The Luna's Second Chance

Chapter 20: A New Beginning

**Isla's POV**

The morning sun filtered through the thin curtains of Damian's house, casting soft rays of light across the room. I blinked awake, the events of the previous night flooding my mind like a wave. The feel of Damian's lips on mine, the heat of his touch, the weight of his words-*I'll try to move on, with you.*

I turned over in bed, my heart still fluttering at the memory, and caught sight of him standing by the window, shirtless, staring out at the rising sun. His broad back was tense, muscles rippling as he stood deep in thought, but there was a calmness in his stance that I hadn't seen before. It was as if, for the first time in a long while, he had allowed himself to breathe.

"Damian?" I whispered, my voice still thick with sleep.

He turned to look at me, his eyes softening the moment they met mine. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and the sight of it made my heart swell. Without a word, he walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge, his fingers brushing a loose strand of hair away from my face.

"Good morning," he murmured, his voice low and soothing.

"Good morning," I replied, sitting up and pulling the blanket around me. The room felt different this morning, lighter somehow. Maybe it was because of the clarity we had found the night before, or maybe it was the peace that had come with finally acknowledging our bond.

Damian's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, his thumb gently tracing the curve of my jaw. There was something vulnerable in his eyes, a tenderness I hadn't seen before.

"I meant what I said last night," he said softly, his voice laced with quiet determination. "I'm ready to move forward, Isla. I don't know what the future holds, but I want to figure it out with you."

Hearing those words again made my chest tighten with emotion. I reached out and took his hand, squeezing it gently. "We'll figure it out together," I assured him. "One step at a time."

A comfortable silence settled between us before Damian glanced toward the window again, his expression growing serious. "There's something I need to talk to you about," he began, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "Something beyond us."

I straightened up, sensing the shift. "What is it?"

"The rogues," he said, his jaw tightening. "The attack at the festival wasn't random, Isla. Someone's targeting the pack, and I have reason to believe that you're part of the reason."

I blinked, my mind racing. "Me? Why would they target me?"

Damian's eyes darkened. "Your powers. They're growing, and whoever is leading these rogues knows it. They want you, Isla. They want what you can do. And if they can't have you, they'll try to destroy you."

A chill ran down my spine at his words. The memory of the rogue attack at the festival flashed through my mind-the chaos, the fear, and the surge of power that had erupted from within me. I had barely understood what was happening, and now to hear that it had made me a target?

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you," Damian said, his voice hard with resolve. "I'll protect you. We'll protect you. But you need to be ready."

I swallowed, nodding slowly as the weight of his words settled on me. My powers were awakening, but I still didn't know how to control them. The academy. The thought flashed in my mind, and I remembered what Selene had told me. I needed to learn, to train. Not just for myself, but for everyone.

"I'll go to the academy," I said firmly. "I need to. If I'm going to protect myself, protect the pack, I have to learn how to control this."

Damian's expression softened, and he nodded. "You won't be doing it alone," he said, his fingers intertwining with mine. "You have me. You have the pack. And we'll figure out who's behind these attacks."

For a moment, we sat in silence, the weight of what was to come hanging between us. There were so many questions still unanswered, so many threats lurking in the shadows. But for the first time in a long time, I felt like we were facing it together-like I wasn't alone in this.

After a while, Damian stood, offering me his hand. "Come on," he said with a hint of a smile. "There's something I want to show you."

Curious, I took his hand, and he led me through the house and out to the backyard. The air was cool and crisp, the morning mist still hanging over the fields. But it wasn't the view that caught my attention-it was the people gathered there.

Ethan, Marcus, and Vivienne stood near the edge of the training grounds, talking quietly. Nearby, a small group of wolves were sparring, their movements quick and precise. The pack was already preparing, tightening security, readying themselves for whatever might come next.

"They're getting ready," Damian explained as we approached. "But you're part of this pack now, Isla. I want you to see that. You're not an outsider."

As if on cue, Ethan glanced over and offered me a warm smile. "Morning, Luna," he greeted, his tone teasing but filled with genuine warmth.

Luna. The word sent a rush of warmth through me, and for the first time, I didn't flinch at the title. I wasn't just Damian's second chance-I was part of something bigger. I was part of this pack, part of this family.

"Come on," Vivienne called, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Let's see what you've got. If you're going to be our Luna, you might as well show us how to fight."

A nervous laugh escaped me, but Damian's hand squeezed mine, grounding me. "You've got this," he murmured in my ear. "We'll train together."

And as the sun rose higher in the sky, casting its light over the fields, I knew that this was just the beginning. There would be challenges ahead-enemies lurking in the shadows, powers I still didn't understand-but I wasn't facing them alone.

I was ready for whatever came next. Ready to fight for my place, my pack, and my future-with Damian by my side.