LOGINClara froze where she stood. Fear flashed in her eyes before she forced a sharp, bitter smile.“So… you knew all along.”The Elder’s reply was ice.“It was Evelyn who warned me. She saw through you, and I set eyes on you in secret. Did you truly think you could steal the Moonstone under the blood moon? Foolish child.”Shock rippled through the tribe. Whispers broke out in waves.“She’s Ravenclaw?”“No wonder she clung to Andrew, sowing discord.”I met her glare with a cold stare of my own.“Clara, not this time. In this life, you will fail.”Her face hardened with hatred as guards closed in around her. There was nowhere left to run.I held William’s bleeding hand tight, heat rising in my chest. In front of the entire pack, I had chosen without hesitation.At last, the course of fate had been rewritten.When the vows were complete, the Elder lifted his staff and declared for all to hear—William would be the future Alpha.From that night forward, no one in the tribe dared to belittle him
The blood moon rose once more, casting its glow across the tribal square. Bonfires roared to life, drums pounded until the earth seemed to shake.Tonight was our night—William and I were to seal our blood oath.The tribe gathered in a wide circle, elders chanting the ancient words that bound wolf to moon. At the center, the Moonstone shimmered faintly, the mark of the goddess’s witness.William stood at my side. His palm, scarred and rough, pressed firmly over mine. The wound on his hand was old, but his grip was steady.Just as the vow was about to be completed, a hoarse roar shattered the ritual.“Stop! She’s mine!”Andrew stormed into the square, wild-eyed, clutching a silver blade that gleamed in the firelight. Gasps spread through the crowd—silver was a forbidden weapon, deadly to werewolf blood.“Evelyn,” he bellowed, his voice breaking with rage, “you belong to me! I am the Elder’s true heir!”He lunged forward, blade raised.In an instant, William stepped before me, arms wide,
After the Moon Goddess Rite, rumors spread across the pack like fire through dry grass.“Evelyn only picked William to repay a debt.”“Her grandfather saved the Elder, now she marries William to settle it.”“What a pity. Such a fine girl—she’ll end up tied to a dying man.”The whispers stung, but I held my head high. Every corner I walked through carried a murmur; every smile had a shadow behind it. And worst of all, William heard them too. Each day, I saw his shoulders slump lower, his gaze dimmer, as though every cruel word pressed down on him.It ached to watch him shrink under their judgment. I wanted to shield him, to silence the pack. But I knew words alone wouldn’t prove anything.One night, on the narrow path behind the Elder’s house, I heard hushed voices. I moved closer, careful not to snap a twig.In the silver wash of moonlight, Clara stood with a man cloaked in black feathers. My stomach twisted at the sight of his wrist, branded with the mark of the Ravenclaw tribe.Their
After the Moon Goddess Rite, the whole pack buzzed with speculation.Some whispered that I was playing both sides. Others claimed Andrew, furious and humiliated, was about to seal a blood vow with Clara just to get back at me.I ignored every rumor.The Elder had already announced it himself—my blood vow with William would be held next month. That was all that mattered.Still, when I walked through the settlement, I could feel eyes on me. Conversations hushed as I passed. I caught fragments—my name, Andrew’s, Clara’s. Some voices held pity, others mockery. Once, I even heard laughter followed by, “She’ll come crawling back to Andrew in the end.”A few days later, William came to find me. He stood in front of me for a long time without saying a word, his eyes a mix of emotions. My heartbeat climbed, as though he might be about to say something that could change everything.“If you’ve changed your mind,” he said at last, his voice low, “I’ll speak to the Elder. We can call the marriage o
“Wasn’t Evelyn devoted to Andrew? How could she choose the youngest?”“There must be some mistakes!”Andrew’s face flushed scarlet.“Grandfather, surely you’ve got it wrong?”The Elder’s reply was a cold snort.“I may be old, but I am neither deaf nor blind. Do you think I’d make such an error?”The old butler stepped forward to add, “The Elder’s words are clear. Evelyn’s betrothed is William.”Andrew spun toward me, panic lacing his voice.“Evelyn, say something! It’s a mistake, isn’t it? You chose me—Grandfather just got it wrong, right?”I met his gaze, my voice cold and steady.“I chose William.”William froze, eyes wide with disbelief.Andrew’s composure shattered. He seized my hand, shouting,“No! That’s impossible! Everyone knows you love me. You can’t throw yourself away on this cripple!”The attendants moved at once, ordering the guards to pull him back.Andrew struggled wildly, refusing to accept it.“Evelyn, say it! Admit you chose me!”The Elder’s face hardened.“Enough. Re
My cheek burned, but I forced myself not to strike back. Too many eyes were on us; I couldn’t afford to cause a scene.Clara hid behind him, yet I caught the triumphant gleam in her eyes.Andrew must have realized he’d gone too far. He reached toward me, but Clara tugged on his arm, her voice sweet and frail.“Andrew, I think my ankle is twisted. Could you please check that for me?”Passersby glanced over, whispering as they pointed.“Isn’t that Evelyn? She can’t even tolerate her own cousin.”“Clara is an angel. But Evelyn? She’s bound to choke on her jealousy.”The guilty of Andrew disappeared. His face twisted with disgust now.“Evelyn, apologize to Clara at once. I can’t believe I ended up with a woman like you. What bad luck.”Behind him, his followers smothered their laughter.“Our big brother will enjoy life. She won’t get to control anything.”Their jeers rang out as Andrew stepped closer, voice like ice.“Tonight the Elder will announce our betrothal. Remember what I said—we’l







