Chapter 1

Location: Ashwood City,

District: Crescent Moon Pack’s territory.

Rose's POV

OMG! I swear, I have never seen so many naked people in one place in my entire life. It was like walking straight into a scene that no one warns you about in polite conversation. Too many titties—way too many—bouncing freely under the moonlight in the open field, moving without a care in the world. The sight was so ridiculous, so in-your-face, that my fingers actually twitched with the shameless urge to reach out, grab one, and give it a playful squeeze.

I stifled a laugh, pressing my lips together.

Don’t get it twisted—I’m not into women like that. I’m straight. Straight as an arrow, thank you very much. Yeah, I love boys, even though I’m still a virgin. But even I have to admit, a woman’s breasts… well, there’s an undeniable beauty there.

God, I’m getting distracted. Focus, Rose.

I shook my head hard enough that my earrings jingled, trying to pull myself back into the moment.

This was supposed to be a sacred celebration—the Luna Festival, a once-a-year event to honor the moon goddess. The kind of thing steeped in tradition and whispered reverence. But looking around, it was less holy ritual and more nude rave. Naked bodies—both male and female—were moving to the pounding drumbeats, swaying in strange rhythms, touching, laughing, even doing… other things I probably shouldn’t be watching. Not everyone was naked, but there were enough bare chests and swinging parts to make my eyes dart all over the place, unsure where it was safe to look.

“Is this why Father doesn’t want me coming here?” I muttered under my breath, not really expecting an answer.

Of course, I got one anyway.

“Like there’s any event your father—the all-mighty Alpha—lets you attend,” Laura said from beside me, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I felt my face fall a little, because, well… she wasn’t wrong.

I’m nineteen years old, but to Father, I might as well still be a pup barely out of the nursery. He doesn’t allow me to step outside the pack house without a personal escort, and on the rare occasions I am allowed out, he either insists on coming with me or assigns guards to shadow me like I’m some fragile porcelain doll.

Overprotective? Absolutely. But that’s what happens when you’re the Alpha’s daughter and wolfless. His paranoia wraps around me like invisible chains.

The only reason I was here now was because Laura had somehow convinced me to sneak out—through my bedroom window, no less. And me? I’m terrified of heights. One wrong move and I could’ve broken my neck on the cobblestone path below. Even now, I have no idea how she talked me into it. Maybe it was her insistence, maybe it was my own rebellious streak finally snapping under the weight of my father’s rules.

Either way, here I was—standing in the middle of a field filled with half-naked strangers, with my heart still thudding from both the thrill of escape and the fear of being caught...

“You didn’t tell me there would be naked people!” I hissed at Laura, frowning just enough to make my disapproval look convincing. But if I’m being honest… I wasn’t exactly hating the view. In fact, there was a tiny, mischievous part of me—the side I rarely let out—that was more than a little entertained.

Maybe it’s because I’ve never experienced anything intimate in my life. No stolen kisses, no wandering hands, nothing more than the occasional daydream. So seeing this—raw, unapologetic bodies moving under the moonlight—was doing strange things to my brain.

“What are you, twelve?” Laura shot me a smirk, rolling her eyes. “Just ignore them. There’s so much fun to be had here. I tell you.”

I gave her a look that said, Really? “Like it’s that easy to ignore?” I muttered. My gaze had already zeroed in on a scrawny, pale guy latched onto a breast so large it looked like he was trying to milk a cow. “Just look at that!”

Laura followed my gaze, blinked, and then snorted. “I honestly have nothing to say about that one. Is he trying to get himself killed?”

We both burst into uncontrollable laughter, trying and failing to keep it down.

“Come on, let me take you to the fun part.” Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed my hand, her palm warm and insistent against mine, and pulled me deeper into the crowd—a swirling, chaotic ocean of limbs, laughter, and downright inappropriate activities.

The air was thick with the mingling scents of burning incense, spilt wine, and something earthy, almost wild. Drumbeats pounded like a second heartbeat in my chest, vibrating through the soles of my feet.

And then I saw it.

“Wow…” The word slipped from my lips in a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.

In the center of the clearing stood a towering statue of the Moon Goddess, her stone figure draped in flowing silks dyed in brilliant shades of midnight blue, silver, and soft lavender. The fabric shimmered under the lantern light, making her seem alive—watching us with a knowing, celestial gaze.

My eyes drifted from her serene face to the dancers circling at her feet. Women spun in perfect synchrony, their skirts flaring, their movements graceful yet wild. Beyond them, shirtless men—strong, sweat-slicked, and every bit as mesmerizing—beat enormous drums, their arms flexing with each deep, thunderous strike.

“This is… really beautiful,” I admitted, my voice quieter now, as if anything louder might break the spell of the moment.

“Told you,” Laura said, grinning like she’d just won a bet.

The festival stretched out around us in a whirlwind of marvels. Acrobat troupes flipped and twisted high into the air, catching flames tossed from one performer to another. Sparks danced like fireflies, reflected in wide-eyed gasps from the crowd. Somewhere to my right, a man juggled flaming torches while balancing on one foot atop a wooden beam. Children darted between legs, their laughter ringing above the music.

And me? I couldn’t stop smiling. My cheeks ached, but it didn’t matter.

“Thanks for making me experience this,” I told Laura, meaning every word. Gratitude warmed my chest, chasing away the ever-present weight of my father’s rules. “If it weren’t for you, I’d be in my room right now… sleeping like some spoiled, well-guarded prisoner.”

Laura just laughed and pulled me closer to the drum circle, where the rhythm was intoxicating, and for the first time in a long while, I felt alive—untethered and free...

The festival's magic was infectious, and I finally understood why it was such a big deal. For one night, the three packs that shared the borders of Ashwood city- Crescent Moon Pack, Moonlit Shadow pack, and Nightshade Wolves pack put aside their differences and came together to celebrate as one. The air was electric, and I lost myself in the joy of the moment, dancing and laughing with the crowd.

But as the night wore on, I realized I'd gotten separated from Laura. I scanned the sea of faces, calling out her name, but the music and cheering drowned out my voice. Panic began to set in as I searched for her, my anxiety growing with each passing minute.

Just when I thought I'd never find her, a stranger approached me. "Are you looking for your friend, Laura?" he asked, his eyes kind and knowing. I was taken aback. "How did you know?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"She's looking for you too," he replied with a reassuring smile. "She asked me to help her find you. Come, let me take you to her." His face seemed trustworthy, so I nodded and followed him. As we walked, the festival sounds grew fainter, and I began to wonder where we were headed. "Where are we going?" I asked, a hint of unease creeping into my voice.

He went on to explain that Laura had suggested a meeting point away from the crowd in case we got separated. It seemed like a reasonable plan, so I continued to trust and follow him. But as we walked further from the festival, the silence and isolation began to unsettle me. We arrived at a deserted spot, surrounded by woods, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Laura was nowhere in sight.

"Where is Laura?" I asked, my voice firm but laced with growing unease. The man stopped and turned to face me, his expression transforming from calm to sinister. "I don't know any Laura," he sneered, his eyes glinting with malice.

My heart sank as five men suddenly emerged from the woods, their eyes fixed on me with a hunger that made my skin crawl. "We're going to have a hell of a time, boys," one of them sneered, his voice dripping with lust. They closed in around me, trapping me in a circle of menace. I was frozen in terror, my mind racing with desperate thoughts of escape. Oh God, I was trapped…

“Let go of me!” I cried out as I tried to run but was held by one of the men.

The man's grip on my arm tightened, his fingers digging into my skin like vice grips. "Where do you think you're going, huh?" he sneered, his breath a noxious mix of rotting teeth and stale sweat that made my stomach churn.

“I said let go!”

I tried to push him away, but it was like being swallowed by a swarm of locusts. A thousand hands seemed to be on me, touching, squeezing, and probing every inch of my body. I felt like I was being consumed by a living nightmare.

"Stop...please stop...help...please someone help me!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, but my cries were met with laughter and jeers. The men's eyes gleamed with a sadistic light, their faces twisted into cruel grins.

"We're going to have our fun with you today," one of them sneered.

Together they started dragging me towards the nearby woods and I could only scream for help…

I was thrown and pinned on the glassy floor, my whole body became paralyzed with fear and I found it difficult to breathe or think as the six men's hands started roaming around me, their fingers grasping and clawing at my skin like vultures. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of terror, my mind consumed by the horror of my situation. The men's sick, lustful laughter and the way they leered at me only made my phobia worse, sending my anxiety spiraling out of control.

Two men held me down firmly while the others started to undress causing hot tears to prick at the corners of my eyes and I desperately scanned my surroundings, searching for an escape route, but there was none, only bushes and long trees that stretches to the sky. I was trapped, at the mercy of these monsters

Just as all hope seemed lost, a low, menacing growl cut through the air, sending shivers down my spine. It was a sound unlike anything I had ever heard before - thick, powerful, and utterly terrifying.

The men's laughter stopped abruptly as they turned to face the darkness, their eyes scanning the shadows for the source of the growl. "What's that?" one of them asked, his voice laced with a mixture of fear and uncertainty.

"I don't know," another replied, his eyes darting nervously around the clearing.

The leader of the group, a burly man with a cruel grin, snapped at one of his companions. "Well, go check it out!"

The second man hesitated, swallowing hard before slowly getting to his feet. He took a tentative step forward, his eyes scanning the darkness. "I don't see anything," he muttered. "Maybe it's just some wild animal."

He hadn't finished speaking when his head suddenly fell from his body, rolling across the grass with a sickening thud. The men's faces went white with shock as they stared at their companion's lifeless body.

“What the fuck?!" One exclaimed and they all jumped to their feet as the group fell into a state of panic while I was just watching, unsure what was happening.

The leader, trying to summon up some courage, shouted into the darkness. "W...Who is there? Show yourself!"

But there was no response, only an oppressive silence that seemed to weigh heavily on our shoulders. It was as if something was watching us, waiting for its next victim. Just as the men's panic reached a fever pitch, a tall, imposing figure emerged from the darkness. He was shrouded in a dark cloak that seemed to blend seamlessly with the shadows, making him all but invisible. His aura was palpable, radiating an aura of danger and death that sent shivers down my spine.

On the ground where I lay my heart began to race with a mix of fear and uncertainty. Maybe, just maybe, I wasn't saved yet. The leader of the thugs stumbled backward, his eyes wide with terror, as he stammered out a question. "W...Who or what are you?"

The figure's response was low and menacing, causing my whole body to tremble in fear. "Death," he replied, his voice dripping with an otherworldly intensity.

Before the men could even react, they began to drop like flies, their bodies crumpling to the ground with sickening thuds. I watched in horror as the scene unfolded before me, the air filled with the sound of screams and the scent of blood. It was as if the very fabric of reality had been torn apart, unleashing a maelstrom of violence and chaos.

One of the men's heads fell beside me, his eyes frozen in a permanent scream, and I felt my heart skip a beat. The whole scene was surreal, like something out of a nightmare. But it was all too real.

This man must be some type of demon, I thought but as the last man fell from the mysterious figure ripping out his heart, the wind blew on him and his cloak fell away from his face. I gasped, my eyes widening in shock, as I took in the sight of his face. It was...beautiful. Angelic, even. His features were chiseled, his skin smooth and unblemished. His dark hair was short and curly, framing his face with a subtle elegance. But it was his eyes that truly caught my attention. They were like two shimmering pearls, one blue and one green, a mesmerizing contrast that seemed to draw me in. I felt like I was drowning in their depths, unable to look away. Can this be real?

He pinned me with an unblinking gaze, his eyes burning with an otherworldly intensity. I felt my very soul tremble, as if it was being pulled out of my body by an unseen force. The sensation was both terrifying and exhilarating, leaving me breathless and bewildered.

My voice barely above a whisper, I managed to stammer out a question. "Who are you?"

But ignoring my question like it was irreverent he stared at me.“You have seen my face, you are not meant to see my face," he said icily as he began walking towards me in a deadly manner. His claws and fangs extending out.

His handsome face, which had moments before been a vision of beauty, now twisted into a mask of danger, causing my heart to pound faster. The air around him seemed to vibrate with an aura of power, and his scent - a heady blend of leather, cedarwood, and a hint of smoky spice - wrapped around me, intoxicating and overwhelming. I felt the fear of God grip me, my heart racing with anticipation of the pain that was to come.