Chapter 5

The Night of the Red Moon

Lena’s POV

This evening it was going to happen. The one night I had been waiting for as far back as anyone could remember.

The Red Moon was heavy in the sky, a dull, and silvery moon, for now but I knew it wouldn’t stay that way. Soon it would glow crimson, and everything would change.

Maybe… so would I.

I looked up in the mirror teasing out the silk red material of my dress. All the she-wolves that are un-mated in our pack wear red to pay their honour to the goddess and offer themselves to fate. It was our way of saying: Here I am. I'm ready.

And I was. I had never ever been more all set.

I dressed my hair down with my natural being a waterfall around my shoulders. A bit of makeup, just enough to make my dark eyes and deep red lips shine. Not for attention. Not for the boys in the pack. I did it for me. And for him, whoever he was.

At one time, I believed it would be Kade.

But after the past few weeks… after that kiss with Camilla, after that cruel dare. I did not know what I was to believe any more.

I could not tell whether I could have a future with him. But I still wanted one with someone.

I wanted what all the she-wolves wanted: to have a Mate to love you, see you, choose you. A connection so strong that the world went into silence. A promise born under moonlight, carved into my soul.

Whoever he was, I would accept him. I would give him my whole heart because it was the only way I could escape the weight I carried.

Once I find my Mate, I’ll leave this place behind. I won’t have to come home no more. I won't have to feel the disappointment in my parent's voice, or like a intruder in my own family. I will be free.

I slipped into my heels, stood up straight, and Creepily walked out of the back door.

My mom would stop me if she saw me going, though. She was wanting me to find a boyfriend but on her terms only. She would never let me walk proudly through the Union Grounds in red, standing with the others like I belonged.

But tonight, I was going. Even if I had to walk alone.

---

The Union Grounds were glowing under moonlight by the time I arrived.

My breath caught. It was prettier than I ever expected. A stadium that glows in the heart. Clusters of wolves and their families stood about with eyes that looked hope once and anticipative and jittery with pleasure. Bursts of laughter were like the air, the wind.

I stood by the door, not knowing.

What if no one chooses me? What if I stand in the center, and the moon shows me nothing?

But I knew I couldn’t turn back. I was already here. I had to go through with it.

With a deep breath, I got in and took care to stay on the perimeter of the crowd. I did not want to be perceived not by my brothers, not by my parents. Especially not by my mother.

They were already seated, of course, Omega-ranked, but still high-standing in the circle of pack leaders.

And in the center, on a throne just below his father’s, stood Kade. Future Alpha. Tall. Steady. Watching the sky.

I looked away quickly. I reminded myself again: It doesn’t have to be him. It doesn’t need to be him. The goddess will choose someone worthy. I stayed near the back until the announcement rang out.

“All unmated wolves, please approach the stage for your Alpha and Luna’s blessing.”

I hesitated. Eyes turned toward me as I stepped into the light. My red dress made it impossible to hide.

“Lena?” My mother’s voice cut through the crowd like a blade. She rose from her seat beside my father, her eyes sharp with quiet rage. “Why are you here? Why are you wearing that?”

I stood my ground. “Because tonight is Red Moon Night. I’m here to find my Mate. Isn’t that what we’re all here for?”

Her jaw tightened. “You’re not of age.”

“I’m seventeen,” I said calmly. “Old enough to be here, according to pack law.”

Before she could respond, Luna Mira turned toward us.

“Everything all right, Mira?” she asked gently.

My mother hesitated. I could see the words forming on her lips, She’s wolfless. She doesn’t belong here. But she swallowed them.

“Everything’s fine,” she said tightly.

“Let the girl be,” Luna Mira said. “Let the goddess do her work.”

---

I moved forward in line, receiving the blessing in silence. No one stopped me. But I could feel eyes on me. Judging. Questioning.

Still, I walked to the center of the Union Grounds and took my place.

The sky began to shimmer. It started with a howl, one wolf, then another, and another until the air vibrated with music. The silver moon turned gold. Then orange. Then deep, blood red.

Around me, wolves began shifting, fur bursting through skin as their inner selves took form. I stayed still, the only one in human form.

I had no wolf to shift into. I could feel their eyes again. Why hasn’t she shifted? I tried to ignore them.

Please, I begged. Please let my Mate find me tonight.

Then came the light. It poured down from the crimson moon in a thick beam. Wolves like me were crawling to each other, nose to nose, and growls had now turned to soft whimpers. Mates were being taken, and some were crying, some were laughing, some were falling down under the too-muchness of the attraction.

But no one came to me. I stared at the moon. It glowed brighter, but it showed me nothing. I waited. My heart beat harder. My breath came faster.

Still, nothing.

I was surrounded by joy, and I was completely alone. The last wolf found his Mate and walked off with her, nuzzling her cheek.

I stood there, shaking. Embarrassed. Humiliated. Not because I hadn’t been chosen but because I had believed I would be.

I turned to leave, eyes burning.

And then, the light shifted. It intensified, becoming so bright I had to shield my face with my hand. The crowd gasped.

I turned back toward the moon, and something strange began to form on its surface. An image. Not a blurry figure. Not a flash of color but a face.

A wolf, silver-furred with burning violet eyes stared back at me from the moon’s glow. Its eyes weren’t threatening. They were ancient. Knowing.

And in that moment, I felt something stir deep inside me. Something that had never been there before. Not a voice, not yet but a presence. Like someone waking up inside me.