the awakening

"Let’s get to work," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. She was no longer just Luna. She was something else. Something more. And whatever that was, it was time to figure it out.

The next morning, Luna woke with the heavy weight of everything Alexander had told her still lingering in the air. It felt as if the world had shifted overnight, and she was no longer sure of her place in it. But she couldn’t afford to stay paralyzed by fear and confusion. Whatever was happening, whatever powers were awakening inside of her, she needed to understand them before they consumed her.

She stood up, feeling the cool morning air from the open window brush against her skin. She had barely slept, and her mind had raced with thoughts of Rogues, packs, powers, and the mysterious bloodline Alexander spoke of. Everything felt surreal, yet there was no denying that it was all happening. She wasn’t going to wake up from this nightmare. This was her reality now.

Pulling her hair into a loose ponytail, Luna dressed in simple clothe nothing fancy or revealing, just something comfortable to ground herself. As she prepared to go downstairs, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of the uncertainty pressing down on her chest.

She found Alexander in the kitchen, his broad back turned to her as he made coffee. The soft hum of the machine seemed to fill the otherwise quiet space, and for a moment, she let herself relax. He was there, grounded and solid, like a steady rock in the storm of chaos she found herself caught in.

“You’re up early,” Luna said, her voice still soft, but with a determination that had been absent before.

Alexander didn’t turn around immediately, but she saw the slight shift in his posture when he heard her. “I don’t sleep much anymore,” he said simply, handing her a cup of coffee without looking at her. “There’s always something to do, always something to prepare for.”

Luna took the mug, appreciating the warmth that spread through her fingers. It wasn’t a lot of comfort, but it was something. “You said I needed to learn how to wield this power. How do we even begin?”

Alexander turned then, facing her fully. His eyes softened, but there was still that hard edge to him, the one that said he had seen too much and been through too much to offer false hope. “We begin by training, Luna. You can’t face the Rogues or any of the others who will come after you if you don’t understand what you’re dealing with.”

Her stomach churned. Training? It felt like an impossible task. How could she fight something she didn’t even understand? But she nodded, determined not to show her fear. “And what exactly am I training to do?”

He walked over to the small table in the corner of the kitchen and pulled out a map. He laid it flat, pointing to different locations. “First, we need to figure out what kind of power you have. We know it’s tied to your bloodline, but we don’t know what form it will take. It could be something elemental, or it could be something more subtle, like telekinesis or mind control.”

Luna stared at the map, confused. “You really think I have powers like that?”

Alexander’s eyes softened, his tone more serious than before. “I know you do. And the sooner you start understanding them, the better. The Rogues will come after you, and you need to be ready.”

Her heart sank, but she couldn’t let it show. The thought of controlling powers she didn’t even know she had terrified her. What if she wasn’t strong enough? What if it was too much for her to handle?

“I can’t do this,” Luna muttered under her breath. “I’m not like you. I’m not a… a fighter, a leader, any of that. I’m just… me.”

Alexander’s eyes softened as he stepped closer, his presence almost overwhelming. “You don’t have to be like me. You just have to be yourself. But you do need to learn to harness what’s inside of you, or it will control you instead.”

Luna swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words. The truth was, she didn’t want to face this. She didn’t want to be thrust into this world of danger and power. She had spent her whole life wanting to stay hidden, to live a normal, quiet life. But that was no longer an option.

“So what do I need to do?” she asked, her voice small but steady. If she was going to survive this, she needed to take action.

Alexander motioned toward the door. “First, we’ll start with some physical training. The powers are one thing, but you need to be strong enough to defend yourself, even without them. After that, we’ll start with some exercises to help you connect to whatever’s inside of you.”

Luna nodded, taking a deep breath. She could do this. She had to.

They walked outside, the sun still low in the sky, casting long shadows across the grass. The property was quiet, and Luna felt a strange sense of peace as she followed Alexander toward a clearing at the edge of the forest. The sound of birds and wind in the trees filled the air, and for a moment, it almost felt normal again.

Almost.

Alexander turned to face her, his expression serious. “We’re going to start with something simple. I want you to focus on your body. Feel every muscle, every movement. Trust your instincts. Don’t overthink it.”

Luna nodded, taking a deep breath. She tried to clear her mind, to shut out the noise and the fear that constantly buzzed in her head. She had to focus, had to stop thinking about the chaos she had been thrown into.

She raised her hands, trying to steady her breath. Her gaze flickered to Alexander, who watched her closely. The tension between them felt thick, almost palpable, but she tried to ignore it. She needed to focus.

“Now, move,” Alexander instructed. “Don’t think about it. Just move. Let your body take the lead.”

Luna didn’t understand what he meant at first, but she obeyed. Slowly, she began to shift her weight, stretching her arms as though she were reaching for something. The motions felt clumsy at first, but she kept going. It wasn’t until she felt a strange, tingling sensation in her fingertips that she realized something was happening. It was subtle, but it was there—a spark of energy that wasn’t hers, yet felt like it belonged to her all the same.

Alexander’s eyes narrowed as he watched her closely. “You felt that?”

Luna nodded, her breath catching in her throat. “Yeah… What was that?”

“That’s your connection,” he explained. “The first step. You’ll need to practice it, but what you felt just now is the beginning. It’s the power awakening inside of you. Your body knows what to do, even if your mind doesn’t. You just need to trust it.”

Luna swallowed hard, unsure of how to process what was happening. The feeling had been so foreign, yet so natural at the same time. She wasn’t sure whether to be excited or terrified. But something inside of her—a deep, primal instinct—told her that this was only the beginning.

“So… what now?” she asked, her voice quieter this time.

“Now we keep going,” Alexander said, his voice soft but firm. “We don’t stop until you can control it.”

Luna nodded, though a part of her was still unsure. Control? She couldn’t even fully grasp what was happening inside her. But she couldn’t stop now. The Rogues, the packs, the bloodlin everything was connected, and the truth was clear: she couldn’t run from it. She had to face it, whether she was ready or not.

“Let’s begin,” she said, taking a step forward, ready to face whatever came next.