Chapter 2

Adelaide's POV

"Alpha Ulrik, you seem to forget I'm the daughter of the Frostfang's Alpha. Alpha blood runs through my veins..."

Ulrik cut me off with a snort. "You grew up shielded by your parents and pack. You've never seen war's teeth, never faced a real battle. Velda despises soft wolves like you. I'm sparing you the humiliation of her tongue."

I lifted my chin, voice steady as the north wind. "If she insults me, I'll let it slide. Keeping the bigger picture in mind is Luna's first duty, isn't it? You said yourself I'm perfect for the role."

He raked a hand through his rain-damp hair. "Why court trouble? The Lycan King's orders stand. Even as my Luna, Velda won't interfere with pack management. She disdains everything you value."

"Do I cling so desperately to being Bloodmoon's Luna?" I countered, fingers tightening around the comb in my grip.

Ulrik was a fearless fighter, but managing a pack? It was not his strong suit.

The former Luna's wolf was failing—Digby's potions were the only thing keeping her alive, and they were expensive.

Running the pack cost a fortune—food, medicine, everything.

Bloodmoon's accounts were practically empty.

For the past year, it had been my Frostfang assets keeping them afloat.

And this was the thanks I got?

Ulrik lost his patience. "Forget it. I'm done talking. I just had to inform you—you can agree or not, but it won't change a thing."

I watched him turn and leave without a backward glance. Bitterness flooded me.

I walked back to my cottage through the storm.

The house, a short distance from the Packhouse, felt lonelier now. I used to wonder why Ulrik never invited me into his home.

Now I understood.

Beata, my omega from Frostfang, was waiting inside.

After showering and changing out of my rain-soaked clothes, I sat at the vanity to comb my golden hair.

I filled Beata in on what had happened.

Beata sniffled. "Luna Adelaide, Alpha Ulrik is such a jerk. He's your mate—how could he do this?"

"Knock it off," I snapped, shooting her a glare. "He never marked me. That temporary bite on my neck? Just a scratch. He's not my real mate. Now fetch the Frostfang asset ledger."

"Why the ledger?" Beata wiped her eyes.

I tapped her ear. "Dense much? If Bloodmoon's Alpha treats me like dirt, why stick around as their lackey?"

Beata rubbed her ringing ear. "But the alliance—Luna Airella arranged it. Alpha Bentley wanted pureblood pups from you."

Hearing my mother's name made my fangs pierce my lip.

My dad bonded with my mom for life—they had six sons and one daughter.

My brothers followed our dad into battle for the Lycan King.

All of them died three years ago in the Silvermoon Canyon massacre.

Born into Frostfang, I had brothers—enough that I'd never inherit. Yet Dad, Alpha Bentley, still sent me to train.

In Shadow Peaks, I learned hunting, fighting, strategy—from the shifter elders themselves.

At fifteen, I found my wolf and shifted for the first time.

But when I got back, Frostfang was shattered. Alpha Bentley and my brothers—all gone in that same damn battle.

Mom's wolf withered without her mate.

Clutching me, she whispered, "Find a strong Alpha. Birth strong pups under the full moon. You're my last moonbeam."

My heart felt carved out. No tears—just a howl stuck in my throat.

I trained to be the Luna who watches over the Alpha, the one who cares for every wolf in the pack.

Then my mom chose Ulrik for me—all because he swore to make me his Luna and honor our bond.

But six months ago, Frostfang was hit.

Every wolf—elders with snow-white fur, pups still on blood-milk, even the patrol guards—was torn apart.

My youngest nephew, barely weaned, was nailed to the moonlight altar.

When the Lycan King's guard and shifter enforcers arrived, they caught just a few killers.

Bloodtooth wolves, their bodies marked with their pack's totem.

They didn't care about exposing themselves—their brutality was pure vengeance.

By the time I got back, all I found were my mom and grandmother's bodies.

Now Frostfang's down to me, the only unmarked she-wolf left.

To the hyena-like tribal elders, rebuilding Frostfang's glory was just a joke. To them, an unmated female's just a breathing ornament.

But Velda? She was different. She just tore through a northern tribe's leader, becoming the first female commander to earn the Bloodclaw Medal.

With her backing Ulrik, his path'd be smoother. No wonder the Tenar clan agreed to let her join Bloodmoon as Luna.