CHAPTER 1: The Girl Who Doesn't Belong

LUNA

“Run!” Baba told me.

Yet again!!! Running was what I've done almost all my life. Soon enough, I became so good at it and it helped me. I felt different, and naturally, the pack shunned me as a werewolf who was quite ill and could not shift at the age of 20.

Concerning kinship, my ancestors were werewolves, Sterling, Svanaspeel, Frost, Ranger, Windwhistle, and Thorpe, all of whom married into powerful werewolf families. Relationships between these six family lines became commonplace as a result of their unique qualities that set them apart from the others.

My mother came from the Frost line. Her eyes, which seemed capable of freezing someone to death, are the purest blue. She exuded poise and grace wherever she went, her blonde hair always secured in a bun. My dad would always call her, a rare breed. Blaze descent was mine dad's. His eyes were the most inviting pair that I have ever seen. His honey-colored eyes glowed with love, and his smile was always so radiant and sweet, especially when it was directed toward my mother, my siblings, and me. Yes, my siblings were fiercely in love with one another and also very adversarial. Luigi is my tough older brother; Sofia is my sassy younger sister; and Fermi is the cutest little boy. My sister was remarkably similar to my mother. My brothers resembled my father.

Luna Valeria Blaze—the other one—is my name. Having ginger curls, hazel eyes, and plump, pink lips. I was different from the rest of the family, even though I had attractive facial features and a well-toned body that I tended to cover up. I always had a sickly, pale, and lethargic appearance. With the exception of speed, which I acquired over time from constant running, I lacked the characteristics shared by all other werewolves.

***

"What happened?" Fermi questioned in a drowsy tone.

"Grandma is pursuing Luna once more". With his brother in tow, Luigi answered, "You know how she is"

“She is just a terrible person posing as your grandmother. It is not Sissy's fault that she is not like the rest of us. Every time…” Sofia said.

"Please turn down your volume, Sofia!" Luigi said, staring down at his sister.

"What? It is the way things really are. Poor mum has to put up with her antics once more because she is allegedly incapable of raising a healthy pup”. Sofia responded.

"Will Luna be okay?" Fermi asked, tears in his eyes.

Luigi put down his head and said, "She will always be, without a doubt."

“You are totally to blame for everything, you worthless girl! You have no idea how much I treasured that piece! The biggest embarrassment to this family is you! I am going to strangle you to death. Which Luna do you suppose you to be?" The old shrew continued to hurl objects and yell. She exclaimed, "I regret saving you at birth!"

"Mother, that is enough. You are talking about my child in such a disrespectful way”. my father retorted.

"You claim that child is yours? How does she resemble you or the woman you married? That woman has simply blinded you. How could Frost and Blaze have a child like that? Since you have always been a gullible person, you welcomed the girl child she had with one of her many lovers with open arms. She gave you the child because she knew you would always want one. Why do you act this way?" she screamed.

The conversations continued because it was the ideal way for me to avoid that woman's wrath. I made a secret place for myself in the forest, where I fled. It was never known to exist and nobody could.

Everything I required, including clothing, food, snacks, and everything I wanted, was here. It was a comfortable and laid-back place. I took the snack from the old house and lay down on my bed to eat it. The only nice thing I had left over from the old house were the snacks, and I always took advantage of the opportunity to eat as much as I wanted. I laughed because I could only imagine her reaction if she ever discovered that I was the cunning thief in the house. Luckily, the old witch never caught me. Yes, I mastered the art of disguising myself and it has always been quite helpful.

Everything would come to my mother's end, and my father would undoubtedly support her. A couple so devoted to each other. Dad will have to grovel for her attention for a few days as Mum will not speak to him. He will have to beg for her touch because he cannot stay without it. My mother was difficult to break when she felt like it, especially when it came to my father, who would always find a way to get through to her. Even though it is not always simple, he is her mate for a reason. He needs to accurately and completely understand her.

"Where are you, Luna? Kindly stay safe and return home as soon as possible to see Mother. You know how she could be," Sofia texted me, cutting me off in my thoughts.

I put my phone away after texting back, "Yes, I will be home soon."

I was unable to gain entry to the Park Mind Connection. Every time I observed someone else using a mind link, I felt excluded. I was not involved, but it looked cool. Not only was it impossible for me to listen to other people, but I was also unable to take part in discussions and obtain information more easily. To help me and my siblings communicate, my parents bought me a cell phone. One thing that continued to give me strength was my immediate family's unwavering love for me. They never stopped showing me their love through their deeds, in spite of our differences and my perceived disability. You could never go to my mother and tell her about me or any of us; my father would defend me at all times. Similar to her, but far more talkative, was Sofia. Luigi never wasted words discussing these kinds of issues.

A happy intermediate family was, at minimum, a goddess's gift.