Aria's POV

I can't believe this, Martha fought for me. She hid me away from the three rogues that had tricked us. She's a seasoned warrior and was able to kill two of them. 

A third one crept behind me to hurt me but Martha stepped in the way stabbing him with silver in the process. He got a clean swipe at her neck.

I couldn't  recognize the scream that tore through my throat. She can't die, it's all my fault. She didn't want to come but I forced her and remained adamant and unreasonable. 

I reached out to my core for the light that had healed the little girl on the playground. With a little help from Willow, it's just at the back of my mind. 

Light escapes my hand and sinks into her skin, then completely envelopes her. The gurgling stops almost immediately and the wound seals, disappearing as if it was never there.

"Aria, what's this?" I whip my head forward in surprise, I didn't sense anyone else. 

"Kael, emmmmmmm it's nothing, I....ermmmmmmm," I stammer, not knowing how to explain the fact that I'm a freak.

"Doesn't seem like nothing to me," he says, with folded arms.

"I don't know how to..." I  pause, he places his fingers on his lips, giving me a signal to be quiet. 

"Aria, what are you really?" Martha utters finally coming out of shock. I guess she didn't see Kael's signal.

"Alpha, the coast is clear," a deep baritone voice says, belonging to a bulky man built like a tank who emerges from the forest.

"It's fine, Gad," my mate answers. "It seems Martha and the Luna took care of them.

More figures emerge from behind the trees, hopefully none of them saw my power display. I don't even know how I was able to do this.

Gad's eyes move in our direction. Martha is still on the ground, recovering from her close to death encounter.

"Are you alright, Luna, Martha?" Gad says with furrowed brows.

"Yes we are alright," We say in unison. Martha stares at me in awe and admiration.

She plays the part of still being wounded so it wouldn't raise any suspicion. Several wolves walk towards us. 

"I'll take care of the Luna, Maurice, you can help Martha to the infirmary." Kael says, I can sense an underlying bit of jealousy.

"Jealous much," I say to him through the mindlink. 

He shoots me a sweet smile, "Whatever, Kitten, you have a lot of explaining to do."

He then walks towards me as Martha is gently picked and taken towards the pack infirmary. 

He bends and picks me up like I barely weigh a thing. "I barely understand everything myself, I'm so confused."

He peers at me for a while, "We will figure it all out together, I promise, but please don't hide your struggles from me. I want to be a part of it all the way." He lets everyone walk in front, dragging his feet to slow us down.

Warmth filled my chest. Buzzy sparks swirl around my belly, this was everything I ever wanted. Someone to cherish me and treat me right.

"I'm slowly adjusting, I'm sorry I've been alone forever so it's so hard for me to trust anyone else. But I will do my absolute best."

He rubs his cheek to mine lovingly, heading towards the infirmary. 

***

"I'm happy you've been cleared by my Uncle, Kitten." Kael says, leading me away from the infirmary. 

"Who is that?" Does he have an Uncle I know nothing about?

A chuckle passes his lips, "Klassen is my Uncle, that's how Martha and I are related."

"I could have never guessed," I say clearly surprised.

"Why is that?" He inquires.

"Well, first of you both look nothing alike and he's so sweet and nice," I mentioned, giving him a look. "Unlike someone walking next to me."

He bellows in a fit of laughter, not saying anything else. 

He is leading us towards unfamiliar parts of the pack. "Where are we headed," I ask curiously.

"I felt we might get some answers to your identity and healing powers at the library."

We arrive at a large wooden door that seems dusty from being unused. Kael pushes the old door open.

He swipes some cobwebs out of the way and I walk in right after him.

He pushes a chair out for me, I have a seat. He then walks towards a particular shelf and takes out about five books. The library seems well arranged though unused.

"This is one of the oldest libraries around, it has been over twelve generations. The few times I've used it, it has given me all I need." 

He dumps the set of books in front of me, and pulls a chair sitting next to me. Dust hits my nostrils making me sneeze, I shoot him a glare. He gives an innocent toothy smile, that was totally intentional.

"There are history books and books about various species in Crescent Moon," he explains.

I furrow my brows in confusion, "Are there other species in Crescent Moon?" I ask.

"Yes, there are," he says. "Let's have a little history lesson."

"Centuries ago, Crescent Moon was actually called Meltos. There were dragons, witches, fairies, werewolves, and vampires. They all lived in peace, until the quest for power by the dragons caused a rift in the balance. They corrupted the minds of the vampires and some covens of witches."

"I've never heard about this before," I murmur in fascination. 

"It's been so long, and most of us have forgotten about it." He answers. 

"So a war started, at first the dragons and their cohorts were winning. But the moon goddess heard the cry of the werewolves and gave them a gift." He takes a pause.

"What was it?" My interest piqued.

"The white wolf. Centuries of storytelling makes it uncertain the extent of powers this wolf possessed. But one sure thing is that she was extremely powerful and unlike any werewolf."

Wait!!! The day I shifted in front of Martha she told me that I was a white wolf. How is this possible? I'm supposed to be the least in my pack, not some powerful wolf.

"....Aria, can you hear me?" He says, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Yes, I can hear you, go on."

"Okay, so she was the missing piece that turned the war around. She single handedly led the werewolves and fairest into war, conquering the dragons and casting them out."

"What happened to the fairies and witches that didn't join the dragons?"

"Fairies hid their existence since then some witches did too, a few can be found in some packs though."

"Wow, you're not such a bad storyteller," I tease with a smile.

"You wound me, Kitten." My mate answers, holding his chest in mock pain.

"Which should we start with?" I ask, since I'm unable to read.

"Well maybe from history since you seem to be a werewolf. Something might help us get somewhere."

"Sure," He carries a large book covered in skin. He begins slipping through the pages. 

He is on for about an hour when he kisses his teeth and says, "I think I've found something. 

"What's that," I tilt my head in curiosity. 

"Here it shows that only one wolf was ever recorded with healing powers," he says thoughtfully. 

"Okay, who would that be?" I ask, my patience running thin.

"Well the first white wolf, Saraya. That was one of the reasons why she was such an asset on the battlefield. She had the ability to heal hundreds of wolves at the same time."

"Wait, really?"

"Yeah, she could control her magic quite well. She was never recorded to have died though, she was just never seen again." He says, still deep in thought. 

"Can I tell you something?" I say with my gaze low.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"I'm a white wolf."

Aria's  POV

"What?" Kael mutters in shock.

"I said, I'm a white wolf," I finished with conviction. "You can even ask Martha, she saw me and attests to it."

"We need a run, you know. I'm getting antsy." Willow says at the back of my mind. I ignored her for a bit.

"How have you been surviving without a run," He stares at me with worry, a bit of irritation showing on his face. "Your ability to heal now makes a lot  of sense though."

I wait in silence for him to add something else but he says nothing at all, just stares at me with no expression on his face. "Are you mad at me for hiding this from you," I say with a little guilt.

"I didn't know how to tell you, I've always felt like a freak, this was like an icing on the cake."

"How many times do I have to tell you, how much you mean to me?" He says firmly, picking me up and dropping me on his lap. "I will spend the rest of my days showing you just how much you mean to me, and how I will be with you every step of the way."

I give him a tight smile. Should I tell him about my rejection? He seems too good to be true though. I don't know if he will still want me after everything. I don't even want any trouble, there's no point bringing up the past.

"You mean the world to me, so who were your parents in the Blood Moon Pack?" He asks with genuine curiosity. "Willow mentioned that you were an orphan, but nothing more."

I take a deep breath, hoping this would not turn on me. "I was dumped at the pack borders as a child with no memories at all," I utter sadly. "No one ever showed me true care until I came to this pack."

"We will figure it all out together, my love," He encourages. "Together forever," He says, pressing his forehead gently against mine.

***

"Martha, we'll be late for training," I scream, my hands hitting her door hard.

"I'm coming, Douchebag," She says with exasperation, pulling the door open in haste.

"Whatever, you just love me," I tease with a full-blown smile on my lips. I pull her arms excitedly walking down the hallway.

The early morning breeze sweeps my hair back and forth against my face. We run at full speed towards the pack training grounds, just in time. We quietly settled out back, barely seeing much in front of us.

"As you all know we have new recruits that are joining us today, you all can pair yourselves with your partners and fight, hand combat for now." A loud familiar voice resounds from in front of us, addressing the crowd.

"I need to go to my partner, Besty," Martha murmurs, staring at a young she-wolf walking towards us. "Go find, Gad, so he will pair you with someone."

I nod in response with a smile, and my feet veer towards Gad, the head warrior. He stops his conversation mid-way with a group of younger males and walks towards me. "Luna, do you need something?"

"Hi Gad, I was just wondering if you could pair me with someone, today is my first day."

Gad gave me a little smile, "I know Luna, the Alpha informed me. He said he will be your trainer but it seems like he is running a bit late."

"Okay that is fine, I can just pair up with anyone while I wait for him to finish up with whatever is holding him back."

"Let me check if there is anyone that I can pair you with then," his eyes shift in the crowd, looking back and forth. "Anita, come over," Gad orders. A caramel-skinned beauty with a petite body and shiny hazel eyes sashays towards us.

"Luna," She bows slightly in greeting. "Head warrior," She bows once more. "I'd like you to spar with the Luna, and show her some basics in defense."

She gives me a bright smile and says, "It would be an honor to spar with you, Luna."

I give her a sweet smile in return, I'm not used to being treated with so much regard. Even after Kael's announcement, some members of the pack ignored my existence. I noticed that mostly those closest to Kael treated me with the utmost kindness and a few others. Most feel I am unworthy to fill the position since Jessica sparked the rumors of me being wolfless.

She walks a little distance, and I follow in tow. "I would like you to learn the basics of self-defense. Pay attention to her body movements, not just her strikes." Gad tells me as I face off with Anita. 

She waits patiently. My posture shrinks with discomfort and he seems to notice. "The very way you carry yourself, tells if you can easily be preyed upon." He then stands next to me, "Imitate my stance."

He has his feet apart with a foot slightly in front of the other. "Place your dominant foot behind," He explains. "Keep your hands up to block out any strikes and use it to cover sensitive areas like your neck."

"You're doing fairly well for a first-timer," He encourages. "Anita, strike now, not too hard though."

She gives him a nod and advances towards me, she's so fast and my back is on the ground in seconds. "Luna, you seem distracted, this is not a playground. Focus," Gad says with a hard voice. "You need to pay attention to her, so you can anticipate her strikes."

Anita gives me an encouraging smile and gives me a hand. I take it and return to my previous stance. "Again."

Anita pushes forward, this time I focus on her hands and feet. She is extremely smooth with her strikes and unpredictable. I am able to hold out for a little longer, probably less than a minute. She then has me on my back a second time.

"That's better," Gad says. "Again." Anita comes forward again, after my fall, she keeps coming. My body is getting sore with the light blows I'm receiving. At least I now last for some minutes. After what I thought was going to be my last spar session, Gad speaks. 

"Now I would like you to pay attention to her technique, does she rely more on speed or strength."

"Can I spar with the Luna, Gad," Jessica's perky voice resonates behind us. 

"She's in training, Jessica."

"Well, I know that. But at the rate Anita is sparring with her, she will never be able to defeat me. Maybe the Luna is just too scared to fight me" Jessica says with a condescending smile.

Anita shoots her an annoyed look, well it seems the annoying bimbo doesn't only irk me after all. 

"Anita is a seasoned warrior and you know it. She is teaching her the basics, there's no possible way she will go too hard on her."

"I'd prefer you spar with me, Blondie," Anita intercepts with a mischievous smile. "Maybe I can even whoop your ass as I did last time."

Jessica's face turns beet red in anger and embarrassment. "You were just lucky, little wimp."

"Maybe I'll get lucky this time too," Anita proceeds towards her swiftly.

Their argument was pulling a lot of attention to us.

"Enough," Gad breaks their little catfight. "You can spar with her, just one round. No shifting, not even partially. No cheap shots or you will be disqualified," He says directly to Jessica. 

"Anything else?" She replies, sounding a bit pissed.

"No deadly shots either. The first whose back touches the ground loses." By now we have a lot of spectators.

"Show her what you got, Jessi," one of her minions screams.

She gives a sly smile in my direction, then Gad says, "Strike."

She races at me and goes for my neck immediately, I'm able to clumsily block it. It is just a distraction. She kicks me hard in the belly and lands a hard blow to my face. My ears ring, eyes see nothing but white sparks. 

"You can't lose," Willow encourages in my head. I force myself to kneel and not let my back touch the ground.

"Pathetic," She spits in my face. "You are nothing, nothing." A loud growl fills the air, it seems Kael is finally here.

"She dares taunt you," Willow growls with indignation. "Let me out." The searing pain makes me unable to hold her back and she is pushed forward.

I lift my face, and the blood spilling down my nose stops flowing.  A series of gasps fill the air, and whispers can be heard from multiple people. My eyes I am pretty sure have changed colours which is usual when your wolf is out.

"Wait, you have a wolf?" Jessica says more to herself, sounding confused. In a split moment, Willow takes hold of her right arm, twists it behind her with little to no effort, and lands a hard blow on her face. A loud crack is heard, and she falls unconscious on the cold forest floor.

Willow smirks at her deed and withdraws to the back of my mind. I stare at my hands in intrigue and shock. How was I able to do that?

"Did you see that? A pack member whispers behind me.

I lift my gaze and peer at my mate who is admiring me with pride in his eyes.

Gad walks forward, smiling, and says, "Luna Aria wins."

A burst of howls, whistles and cheering fills my heart with joy.

"She cheated and I have proof," The sharp feminine voice cuts short the excitement.

Aria's POV

My mate's once proud, vibrant eyes turn completely cold and unyielding.

"And how did she do that," He says in response to the allegation. Everyone's eyes turn towards where the voice came from, which turns out to be Alicia.

"Well how is it possible that she won, Jessica," she continues with arrogance. "She is nothing but a wolfless Omega." A loud growl rumbles in Kael's chest, it does not seem to stop her though.

"Come to think of it, how did the so-called 'Luna's' abilities surface just now? It does not make sense to me at all." Loud murmurs fill the training grounds, Alicia sports a smirk on her face, probably happy she has successfully planted doubts again in the minds of the pack members.

"I am still waiting for the foul she committed that you can prove," Kael says impatiently.

"I just told you, it is impossible a wolfless wolf should have such strength, she probably had some witch place a spell on her so she can be this strong." She utters with conviction. "Jessica is a fully grown and trained warrior with Beta blood, a measly wolf has nothing on her."

"Let me come out and show her how strong the 'witch's spell' made us," Willow growls in annoyance." A low chuckle passes my dry lips.

"Usually when a witch places a spell on an individual, she leaves a mark behind her ears. I will give it a check so we can see." My mate then walks towards me and pushes each ear slightly forward to show. Loud murmurs filled the air once more, and my heart beat hard against my chest. Did they see something?

"As you can all see my mate is by no means a deceptive person, you will all do well by respecting her and acknowledging her as your Luna." Kael's authoritative voice resounds through the training ground.

He then gives Alicia a deathly glare, "Also if anyone dares to accuse my mate of anything without proof no matter how small will face my wrath." Her face turns completely white with fear. My mate can be scary when he wants to be, in fact, he always looks scary.

"Now back to training," Gad orders, Anita then walks up to me. My mate gives me a long stare and then heads towards the pack house.

"You were pretty bad-ass Luna, I was so happy you knocked her out. It will shut her loud mouth a bit." I give her a bright smile in response.

"It felt so good, I can hardly explain it." We burst into fits of laughter.

She then looks behind me briefly, "I think we should start training, Gad is on his way here."

I throw a light jab to her belly, and her eyes widen in surprise. "Not bad, I like the idea of using the element of surprise." She then gives me a sly smile. "But do not expect it to work on me again."

"That's better I thought you two got distracted talking rather than training," Gad finally arrives behind me. Surprisingly I heard him approaching though he was light on his feet. It seems as though my senses are sharper than I thought.

"Try picking up her technique or any weak points you can see," Gad says, testing my skills since I could take Jessica out.

I take a deep breath, this time relying on my keen senses. I saw the hit before it came, smoothly evading and then landing a light surprise blow to her neck, cutting her air supply. She chokes lightly, coughing.

"Good work, you're free to go now. Enough practice for one day." I give him a nod while gently patting her back. She soon stops coughing.

"Do you feel better now?" I ask with concern.

"Yes, I do Luna, hopefully, we are paired permanently." She walks into the crowd and then screams after me, "See you tomorrow."

"See ya," I answer softly, hopefully she hears me. 

Everyone else seems to still be practicing so I can not wait for Martha. My feet hit the hard forest floor, and I walk briskly toward the pack house. My entire body is sore from today's training. Immediately I step into the dark hallways leading to my room. The air feels heavy making me uneasy.

It seems like someone is here, but I can not pinpoint where exactly. I take a pause and look around.

"So the little trick was real," the familiar masculine voice of my ex-mate resounds behind me. If this was another time I would have been overjoyed that he was paying me a bit of attention. But the attention he is giving me irks me to no end.

I spin and fold my arms giving him a look of disgust. "What do you want, Alpha? Ooo wait I meant Omari." I say with sarcasm, his eyes darken slightly. I can not keep allowing past fears to creep in and make me scared whenever he appears.

"It sorta skipped my mind that you are nothing but a regular wolf, since your inability to keep your pack safe." I taunt.

"You seem to have forgotten what happened last time if not for your nosy little friend, she is not here now." He threatens with a glint in his eyes.

"What do you want?" I repeat with indignation.

"Why did you not inform me that you saw signs of your wolf surfacing?" He says accusingly.

"Why should I? After everything your pack did to me, you expect me to tell you something so important."

"When did your wolf surface, Aria?" 

"Unfortunately for you and fortunately for me, you can not make me tell you, I am now your Luna remember?"

He then gives me a condescending look, "This same pack you are talking shit about, saved you and helped you survive. Without us, you might have been as good as dead."

"You made me wish I should have died for so long, you were supposed to be my mate, the one that would save me from any harm. I prayed to the moon goddess daily that my mate should come and rescue me." I scream in anger.

"Just when I thought she answered my prayers, you ripped that away from me by choosing Alicia and rubbing her in my face. Sleeping with her time and time again knowing it hurt so bad. Finally marking her as yours. Your cowardly pack does not deserve the least bit of kindness from me." Tears trickle down my face. His eyes widened in shock, I never stood up for myself and have always let them trample on my emotions continually.

"I hate you with every fiber of my being. Do not ever think for a second that I am that same weak wolfless omega. You people even referred to me as a human to insult me. If you cross me again I will make you regret it, including that daft mate of yours."

"You look so hot right now," he says, his eyes seeming dilated. In a second he pushes me harshly against the wall. He takes advantage of the shock just as I was about to push him off, a growl makes us both freeze.

"What the hell is happening here?"