The Luna's Second Chance

Chapter 9: The Truth Unfolds

**Isla's POV **

The tension from the meal had mostly subsided by the time we finished eating, and I felt the strange mixture of comfort and confusion settling in my chest. I was Damian's second mate—that much was clear now. But where did that leave me in this world? In this pack?

I was still processing it all when Selene entered the room, her presence soft yet commanding. She crossed the kitchen in a few quick strides and, to my surprise, wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug.

“I’m so glad you’re alright, Isla,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “You scared me last night.”

I hugged her back, the warmth of her touch easing some of the weight that had been pressing down on me since the attack. When she finally pulled away, her gaze softened, but there was something deeper in her eyes—something she hadn’t yet shared.

“Sit down with me for a minute,” Selene said, motioning to the empty chairs at the table.

I sat, feeling the others’ eyes on me, but it was Selene’s gaze that held my attention. I could sense she was about to tell me something important, something that would change things again.

“You’ve been through a lot recently,” Selene began, her voice gentle but steady. “And I think it’s time you learned a bit more about who you are.”

I blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”

“You’re not just any wolf, Isla. You carry within you the bloodline of a very powerful Alpha—your father.” Selene paused, her words hanging in the air. “He was the Alpha of a forgotten pack known as the Crescent Shadow Pack. They were... different from other wolves, gifted in ways that most of our kind aren’t. Your father was one of the strongest Alphas, and he died protecting his people.”

My breath hitched. “I never knew him... you never told me.”

Selene’s expression softened with regret. “I didn’t want to overwhelm you when you were younger. It wasn’t the right time. But your father’s strength runs through your veins, Isla. And so do his powers. That’s why your abilities are awakening now. You’ve inherited more than just the role of a Luna—you’ve inherited his legacy.”

I stared at her, my mind spinning with this new information. A forgotten pack? My father, an Alpha who died protecting his people? It was all so much to take in, and yet it felt like a missing piece of myself had just clicked into place.

Selene continued, her voice steady. “There’s a special academy—a place where creatures like you go to learn and control their powers. It’s where you need to be if you’re going to understand your abilities and protect yourself from what’s coming.”

“The academy?” I echoed, my head spinning with questions. “But... I have classes at university. I can’t just disappear.”

Selene smiled softly. “You don’t have to choose, Isla. You can go to university during the weekdays and attend the academy on the weekends. It’ll be intense, but you need the training. It’s the only way you’ll be able to fully control the powers inside you.”

I nodded slowly, the weight of everything pressing down on me. It made sense, but at the same time, it felt overwhelming. The idea of balancing university, the academy, and everything else... it seemed impossible. But Selene was right. If I didn’t learn to control my powers, things could get much worse.

“I’ll do it,” I said quietly. “I’ll go to the academy on weekends and stay at the university during the week.”

Selene’s expression shifted, and for a moment, I thought I saw relief flicker in her eyes. But then her tone changed—firmer, more insistent.