The Dual Luna and Her Twin Mates

~Riya~ Today was supposed to be another normal day. Sword practice, strategy lessons. Another reminder that I was born to rule, not to dream. Lately, even the air in Nightfang felt different. The forest didn’t sing like it used to. The wolves stayed quieter at dawn, as if they too were waiting for something to happen. My father said I was only imagining things. “You worry too much, Riya,” he said this morning as his sword sliced through the air, missing me by inches. I blocked his next strike and pushed back. “Maybe you don’t worry enough.” That made him laugh, deep, very proud and fearless. His laugh was always louder than the wind, like nothing could touch him. “Come on,” he said. “Show me the Luna spirit I raised.” I lunged forward. Our blades met with a sharp clang that echoed through the courtyard. Sparks flew, and so did my temper. I hated losing. I hated the way his eyes twinkled when I did. When he caught my wrist and twisted, the sword slipped from my hand and hit the

~Riya~Morning light spilled through my window, warm and soft, brushing over the white curtains that danced with the breeze. For once, I wanted to wake up to quiet laughter or the sound of Father’s deep voice calling out my name. Instead, the house was too still.I stretched and sat up, realizing the chair in front of my dressing mirror was empty, no tray of tea, no soft knock from the maids. Something was off; the castle felt tense.“Where’s Father?” I asked as I walked into the sitting room. Mother sat near the window, her robe wrapped loosely around her shoulders, sipping tea and reading a letter with furrowed brows.“In his study,” she said without looking up. “He’s been there since dawn.”“Again?” I frowned, crossing my arms. “Does he ever rest? He just returned from a council meeting last night.”Mother sighed and set her cup down. “You never know what Darkmoon is about to do. Your father cannot afford to slow down.”Her voice was calm but weary, and I noticed the faint shadows

~Riya~The wind carried the scent of burning sage and grief. Funeral drums echoed through the courtyard, deep and hollow, matching the rhythm of the ache in my chest.Father’s pyre stood tall at the heart of the ceremony, surrounded by white-cloaked elders chanting the rites of farewell. The flames danced higher, licking at the dawn sky like desperate hands reaching for heaven.I stood at the front, my hands trembling inside my gloves. The gold pendant Father had given me, the one with our family crest, felt heavier than ever around my neck.“May the Moon guide your soul, Alpha Wintle,” the High Priest intoned.The crowd murmured their goodbyes. Wolves from nearby packs had come in silence, Silverfang, Moonveil, Bloodrun, all dressed in mourning black. But one name was missing from the guest list.Darkmoon.They were forbidden to attend. For peace, the council had said. For safety.I’d wanted to believe that. But in my gut, I knew peace was a fragile lie.Mother stood beside me, regal

~Riya~When I woke up, everything hurt. My head throbbed, my throat burned, and for a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was.Then the smell hit me: metal, damp air, and the faint, bitter scent of blood. I blinked into the darkness, my eyes adjusting slowly. Cold stone walls. A narrow cot. The sound of dripping water somewhere far off.And then I remembered. The battle, the fire, and the screams.Nightfang had fallen. I pushed myself upright, although my muscles protested. My shoulder burned beneath the bandages, but I ignored it. I needed to understand where I was. I had been imprisoned.I got up and walked toward the door, inhaling a familiar scent. “Was he here?” I asked myself.The same wolf from the battlefield. The one whose power had rolled over me like a storm. The one who’d looked at me, not with hatred, but with something that made my wolf growl, something I still didn’t understand.So he imprisoned me?Was he a guard? A soldier? Or… someone more?I stumbled to my feet, fee

~Riya~The door creaked open, spilling light into the cell that had been my world for days.A tall guard stood in the doorway. “By order of the Alpha King,” he said flatly, “you’re to be released.”I froze. “What?”He didn’t repeat himself. He simply unlocked the chains from the wall and gestured for me to follow. My legs were weak, but I obeyed, although I was quite confused. Was it for the wedding?The hallways of Darkmoon Castle were painfully bright after so long in the dark. I kept my head low as we passed Nightfang's wounded members, some of whom whispered when they saw me. Their pitying glances felt sharper than knives.We stopped before a tall golden door. The guard pushed it open and motioned me inside.“What is this?” I whispered.“Orders from the King,” the guard replied, bowing stiffly. “You’re to be made ready.”“For the wedding?”He didn’t answer. He simply left.Before I could gather my thoughts, maids swarmed the room. They didn’t speak to me; they just moved, undressi