Moonlit V

Return Beneath the Full Moon

"Are you sure you're ready for this, Lyla?" Raven's voice hummed in my mind like a steady drumbeat.

"Have I ever not been?" I shot back, a smirk curling my lips. Before us, the familiar silhouette of the packhouse loomed ahead, its glow taunting me with everything I had lost.

"You always say that," Raven countered, an edge of exasperation lacing his voice. "But tonight is different. Once you start this, there's no going back."

"And I don't plan to," I replied, my gaze fixed. "I've waited years for this."

Raven was silent for a beat, but his presence didn't falter; he remained a steadying presence. That was all the encouragement I needed.

From the cover of the trees, I scanned the clearing. The wolves patrolled with military precision, their movements sharp and purposeful. Among them stood Kael, his voice cutting through the night with authority. "I don't want any mistakes tonight. Check every corner-leave no blind spots."

Same old Kael, barking orders like a king on his throne. My fists clenched at the sound of his voice. Cold. Calculated. The alpha who once held my world in his hands.

“Calm,” Raven reminded me, his voice like a soothing balm. "Stick to the plan. Don't let him bait you."

I drew a deep breath, my heart pounding against my ribcage. “This isn’t about anger, Raven. This is about justice.”

"Justice or revenge?" His tone held that maddening knowingness.

"Does it matter?" I whispered, my eyes narrowing on Kael. "They feel the same to me."

Jared emerged from the packhouse, his bulk unmistakable. He moved with a confidence that made him sloppy. As one of Kael's most trusted, he probably thought he was untouchable. Perfect.

I waited until he was close, then struck like lightning. My arm looped around his neck, pulling him into the shadows. His struggles were brief, his strength no match for the precision I'd honed over years. He collapsed in silence.

"One down," I muttered, stepping over his limp form.

"You're enjoying this too much," Raven scolded lightly, though I could feel the approval simmering beneath his words.

"Maybe," I said, wiping my hands on my pants. "But can you blame me?"

"Jared?" Kael's voice was sharp and commanding. His eyes scanned the area, suspicion darkening his features.

Another wolf, clearly nervous, ventured a guess. "Maybe he's—uh—just. taking his time?"

Kael's glare cut through him like a knife. "Jared doesn't take time. Find him. Now."

From behind my hiding spot, I watched his irritation turn into something far more delectable-fear.

"Feel it, Kael," I whispered, my smile spreading. "Let it sink in. I'm not the girl you remember."

"Is it worth it, Lyla?" Raven's voice came again, softer this time.

"Every step you take costs you something," he pressed.

"And I'll pay the price," I shot back, my voice hard. "This is just the beginning."

The wolves scattered, their panic palpable as they called out for Jared. I stayed low, my movements fluid as I wove through the chaos. Their fear fueled me, sharpening my focus.

I spotted her next—a female enforcer I recognized all too well. Chelsea. Back when I was powerless, she'd been one of the first to mock my weakness. Tonight, I planned to repay the favor.

She paused mid-step, her nose wrinkling as she sniffed the air. “Who’s there?”

I stepped forward, letting the moonlight graze my face. Her gasp was everything I’d hoped for.

“Lyla?” Her voice trembled.

“Surprised?” I asked, tilting my head.

“You’re supposed to be dead!” she blurted, stumbling backward.

I let the silence stretch, savoring her terror. "Funny," I said, my voice ice-cold. "I could say the same about you."

Before she could scream, I lunged. It was over in seconds, her body crumpling to the ground. Another piece of Kael's kingdom, toppled.

Kael's frustration boiled over and his voice echoed through the clearing. "Whoever's out there, show yourself! Stop playing these childish games!"

I almost laughed at the desperation in his tone.

"What, are you scared, Kael?" I whispered under my breath. "Afraid of the ghost you created?"

Careful," Raven warned, detecting my rising emotion. "You're letting him get to you."

"Good," I snapped. "He should get to me. He should know I'm coming for him."

"Not yet," Raven urged. "Stick to the plan. Make him squirm."

The trees seemed to hum with anticipation as the pack searched. Kael's wolves were proficient trackers, but they weren't ready for someone like me anymore.

"You think you've won because you're hiding?" Kael's voice rang out, taunting. "Face me, Lyla. Or are you still the coward who ran away?"

Coward. The word hit like a whip, but I swallowed the sting. I couldn't let him see how deeply it cut.

"Don't do it," Raven warned, his voice tight. "He wants a reaction."

And I wanted to give it to him. But not yet. Instead, I slipped further into the shadows, letting the darkness embrace me.

"Kael's unraveling," I whispered to Raven.

"Good," he replied. "The more desperate he gets, the more mistakes he'll make."

I smiled. "Exactly."

But even as I said it, a pang of unease settled in my chest. Revenge was supposed to feel satisfying. So why did it feel like something was missing?

"Don't overthink it," Raven interrupted, sensing my hesitation. "Focus on what needs to be done."

I nodded, shaking off the doubt. Tonight wasn't about feelings. It was about strategy.

As the pack reassembled, Kael yelped orders, hoarse now with anger. "We'll search the forest inch by inch if we have to. She's here, and I won't let her escape."

I hung back, just out of sight, and watched him. Even in his rage, he was still an alpha, oozing that confidence that set my teeth on edge.

"Tomorrow," I hissed, a promise. "Tomorrow, you'll see what I've become."

And with that, I disappeared into the night, leaving Kael and his pack to their growing paranoia.

"Enough?" Raven asked when I made it to the edge of the forest.

"For tonight," I answered, turning my head once more toward the chaos that was in my wake. "But come tomorrow? Tomorrow will be different."

"Lyla…" Her voice turned gentle. "Don't lose yourself in this.

I smirked, even as his words struck a chord deep within me. "Too late, Raven. I lost myself a long time ago."

For a moment, the forest was silent, the weight of my words hanging between us. Then, Raven spoke again, his tone resolute.

"Then make sure you finish what you started."

"Oh, I will," I said, my voice a quiet vow. "Kael won't know what hit him.

The Apparition in the Shadows --------

“Is this all you’ve got?” Kael’s voice rang through the yard, sharp and cutting. He paced like a caged predator, his tension palpable.

Vanessa leaned against a tree, twirling a strand of her auburn hair between her fingers. “You’re wound tighter than usual,” she quipped, her smirk as taunting as ever.

Kael stopped mid-stride, shooting her a glare. “I don’t have time for your games, Vanessa.”

Games?" she scoffed, her voice riddled with mockery. "You're the one playing hide and seek with your ghosts."

"I'm managing," he snarled, the tautness in his tone betraying him.

Vanessa hitched a brow. "Yeah, sure you are. That is why the pack is gossiping behind your back and is looking to Cinder for solutions."

Kael's eyes cramped and his fists flexed into blocks. "Cinder isn't the ruler of this pack. I am.

"Keep telling yourself