His Forbidden Desire

Luna Zadre

“Cedrica! Hurry up, we’re late!” I called out, standing near the front door with my keys in hand, already feeling the pressure building in my chest. The sun was barely up, and yet, everything seemed to be moving too slowly.

We couldn’t afford to be late, not today.

“I’m coming, Mom!” she yelled back from upstairs. I could hear her footsteps getting closer.

I sighed, glancing at the clock.

“We need to go now, Cedrica. The driver is waiting.”

“Relax, I’m almost done!”

She sounded distracted, but I knew my daughter well enough by now. She was always lost in her own world, and I couldn’t shake the feeling something was off with her lately. Her sharp gaze, her icy silence, it was all so... unsettling.

Finally, she appeared at the top of the stairs, her long brown hair flowing behind her. At 16, Cedrica had blossomed into a beautiful young lady, but it wasn’t just her looks that grabbed attention.

There was a fire in her eyes, an undeniable strength that made people uncomfortable, myself included. She was my daughter, but sometimes, I felt like I didn’t fully know her anymore.

She didn’t say anything as she walked past me and out the door, her footsteps quick but deliberate. I followed her, locking the door behind us. As we got into the car, I caught a glimpse of Ethan, the driver, through the rearview mirror. His eyes were already on Cedrica.

“Ethan,” I said sharply, his name a warning.

He snapped his gaze away, quickly focusing on the road. “Yes, Luna. Sorry.”

Cedrica slid into the backseat without a word, her face expressionless as always.

. I couldn’t help but watch her, noting the way she carried herself, so grown, yet so distant.

I glanced at Ethan again, catching him looking at Cedrica once more, and I clenched my jaw. He had been acting strangely lately, more than usual, and I wasn’t sure why.

“Ethan,” I said again, my voice colder this time. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

He stiffened, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. “No, Luna. Nothing at all.”

I narrowed my eyes. Something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

The drive was short, but every second felt like an eternity. When we pulled up to Cedrica’s school, she got out without a word, barely acknowledging me.

I watched her walk toward the entrance, her back straight, her head held high. Something about the way she moved made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. She was no longer the sweet little girl who needed protection.

She was turning into someone... else. Someone I didn’t fully recognize.

“Be careful, Cedrica,” I called out, my voice barely audible as she walked away.

She didn’t respond.

Ethan cleared his throat from the driver’s seat. “Luna, is everything alright? You seem... tense.”

“I’m fine,” I said, but my voice lacked conviction. “Just drive to Amira’s place. We’re having lunch there.”

Ethan nodded, his eyes flickering briefly to the rearview mirror. I had to remind myself not to read too much into it. He was just the driver. Nothing more.

Amira's Place

Amira greeted me with her usual warm smile. “Zadre, you look like you need a drink.”

I forced a smile back, letting her pull me into a hug. “I’m fine. Just a little... restless.”

“You always are,” she teased, leading me inside. “Come on, let’s have lunch.”

I barely had time to sit down before Amira’s son,

Edward, walked in. He was tall, built like an Alpha, and though I had known him for years, there was something about him today that caught me off guard. His presence filled the room, and when his eyes met mine, there was a brief moment of recognition.

A flicker of something I wasn’t sure I was ready to acknowledge.

He smiled, a knowing smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Luna Zadre, it’s been a long time."

“Edward,” I said, forcing a smile, trying not to show how unsettled I felt by the weight of his gaze.

He stepped closer, his eyes lingering a little too long. I couldn’t ignore the way his energy seemed to intensify whenever he was near me, and it made my heart race.

My daughter was still so young, but I could feel the pull of fate already whispering in the air around them. She didn’t even know yet, and neither did he.

They were meant to be together, but the time wasn’t right. Not yet.

“Where’s Cedrica?” Amira asked, breaking the tension.

“She’s at school,” I replied quickly, trying to steer the conversation away from the uncomfortable silence.

“But I’m sure she’ll join us soon.”

Edward didn’t say anything, but I noticed him staring at the door like he was waiting for her to walk through it.

The conversation flowed, but my thoughts kept returning to that moment in the car. Ethan’s strange behavior,

The front door creaked open, and I saw Cedrica standing there, her face unreadable. My breath caught in my throat. She was so much more than I’d ever expected her to be. There was something... darker in her now. Something that made her seem older, too old for her age.

“Mom,” she said, her voice steady but cold, “can we go home now?”

Before I could respond, Edward stood up. “Cedrica,” he said, his voice low, almost too intimate. “I... I’ve been waiting for you.”

I froze, a chill running down my spine. I could feel the energy shift in the room, like something primal was awakening. Something neither of them was ready for.

But before I could say anything, there was a loud crash from outside, followed by a growl that shook the walls.

Cedrica’s eyes went wide, and in an instant, she was alert. “What was that?”

I looked at Amira, whose face had turned pale. “I’ll check it,” she said, rushing toward the door.

But I didn’t need to follow her. I already knew what it was.

The enemy pack was here.