Chapter 1

Lyra ’s footsteps echoed down the hallway, each one measured and deliberate.

With each step, she inched closer to confirming the rumors swirling around the Alpha King.

Pausing in her tracks, she gazed at the massive window, where the full moon illuminated the world outside, casting eerie shadows across the dark and quiet hallway.

She took a deep breath, fixing her shawl, and summoning her courage before pressing onward, her determination unwavering. She had one goal in mind–to uncover the truth about her Alpha.

“L-Luna, what are you doing here? I-I specifically warned you not to leave your chambers during the full moon,” The butler, who had just emerged from the room at the end of the hallway and locked it, stammered in panic.

Concern and fear were evident on his slightly wrinkled face.

“I’m sorry for not listening. It’s just that I think it’s unfair that I’m ignorant of my mate’s condition. I want to see for myself what kind of curse he’s really under, that way… I could understand him better.” Lyra explained, moving closer to the room but the butler blocked her.

She could swear she heard a faint sound of chains rattling and rustling inside, accompanied by unsettling groans that made her shudder.

“But it’s too dangerous... And the Alpha King will surely punish me for allowing you to see him in his current state.” He attempted to steer her away from the door, but she wouldn’t budge.

His hands trembled and his heart raced in his chest.

He was well aware that Luna was right, but it did little to calm his nerves because

she was in a place she shouldn’t be.

“It’s alright. Trust me, I won’t let anything bad happen to you.” Lyra said with a reassuring smile, her eyes shining like brilliant emeralds.

She held out her hand, her fingers reaching out as if to grasp something precious.

“Just hand me the key, I’ll unlock that door myself.”

The butler’s eyes locked onto Lyra ’s outstretched hand, his throat tightening with a mix of emotions.

A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, but he knew deep down that he couldn’t stand in her way.

Reluctantly, he surrendered the key, a nagging feeling tugging at his gut, urging him to have faith in her.

“Please, keep the Alpha King contained in this room,” he pleaded with a tremble in his voice.

“And don’t get too close to him where he could reach you, or else he’ll rip you to shreds.”

Lyra couldn’t deny the twinge of fear that crept up when those words reached her ears.

But she had to keep her cool, for now, she was the chosen mate of the Alpha King, and the Luna of the Royal Pack.

Revealing her fears would be an unwise move. So, with a graceful nod, she took a confident step forward, causing the butler to scurry away like a startled mouse.

Lyra took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest but with steady hands, she lifted her arm and gently slid the key into the ornate keyhole.

In that very instant, the air around the palace seemed to come alive.

The breeze grew stronger, the trees rustling with urgency as if a pack of ferocious wolves were surrounding the castle walls.

Lyra closed her eyes for a fleeting moment, allowing her mind to steady itself.

And when she opened them again, a fierce determination sparkled in every corner of her gaze, ready to face whatever she would see inside.

With a swift turn of the key, the lock clicked, and she pushed it open, the heavy oak doors creaking as they swung inward.

She then stepped inside and closed the doors behind her.

In the dimly lit room, she stood motionless, her senses on high alert.

Suddenly, the sound of chains rattling pierced the silence, causing her to flinch.

Her gaze shifted to a few paces away, where the tyrant

Alpha King knelt, his wrists chained and bound to the stone walls. His black long hair and silk robe, once regal, now hung disheveled, revealing his sculpted chest and torso.

The scars from countless battles adorned his tanned skin, adding a rugged charm to his already intimidating aura.

Lyra couldn’t help but feel something strangely captivating about him in this vulnerable state.

The rough stubble on his jawline only enhanced his allure, making him appear even more attractive and dangerous than usual.

“Do you have fucking death wish?” he growled,his fiery red eyes glaring up at her, sending shivers down her spine.

Her blood ran cold and sweat drenched her neck and back, making it difficult to breathe.

Her legs wobbled beneath her as if her muscles turned jelly. In fact, the entire room seemed to spin around her as dizziness overcame her.

But she endured it all and kept herself calm.

“LEAVE!”

Lyra’s heart skipped a beat as she swallowed hard, mustering up the courage to take a single step forward.

But just as she did, Alpha Kian’s bloodlust surged through the air, engulfing her like a raging wildfire.

Her trembling legs instinctively stepped backward, but she refused to leave.

Instead, she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and straightened her posture, meeting the Alpha’s intense gaze head-on, trying her best to fight his command despite the toll on her body.

“No, I will stay.” Lyra declared, taking one step forward, “Why do you keep pushing me away? I am your Luna, and we both know that you need me—we need each other to survive.”

At that exact moment, a flood of memories washed over her, replaying all the events that had led her to this very situation.

***

FOUR MONTHS EARLIER…

The Incarnadine Pack House was alive with energy, a flurry of activity as the servants bustled about, rearranging furniture and adorning the grand halls with dazzling decorations.

There was an air of anticipation, for tonight marked a momentous occasion–the engagement party of Lyra and Rhys, the future Alpha and Luna of the pack.

In her chambers, Lyra prepared herself for this special occasion. Honestly, she never once imagined that an orphan like her would ever be engaged, especially after all the things she had been through.

At the age of seven, Lyra has been living a life on the run, after her mother left her.

With her striking features–vibrant red hair and sparkling emerald eyes–it didn’t take long for others to label her as different.

She was passed around between packs, forced into servitude or subjected to bullying, and even faced the horrifying prospect of being sold into slavery.

On her tenth birthday, Lyra found herself racing through the dense woods, fleeing from a band of warriors who intended to deliver her to an underground auction.

In her heart, she believed that was the end, that happiness and a better life was nothing but distant dreams.

But Moon Goddess had other plans.

It was in those desperate moments that a savior appeared before her. A tall, lean man who introduced himself as Aiden, the Alpha of the Incarnadine, one of the strongest packs in the nation.

In exchange for saving her life, he offered Lyra a chance at a brighter future–she would become the future Luna of their pack.

Overwhelmed with desperation, she accepted without a moment’s hesitation.

From that day forward, Lyra resided within the welcoming walls of the Incarnadine pack house.

Her unique features became a source of awe and admiration, and she soon discovered that

She was a key figure in a long-awaited prophecy–the one destined to bring wealth and power to the pack.

As a result, she devoted herself entirely to fulfilling this role and becoming an exceptional Luna, and in the process, she formed a close relationship with Rhys, the firstborn of Alpha Aiden and Luna Viola.

Despite not being fated mates, their connection deepened, blossoming into passionate love as time passed by.

“Lyra,are you even listening?” Lorena’s voice jolted Lyra out of her daydream.

Lorena, her best friend and the second daughter of the beta was always the one to help her in getting dolled up.

The two of them shared a close bond among all the she-wolf pack members.

“Oh, sorry. What were you saying?” Lyra replied absentmindedly, her gaze fixed on her reflection in the mirror.

She was taken aback when she realized her makeup and hair were already beautifully done.

Her fiery red hair was expertly braided, and adorned with gold flower hairpins.

“I said it’s time to put on your dress. The guests from the other packs have already started arriving,” Lorena informed her, prompting Lyra to stand up and turn towards the maids who were holding the dress.

“Is something bothering you? Or are you just nervous? It’s not like you to be lost in thought like this.”

Lorena and the maids began helping Lyra slip into her dress—a stunning emerald green off- shoulder gown with delicate white lace.

The color perfectly matched her eyes, accentuating her fair complexion and giving her an otherworldly appearance.

“It’s just that... I can’t believe I’ll soon be marrying Rhys,” Lyra mused.

“And even though I’m not his fated mate, I’m grateful that I played a crucial role in fulfilling the prophecy that brought us together. I really am. But…”

“But what?” Lorena inquired, searching for a suitable piece of jewelry to complement Lyra’s attire.

“I can’t help but feel anxious. Despite his promise to reject his fated mate once they meet, I can’t shake this unsettling feeling. After all, Rhys hasn’t marked me yet, we’re unbonded, and the mating process will only take place once he has become the Alpha.”

Lyra smiled bitterly, studying her reflection in the mirror after the final touches were complete.

She couldn’t help but admire her own beauty.

There was a time when shemdespised her red hair and green eyes, as they seemed to bring nothing but misfortune.

However, now she cherished these unique features, for they had led her to where she was today.

“I get where you’re coming from, but don’t worry. There are only five months left until Rhys becomes the Alpha.” Lorena reassured.

“Right, but speaking of Rhys, he was supposed to come and escort me. Has he not returned from checking the territory’s border yet?” Lyra wondered aloud, pushing her anxiety aside as her eyes scanned the room for any sign of his arrival.

“Now that you mention it, he should have been here by now,” Lorena pondered, before instructing one of the maids to go and check on Rhys.

However, before anyone could react, a loud knock echoed through the door, startling them all.

“Lyra , you need to go down to the hall,” Rose,Lorena’s older sister, burst into the room, her expression filled with urgency. The sight of her face made Lyra ’s heart quicken, a sense of impending doom settling upon her.

“Why? What happened?” she asked, her voice trembling with panic.

“R-Rhys... He brought a woman with him!” Rose exclaimed, the words hanging in the air, heavy with a foreboding weight.