Chapter 138: Here We Are, Welcome to LunaVille!

AARON We kept moving, laughing about the close call. The farther we walked, the thicker the air seemed to get—not in a suffocating way, but in a way that buzzed with energy. The trees grew taller and denser, their leaves a deeper shade of green, like they had soaked up the essence of the land itself. I could feel it, the power of the territory…an invisible pull in my chest that let me know we were close to LunaVille. 'Feel that?" I asked, glancing at Luna. She nodded. 'Yeah. We're almost there. It's strong here." Helena glanced between us, confused. 'Feel what?" 'It's hard to explain," Luna said. 'It's like... a pulse in the earth. The territory has a life of its own." 'Great. You guys can feel the land. I can feel blisters forming on my feet," Helena grumbled, adjusting her backpack. 'When are we gonna get there? It feels like we've been walking forever." 'You'll see," I said with a grin. 'It's worth the walk." Helena shot me a skeptical look but didn't argue. As we continued, the forest began to change even more. The trees, once wild and chaotic, started to look more….. intentional. Their branches arched overhead like a natural canopy. The path became smoother, lined with stones, and the air felt... different. Charged. Then, we crested a small hill, and there it was. LunaVille. From a distance, it looked almost like part of the forest itself, hidden among the trees. The town was encircled by a thick stone wall, moss creeping up its sides. Wooden gates stood tall at the entrance, guarded by six imposing figures—wolves, of course, who stood tall and alert. Helena stopped in her tracks, staring at it. 'That's LunaVille? It's... bigger than I thought." I chuckled. 'Wait till you get inside." We started down the hill, making our way toward the gates. As we approached, one of the guards stepped forward, his piercing eyes locking onto me. 'Aaron?" His voice was gruff, but there was a hint of surprise in it. I nodded. 'It's been a while." The guard's gaze flicked to Helena. 'And who's this?" 'She's with us," Luna said firmly, stepping forward. 'We're here to see the council." The guard eyed us for a moment before nodding. 'Go ahead." As the gates opened, Helena leaned toward me. 'So... this is it?" I grinned. 'Yep. Welcome to LunaVille." The gates creaked open slowly, revealing the town inside. From where we stood, we could see the main street leading into the heart of the village. The buildings were a mix of stone and wood, built to last, with sloping roofs and narrow windows. It wasn't fancy, but it had a certain charm to it—a mix of old and new, with history in every corner. Wolves were everywhere—some walking in groups, some working on repairs to buildings, others tending to small gardens that lined the streets. The air smelled like pine and earth, with a hint of smoke from a nearby chimney. I could see a few wolves watching us curiously as we walked through, their eyes flicking from me to Luna to Helena. Helena's eyes were wide, taking it all in. 'It's... different from what I imagined. It's like a hidden city." Luna chuckled. 'It's not exactly a tourist spot, but it's home." 'I don't think I'll ever get used to being around this many wolves," Helena admitted. 'You'll fit in just fine," I said, nudging her. 'Stick with us, and no one will bother you." She gave me a half-smile. 'I hope you're right." We walked deeper into the town, the energy around us growing stronger. I could feel the presence of the pack, like a pulse that ran through the ground beneath our feet. As we approached the council's hall, my nerves started to kick in again. I glanced at Luna. 'Ready?" She gave me a small nod. 'Let's get this over with." Helena, on the other hand, looked pale. I stepped beside her, giving her shoulder a squeeze. 'You're doing great. Just stay calm." She swallowed hard. 'Easier said than done." The hall loomed ahead of us, its stone walls towering over the rest of the village. It was the oldest building in LunaVille, where the council held their meetings, and where we would have to explain everything. As we reached the door, I took a deep breath and pushed it open. HELENA. When I said I wasn't ready to get used to anything, I was damn serious. The moment we stepped into the council hall, I felt a wave of unease wash over me. Wolves—real wolves—filled the space, their eyes tracking our every move. I tried to remind myself that I was with Aaron and Luna, but that didn't stop my heart from racing. The wolves in this room were different. They weren't just Aaron and Luna, who I'd gotten used to. These were strangers, and I felt like an intruder. Worse, I was human. I kept my head down, hoping to blend in somehow, though I doubted that was possible. My heart thumped louder with every step we took. What if they could smell I wasn't one of them? What if someone called me out right here, in front of everyone? I didn't want to look weak, but I could feel my legs shaking a little as we walked through the hall. Luna walked beside me, calm and collected. Aaron was ahead, his shoulders set with confidence. How did they do that? How did they manage to seem so unbothered? As we approached the elders seated at the far end of the room, I felt a shiver run down my spine. They looked older, wiser—like they could see through me with just a glance. I swallowed hard, hoping I didn't look as nervous as I felt. One of the elders, an older woman with silver hair and piercing eyes, looked straight at me. I felt frozen under her gaze. My mind raced, my heart pounding even harder. Was she going to say something? Did she know? Could she tell? 'You," she said, pointing directly at me. My breath caught in my throat. 'You're not one of us." My stomach dropped. This was it. They knew I was human. I was about to be thrown out or worse. But then, she smiled. 'You're a wolf. Welcome." I blinked, stunned. It took a second for her words to sink in. She thought I was one of them? Relief flooded through me, but I quickly hid it behind a small, awkward smile. I didn't want to draw more attention to myself. Aaron nodded to the elders, and we were led away from the hall. My heart was still racing, but at least I hadn't been exposed. Not yet, anyway.