Chapter 118

Aria

We met in the conference room at Lunar Labs one week after our return to the human world.

In my head, I had imagined the place of our first meeting with the other pack leaders to be something grand, perhaps a long wooden table surrounded by towering chairs, like the council chamber in the pack lands of Moonglow.

But we had met in our usual conference room instead, only rather than discussing sales reports and upcoming projects with the team, we were discussing the future of…

Well, everything.

Darren was sitting beside me, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, scanning the room with the quiet intensity of an Alpha. Bella wasn’t here today, as we figured it would be best if only werewolves attended the first meeting—although I wished my best friend were by my side.

And across from us sat the other Alphas and Lunas, five pairs in total, each representing a pack.

They were a diverse group—some older, others younger. But all of them carried themselves with the same air of authority, the same quiet confidence that came from leading a pack.

I felt out of place, like a human stumbling into a world she didn’t belong in. And I supposed I was, too, in a way; perhaps I had never truly been human at my core, but it didn’t matter. I was still an outsider. And it was partially my fault that we were even here today.

But then Darren’s hand found mine beneath the table, his fingers intertwining with mine, and I felt a surge of reassurance. I wasn’t just Aria anymore. I was a Luna. And I had a role to play.

I pulled my shoulders back and smiled.

The meeting began with introductions, each Alpha and Luna stating their name and pack. I tried to commit them to memory, but the names and faces blurred together—the ones that stood out to me the most were Alfira, the Luna of Nightwind pack; Kael, the Alpha of New Moon pack with the scar running down his cheek; and Mira, his wife, the Luna with the piercing blue eyes and silver hair.

When it was my turn, I straightened in my chair and tried to keep my voice steady even though my heart was pounding. “I’m Aria, Luna of Moonglow Pack.”

It still felt strange saying it. I imagined it would feel that way for a long time. Maybe forever.

There were nods of acknowledgment, a few curious glances, but no one questioned my place at the table. Not out loud, at least. That was a relief, I supposed.

The first topic of discussion was the packs that had gone off-the-grid.

“Some have shrouded their lands in magic,” Kael explained. “They’ve disappeared completely, cutting off all contact with the outside world—even us. Others have simply refused to participate in this summit, preferring to remain independent.”

Darren nodded thoughtfully. He didn’t look fazed by that information, which was another small relief. “We need to respect their wishes. If they want to stay hidden, we’ll keep them hidden, and never mention their existence to the humans. They have made their choice, and it’s not our place to force them into the spotlight.”

There were murmurs of agreement around the table, and I felt a flicker of pride. Darren’s leadership was steady and fair, and it was clear that the other Alphas respected him.

After that, the conversation shifted to the next steps—what to do now that the humans knew about werewolves.

“We can’t just sit back and hope for the best. We need to show the humans that we’re not a threat. That we’re just like them, in many ways,” Mira said.

“I agree,” I said, surprising myself with how confident I sounded. “But we need to do more than just show them. We need to engage with them. Build bridges. Create opportunities for humans and werewolves to come together.”

All eyes turned to me, and I felt a flicker of nerves, but I pushed them aside.

“I would like to suggest we hold a campaign,” I continued. “Darren and I, along with any other Alphas and Lunas who want to join, can travel the human world. We’ll announce a new foundation for werewolf-human peace, and we’ll hold charity benefits in each major city.”

“A foundation?” Mira cocked her head, looking caught between intrigue and wariness.

I nodded. “The funds raised will go toward programs that benefit both humans and werewolves—things like summer camps where human and werewolf kids can play together and learn about each other’s cultures.”

There was a moment of silence as the others considered my proposal. Darren, of course, already knew all about it. It had come to mind a few nights ago, when I was laying awake in bed. Darren had been sleeping beside me, and I was so excited I’d shaken him awake. Despite the fact that I had disturbed his sleep, he was elated over the idea and asked me to bring it up today.

But I wasn’t so sure if the others were as enthusiastic. And as they glanced at each other, their expressions ranging from skepticism to uncertainty, I felt my heart sink just a little.

Suddenly, Alfira spoke up.

“I love that idea,” she said, her face lighting up. “And I’d be happy to help with the documentary. My pack runs a film company, and I have a degree in filmmaking. We could create something truly special—something that showcases our history, our culture, and our values.”

I felt my apprehension turn into excitement. “That would be amazing. A documentary could help humans see you—us, I mean—as more than just… monsters.”

There was a brief, awkward silence at my slip-up, and I felt my face turn red. As if they didn’t already see me as an outsider, it was clear that I saw myself as one, too, which was something that likely wouldn’t go over well.

But thankfully, the moment was quickly forgotten. The others began to talk over each other, offering their own ideas and suggestions. Darren squeezed my hand once more under the table and offered me an encouraging smile.

Soon, we had launched into a series of plans to implement for our upcoming tour, as well as each pack’s contribution to the effort. Kael would travel to the other packs to try and rally them to our cause one last time, while Mira handled the press-related matters and Alfira got to work on the documentary.

It was a tentative plan, but it was something. And it was just the beginning of something huge, something far bigger than any of us. Likely, this campaign to bring humans and werewolves together would span generations, with the seed only being planted in our lifetimes.

I could live with that.

But just as the meeting was coming to an end, the door to the room swung open, and a new figure stepped inside.

I turned, my breath catching in my throat as I took in the sight of him standing in the doorway.

Black hair. Striking green eyes. A face I recognized not just from magazine covers and billboards, but from a masquerade ball… and a dating app.

William.

The panther shifter. The model. The man I had brushed aside without so much as an explanation.

What was he doing here?