Chapter 1: The Invisible Luna

Zoriana’s eyes swept across the banquet hall one last time. She smiled, satisfied. The transformation of the Moon Light Pack was visible in every corner of the spacious room. Under her leadership, the pack hadn't just survived; it had conquered.

The massive crystal chandeliers were dimmed, casting a warm glow over the tables. Each was decorated with white roses and crimson-red rose wreaths, with flickering candles nestled within them. The firelight danced in the polished flutes and the towering champagne pyramid. The marble floors, which she had ordered from the oversees last spring, shone like glass. The alluring aroma of braised meat and expensive wine mixed with the floral scent of the roses spread across the hall.

Everything was perfect.

Zoriana exhaled in relief and stepped into the hallway, checking her reflection in a large mirror. Her slender frame was wrapped in shimmering golden silk that clung to her curves perfectly. Her makeup was flawless, highlighting her large brown eyes and chiselled features. She smoothed her dark hair, which fell to her waist in soft, elegant waves.

She wasn't just a Luna; she was the architect of this prosperity.

The click of heels on marble announced Aella’s arrival. Her best friend approached, handing her a flute of the limited-edition champagne Zoriana had spent months sourcing for her mate, Alpha Ryder’s birthday.

“Cheers to the perfect Luna,” Aella toasted with a sweet smile. “Alpha Ryder is the luckiest wolf in the territory to have you.”

“Or maybe I’m the lucky one,” Zoriana winked cheekily, sipping the divine vintage.

“You both are,” Aella replied. “He’s been obsessed with you since you were pups. You’re the ultimate power couple. Everyone knows he’d be lost without your mind for business and your strength on the field.”

Zoriana’s smile faltered as her gaze snagged on a dark, purple bruise peeking out from under Aella’s lace sleeve. She reached out, her voice dropping to a hiss. “Did that bastard do this to you again? Aella, I swear, one day he will get what he deserves.”

Aella pulled her arm back, hushing her. “It’s okay. Just ignore it.”

“He cheats on you openly, he hurts you, and you’re letting it slide?” Zoriana fumed, her protective Alpha-blood boiling. “You were the top of our class, Aella. You’re becoming a shadow of stong beautiful woman I know.”

Aella cast her eyes down. “Zoriana, you know the law. He is an Alpha. If I leave, I’m banished. I’d be a rogue, starving in the mud. Is that what you want for me? He has his mistresses for years, and my pain has gone numb already. At least, I have a roof and a Luna title. I’ve even found someone on the side who keeps me sane. Please... don’t judge me. Not everyone is blessed with a mate as loyal as Ryder.”

Zoriana sighed, squeezing her friend’s hand. She hated the "Golden Cage" Aella lived in, but she respected her friend's survival. Little did she know, her own cage was about to be built.

“The Alpha has passed the gate,” a guard’s voice echoed in her mindlink.

Zoriana straightened her silk dress. The guests moved toward the grand entrance, waiting for the birthday boy’s arrival. Zoriana stood at the front, her pulse thrumming with excitement.

She and Ryder had been inseparable since they were pups. Even though they weren't fated, he had pursued her for years. Her father had wanted a more influential match, but Zoriana had chosen Ryder. She had poured her soul into his pack, negotiating the alliances and maintaining the ledgers that turned this territory into one of the top five most powerful packs in the world.

She heard his heavy steps first. Then, his scent hit her—fresh ocean breeze and citrus. Her wolf purred, ready to leap into his arms.

The heavy entrance doors swung open.

Zoriana froze. The cheerful chatter of the guests died instantly. The room plunged into a suffocating silence.

Alpha Ryder stood in the doorway, shirtless and rumpled. His hair was a mess, and fresh scratches lined his torso. But it was what he carried that stopped Zoriana’s heart.

In his arms was a delicate Omega who looked like a porcelain doll—pale, blonde, and agonisingly fragile. She clung to his neck, her large, innocent blue eyes fixed on Ryder with adoration. Ryder was looking back at her as if she were the only person in the universe, his fingers gently brushing a strand of hair from her face.

It was an intimate, soul-deep gesture Zoriana had never seen him give anyone but her.

Then, the new scent here—a cloying, overwhelming smell of sweet jasmine that clashed violently with Ryder’s citrus, making Zoriana nauseous.

The champagne flute slipped from Zoriana’s numb fingers. It didn't just fall; it exploded against the marble, shards of crystal flying like shrapnel.

The sound broke the spell. Ryder finally looked up, acknowledging his wife's presence. He didn't look guilty. He didn't put the girl down.

“Zoriana,” he announced, his voice booming through the silent hall like a whip landing violently on Zoriana’s heart. “Milana was attacked by rogues, and I saved her. The Moon Goddess has sent me the ultimate birthday gift. She has sent my fated mate to us. You’re an Alpha’s daughter. You understand that this—Fate—is bigger than us. I’m not asking you to leave. I’m asking you to help her. To lead this pack together ”

To us. Help her. To lead together.

The words were a death sentence. He expected her to welcome this girl. He expected her to keep running the ledgers, the training, and the laws, while he gave his heart to a porcelain doll.

Zoriana’s knees buckled, but she forced herself to stand still and proud. She saw Aella’s horrified face in the crowd. She saw her own Golden Cage slamming shut.

She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn't break. She wouldn't be the useful second-best.

Zoriana felt the eyes of her warriors on her. She felt Aella’s bated breath from the sidelines. She looked at the blonde girl in his arms—Milana—who tucked her head into the crook of Ryder’s neck, hiding a tiny, triumphant smirk that only Zoriana was sharp enough to catch.

Zoriana didn't scream. She didn't launch herself at the intruder. Instead, she smoothed the golden silk of her skirt, her movements fluid and terrifyingly calm. She stepped forward, the heels of her shoes clicking once, twice, like a thunder before the storm.

“Welcome home, Alpha Ryder,” she said. Her voice wasn't a sob; it was a blade of ice cutting through the cloying jasmine-scented air.

She leaned in closer, her large brown eyes pinning him with a clarity that made him flinch.

“I truly hope your little dove is as precious as you think,” she whispered, loud enough for the guest near them to hear. “Because I hope she’s worth the price of everything you’re about to lose.”

Without waiting for his answer, without a single glance at the "fate gift” in his arms, Zoriana turned her back on her mate and walked out of the hall. She didn't rush, walking slowly and confidently. She walked like a Queen leaving a room that was no longer worthy of her presence.