Crowned by Blood, Crashed by Truth

The blood moon hung high, dyeing the Sacred Wolf Pack's altar an eerie, dark crimson.

Howls echoed all around, rising and falling in waves. They were the pack's highest tribute to their new Luna.

On the raised platform, Ronan Black's handsome face, once the source of my deepest longing, was now as cold and unyielding as steel.

At his side, Michelle Wright wore a luxurious ceremonial gown made from silver fox fur, glowing with a holy sheen under the moonlight.

"Lana, you're an Omega. Who gave you permission to stand here?"

A growl thick with disgust exploded beside my ear.

It was Silas Castillo, the pack's Beta and Ronan's most loyal lackey.

Once upon a time, he had been my guard, respectful and obedient.

Now, his eyes held nothing but undisguised contempt.

"Today is Michelle's Luna ceremony. You'd better not mess it up with your filthy bloodline, or you'll pay with your life!"

Silas shoved me hard. I staggered and slammed into a freezing stone pillar, the sharp pain tearing through my shoulder.

The surrounding pack members threw mocking glances my way. Their whispers buzzed into my ears like flies.

"Look at her. That's Lana. I heard she clung to Alpha Ronan for five years and actually thought she was his fated mate. What a joke."

"A lower-ranked Omega thinks she deserves our noble Alpha?"

"I heard she even sold her body to please the council just to stay by his side. How disgusting."

I bit down hard on my lip until the taste of iron filled my mouth.

No. That wasn't really what happened.

Five years ago, by Mooncrest Lake, Ronan had gone down on one knee and sworn to the Moon Goddess that, even if my wolf spirit was sealed by a witch and I was reduced to a lowly Omega, I would still be his one and only Luna.

But everything changed six months ago, when Michelle appeared with her so-called "pure Alpha bloodline."

I became the criminal who had stolen someone else's place overnight.

"The full moon has arrived. Begin the blood rite!"

The High Priest's aged voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

Michelle rose gracefully, wearing that flawlessly fake smile.

She accepted the obsidian bowl used for generations of Alpha coronation blood from the priest and made a cut on her palm.

According to pack law, the new Luna must distribute this blood to lower-ranked members as an act of grace.

She descended the steps one by one. Wherever she passed, the pack dropped to their knees, kissing the hem of her dress.

Until she stopped in front of me.

Michelle looked down at me and leaned closer, her voice low enough for only us to hear. "How does it feel to watch the one you love choose someone else?"

I lifted my head and met her gaze without expression. "You can't fake the real thing. A false bloodline will eventually be exposed."

Her face twisted for a split second.

The next moment, she suddenly cried out, "Oh, no…"

The obsidian bowl in her hand tipped "accidentally", and scalding wolf blood poured straight over my head.

Sizzle…

The pure Alpha pressure contained in the blood was like acid to an Omega.

Agony swept through me in an instant. I let out a muffled groan as I trembled and collapsed to my knees.

Michelle didn't apologize. Instead, she pointed at me, her voice sharp and shrill. "You filthy thing. How dare you touch a sacred blessing with your dirty hands!"

My body was soaked in burning wolf blood. I could clearly feel my skin curling and reddening the instant it touched the liquid. A scorched stench of seared flesh mixed with thick blood filled the air, making my stomach churn.

The pain blurred my vision, and my throat felt stuffed with sand. I couldn't even scream properly; I only managed to force out a broken, suppressed sound.

My body shook violently under the unbearable pain. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the ground in utter disgrace.

Dark red blood dripped from my hair, blooming into ugly stains across the stone floor beneath me.

And on the throne above, Ronan merely watched in silence.

There wasn't the slightest trace of concern in his eyes. There was only endless indifference, as if he were observing a dying insect.

In that moment, the last shred of hope in my heart shattered completely.