Luna's rebirth

CHAPTER 1: THE CORONATION OF LUNA

(Selene's pov)

As though the sun itself wanted to prepare me for my wedding, the morning light poured like molten gold across my chamber, sweeping over gilded mirrors and silk curtains. My heart pounded in my chest too rapidly and agitatedly, as though it was afraid of something I couldn't yet identify.

I barely recognized the girl staring back at me as I sat in front of the shiny bronze mirror. Moonflowers, which glowed dimly in the sunlight, were intertwined with silver hair that coiled into elaborate braids. A smile that would not stay on my lips trembled. The day I would stand next to Alpha Kael as his Luna, mate, and queen was the day every girl had dreamed of.

The servants moved like shadows around me, tying pearl clasps, adjusting my gown, and muttering blessings. Every time they met my eyes, they bowed their heads, and I could sense their pride and admiration. But beneath it all was a glimmer of anxiety. It was the same as mine.

"Do I appear to be a Luna?" My whispered question was more for me than for them.

One of them tucked a silver thread behind my ear and said, "My lady, you look like the Moon Goddess herself."

My chest tightened with an odd pressure, but the words warmed me. Yes, it was joy, but it was also fear. I had witnessed others carry the burden of titles throughout my childhood, but now it was my turn. In addition to seeing me as a mate, the wolves in this pack would see me as a mother, a guardian, and the heir apparent to Kael's legacy.

Kael.

I was steadied by the thought of his name. Since I was a young child, his golden eyes had been my compass; they were gentle yet piercing. I recalled how he saved me from falling into the current when he first discovered me by the river when I was a boy. Long before fate's mark united us, he had served as my shield.

I touched my shoulder with my fingers, feeling the faint pulse of the crescent mate mark beneath the flesh. It hummed, as if it knew its time had come, even beneath layers of silk.

My thoughts were disrupted by a gentle tap.

"Come in," I said.

Lyra came in as the door creaked open.

With her golden curls flowing down her back, eyes the color of polished jade, and lips curving into a smile that lit up entire rooms, my step-sister was unquestionably beautiful. 

Long before she had the right to, she exuded royalty. But she didn't wear a crown today. I would be the only one.

She whispered, "Sister," in a honey-sweet voice. How radiant you are, I must say. Kael will be out of breath upon seeing you.

Her eyes swept over my dress, but behind her smile was a blade concealed in silk. I dismissed the idea. It was too valuable to be suspicious today.

I reached for her hand and said, "Lyra," with warmth. "I appreciate you being here. I've always had you by my side. I couldn’t imagine this day without you.”

Her fingers were cool when they curled around mine. "And you have my undying support," she remarked. I should have felt calmed by the words, but her hold tightened a bit too long, leaving a chill in its wake.

She withdrew and raised a tiny box covered in silver cloth. She whispered, "A gift," and opened it to show a delicate chain with a tiny sapphire pendant. Under the light, its glow shimmered oddly, almost pulsing like a heartbeat.

"Just in case," she said. "May it protect you, just as you protect us all."

I grinned, moved by the gesture even though my neck pricked with uneasiness. I let her clasp it around me, though. I felt a slight chill as the sapphire pressed chilly against my skin.

Lyra, thank you,” I muttered. "It's lovely."

Her eyes did not meet her widening smile.

The smell of pinewood smoke permeated the ceremony hall, which was ablaze with moon banners and torchlight. When Kael walked in, the rumbling chorus of hundreds of wolves filling the grand chamber fell silent.

I gasped.

His golden eyes gleamed under the weight of his Alpha mantle, and he stood tall with dark hair cascading across his brow. Storms were calmed by his very presence, but when his eyes met mine, I saw not the Alpha but the man who had once carried me through the forest on his shoulders, the boy who had whispered that he would always pick me.

My shoulder's mate mark glowed dimly in response, and mine burned with recognition. Our flames were one and the same.

The pack howled as I approached him, and I could feel the vibration in my bones. My heart grew until I was afraid it would burst. I was getting closer to the future I had long dreamed of with each step.

As usual, Kael steadied me with a rough, warm hand that closed over mine. The slightest smile, saved for me alone, curled his lips.

"Selene," he muttered to himself. "My Luna."

Tears stung my eyes, but I refrained from crying. Our souls were bound together and blessed by the officiant's words, which reverberated all around us. The chamber exploded with howls of approval as Kael finally put his lips to mine.

Happiness washed over me like sunlight. Our fate was sealed when the bond between us hummed. I was his, he was mine, and we would always be together.

It made me feel untouchable for the first time.

Rivers of gold and silver platters later spread the feast in front of us. Goblets full of dark wine, meat roasted over open flames, and music and laughter everywhere. Elders toasted, children chased one another beneath the tables, and wolves danced.

I sat next to Kael and kept my hand close to his. As if nothing could ever dull this light, the world became clearer each time his thumb touched my knuckles.

Lyra's eyes, however, lingered on us from across the hall. Her eyes glowed with something unsaid, but her smile was flawless and her laughter was gentle. hunger.

I made an effort to ignore it.

Kael leaned in to speak softly, just for me. "Selene, are you happy?"

I smiled as I turned to face him. 

I was, too. Really.

I raised my goblet to toast when the servants set them in front of us. The liquid caught the radiance of my sapphire pendant and shimmered crimson in the firelight. There was a slight swirl of something darker in the wine, but I missed it.

I raised my glass and said, "To the future." My voice was echoed by a thousand as the pack raised theirs in response.

The goblet tasted sweet and thick on my tongue as I raised it to my lips.

I felt a sharp, odd chill go down my spine. I swallowed another sip to conceal my discomfort as my fingers stumbled on the cup's stem, but I forced a smile.

My arm was touched by Kael's hand. "Are you okay?" he said softly, his eyes narrowing in worry.

"I—" I started, but the words were jumbled. The edges of my vision became blurry, with colors blending together like ink spilling.

Lyra's lips curled faintly but firmly somewhere across the hall, as if she had been there the entire time.

My breath caught as my chest constricted. In warning, the mark on my shoulder pulsed, burning as if it were attempting to rip me back to life.

I gripped the table's edge as I tried to get up and breathe. In an instant, Kael was standing up, his arm wrapped around me, his voice piercing with fear.

"Selene!"

Voices arose in panic as the hall descended into chaos. The goblet fell from my grasp and shattered on the ground, leaving the stone covered in a crimson stain that resembled blood.

The last thing I saw before the darkness closed in was Lyra's face, her green eyes shining with triumph and her smile, content.