Luna’s Fate: The Last Silver Werewolf

Bella and the boys drowned Luna's ears with stories of how amazing it was to be sixteen and so young. Yet Luna felt like a clown who had lost her spark but still had to perform just to keep up with the noise around her.

She wanted nothing more than to sit on the wooden bench her father had set up close to the forest—her secret favorite place. There, she could listen to birdsongs while reading her favorite book for the umpteenth time. Or better yet, she could be free, roaming the forest, discovering plants and animals she never knew existed.

For a house tucked so close to the forest, her parents kept an oddly tight leash on any exploration involving it. Always with a reason. Always with worry in their eyes.

"Earth to Luna!" Jamie screamed in her face, waving his hands dramatically, zapping her out of her longing gaze at the trees.

"Jamie! Cut it out! Give the birthday girl some space," their father scolded from the stairway. He was crouched over, fixing a broken step.

"It's not even my birthday yet," Luna groaned, grabbing a slice of buttered bread from the kitchen counter.

"It's tomorrow!" they all chorused from different corners of the house.

Luna rolled her eyes so hard they nearly spun out of her head.

The house was full of commotion. Balloons floated across the ceilings, streamers twisted in odd shapes hung from doorways, and music blared from the twins' room upstairs. It was a celebration waiting to happen—for a party Luna didn't ask for and definitely didn't want.

The twins were rearranging furniture and fluffing couch pillows. Jamie, the closest to her in age, was elbow-deep in flour with their mom in the kitchen, baking cookies shaped like moons and wolves. Jared was battling the balloon pump and losing. Jayden had gone grocery shopping and left a message saying, If they make me carry one more watermelon, I'm turning into a vegan wolf.

"Guys! I appreciate all of this, really," Luna began, loud enough for everyone to hear, "but I don't want a birthday party."

Disagreeing noises rang from all directions like alarm bells.

"You're having a Sweet Sixteen, and that's final," her mother said from the kitchen, hands on hips and a determined look in her eyes. "It's a coming-of-age celebration. Your brothers had theirs. You will too."

Luna marched over to her father, who was still working on the stairs. Maybe he'd understand. Sometimes he was softer than Mom when she said no.

"Daddy," she sang sweetly, tugging on the edge of his shirt with the most innocent pout she could muster.

He paused, setting down his hammer and turning to her.

"I just want to spend time in the forest," she pleaded. "That's all. No streamers, no cake. Just the woods and me."

She waited for his soft decline, or maybe a quiet sigh and a comforting no. What she didn't expect was his sharp reply.

"Why do you want to go to the forest so badly? Are you an animal?" he snapped.

The entire house froze. Even the radio playing faintly in the background seemed to pause.

Her mom stopped stirring. Jamie froze mid-sprinkle. Jared and the twins peeked from the hallway. Everyone looked toward the stairs.

Luna's chest tightened as she stared at her father in disbelief. His words hit her like a slap.

George looked just as stunned at his own outburst. His face crumpled in guilt as Bella swiftly walked toward them.

"Honey," Bella said softly, wrapping an arm around Luna's shoulders. "Your dad didn't mean that."

George immediately nodded. "I'm sorry, sweetheart," he said, his voice trembling slightly.

"Why can't I just spend my birthday the way I want to?" Luna asked, her voice breaking as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Oh, baby," Bella sighed. "Any other request and maybe we'd consider it. But the forest... the forest is not safe."

Luna frowned. "But I'm not even asking to go deep. Just along the edge. Why have a house at the border of the forest if you never let anyone explore it?"

She turned to her brothers. "They get to go into the forest. They don't even care about it the way I do, and yet I can't?"

None of the boys responded.

"Why can't I do something that makes me feel alive?" she whispered.

George and Bella exchanged a look—one that held a million words. But they said nothing.

"Thought so," Luna muttered. "Goodnight, everyone. And happy birthday to me in advance."

She stormed up the stairs and slammed the door to her room.

****

The next morning, Bella hummed to herself as she moved about the kitchen, preparing breakfast. The scent of cinnamon and lavender filled the house.

She should have knocked on Luna's door earlier. She was still unsure whether Luna had cooled off after last night. Her daughter was passionate and stubborn—a dangerous combination when it came to things like the forest.

Bella paused mid-hum.

A bad feeling spread through her chest.

She dropped the dish towel and hurried toward Luna's room.

She knocked gently. Once. Then louder. "Luna?"

Silence.

"Luna, sweetheart?"

Still nothing.

Bella pushed open the door.

The room was empty.

The covers were untouched. Her favorite hoodie was gone from the chair. The window was wide open, the curtains flapping in the breeze.

Bella's breath caught in her throat. Her heart raced as she stumbled backward, then bolted down the hallway.

"George! George!" she screamed.

He was in the garden, tending to a pot of violets.

Hearing the panic in her voice, George turned instantly. "What is it?"

"The window!" Bella shouted. "Luna's gone!"

The house exploded into chaos.

Jayden and Jamie burst out of their rooms, rubbing their eyes and still half-asleep. Jared stumbled out, shirtless and confused.

"What's going on?" Jayden asked, grabbing Bella by the shoulders to steady her.

Bella's face was pale. "Your sister. Where the hell is your sister?"

Nobody had an answer. But every heart in the house began to pound.

Outside, the forest stood still—waiting.

And somewhere deep within it, Luna was already running.