Chapter 1

Today was the first full moon since Lucas took over as Alpha, and the day he had chosen for my Luna coronation.

An hour before the ceremony, I was still rushing to bandage the wounds from last night's patrol.

Only I could smell the Shades, those attackers who could hide their scent. For the pack's safety, for Lucas's smooth transition as Alpha, I was ready to deploy at a moment's notice.

By the time I finished getting ready, the seats before the altar were already packed.

My mother Helen sat in the front row beside my sister.

When Mia saw me, she forced a smile. "Congratulations, Nora. Tonight you'll officially move into Lucas's residence."

Lucas was already the Alpha, yet she still called him by his first name, refusing to use his title.

Helen pursed her lips. "What's there to celebrate? Wait until she actually wears the Luna crown."

That was Helen for you. Whenever I achieved something, she never congratulated me. Her first instinct was always to comfort Mia.

The day Lucas and I first sensed our mate bond, she wasn't happy about it.

Instead, she told Mia, "Don't worry. A mate bond doesn't always last forever."

I didn't want to argue with her today of all days.

So I ignored her and walked straight to the altar.

The moonlight brightened, and the priest stepped up to the other side of the altar, cradling the golden crown.

Lucas gave me a small nod, then picked up the microphone.

What he said next stunned everyone in the crowd.

He announced, word by word, "Before the coronation, there's something I must disclose.

"The truth is, I sensed two mates.

"One is Nora Vale."

He looked at me first, then shifted his gaze to the front row.

"The other is Mia Vale."

The venue fell silent.

My mind went blank, and the moonflower bouquet slipped from my hands and hit the ground.

The pack Elder rose to his feet. "Alpha Holt, why would one wolf have two mates? There's no precedent for this."

Helen scrambled to her feet.

"It must be because they're twins!"

She pulled a trembling Mia into her arms. "The Moon Goddess made Lucas sense them both because they share the same bloodline."

Shared bloodline.

I was trembling with rage, but I couldn't find the words to argue back.

When Helen saw my expression darken, she dropped to her knees at my feet, sobbing. "Nora, your father gave all his power to you before he died. Mia has nothing left. Just give her the Luna title!"

Lucas didn't stop her.

He avoided my eyes, his voice painfully forced. "In the interest of fairness, let's put it to a vote. Let the pack members choose the Luna they want."

While everyone hesitated, Lucas cast the first vote.

"I choose... Mia."

Helen immediately gave Mia the second vote.

I felt the pitying stares from every direction.

The Alpha's preference was crystal clear.

In the end, my vote count was zero.

I scanned every face in the crowd and realized all my people had been sent out on patrol.

I stared at Lucas, ice cold.

So he had planned everything from the start!

My wolf howled inside me. Tear him apart, Nora! Tear the traitor apart!

Sensing my wolf stir, Lucas stepped forward and gripped my wrist. "Sweetheart, don't misunderstand. Luna is just a title. You have Alpha blood. You don't need a crown to prove yourself.

"Mia is an Omega with a damaged wolf. She needs the Luna position more than you do. When we got together, she lost both a friend and her sister. Yesterday she was so devastated she nearly collapsed.

"Don't make a scene. Once she's settled, you'll still be the one I bond with."

I looked at him and almost laughed at the absurdity.

"She stands beside you as Luna, and then I bond with you in secret.

"What does that make me?

"The shameless other woman?"

Lucas frowned slightly. "Nora, I haven't abandoned you. You're not the other woman. Is the Luna title really that important to you? More important than being by my side?"

Mia's eyes reddened. "Nora, don't blame Lucas. He just wants the pack to stop seeing me as a useless Omega.

"I don't want to take what's yours. Just say the word and I'll leave right now."

Lucas immediately pulled her close. "No one is making you leave. The vote is over. You're the Luna the pack chose."

But the priest did not proceed with the ceremony.

"Alpha, the crown cannot go to Mia."

He held up the golden vine crown.

I had woven it myself over the past three months. The vines had cut across my hands so many times that they had long since absorbed my scent.

"Unless Nora willingly removes her scent, the crown will not accept a new owner. Without it, the Moon Goddess will not recognize Mia as Luna."

Mia shook her head frantically. "It's fine if I don't wear it. It's just that the pack won't accept me, and Lucas might have a hard time..."

Lucas cut her off. "Nora, remove your scent. Mia needs that crown."

I looked at him. "I made this for my own wedding."

"I'll make another one with you later."

He frowned. "Don't keep everyone waiting."

Forcing my wolf down had sent a splitting pain through the mate bond in my chest.

I couldn't overpower Lucas. Not now.

I looked around. Every single person was waiting for me to hand everything over to Mia.

My knuckles went white. In the end, I slowly placed my hands on the golden vines and forced my scent to withdraw, bit by bit.

When the last trace of my scent faded from the crown, I turned and looked into the eyes of the Moon Goddess statue on the altar. Her gaze was full of sorrow.