Red Moon Pack

The most feared land in all the werewolf realms was the Red Moon Pack, ruled by the King of all Alphas. Whispers named it a kingdom of shadows, a dominion forged in blood and fire. To outsiders, it was a land where no light dared linger, for the one who ruled it was said to be the very embodiment of death.

Jester, the Alpha King, was not a man to be trifled with. His name alone was enough to turn strength into trembling and pride into silence. Ruthless, cruel, and merciless, his reign was etched into the memory of every pack. For those who had dared to challenge him, their bones were left as silent warnings to others. His enemies called him a monster. His people called him protector. But in truth, King Jester was both… the blade and the shield, the punishment and the law. To speak against him was to invite death. To cross him was to embrace it.

The Red Moon Pack was more than a land… it was Hell cloaked in crowns and iron, and its master was feared even by the strongest of wolves.

That morning, King Jester stood in the grand war chamber, shadows stretching across stone walls carved with the crests of conquered packs. His broad frame leaned over a table stacked with scrolls and reports, his dark eyes scanning accusations of theft, betrayal, and corruption. For others, the weight of ruling thousands would have been unbearable, but for King Jester, duty was an unbroken chain he carried without flinching.

“Prepare the horses. We ride to the Golden-Silver Pack for inspection,” he commanded, his voice sharp, cutting through the silence like steel. His tone left no room for question, no space for hesitation.

His Beta, Fred, however, was foolish enough to ask one. “My King… forgive my boldness, but why Golden-Silver Pack first? I thought you despised that Alpha.”

The room grew cold. King Jester’s head lifted, and his piercing gaze landed on Fred. His eyes were not just dark… they were voids, black storms that stripped courage from flesh. Fred felt the blood drain from his face.

“Keep that mouth of yours shut, Fred, or I’ll tear your tongue out myself,” Jester growled, his voice low and dangerous, like a predator coiled before striking.

For a moment, silence suffocated the chamber. Then, as though unafraid… or pretending not to be, Fred chuckled nervously. “On my way to the horses, my King.” With a cheeky grin, he darted away before Jester could change his mind.

King Jester exhaled slowly, his hand curling into a fist atop the reports. His wolf stirred beneath his skin, restless and irritated. Life as the Alpha King was relentless. The burdens of power were ceaseless… schemes to uncover, traitors to punish, wolves to protect. Rest was a luxury he did not believe in. To him, exhaustion was proof of living, and only the weak complained of it.

When King Jester and his warriors finally reached the Golden-Silver Pack, the air shifted. The once-lively market square fell silent as they rode through. Children were tugged behind mothers, merchants froze mid-trade, and in unison, all bowed. Fear and respect blended in the eyes that dared glance up at the King before darting back to the ground. Even in another Alpha’s territory, King Jester’s presence was law.

As the towering gates of the Golden-Silver Palace came into view, a sudden shiver ran down King Jester’s spine. His wolf, Shawn, stirred violently, growling and pacing within him.

‘What’s wrong, Shawn?’ He asked inwardly, scanning the crowd.

The answer came not in words but in scent. A fragrance, soft yet intoxicating, like roses blooming in the dead of night, slid into his lungs and branded itself into his soul. It wasn’t merely pleasant; it was magnetic, primal, inevitable.

‘Mate!’ Shawn roared with joy, his voice echoing in King Jester’s mind.

For the briefest moment, Jester’s unshakable composure cracked. His pulse thundered, his jaw tightened. He, the Alpha King… untouchable, unmovable had a mate.

But even as the truth shook him, suspicion grounded him. His gaze hardened as he remembered whose land he stood in. Alpha Henderson of Golden-Silver Pack was a man of ambition, greed wrapped in smiles. King Jester had seen enough snakes to recognize one when it slithered close.

‘Be still, Shawn. We cannot lose ourselves here,’ He warned. ‘Henderson invited me for a reason. There’s venom in this banquet, and I’ll not walk blindly into his trap.’

Shawn whimpered with frustration, torn between loyalty to Jester’s instincts and the desperate pull toward their destined mate. But Jester’s iron will prevailed. There would be time to claim what was his, but not here, not yet.

Meanwhile, in the modest estate of the Lunasco family, word of the banquet spread like wildfire. Jairah Lunasco sat with her parents, their midday meal growing cold as whispers of the Alpha King’s arrival consumed their thoughts.

“Don’t you think it’s unfair we weren’t invited?” her mother complained bitterly, her fork clattering against the plate. “We raised the Stealer as if she were our own, fed her, clothed her, and now we’re cast aside like garbage?”

Her father’s voice was darker, bitter with resentment. “Henderson uses us like tools, and when our part is done, he discards us. If the Alpha King takes the girl, shouldn’t we at least be compensated?”

Jairah, however, wasn’t listening to the complaints. Her mind was burning with a different thought, a hunger far greater than bitterness. Her lips curled into a smirk.

“Leave it to me,” she said softly, her eyes glittering with ambition. “We’ll be there tonight. I’ll make sure of it.”

Her parents looked at her with surprise, but Jairah’s heart was already racing ahead. She had dreamed of this moment for years. The Alpha King Jester, the most powerful wolf alive. To stand by his side, to be his Queen Luna, to rule all wolves… It was the dream she would kill for. And tonight, she would grasp it.

“Just prepare for the banquet,” she instructed coldly, rising from her seat. “I’ll handle the rest.”

When night fell, the Lunascos arrived at the palace dressed in their finest silks. Jairah shone in crimson, her gown cut to reveal beauty sharpened into a weapon. Her parents looked uneasy, but Jairah’s confidence was unshakable.

“Are you sure this will work?” her mother whispered, her hand trembling on Jairah’s arm.

“Of course,” Jairah replied, her smirk never faltering. “Trust me. Tonight is the beginning of everything.”

But when they reached the gates, guards barred their path.

“Invitation letter?” the head guard demanded.

“Call the Alpha,” Jairah answered sweetly, her voice dripping with charm. “We’re his friends.”

The guard’s expression remained stone. “The Alpha is occupied. No one sees him, except the Alpha King.”

Her father exploded, anger crackling in his voice. “See? I told you this wouldn’t work!”

But Jairah ignored him, her sharp eyes catching a glimpse of Alpha Henderson near the entrance. Without hesitation, she called out, her voice carrying across the courtyard.

“Alpha Henderson!”

Henderson turned, frowning, and approached. He saw Jairah, radiant and insistent, flanked by her parents. The sight of them soured his mood. He knew why they had come, and he had no patience for their meddling.

“Alpha Henderson,” Jairah said with a practiced pout, her voice lilting with feigned sorrow. “Please… let us join. I miss my sister terribly. I only want to see her one last time before she’s given away.”

Her words dripped with innocence, but Henderson’s sharp eyes narrowed. He could sense the performance, the subtle manipulation. Still, the sadness in the faces of Karla and Ford lent her words credibility.

For a moment, he considered dismissing them outright. But something in Jairah’s persistence made him pause. She was not simply asking… she was bargaining.

“What do you want, Jairah?” Henderson asked flatly, his tone like ice.

“To see Adriah,” she answered softly, her lashes lowering to veil the triumph glittering in her eyes. “And to join the banquet, just this once. Isn’t it fair, after all we’ve done?”

Henderson exhaled slowly, suspicion gnawing at him, but at last, he relented. “Fine. But do not forget your place.”

Jairah’s lips curved into the faintest smile as the gates opened. She stepped inside, her heart thundering. She wasn’t there to pity Adriah. She was there to watch her fall… and to rise above her.