Heart of a rogue

* Chapter 33 -

Everything felt blurry and I was incredibly fatigued. I tried to open my eyes, but darkness surrounded me, pressing in like a heavy blanket.

Sometimes, I thought I heard voices. But they were distant, hard to make sense of. It felt like they were speaking to me, but I was too weak, too disoriented, to respond. I just held onto those voices, somehow, they kept me tethered to the world. They felt like light, swirling and dancing around me, some pink, some blue. Little balls of energy urging me to hold on.

And then, one day, the heaviness started to fade. Slowly, bit by bit, I felt like myself again. The darkness that had consumed me seemed to pull back, revealing the world around me.

My eyes fluttered open, blinking against the harsh light. It was so bright it made me groan in discomfort.

I glanced around, confused, unsure of where I was. Then I saw him—Joshua, sleeping in a chair in the corner. "Josh?" My voice was barely a whisper, hoarse and dry.

He stirred, blinking in confusion, but then his eyes snapped to mine, and relief flooded his face. "Oh thank god, finally." He rushed to my side, grabbing my hand and holding it tightly.

"Water..." I rasped.

He was quick to fill a cup, rushing it to me. "Where?" I asked, still foggy.

"Alpha is on his way. You're at the pack house. You're safe here, you're safe," Joshua assured me.

I took slow, careful sips of the water, and as I did, memories began to resurface. Running through the snow, the fight, the red snow, and Leo falling into the raging river. My heart tightened in my chest. "Is everyone okay?" I asked, voice trembling with concern.

Joshua sighed, a faint chuckle escaping him. "Such a Luna question. You were hanging by a thread, Lucille. Days in and out of danger, and you're asking about everyone else?"

"Are they okay?" I repeated, ignoring his tone.

He nodded, his expression serious. "Not everyone, no. Fights like this leave scars. Some are still reeling, but most are alright."

He helped me back under the covers, then continued. "Declan's on his way. He'll be here soon, maybe fifteen minutes. He'll explain everything. Is there anything you need?"

I shook my head, still too overwhelmed to process everything. "I'm not at the camp?" I asked, confused.

Joshua chuckled softly, squeezing my hand. "No, you're on our pack grounds. You're at the pack house."

It was all still a blur. I couldn't remember much, except shifting into my human form and feeling a surge of power from the earth beneath me. I didn't remember my last moments with Leo, only the look in his eyes—full of pain and regret as he tried to save me. But it didn't matter anymore.

It was better this way.

The pack healer entered shortly after, doing quick tests on me. My body hadn't been healing properly at first, but now it was recovering. The healer, Elina, gave me a small smile. She was young—much younger than I had expected—but kind. "I'm glad you're feeling better, Luna," she said, gently handing me another glass of water.

The word stung. Luna. It didn't feel like me. I didn't feel like a Luna.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. It was strange—this feeling of being disconnected from the role, yet it was what everyone seemed to expect from me.

As Elina handed me the water, the door suddenly swung open. Declan stood in the doorway, his hair disheveled, his eyes wide with concern. He was breathing heavily, as though he'd run all the way here.