Felicia trudged upstairs, her mind a tangled mess of emotions she couldn’t unravel. The thought of leaving Silverstone Pack and returning to Crescent Moon Pack, to Damien, felt like a punch to the gut. For five long years, she had sworn she’d never set foot in that place again. The memories, the pain, the heartache – it all still lingered, a festering wound.

But here she was, packing her sons’ bags to return to the very place she had escaped from. The nostalgia was suffocating, making it hard to breathe. As she zipped up the first bag, she heard the soft patter of footsteps behind her. Danny stood in the doorway, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, while Max peeked over his shoulder. The innocence in their faces was a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside her.

“Mommy, are we going to stay with Daddy?” Danny asked, his voice still husky from sleep.

Felicia’s hesitated, torn between the truth and a comforting lie. She nodded, forcing a reassurance she didn’t feel.

“Yes, baby. Just for a little while.”

Danny’s frown deepened, but he didn’t argue. Instead, Max tilted his head, his small brows furrowing in concern.

“Where is Uncle Lucien going?” he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Felicia’s chest constricted. “He’s going on a mission, sweetheart,” she said, trying to sound calm.

The boys exchanged a look, their eyes mirroring the uncertainty she felt. Then Danny asked, “When is he coming back?”

Felicia’s grip on the sweater tightened as she paused, the truth sticking in her throat like a bitter pill.

“I don’t know.” It was a painful admission, one that left her feeling helpless.

Lucien was walking into the unknown, into danger, and she had no idea what awaited him when he went searching for Georgina and… Felicia pushed the thought away, refusing to dwell on the possibilities. She had to believe he would come back, that he would find a way to overcome the odds.

For now, she had to focus on getting the boys safely to Crescent Moon Pack. She forced a small smile, trying to reassure them. “Why don’t you both go take a shower now? We’ll be leaving soon.”

Danny and Max nodded, their faces solemn, though Felicia knew they had a thousand more questions they weren’t asking. She watched them disappear into the bathroom, her mind racing with the what-ifs and maybes.

As she finished packing, Felicia leaned against the dresser, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She barely recognized the person staring back – the past few days had changed everything. Danielle, or Daphne, was alive and more dangerous than ever. Lucien had twins he never knew existed. And now, she was returning to Damien’s pack, the same pack she had fled from years ago.

The questions swirled in her mind like a vortex, each one more daunting than the last. Would the wolves there even accept her? Would they look at her as the Luna that abandoned them? Would Damien’s Beta and warriors still be loyal to him after everything? And worst of all – would Damien see this as a chance to pull her back into his world?

She didn’t have the answers, but she had no other choice.

A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts, a gentle reminder that it was time to leave. Felicia’s heart clenched at the title – Luna – a reminder of a life she had left behind. She wasn’t a Luna anymore, not of Silverstone Pack, not of Crescent Moon Pack. She was just a mother trying to protect her children.

She nodded, steeling herself for the journey ahead. “I’ll be right there.”

As she watched Lucien hug the boys goodbye, Felicia felt her heart twist in her chest. She hadn’t realized just how close they had gotten in the past few weeks. Lucien had been her protector, her safe space, her anchor. And now she was leaving him behind.

She hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and wrapping her arms around him in a quick but tight hug. Lucien seemed startled for a second, but then his arms came around her, steady, strong.

“Be careful,” she whispered, pressing her forehead against his chest for the briefest moment.

Lucien exhaled, his hand resting lightly on her back. “You too.”

She pulled back before she could second-guess herself, grabbing the boys’ hands. The warriors were already waiting, their wolves ready to escort them through the territory. Felicia took one last look at Lucien, her heart heavy with the weight of their goodbye.