

I opened it, and saw a servant standing in the hallway, holding a tray of food.

"Breakfast, Luna," she said. "The Alpha says to eat well, because the journey is long."

I took the tray and set it on the desk. On the tray were pancakes, eggs, a glass of juice, and a small bowl of berries.

I ate quickly, but I could not enjoy the taste of the food because my stomach was full of nerves and fear that had filled my heart.

I sat on the edge of the bed after eating, holding my hands together while waiting for Kaelen’s signals to move, and my bag sat beside me, fully packed and ready.

My palms were sweaty. I wiped them on my dress, but they got wet again right away. I could not sit still. I stood up, sat down, and stood up again. My heart would not stop racing. I pressed my hand against my chest and tried to breathe in, out, in, and out. But it did not help.

Minutes or hours passed, then a knock came at the door.

"Luna," a servant called. "The Alpha is ready to leave. They are waiting for you at the entrance."

"I’ll be there shortly," I answered. Then I stood up, picked up my bag, and walked to the door.

I took one last look around the room. The fire had died, the shadows were gone, and the bed was made just like I always did it in Cresswood.

A small smile filled my face as I looked around the room, because I did not know when I would see this room again or how long we would be at Mooncrest Hall.

I walked out and closed the door behind me.

When I stepped into the halls, the pack house was chaotic.

Wolves rushed past me in every direction, carrying bags and boxes and armfuls of clothes. Servants ran back and forth, loading supplies into a line of cars parked outside the entrance, and voices shouted over each other, giving orders and asking questions.

A lot of people were going to Mooncrest Hall. Not just Kaelen and his friends, and not the whole pack either, but a lot of people in the pack were going.

I pressed myself against the wall to avoid being knocked over, as a wolf bumped into my shoulder and muttered an apology without looking back. Another ran past with a stack of folded linens, looking like she might burst into tears.

The torches flickered, and the shadows danced on the walls, but there was no silence. Only noise and movement and the electric buzz of anticipation.

I walked to the entrance, and I saw them.

Kaelen stood by a car, with his arms crossed, and his gray eyes scanning the horizon. Jax leaned against the car, with his face relaxed, Silas was already in the driver’s seat, with his hands on the wheel, and Cain stood at the edge of the tree line, with his back to us, watching the forest. They were all waiting for me.

I stood frozen, because I had expected carts, like the one that brought me from Cresswood to Blackmoor Valley. But I forgot that Shadowfang Pack was different, more modern and more wealthy than Cresswood or any pack I had ever heard of.

In Cresswood, we had nothing, and the pack house was falling apart. The roads were filled with dirt, and the only way to travel was by cart or on foot.

But here, in Blackmoor Valley, everything was different. The roads were smooth, and the cars were sleek and black, with engines that hummed softly.

This was not Cresswood, and nothing here was like Cresswood.

Then I saw her.

Serena was standing beside Kaelen’s car, dressed for travel, with her hair swept back and a small bag in her hand. She was smiling, and she looked like she had been waiting there for a while.

She saw me, and her smile widened.

"Luna Talia," she said sweetly. "There you are. I was just telling the Alpha that there must be a mistake with the seating. The car is full, you see. So you will ride in one of the cars behind, and I will keep the Alpha company on the road."

I stopped walking.

My heart pounded, but I kept my face still. "There is no mistake," I said.

Serena tilted her head. "Oh, but there is." She glanced at Kaelen, who was standing by the driver’s side, watching us without a word. "The Alpha and I are old friends. It would be improper for you to take my seat."

I did not move, and I did not answer, because I did not know what to say.

Then Kaelen spoke.

His voice was flat, and cold, and quiet. "Serena."

She turned toward him, smiling. "Yes?"

"Serena," he said again, and this time there was something in his voice that made even me stand straighter. "You will not ride in this car. You will ride in another, or you will stay behind at the pack."

Serena’s smile faltered. "But, Kaelen—"

"Alpha," he cut in. "You will address me as Alpha."

Her face went pale, then red.

"And if you choose to come," Kaelen continued, "you will behave yourself. You will not approach my Luna. You will not speak to her unless she speaks to you first. And you will keep whatever opinions you have about her to yourself."

He paused, and the pause was worse than the words.

"Or you will see my other side. Do you understand?"

Serena did not answer.

"Do you understand?" he said again.

"Yes," she said, and her voice was tight. "Alpha."

"Then go."

Serena turned, and her eyes found mine. For one second—one long, burning second—she looked at me with pure hatred. Not the cold, quiet hatred she had worn before. This was hot, and sharp, and personal.

Then she turned and stormed off toward the cars behind us.

I watched her go, and I did not feel triumphant. I felt watched.

Because whatever Kaelen had just done, he had not ended anything. He had only pushed Serena back. And people like Serena did not stay pushed for long.

Kaelen turned around and saw me standing still with my mouth hanging a bit open. His gray eyes moved across my face, then down to the bag in my hand.

"You are ready," he said.

"Yes, I am ready," I said, as I quickly fixed my facial expression, and continued walking to the car.

Kaelen opened the back door of the car. "Get in.”