80. The Crown Under The Full Moon.

Lucy's POV

The full moon sat high in the sky, bright and heavy, watching everything.

Its light poured over the sacred grounds like silver fire.

I stood still, breathing slowly, my heart beating so loudly I was sure everyone could hear it. Wolves were everywhere. Important wolves. Powerful wolves. Leaders from packs I had only heard stories about. They came from all over the world.

Tonight was not just about me.

Tonight was about power.

Tonight was about control.

Tonight was about the Alpha of all Alphas crowning his Luna.

Me.

I lifted my head slightly and looked ahead.

Adrian sat on the main throne.

Tall. Cold. Untouchable.

Caleb sat beside him on the smaller throne, his posture straight, his face calm but alert. He looked like someone who knew things could go wrong at any moment.

I swallowed.

The air was thick with expectation.

Drums began to beat slowly.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

Each sound echoed in my chest.

The elders stood in a line. Ancient symbols were drawn on the ground. Incense burned, filling the air with a sharp, earthy scent. The moonlight reflected off silver bowls, staffs, and sacred stones.

This was real.

This was happening.

I was walking toward my crown.

But my eyes kept going back to Adrian.

He didn’t look at me.

Not once.

Adrian’s POV

I felt every eye on me.

Every wolf here was watching my reaction, my body language, my breathing.

They wanted to see power.

They wanted to see acceptance.

They wanted to see love.

They would get none of that.

Lucy walked forward, dressed in ceremonial white, her hair styled with silver chains and moonstones. She looked exactly like what they wanted her to look like.

A Luna.

But I felt nothing.

Not the pull.

Not the warmth.

Not the bond.

Only pressure.

Only anger.

Only the weight of everything she and her father had forced into existence.

The drums continued.

The elders began their chants.

I stayed still.

Stone-faced.

Lucy’s POV

The chants wrapped around me like invisible hands.

The words were old, powerful, spoken in a language older than kingdoms. I didn’t understand everything, but I felt it.

The moon responded.

The ground seemed to hum beneath my feet.

An elder stepped forward, holding the crown.

It was beautiful.

Silver, engraved with ancient markings, glowing faintly under the moonlight.

“This night,” the elder announced, “we crown the Luna of the united packs.”

Murmurs spread.

Pride.

Excitement.

Expectation.

I glanced at Adrian.

Still nothing.

The crown was placed on my head.

The moment it touched me, the crowd erupted.

Cheers.

Howls.

Fists pounding chests.

I closed my eyes briefly.

This was it.

I had won.

Or so I thought.

Caleb’s POV

Something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

I watched Adrian closely.

He hadn’t moved.

Hadn’t smiled.

Hadn’t even breathed differently.

The crowd was celebrating, but the Alpha of all Alphas looked like he was attending a funeral.

Lucy stood proudly, the crown resting on her head, her shoulders squared. She looked powerful.

But power without balance was dangerous.

I knew what was supposed to come next.

The rite.

The dance.

The kiss.

I glanced at Adrian again.

He wasn’t getting up.

Lucy’s POV

The elder raised his staff again.

“By tradition,” he said loudly, “the Alpha shall dance with his Luna, sealing her place before the moon.”

My heart jumped.

Finally.

I turned slightly toward Adrian.

This was the moment.

This was when everything would change.

He didn’t move.

Seconds passed.

Then more.

The crowd grew quiet.

Confused murmurs started spreading like cracks in ice.

I looked directly at him.

“Adrian,” I whispered, though I knew he couldn’t hear me from there.

He stayed seated.

Cold.

Distant.

Humiliation burned my chest.

Adrian’s POV

I heard the murmurs.

I felt the tension.

I didn’t care.

I stood up slowly, not to dance, not to kiss, but to speak.

The sound died instantly.

Every wolf froze.

“This ceremony,” I said calmly, my voice carrying effortlessly, “will proceed without the final rites.”

Gasps.

Shock.

I continued.

“The Luna will be rendered her full powers after the ritual.”

The elders stiffened.

Whispers exploded.

“That is not tradition—” someone started.

“For the sake of peace,” I cut in, “this is my decision.”

Silence followed.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

But no one challenged me.

They couldn’t.

I turned away.

And walked out.

Lucy’s POV

My world shattered in front of everyone.

I stood there, crowned, celebrated, and completely abandoned.

My fingers curled into fists.

How dare he.

How dare he do this to me in front of the entire world.

I didn’t think.

I didn’t care.

I lifted my skirt slightly and followed him.

Adrian’s POV

I could hear her footsteps behind me.

Fast.

Angry.

“Adrian!” she called.

I didn’t stop.

She grabbed my arm and spun me around.

Her eyes were burning.

“Why are you treating me like this?” she demanded. “You humiliated me!”

I looked down at her hand on my arm.

Then back at her face.

“You can’t expect to get away with everything,” I said coldly.

Her lips parted in shock.

“I’m doing this for peace,” I continued. “Nothing more.”

Her eyes filled with anger.

“This is my moment!” she snapped. “You’re ruining it on purpose!”

I leaned closer.

“You should be grateful,” I said quietly. “This is already more than you deserve.”

Caleb’s POV

I caught up quickly.

Too quickly.

This was bad.

Very bad.

“Enough,” I said firmly, stepping between them. “Not here.”

Both of them were vibrating with emotion.

“This is not the place,” I added. “Everyone is watching.”

Adrian turned away immediately.

“Come,” he said to me.

He walked off without another glance at Lucy.

I followed.

Lucy’s POV

I stood there, shaking.

The cheers from earlier felt like mockery now.

My father appeared beside me.

Rowan.

He placed his hands on my shoulders.

“Calm yourself,” he said gently. “This is only the beginning.”

I laughed bitterly.

“He hates me,” I said.

Rowan’s eyes hardened.

“He doesn’t matter,” he replied. “After the ritual, everything will be as it should be.”

I looked back at the moon.

Still watching.

Still silent.

And for the first time since this began, fear crept into my victory.