Amanda got ready for school sluggishly, dragging her feet very unwilling to go. If she could stay home without arousing her mother's suspicions she would have done so immediately. She knew everyone would be talking about how she collapsed yesterday, it would be the hot gossip and she was not looking forward to that. But she forced herself through her morning routine and headed to the garage where Skylar was waiting as usual, leaning on his car, phone in one hand furiously typing, keys swinging on the other. He looked up as she approached and opened the door and slid in without another word. Amanda took in a deep breath and slid into the passenger seat.
Whispers trailed Amanda down the corridors, sharp and stinging, impossible to ignore.
"She touched the rune stone and it nearly exploded", someone said in a hushed whisper.
"I heard wolves howling the moment she did it", another agreed.
"But how? She's human isn't she?"
"I don't think she's just human. No one normal could've done that", the first person said with a note of finality.
Amanda gritted her teeth, clutching her books tighter against her chest as she made her way to class. Every step felt like walking through a gauntlet of stares. Some were curious, others fearful, but most… hostile. She should have expected this and she couldn't say she could blame them after all, the memory of the rune stone's reaction haunted her just as much. The light, the wind, the sheer force, it was burned into her veins but hearing it whispered back at her, twisted into something ugly, made her stomach knot. At her locker, she caught sight of Tessa leaning casually against the row of metal doors, a smirk curving her lips. Two of her friends flanked her like bodyguards.
"Careful, ladies", Tessa said loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear.
"Wouldn't want to get too close, who knows she might hex you", she said.
Laughter rippled from her friends.
Amanda froze.
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, don't act innocent", Tessa drawled, pushing off the locker. She circled Amanda like a wolf toying with prey. "The way the stone lit up… it wasn't natural. You bewitched it and Skylar too", her eyes gleamed with malice.
Amanda's jaw clenched.
"That's not true", she denied immediately.
"Please, everyone saw how he ran to your side like some enchanted knight. Don't think we don't notice how you looks at me, which is very gross by the way. He's your basically brother for goddess' sake but don't worry, when Samuel hears you've been playing witch games, I'm sure you'll be out of Moonridge faster than you can blink", Tessa said with a sinister smile.
The word 'witch' landed like a slap. Amanda had done her fair share of research and reading since she found out what Skylar really was and what this place is and she knew that witches were a sore topic. Werewolves distrusted them, saw them as dangerous, meddling with powers not meant for them and now, thanks to Tessa, that label clung to her. And she didn't need a shaman to know that this label would not help her current standing in the pack. Amanda shoved past, refusing to give Tessa the satisfaction of a reaction, but the damage was done. Students had already overheard Tessa call her a witch, they whispered among themselves as she passed, glancing at Amanda like she was something vile.
By lunch, the rumors had spread like wildfire. Amanda sat alone, pushing food around her tray without appetite. Every time she lifted her head, eyes darted away.
"She bewitched him."
"No wonder Skylar's different around her."
"Should've known, her mom's not from here either and that business with the rune? It all makes sense if she's a witch."
Amanda's chest burned, shame and fury warring inside her. She wanted to scream, to defend herself, but the words stuck. What could she even say? That she didn't know what happened? That the stone felt alive and chose her? That would only make things worse. Across the cafeteria, Skylar sat with his usual crowd. Tessa perched beside him, her hand possessively brushing his arm as she whispered in his ear. Amanda expected him to laugh, to nod, to add fuel to the fire. But instead, his expression was stone, his eyes flicking briefly toward Amanda before turning away, cold and distant.
The rejection burned worse than Tessa's words.
But what Amanda didn't notice, what no one did, was how often Skylar's gaze returned to her when he thought no one was watching. He lingered by the edges of hallways as she walked, his sharp eyes catching every whisper, every snicker. He stalked silently in the background like a shadow.
When two juniors cornered Amanda by the gym lockers, whispering about "witch blood", Skylar walked in on them and it was as if his patience finally snapped.
"Say that again", his voice cut through the hall like a blade.
The boys froze. Skylar loomed, his golden eyes hard as steel, his posture radiating authority that demanded submission.
"N- nothing, Skylar", one stammered, their bravado evaporating.
"Nothing?", Skylar asked as he stepped closer, his voice low, dangerous.
"Then why were you talking?", he asked.
They shrank back, muttering apologies before scurrying off like frightened pups.
Skylar stood there for a moment, his hands flexing at his sides, before glancing briefly at Amanda. His expression gave nothing away, cold as ever and without a word, he turned and walked off. Amanda's chest tightened. He hadn't defended her, not openly, not kindly, but he hadn't let them tear her apart either. A contradiction, like everything else about him. She wanted to thank him, to demand answers, but his wall was impenetrable.
---
By evening, Amanda's head throbbed with the weight of whispers and glares. She excused herself early from dinner again, claiming to be too exhausted, and retreated to her room but sleep still wouldn't come. She tossed and turned, her body restless, her thoughts tangled.
When sleep finally claimed her, the forest came with it. She was out in the woods, silver fog curled around her bare feet, moonlight spilled across endless trees, brighter than daylight yet softer, painting the world in silver and shadow. And there it was again, the wolf. Massive, silver as starlight, fur gleaming like frost. Its golden eyes locked onto hers, familiar and infinite. It circled her slowly, its paws silent against the earth, its presence commanding and ancient. Amanda didn't run this time. She stood still, rooted, waiting. The wolf stopped before her and lowered its head. It was bowing to her. Her breath caught, her chest constricting. Why would something so powerful… bow?
A whisper drifted through the dream, threading into her bones, not sound, not quite a voice, but undeniable.
"Luna-born", it said.
Amanda gasped awake. Her room was still, moonlight spilling through the curtains in pale stripes. Sweat slicked her skin, her heart racing. She pressed a trembling hand to her chest where the locket lay, warm as though it pulsed with the echo of the dream.
"Luna-born", she whispered into the dark. The words felt heavy, dangerous, sacred.
She had no idea what it meant. Well she knew what a Luna was, but as to why she was having dreams where she would be referred to as Luna-born was what she didn't understand but somehow, deep in her marrow, she knew this was only the beginning.