bChapter /b34

It was nearly 9am, when I finally stirred awake, sunlight spilling through the curtains and gently warming the room. I bonked a few times, tryl gather my bearings

As I stretched under the soft nket, I realized the dormitory felt unusually quiet. Frowning, I turned my head and saw Audrey siling casually by the window, sipping her coller and reading a book. Monica was sprawled out on the couch,zily scrolling through her phone.

“Why didn’t anyone wake me?” Lasked, my voice still thick with sleep, half expecting to be scolded for oversleeping

Audrey only chuckled and set her coffee down. “Alpha’s orders.”

“We can’t fight him,” bMonica /badded with a grin, not beven /blooking up from her phone, as if the very idea wasughable.

I stared at them, hall annoyed, hall touched. Francesco really hadn’t let anyone disturb me. Even though we were guests here, in ckpine teritory where appearances mattered, he had chosen me over bprotocol/b.

A sigh escaped me.

Deep down, I knew what this would blook /blike to the others spoiled, pampered, bweak/b. Whispers would spread faster bthan /bwildfire in a pack as tightly

wound as this

Damn IL

Knock, knock…

The sound of knocking cut through my frustration.

Audrey Immediately stood, smoothing down her clothes before heading to the door. bShe /bcracked it open, revealing Jonathan, who looked a little out of breath, as if he had hurried over.

“I’m sorry to disturb you,” he said respectfully. “But… there’s a woman outside. She brought something for the Luna, bsays /bit’s one of her favorite things from when she lived here.”

blinked in confusion.

Someone from here? Bringing me something?

I shook my head slightly. That made no sense. I had no friends. No one who cared enough.

Audrey turned to look at me, raising a questioning eyebrow, but I could only frown and shrug.

Until Jonathan bspoke /bagain.

“She said her name is Maria”

The name hit me ke lightning.

I gasped audibly, the room spinning slightly as my breath caught in my chest.

Maria

Memories flooded my mind – warm smiles,te–night stories, secret hugs after my nightmares Maria had been the only one who truly cared for me at my parents‘ deaths. The head servant who had be a mother figure when I had no one else.

I felt my eyes sting with the rush of unshed tears.

Audrey, noticing my reaction, nodded quickly and stepped aside, signaling for Jonathan to let her in.

The poor opened wider.

And there bshe /bwas

bMaria/b.

Older now

the years had etched lines of wisdom around her eyes and scattered silver into her once dark hair. But nothing nothing could dull the kindness radiating from her.

She stood frozen in the doorway, staring at me as if I were a ghost from a long forgotten dream.

“Eine?” she whispered, her voice trembling, raw with disbelief.

“Maria. I choked out her name.

And then I was moving.

Before Audrey or Monica could even react, I was out of bed, sprinting bacross /bthe room barefoot.

I flung myself into Maria’s arms with a broken sob, the floodgates bursting open all at once.

bShe /bcaught me immediatelyb, /bjust like she used to bwhen /bbI /bbwas /bbsmall /band scaredb, /bcradling me tightly against her chest.

1 buried my bface /binto her shoulder, breathing in the familiar,forting scent ofvender and old books. Memories rushed back bso /bvividly it hurt.

The nights she stayed bup /bwith me when I couldn’t sleep.

The whispered stories about my parents when I missed them so much it ached.

The quiet strength she gave me when no one else even saw my pain.

“My sweet girl…” she murmured into my hair, her voice cracking. “bYou’re /bhome… you’re finally home.”

I clung to her as if I could absorb all the years we had lost, the loneliness, the abandonment.

Audrey and Monica exchanged nces but didn’t interrupt. I think they understood that this moment wasn’t just important – it was bsacred/b.

After a long while, I pulled back slightly, wiping my tears with the back of my hand, embarrassed by how much i bhad /bcried.

Maria cupped my cheeks gently, her thumb brushing away ba /blingering tear.

“You’ve grown into such a beautiful young woman,” she said, pride and sadness tangled in her voice. “Talways prayed the Moon Goddess would bring you back safe.”

sniffled, smiling weakly. “I missed you so much, Maria. I thought… I thought everyone bforgot /babout me.”

“Never,” she said Bercely. “You were my daughter in all but blood. I could never forget you.b” /b

My heart twisted painfully at her words.

Gently, she pulled something out from the bag she carried–aworn leather journal, tied carefully with a blue ribbon.

“I kept thisb,/bb” /bshe said, handing it to me with trembling fingers. “It’s your mother’s journal. bShe /bwrote letters to you… dreams she had for byou/b. Ithaht byou /bshould have it now.

I gasped softly, reverently taking it from her bhands/b.

It felt like holding a piece of my past I never thought I’d recover.

Fresh btears /bbweiled /bup again, but this time they were softer, sweeter

“Thank you, Maria,” (whispered, my voice cracking. “Thank you for everything.”

She only smiled, brushing my hair back affectionately. “No need for thanks, my darling. You were always meant for mate by your side too. You’re not alone anymore.

I nodded, clutching the journal tightly to my chest

i also brought something I know you love,” Maria teased, a yful glint in her eye.

peatness. And now you have your

Before I could beven /breact, Audrey quickly stepped outside the room and returned a momentter, carrying ba /bsmall box with a knowing smile, as if they had all been in on the surprise

My eyes widened the moment I caught a bfamiliar/b, mouth watering scent drifting from the box.

“Cheese tarts?!” I gasped, my voice rising with pure shock and happiness.

Mariaughed warmly at my reaction. “No one bmakes /bthem like I do, right?”

She was right. No one could ever beat Maria’s cheese tarts light, creamy, and slightly sweet with that perfect golden crust. The memory of sneaking bites in the kitchen,ughing with herte at night, rushed back and wrapped around my heart like a warm hug

We ended up sitting and talking for over an hour, catching up on everything band /bnothing, like no time had passed at all. Maria even waited patiently while I took a quick shower and changed into the beautiful clothes Monica hadid out for me.

The outfit was simple yet elegant- a soft ck blouse tucked into a flowing ck skirt. It wasn’t mine, I realized as I ran my fingers over the silky fabric. Brand new. Monica bhad /bgone out of her way to prepare something special, and my heart squeezed with gratitude.

bWhen /bI stepped bback /binto the room, Maria’s eyes shone with pride.

“You look every bit the Luna byou /bwere meant to be,” she said, squeezing my hand warmly.

Hand in hand, we left the room together. Audrey, Monica, Jeremy, and Joe followed close behind, forming a loose protective circle around us.

Maria leaned closer bas /bwe walked, “I heard about what happened this morning” she said in a hushed voice. “Your Alpha made it clear to everyone that you were injured because you pushed byourself /btoo hard during Alpha Gregor’s memorial. He made sure everyone knew how much you sacrificed out of respect.”

She gave a littleugh, shaking her head. “Not that anyone would bdare /bsay anything against you now,” she added, her tone light and bteasing/b.

Her words filled me with a strange

nge sense of pride and relief.

As we approached the outdoor dining barea/b, I couldn’t help but tug

but tug Maria

bva /balong with me, not wanting to let go of her just yet,

Francesco sat at ba /brge table with bseveral /bother Alphas and their Lunas, including Ruben and Raithlyn.

The moment Francesco caught sight of me, his head titted slightly, an amused, almost fond smile ying on his lips. With quiet authority, he stood up- from his seat a gesture that immediately made the other Alphas nce up too.

I felt a dozen pairs of eyes watching me, but somellow, with Maria’s hand in mine, I didn’t falter.

I stepped closer, giving a polite bow of my head. “I apologize for bbeing /bte,” I said clearly.

No onemented. No one even looked displeased. Just as Maria had said–respect hung heavy in the air, surrounding me like an invisible shield.

Francesco nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on me warmly before flickering to Maria

Taking a bsmall /bbreath, I turned to introduce her. “Alpha Francesco, this is Maria. She’s she’s like a mother to me.”

For a moment, Maria seemed stunned, as if umure she belonged in the presence of so many high–ranking wohes. But then Franceson stepped forward, offering her a warm and genuine smile the kind that reached his usually cold eye

“it’s an honor to meet you, Maria,” Ise said, indining his head with unexpected pooltenes. “Aynine who holds ane dear is honored by me as well

Maria’s eyes widened in disbelief before she quickly bowed her head deeply, clearly moved by the respect he

led me with

I couldn’t stop the wide smile that bloomed across my face. Seeing her treated with such kindness such dignity–filled me with a fierce jy

After a few more soft words and a promise that she would visit again soon, Maria gave my hand onest squeere before she hid her goodbye, returning to

her duties.

I stood there for a moment, watching her leave, feeling the bittersweet ache of having her so close and yet knowing she would always belong to another part of my life.

With a quict inhale, I turned and took my seat at the same table as Francesco, Truhen, and Kaithlyn

At the Alpha table.

As Luma of Lycaon.

Something no one-

not even myself–could bhave /bever imagined just a few short months ago.

And yet, here I was

No longer broken. No longer binvisible/b. And no longer alone.