"Luna," Doc said brightly, smiling when Indianna knocked on the infirmary door later that evening. "I assume you are here to see the girl?"
Indianna nodded and stepped inside.
Her eyes immediately landed on the small figure lying on the bed.
The girl looked fragile. Too fragile.
She was curled into herself, clutching the sheets tightly against her chest as if they were the only thing protecting her from the world. Her long red hair covered part of her face, but Indianna could still see the fear in her eyes.
"How is she?" Indianna asked softly.
"Healing well," Doc sighed. "Physically, she will be fine. But mentally... she is terrified."
Indianna's heart tightened.
She knew that look.
She had worn it herself.
"I shall leave you two alone," Doc said gently. "Call me if you need anything."
"Thank you," Indianna nodded.
Once the door closed, Indianna slowly walked closer to the bed.
"Hello," she said softly. "I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk."
The girl watched her carefully, like she was waiting for something bad to happen.
Indianna pulled a chair closer and sat down.
"I'm Indianna. What's your name?"
The girl hesitated before pushing her long red hair away from her face.
"E-Ellie."
"Ellie," Indianna repeated with a small smile. "That's a pretty name."
The girl looked down.
"Do you remember what happened to you?"
Ellie's fingers tightened around the blanket.
"I was... a-attacked."
Her eyes flickered toward her wrist, and she immediately looked away.
Indianna noticed.
Slowly, she lifted her own sleeve, revealing the scar Rogue had left behind.
"Ellie."
The girl's eyes widened.
"The same person who attacked you attacked me."
Ellie stared at the scar.
"The same place?" she whispered.
Indianna nodded.
"Yes. I have another scar on my stomach too."
Ellie's expression changed from fear to confusion.
"Why?"
"Because he wanted to hurt me," Indianna said quietly. "Because he wanted me afraid."
She lowered her sleeve.
"But he won't get away with it."
Ellie swallowed.
"What if he comes back?"
The fear in her voice broke something inside Indianna.
"You're safe here," Indianna said firmly. "This is pack territory. He can't get to you."
Ellie looked at her desperately.
"No one will?"
Indianna shook her head.
"No one will hurt you here."
Ellie stared at her, almost like she wanted to believe her but didn't know how.
"No one?"
"No one."
A small silence passed between them.
Then Indianna noticed the way Ellie kept glancing toward the door.
"Ellie..."
The girl froze.
"Who else are you afraid of?"
Ellie's face instantly went pale.
"I-I..."
"It's okay," Indianna whispered. "You can tell me."
The girl looked down at her hands.
"My... my captor."
Indianna's breath caught.
"Captor?"
Ellie nodded slowly, tears filling her eyes.
"I ran away from my pack."
Indianna stayed silent, allowing her to continue.
"I was eleven."
Eleven.
Indianna felt sick.
"They blamed me for my parents' deaths. They were killed by rogues, but they said it was my fault."
Ellie's voice shook.
"My pack hurt me. They treated me like I wasn't even a person."
She swallowed hard.
"I was their slave."
Indianna's chest tightened.
"I couldn't take it anymore, so I ran away."
Ellie wiped at her tears.
"But someone found me."
Her voice became smaller.
"He kept me."
Indianna felt anger rising in her chest.
"He hurt me too."
Ellie squeezed her eyes shut.
"He beat me... and he did things to me that nobody should ever have to experience."
Indianna's hands curled into fists.
She wanted to find him.
She wanted him to feel the same pain he had caused.
"How did you escape?" Indianna asked gently.
"One day he forgot to lock the chain properly."
Ellie gave a small, sad laugh.
"I think he got careless because he never thought I would actually run."
Her eyes dropped.
"He kept me for two years."
Indianna stared at her.
Two years.
"You were only thirteen..."
Ellie nodded.
"You were just a child."
Tears slipped down Ellie's cheeks.
"I thought nobody would ever help me."
Indianna immediately reached forward and gently grabbed her hand.
"Ellie, listen to me."
The girl looked up.
"You are safe now."
Her voice was steady.
"You are not a slave. You are not someone's possession. You are not what they made you believe you were."
Ellie's lips trembled.
"You belong somewhere."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"You belong here if you want to."
Ellie looked shocked.
"Really?"
Indianna nodded.
"Really."
"But... don't you need the Alpha's permission?"
Before Indianna could answer, Greyson's voice entered her mind.
You've got it.
Indianna smiled slightly.
Give the girl whatever she needs. She's welcome here.
Her heart warmed.
"Greyson agrees," Indianna said.
Ellie's eyes widened.
"Even though he doesn't know me?"
"That doesn't matter."
Indianna squeezed her hand.
"You're hurt. You're scared. And you need somewhere safe."
She looked Ellie directly in the eyes.
"And I won't let anyone take that away from you."
Ellie's bottom lip trembled.
"T-thank you."
For the first time since Indianna entered the room, Ellie smiled.
And Indianna realized something.
Maybe being Luna wasn't about standing in front of a crowd.
Maybe it wasn't about being fearless.
Maybe it was simply about making someone feel safe.