CHAPTER 0001

PROLOGUE

I was resting on Claus' chest, listening to the soothing sound of his heartbeat as we lay down on the grass, gazing at the moonlight that was brighter than ever.

Everything was set aside as usual, and nothing could rob us of what our relationship could provide.

We grinned at one another as the moment to fulfill our dream l approached. Claus' fingertips traced patterns on my arm, and the scent of his wolf swirled about us in a lovely way.

I couldn't stop blushing and my heart raced with every breath.

“You know what I was thinking?” He whispered, his voice roughened soft and calm.

“What?” I tilted my head in his direction, my face touching his chin.

He grinned. “That the moon’s jealous of you.”

I snorted. “Hmmm, Alpha.”

“I’m serious,” he chuckled. “Look at you. Your eyes, spirit, and heart—how could she not be envious?" Claus inquired, and I simply adored everything about him. The way he made sure I never felt less of myself.

I rolled to his side, facing him fully. “I don’t need the moon to envy me. I simply need you to remain," I replied while knowing he was already with me.

His expression softened. “I’m not going to survive without you so I can never leave you. Aria, I have known since we were children that you were meant to be with me forever. But as soon as the bond formed, I knew I would do anything to keep it safe. To protect you even if it meant burning the world down,” he responded.

My heart swelled with a warmth I couldn’t explain and joy clouded me. “Then why haven’t you announced us yet? The council believes we are taking our time, but I am ready, Alpha.”

"I want it to be unique nothing anyone has ever seen because you Aria are that special to me l," he added, pushing a strand of hair away from my face. "Three weeks from now, during the annual gathering, I will present you as my mate and my Luna. You’ll stand with me before the entire pack. No more hiding and no more letting everyone think we are just besties.”

Tears pricked my eyes. “You mean it?”

He nodded, cupping my face gently. “You’re my Moonfire, Aria. The only thing that makes Alpha's weight tolerable.

"I have dreamed of becoming your Luna since I was old enough to shift," I said, my voice trembling.

“I know,” he smiled. "And I told myself I would never make you regret picking me."

White purred contentedly in my mind. ‘He’s ours, Aria. He’s always been ours.’

‘Shhh,’ I quickly responded.

Claus sat up and reached into the pocket of his jeans pulling out a thin silver chain. A little crescent moon-shaped pendant hung from it, glimmering softly.

“I had this made for you,” he said. “Silver from the sacred grove. "It serves as a foundation for our bond, even during hard times."

I let him clasp it around my neck, fingers trembling.

“This is so cute,” I commented looking into his eyes.

“I can't wait to make you my Luna Aria Knight,” he whispered, planting a kiss on my cheek..

“No more secrets. Aria Knight, in three weeks, the world will know who you are to me.”

I held the pendant, heart-filled and blindly confident. “Promise?”

"On the moon and the stars," Claus said before adding, "You are my beginning and end, Aria Knight. I will never let you go.”

**********

*Chapter 1*

Savannah edge, Waterberg

Aria

THREE WEEKS LATER

“Wake up, something isn't right!" I heard my wolf White cry from within but attempted to ignore her till I could not anymore.

"Do you enjoy doing this to me?” I questioned her as I reflected in the mirror.

"Of course not, but you have been asleep all day and I have not seen our mate yet," she said, which was correct.

It was not like us to go a day without seeing Claus, so I hurriedly took a shower and was ready to walk downstairs for supper when Mom invited me to drop everything and join her at the yearly pack gathering.

"Mom, please let me have a taste of this smoked meat," I begged, but she simply shook her head and pulled me upstairs to change into something respectable.

"You look wonderful; I can not wait to see Claus present you to his friends of Black Moon," she added, beaming as we walked out.

“Aria I don't want to go!" White shouted.

“What? You know Claus is going to be there, right? Don't you want to see him anymore?" I asked her.

"No, it's not that I…I do not feel like going anymore," White responded.

"Silly you, you will be fine when we see Claus. Just do not be naughty," I added as I got into the car.

We had a brief conversation with Mom before arriving at the hall. "Wow, I adore the decor," I said, while Mom simply smiled.

We made our way inside, and Mom's friends pulled her away as I wandered around looking for Claus, but there was no sight of him. I tried to link him but got no response. “That's weird, where could he be?" I said to White who didn't want to reply to me.

"Claus is such a handsome man; I wish I had a mate like him," I overheard the girls chatting in circles.

"Come on girl, he is already with some lucky girl who will be the most respected Luna."

"And that is me," I muttered to myself, expecting White to answer, but she remained silent, most likely giving me an attitude.

I passed by the council elders, who were standing in a circle speaking about something I could not hear and was uninterested in because I knew it was about keeping the pack secure. I did not see Claus anywhere, so I went upstairs, thinking he could be in his room getting ready.

I was now about to enter his room when his Beta stopped me.

"Nobody is permitted to enter Claus's room right now," he remarked, raising his hand to block my path.

“What?" I giggled since I was meant to be someone who not even his Beta is supposed to prevent from seeing him.

"You heard me correctly, so please make your way downstairs and wait for the Alpha there," he said. I was not ready to exchange words, so I turned around to make my way downstairs when I detected a fragrance coming from Claus's chamber.

“Is Claus there with someone?" I asked about getting anxious.

"No!" his Beta said, and he was not going to tell me anything anyhow.

“Aria Could you kindly take us downstairs? The aroma is dark," White urged, and I went downstairs without reacting.

I could now see Claus' mother speaking to someone with a black moon emblem around their neck. "Aria, there you are. I have been looking for you," Tania remarked, walking towards me.

"Uhmm, sorry, I got sidetracked a little," I said with a smile.

"I see it is exactly like that when you are the Luna on everyone's dream Alpha," she teased.

"Talking about that, I am so tired of hunting for him today. Have you seen Claus?" I asked her.

“No I…I did not see him today, but have you heard about the big announcement he is planning to make?" she inquired.

"No, I didn't; is there something going on?" I was surprised Claus didn't tell me anything since we don't keep secrets.

"Yes, there is an association with the Black Moon going around, which is why its high-ranking members attended our event," she added before leaving.

“Aria, I think we should go home," White said, but I would not go without meeting Claus.

We waited for a bit, and I was standing a little further from the stage when Claus approached the microphone. Seeing his face dissolved all of my barriers, and I wished I was already in his arms.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to tonight's yearly meeting," he said, and we all started applauding and cheering until he signaled us to stop so he could continue.

"Tonight is a very significant occasion because it will not only represent the official beginning of a powerful alliance, but also the announcement of my engagement to the lady who will make my life all I could wish for," he added, and my heart skipped a beat as my eyes met his.

“Aria!" White called but I was in my feelings.

"Take it easy, honey," Mom said with a grin as I waited for him to call me.

"It is with great pleasure and excitement that I announce my engagement to Camila Greer of Black Moon," Claus said, and my smile vanished.

"What?!” Mom, White, and I said in unison.

I couldn't believe what I had just heard from Claus. By the time I glanced up, Claus and Camila were holding hands and waving to the crowd before kissing.

“No! How is that possible? I'm his mate."

“Aria I…I think we should go home, this place is not good for you," Mom murmured, clutching my hand as I resisted walking away.

"I need to speak with Claus; there must be a misunderstanding. I am his Luna," I murmured, shaking my head before wriggling free of Mom's grasp.

I hurried after him as he made his way upstairs, calling out before he could get inside his room. “Claus!"

He just looked at me and entered his room. “Let her in," he told his Beta, who was ready to stop me.

“What…what was the meaning of that Claus I thought I was your Luna," I whispered, my voice booming with agony.

“Seriously now? I thought you just witnessed me announce my engagement to my Luna," he said in a harsh tone that he never used on me.

“Cla…Claus please tell me it was a prank I'm not in—”

"Aria please!” He stopped me off before saying, "Have you ever seen an Alpha pull pranks before the council? I have picked Camila of Black Moon as my Luna, and that is final, so you better start going before I order my Beta to kick you out."

"Claus, please tell me what went wrong so we can rectify it. I'll give you anything what

…what made you—”

"Power Aria! Power! Is what I want, can you give me that?" he shouted while I just shook my head in tears.

"Of course you do not have that, but Camila has everything I need right now, OK," he added.

“What about our bond?"

"Power may change destiny, Aria, so find a way to forget everything for I, Claus Sawyer Alpha of Nightshade, reject you, Aria Knight, as my mate," he whispered, clutching my hand as a great force threw him to the ground.

"Accept the rejection damnit," he muttered, straining to rise when his new mate Camila stepped in on us.

"Alpha, oh my goodness, are you OK?” She asked before asking me to assist her lift him, but I couldn't do that.

“No!" I rushed out.