The lost mate
Chapter 79: Trials of the Luna

Chapter 79: Trials of the Luna

Anne wiped the sweat from her brow, feeling the strain in every muscle of her body as she staggered to her feet once more. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her chest heaving as she tried to steady herself. Across from her stood the female warrior, Kara. Her posture was solid, her movements precise. Anne had already lost count of how many times she’d been knocked down during the training session.

She’d been warned that learning the ways of the pack was a challenge, but she hadn’t anticipated just how overwhelming it would all be. There was so much to learn—pack politics, traditions, rules, and now this: physical training. As Luna, she needed to be able to fight, to defend herself and others. Running and hunting were second nature to her wolf, but fighting was an entirely different beast.

Kara narrowed her eyes at Anne. "Focus," she barked, her voice sharp. "You’re leaving yourself open."

Anne gritted her teeth and took a defensive stance, mimicking what she’d seen the others do during training. But it wasn’t easy. Every movement felt clumsy, her muscles unused to the precision and speed required.

From the sidelines, she could hear the whispers of the pack members who had gathered to watch. It was impossible to ignore their murmurs, their judgemental eyes following her every misstep.

"She’s struggling."

"Jessica fights so much better."

"She’s not like the others."

The words stuck, sinking into Anne’s skin like thorns. She knew she wasn’t a trained warrior. She had never needed to be. But here, in the pack, strength was everything. And she wasn’t just expected to be strong—she was expected to be exceptional. Luna had to earn the respect of the pack.

Kara came at her again, faster this time. Anne barely had time to react, blocking a punch only to be swept off her feet by a quick kick to her legs. She hit the mat with a thud; the breath knocked from her lungs. For a moment, she lay there, staring up at the ceiling of the gym, feeling the weight of her failure crushing her.

"Enough!" Damien’s voice rang out from the other side of the gym, sharp and commanding.

Anne turned her head to see him striding towards them, his eyes dark with frustration. He reached her in seconds, kneeling besides her and helping her to her feet.

"You don’t have to push so hard," he said softly, though there was a hint of reproach in his tone.

Anne met his gaze, her own frustration bubbling to the surface. "I need to learn, Damien. I need to get better."

"I know," he replied, his voice gentler now. "But you’re not going to learn everything in one day. Give yourself time."

Anne pulled away from him, shaking her head. Time wasn’t something she felt she had. Between her responsibilities as Luna and her need to keep up with the pack’s expectations, every moment felt like a race she was losing. She had barely had the time to speak with Emily about Heather, and the worry gnawed at her constantly. The pack consumed her every waking hour.

Damien must have sensed her turmoil because he sighed, glancing at the warriors still watching. "That’s enough for today," he announced. "Everyone, dismissed."

Kara gave Anne a respectful nod before turning to leave, and the others followed. The gym emptied quickly, leaving Anne and Damien standing alone in the gym.

Anne crossed her arms over her chest, feeling the sting of her earlier failure still fresh. "I heard them," she said quietly. "The others. They think Jessica is better."

Damien frowned, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder. "Jessica’s had years of training. You’ve barely had a week. No one expects you to be perfect overnight, Anne."

"But they do expect me to be perfect," she shot back, her frustration rising. "I can hear it in their voices, see it in their eyes. They think I don’t belong here."

"You belong here," Damien said firmly. "You’re my mate. You’re the Luna. No one can take that from you."

His words were meant to be reassuring, but they did little to ease the pressure that had been building inside her. Being Luna wasn’t just about being Damien’s mate—it was about proving herself. And so far, she felt like she was failing.

"I just—" she started but stopped herself. She couldn’t put it all into words. The exhaustion, the overwhelming sense of responsibility, the constant comparisons to Jessica. And on top of it all, the nagging worry about Heather. Anne had promised herself she would talk to Emily, but every time she found a moment, something else demanded her attention.

"I don’t know how to balance it all," she admitted softly. "There’s just... so much."

Damien wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. "You don’t have to balance it all on your own," he said. "That’s what I’m here for."

"Come on I will give you a massage." He winked at her.

"I know it wont be just massage Damien." Anne grumbled.

"But you like it don’t you ?" He teased.

Anne rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smile at Damien’s playful nature. "Fine, I will change and join you in the berdoom."

Her phone buzzed when Anne reached her locker. She glanced down and saw Nicky’s name flash on the screen. Frowning, she picked up, sensing something urgent from the unexpected call.

"Nicky?" Anne answered, her voice cautious.

Nicky’s voice came through in a hushed tone, almost as if she feared being overheard. "Anne, I need to tell you something. I overheard a conversation—between Alpha Jackson and Alpha Blaze."

"Who is Alpha Blaze ? What did you hear?"

Nicky took a deep breath before launching into the details. "Blaze is Alpha Richard’s brother. He came to Jackson, offering some sort of alliance. He was trying to convince Jackson to forget about Jessica ever being with Damien. Said it was pointless now that Damien had you and a child. Jackson didn’t take the bait, though. But then Blaze hinted that Liana wasn’t as trustworthy as Jackson thought. He tried to make Jackson doubt her loyalty, her promises."

"What else?" Anne urged.

"That’s when Jackson said something strange," Nicky continued. "He said... there’s a reason why Alpha Richard is so weak. He didn’t elaborate, but it sounded like he knew more than he was letting on. Blaze tried to press him, but Jackson refused to give any real details. He just hinted at it, almost like he was holding it over Blaze’s head."

Anne’s mind raced as she absorbed the information.

"Did Jackson say anything about what caused Richard’s weakness?" Anne asked, her voice tight with tension.

"No, just that there’s a reason. And the way he said it... it didn’t sound like something natural. It wasn’t an accident or old age," Nicky replied.

Anne thanked her quickly and hung up the phone, her mind buzzing with possibilities. She knew there were only two main reasons a wolf as powerful as Richard could become so weak. Either he was sick with some rare disease or poisoned, or he had lost his mate.