The Luna's Second Chance

Chapter 5: The Past Unveiled

Isla's POV

I could feel the weight of his gaze from across the festival square, and even though I tried to ignore it, Damian's presence lingered at the edge of my awareness like a storm cloud about to break. The energy between us was palpable, almost suffocating in its intensity, but still, I had no idea what to do with it. How could I be so drawn to someone who seemed so determined to push me away?

Harper was chatting animatedly about some upcoming trip to the lake, but I wasn’t really listening. My eyes kept flicking back toward where Damian stood, his tall figure barely moving, surrounded by his Beta and Gamma, Ethan and Marcus. His expression was distant, his gaze fixated on something far beyond the festival. He looked lost—like a man still haunted by ghosts.

I wondered if he was thinking about her again—Lyra, his first mate. Her shadow hung over everything, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling that I would never measure up. I was never supposed to be part of this world, never supposed to be his second chance. But here I was.

Harper’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Earth to Isla! Are you even listening?”

I blinked and turned to her with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I got distracted.”

She followed my gaze, her brow furrowing. “Oh,” she said quietly. “Damian Blackwood.”

I bit my lip, unsure how to respond. Harper didn’t know about the bond between us, didn’t know the weight that rested on my shoulders every time I saw him. I had kept that secret buried deep, even from my closest friend.

“I just... I don’t know how to feel about him,” I admitted softly, more to myself than to her.

Harper’s expression softened, and she nudged me playfully. “Well, from what I hear, he’s a tough one to crack. But if anyone could figure him out, I bet it’d be you.”

I smiled faintly, but inside, I wasn’t so sure.

Before I could dwell on it any longer, the air around us seemed to shift. A hush fell over the crowd as a tall figure approached—a woman I didn’t recognize but who moved with an unmistakable grace. Her long silver hair shimmered under the festival lights, and her eyes were sharp and calculating.

Beside her, Damian stiffened, his posture rigid as the woman came to a stop directly in front of him.

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Who was she?

Damian's POV

The past was never far behind me. Even here, surrounded by people who depended on me, who looked to me for leadership, I couldn’t escape it. And when she walked into the square, I felt the old wounds tearing open again.

Vivienne.

She moved like a shadow, her presence unmistakable even after all these years. The last time I had seen her was the day we buried Lyra—and she had left without a word, vanishing from Blackwood Ridge like a ghost. Now, she stood before me, her silver hair glowing in the dim light, her eyes burning with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine.

“Damian,” she said, her voice smooth but laced with something darker. “It’s been a long time.”

I nodded stiffly, my gaze flicking to Ethan and Marcus, both of whom stood tense beside me. They knew what she was, what her presence meant. She wasn’t just any visitor—Vivienne was Lyra’s sister, the one person who had every right to hate me.

“What do you want, Vivienne?” I asked, my voice low.

Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ve come to discuss a matter that concerns us both.”

Ethan stepped forward, his voice cautious. “Now might not be the best time.”

Vivienne’s gaze shifted to him, a flicker of amusement crossing her features. “Ah, the ever-loyal Beta. Don’t worry, Ethan. I won’t cause a scene.” She turned her attention back to me, her expression hardening. “But we need to talk. Alone.”

A cold dread settled in the pit of my stomach, but I nodded. There was no avoiding this. Not anymore.

---

Damian's POV

Vivienne’s presence was a storm I wasn’t ready to face. Every muscle in my body tensed as I led her away from the festival square and into a more secluded part of town, away from curious eyes and prying ears. She walked beside me in silence, her gaze as sharp as it had always been, piercing through any attempt I made to keep the past buried.

We came to a stop near the edge of the woods, the sound of the festival fading behind us. Vivienne crossed her arms, her eyes searching mine.

“I’ve kept my distance long enough,” she said, her voice cold. “But something is happening in the Ridge, Damian, and I won’t sit idly by while my sister’s memory is desecrated.”

My jaw tightened. “What are you talking about?”

“The rogues,” she hissed. “They’re circling the town, gathering. And don’t think I haven’t noticed the pull Isla has on you. You may think she’s your second chance, but she’s more than that. The wolves out there... they’re after her. Just like they were after Lyra.”

My heart pounded. Rogues had been growing more aggressive lately, but I had assumed it was part of the usual territorial skirmishes. The thought that they could be targeting Isla—it twisted something deep inside me.

“They won’t touch her,” I growled.

Vivienne’s eyes darkened. “You couldn’t protect Lyra. Don’t think it’ll be any different with her.”

Before I could respond, a chilling howl echoed through the woods—sharp, predatory. My blood ran cold. That sound... it was too close.

“Rogues,” Vivienne whispered, her eyes narrowing. “They’re here.”

Without a second thought, I shifted into Alpha mode, my instincts flaring to life. I ran, rushing back toward the heart of the festival, my mind racing with the possibilities. If rogues had come this close, then everyone was in danger.

---