Moonbound: Caught Between Mafia and Mate

Chapter 5: The Hunt Begins

The tension in the mansion was palpable the next morning. Guards patrolled the halls, their expressions hard and unreadable as they moved with purpose, constantly watching for any sign of danger. Every sound, every whisper seemed to carry the weight of suspicion, and Luna could feel the undercurrent of fear that had settled over everyone in the house.

Someone here had betrayed them.

Luna paced in her room, her mind racing as she replayed the events of the night before over and over. The attack, the werewolf, Lorenzo's cold fury. The thought that someone close to them had let Matteo's men in made her stomach twist with unease. She wasn't sure whom to trust anymore.

The deep claw marks on her arm, now bandaged, were a constant reminder that she was in the middle of a battle she didn't fully understand. But the more she thought about it, the more certain she became that this was no longer about just surviving. She had to learn to fight back—against Matteo, against the traitor, and maybe even against the part of her that was still afraid of what she was becoming.

There was a knock at the door.

Luna paused, her heart jumping in her chest. She wasn't expecting anyone. "Come in," she called, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

The door opened, and Maria stepped in, her expression somber. "How are you holding up?"

Luna sighed, sitting on the edge of her bed. "I don't even know where to start. It feels like everything's falling apart."

Maria gave her a sympathetic look. "That's understandable, given what happened last night. But you're stronger than you realize, Luna. You've already survived more than most people could handle."

Luna looked down at her bandaged arm. "It doesn't feel like it."

Maria moved closer, her eyes softening with concern. "I know you're scared, but you need to understand something—your power is still awakening. What happened last night wasn't just an attack, it was a test. Matteo wants to push you, force you to reveal the full extent of your abilities."

Luna frowned, confused. "But I don't even know what my abilities are. How can he know more about me than I do?"

"Because Matteo has spent his life chasing power, and that includes people like you," Maria explained. "You're not the first, Luna. There have been others like you, people born with a special connection to the moon. But your bloodline... it's unique. It's why he's after you. He believes that by controlling you, he can control that power."

Luna's stomach twisted at the thought. She had always felt different, but now it seemed like her very existence had put her at the center of a war she never asked to be part of.

Maria's gaze sharpened. "You can't let him win, Luna. If he gets his hands on you, there's no telling what he'll do."

Luna clenched her fists, her fear turning to anger. "I don't want to be a pawn in his game. But I don't know how to stop him."

Maria smiled slightly, her expression filled with quiet determination. "That's where I come in. I've been preparing for this moment for a long time, and now it's time to start your training."

Luna blinked, caught off guard. "Training?"

"Yes," Maria said, her tone firm. "You need to learn how to harness your power, how to control it. Right now, it's raw, unfocused. But with the right guidance, you can turn it into something that will protect you—and destroy anyone who tries to use you."

Luna hesitated, a mixture of fear and curiosity swirling inside her. The idea of unlocking her power was both thrilling and terrifying. But after everything that had happened, she knew she couldn't stay passive anymore. She couldn't keep relying on Lorenzo to protect her from threats she barely understood.

She had to become stronger.

"I'll do it," Luna said, her voice steady with resolve. "I want to learn."

Maria nodded, a flicker of pride in her eyes. "Good. But we'll have to be careful. Lorenzo might not be entirely on board with this. He wants to protect you, but he also wants to control what happens with your power. We can't let that happen. This is your journey, Luna. No one else's."

Luna swallowed hard, the weight of her decision settling in. "When do we start?"

"Tonight," Maria said with a smile. "Meet me in the east wing. There's a room there that no one uses anymore. It'll be safe for us to train without anyone knowing."

Luna nodded, her mind already racing with questions about what the training would entail. But before she could ask, Maria turned to leave.

"Oh, and Luna," Maria added over her shoulder, "be careful who you trust. The traitor could be closer than you think."

Meanwhile, in the Underground of the Mansion

Lorenzo stood in front of a row of his most trusted men, his expression hard as steel. The air in the underground chamber was thick with tension, and no one dared to speak as they awaited their boss's next move.

"Someone in this house has betrayed me," Lorenzo said, his voice low and dangerous. "Matteo's men didn't just slip past our defenses by accident. They had help. And I will not tolerate disloyalty."

The men shifted uncomfortably, their eyes darting between one another. None of them wanted to be the one to draw Lorenzo's ire.

"Whoever it is," Lorenzo continued, his gaze sweeping over the room, "I'll find them. And when I do, they'll wish they had never crossed me."

One of his men, a tall, wiry man named Enzo, cleared his throat. "We've been searching, boss, but no one's acting out of the ordinary. Whoever it is, they're covering their tracks well."

Lorenzo's jaw tightened. "Keep searching. I want everyone in this house watched, even the servants. No one is above suspicion."

Enzo nodded, but Lorenzo could see the doubt in his eyes. This traitor was a ghost, slipping through their fingers at every turn. But Lorenzo knew one thing for sure—whoever had betrayed him wouldn't stay hidden for long.

"Dismissed," he barked, and the men quickly filed out of the room, leaving Lorenzo alone with his thoughts.

As the door closed behind them, Lorenzo sank into a chair, rubbing his temples. His mind was a storm of conflicting emotions—anger, frustration, and something else, something he didn't want to admit even to himself.

Luna.

He had always known she was special, but the more time he spent around her, the more he realized just how deep that uniqueness ran. It wasn't just her power that drew him to her—it was something else, something far more dangerous.

Lorenzo clenched his fists. He couldn't afford to be distracted, not now. Matteo was closing in, and there was still a traitor within his ranks. But despite his best efforts, Luna was always there, lurking in the back of his mind.

He couldn't let his feelings for her get in the way. She was too important to the war he was fighting—and to the power that hung in the balance.

Later That Night

Luna crept through the halls of the mansion, her heart pounding in her chest as she made her way to the east wing. The mansion was quiet, the guards stationed at key points but unaware of her secret mission. She had waited until the house was still before slipping out of her room, determined to avoid any prying eyes.

As she reached the door Maria had told her about, Luna hesitated. A part of her still wasn't sure if this was the right path, if she was ready for what lay ahead. But then she remembered the werewolf that had attacked her, the blood on her arm, and Lorenzo's cryptic warnings about power and control.

She needed to do this.

Taking a deep breath, Luna pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room was dimly lit by a single lantern, casting long shadows on the walls. Maria stood in the center, waiting for her with a calm, focused expression.

"Ready?" Maria asked, her voice low.

Luna nodded, her heart racing with anticipation.

"Good," Maria said, stepping closer. "Tonight, we begin."