Fated by Blood and Moon

Chapter 31: The Calm Before the Storm

Maya’s POV

The days leading up to my Luna coronation had been surreal. The pack had accepted me fully, and I could feel their loyalty and respect whenever they looked my way. But even with the excitement of the coronation and the bond between Leo and me solidified, a sense of foreboding lingered, heavy and unshakable.

The marking had changed something inside me. It had solidified my connection to Leo and the pack, but it had also intensified my connection with Lyra. We were stronger than ever, our bond woven with power and purpose. Still, I couldn’t help but feel like something was coming. Something that would challenge everything.

I stood at the edge of the cliff that overlooked the valley, the wind whipping through my hair as the silver moonlight bathed the land in a soft glow. The forest below was peaceful, quiet, but my instincts told me that this calm was only temporary.

You feel it too, don’t you? I asked Lyra.

Yes, she replied, her voice a soft growl in my mind. There’s a storm coming, Maya. And it’s not just the remnants of the Bloodfang Pack.

I sighed, wrapping my arms around myself as I stared out at the horizon. The Bloodfangs had been scattered after their Alpha fell, and we’d strengthened our borders, but I knew better than to assume that the danger was over. There were always those who sought power, who would rise up when they saw an opportunity.

Leo’s presence reached me before I heard him approach. I turned to see him walking toward me, his silver eyes glowing softly in the moonlight. He stopped beside me, his arm slipping around my waist as he pulled me close.

“You’ve been quiet,” he said softly, his voice filled with concern. “What’s on your mind?”

I leaned into him, finding comfort in the warmth of his body. “It’s too quiet. I can feel it in the air. Something’s coming, Leo.”

He nodded, his jaw tightening. “I know. I’ve been feeling it too. Fenrir has been restless, and I’ve doubled our patrols just to be safe.”

I glanced up at him, meeting his gaze. “Do you think it’s the Bloodfangs?”

Leo shook his head. “No. They’ve been weakened too much to be a real threat right now. But there are always others… rogues, packs looking for weakness.”

I sighed, leaning my head against his shoulder. “I just want peace, Leo. After everything we’ve been through, I want to believe that we can finally be happy.”

He tightened his hold on me, his voice a low rumble. “We will be. I promise you that, Maya. Whatever comes, we’ll face it together. You’re my Luna now, and we’re stronger than ever.”

His words reassured me, but the unease still lingered in the back of my mind. Lyra growled softly, ever watchful, ever alert.

We need to be ready, she said. Something big is coming.

I nodded silently, knowing she was right.

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Leo’s POV

As much as I tried to focus on the celebration of Maya becoming my Luna, I couldn’t shake the feeling that trouble was brewing. The air felt thick with tension, and Fenrir had been on edge ever since the coronation. Even now, as I held Maya close, I could feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on me.

The pack looks to us, Fenrir growled in my mind. We can’t afford to be caught off guard.

I knew he was right. We’d fortified the borders, but something told me that wasn’t enough. There was a storm coming, and we needed to be prepared for whatever it brought.

Maya stirred beside me, and I looked down at her, seeing the worry etched on her face. She was strong, but I hated seeing her burdened with fear.

“We should head back,” I said softly, brushing a kiss against her temple. “It’s getting late, and we’ll need our strength for whatever comes next.”

She nodded, though I could see the reluctance in her eyes. “I know. But I just… I don’t want to leave this spot. It’s peaceful here.”

I tightened my hold on her. “We’ll have plenty of peace soon, I promise.”

As we turned to head back to the pack house, I felt Fenrir stir restlessly. Keep your eyes open, Leo. This calm won’t last.

I didn’t need the warning. My senses were already heightened, every instinct on alert. Whatever storm was coming, we would be ready.

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Maya’s POV

That night, sleep didn’t come easily. I lay awake in Leo’s arms, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing, but my mind was elsewhere. Every creak of the house, every rustle of the wind outside, set my nerves on edge.

You need to rest, Lyra murmured, but even she seemed tense. You’ll need your strength.

“I know,” I whispered into the darkness. “But something’s coming, Lyra. I can feel it.”

So can I, she agreed. But we’ll face it, Maya. We’re not alone.

I took comfort in her words, knowing that she was right. I wasn’t the same scared girl I had been when I first arrived at the Silvermoon Pack. I was stronger now, both physically and emotionally. I had Lyra, I had Leo, and I had an entire pack behind me.

But that didn’t mean I wasn’t afraid of what was coming.

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The night passed in a blur of restless sleep and anxious dreams. When the sun finally began to rise, I felt a sense of dread settle in my chest.

Leo was already awake, his eyes sharp and focused as he sat at the edge of the bed, pulling on his boots. I watched him in silence for a moment, taking in the determined set of his jaw, the tension in his shoulders.

He felt it too.

“Leo,” I began, sitting up and pushing the blankets aside. “Do you think—”

Before I could finish my question, a sharp knock sounded at the door. Leo was on his feet in an instant, his posture alert and ready.

“Alpha,” Jaxon’s voice came from the other side, tense and urgent. “You need to come. Something’s happened.”

Leo glanced back at me, and I nodded, already moving to get dressed.

The storm had arrived.

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