CHAPTER 3: THE MARK OF THE PAST

The following morning, Luna's eyes fluttered open, her body aching from the weight of new truths and the lingering pain. The air smelled like antiseptic, she was awakened by the strange strength rushing through her veins. Her senses were keener and her intellect was clearer. She could still hear the mechanical voice of the Lucky System reminding her of the agreement she had made, along with the promise it held. But there were still a lot of unanswered questions.

Her muscles protested as she gently sat up, and she winced. She looked around the room and saw some bread and a cup of water on a little plate next to her bed. Her throat was still dry from the experience of the day before, so she grabbed the water first while her hunger growled.

The door opened and Elias Blackwood entered as she was drinking. His imposing stature filled the room, and his intensely dark eyes locked onto hers. Luna felt a surge of familiarity and an unexplainable bond passed over her. Something about him made her feel both safe and wary at the same time. It was his being there, his concern. He was a stranger, yet not.

“Luna,” Elias began, closing the door behind him and stepping closer to her bedside. “How are you feeling this morning?”

“Stronger,” Luna replied honestly, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her. "But I still don't understand a lot of things." Looking for any sign that he might be lying to her, she searches for his features. She had lost the luxury of trust in her previous life, and it felt nearly impossible to regain it again.

With a solemn look, Elias nodded. I'm here to support you, even though I know this is a lot to handle. You've experienced unbelievable adversity, yet you are not alone. He paused, perhaps pondering what to say next. "Now that you've joined the pack, Luna, we must look out for one another."

Luna frowned, as she tried to balance the memories of her past existence with the realities of her current one. “You keep saying that. The pack. What does it mean? What am I now?” A mixture of expectation and terror lingered around the question. She needed to know—everything.

After inhaling deeply, Elias sat in the chair next to the bed. There was a seriousness in his eyes that captured Luna's full attention, "Luna, you are a werewolf. Born into a world where strength and loyalty mean everything. When you were attacked, you were changed, bonded with the pack through blood and fate.”

Luna was having trouble breathing. The words hit her like a punch, making her face the unexpected reality that had been thrown at her. A werewolf? The concept seemed both foreign and oddly familiar as if it were something she had always known but never accepted.

Elias continued, sensing her internal struggle. "There is a spiritual as well as physical transformation. You are now a member of the pack, united by ancient bonds. The bond gives us strength, but it also requires loyalty. You will experience an increase in strength, heightened senses, and sharper instincts.”

Luna processed this information in silence. The knowledge felt heavy, almost suffocating. She had been helpless and deceived by those closest to her in her former life as Alice Wonder. She was being given another chance, though, as Luna Grey, and this time it came with powers she had never imagined.

“But why me?” Luna asked, her voice tinged with both curiosity and suspicion. “Why was I attacked? And why did you save me?”

Elias’s expression darkened, a shadow passing over his features.

"The intention behind the attack was to send a message.” “Even though you are new to this world, there are many who would question the authority of the pack and consider you as a threat. They are afraid of what you stand for because it is power, promise, and a link to something beyond their control.

Luna's thoughts raced as she tried to put her new life together. She was once strong as Alice Wonder, but after losing her strength, she became weak. She had been granted a second chance at power in this new existence, but it also came with its own set of challenges.

“And you?” Luna pressed, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Why did you save me? What do you gain from this?”

Elias looked directly at her, his expression unreadable. Because it was the right thing to do, I kept you safe. For I could not let you pass away without a fight. And because….” He hesitated, the intensity in his eyes softening for a brief moment. “Because there’s something about you, Luna. Something unknown to me, yet that I know is important.

Luna had a chill down her spine at his words. Although she couldn't help but doubt it, there was an obvious connection between them. Or was there another factor at work, or was it just fate? She was intrigued by the idea, but also afraid.

Marissa entered with her imposing presence before she could reply as the door opened again. She glanced between Luna and Elias, a hint of curiosity in her sharp gaze. “How’s our new Luna doing?” she asked, her tone lighter than it had been the day before.

Luna managed a small smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Better, I think. But still a lot to take in.” The understatement of the century.

Marissa nodded, crossing her arms over her chest. "I can understand that. You've been through hell and back. But, you underestimate your strength, Luna. You wouldn’t have survived if you weren’t.” Her words were blunt, but there was a sincerity in them that Luna appreciated.

“There’s a lot we need to teach you,” Marissa continued, her tone growing more serious. “About the pack, about our ways, and about the enemies we face. But first, you need to recover your strength. The rest will come in time.”

Luna nodded, grateful for the straightforwardness. She didn’t need coddling; she needed the truth. And from what she had seen so far, Marissa was someone who could provide that.

Luna murmured, "Thank you." "I'm prepared to learn and comprehend my situation."The determination that had always motivated her, as Alice and now as Luna, was evident in her words.

Elias stood, his eyes filled with a mixture of pride and something deeper, something unspoken. “Good,” he said, his voice steady. “We’ll be here every step of the way, Luna. You are not alone in this.”

Once more, Luna was left alone with her thoughts as the two of them left the room. She felt the pressure of her new reality, but she also felt a glimmer of hope, a promise of something better.

A new life with fresh difficulties had been granted to her, a second opportunity. But she would not be a victim this time. She would grow and learn, and she would get revenge on those who had wronged her. The Lucky System had promised her revenge, and Luna intended to claim it, no matter what it took.

Luna vowed to herself as she laid back on the bed, her body still healing but her mind more alert than ever. Using her new life and power, she would take charge of her fate. She refused to let the past define her, but she also refused to ignore it.

Luna Grey was born from the ashes of Alice Wonder, and she would rise stronger than ever before.