THREE

I had no idea what to expect when I arrived at the Blood Moon Pack. The stories I’d heard about it made it sound like a place where wolves and monsters roamed, and no one was ever really safe. Whispers about their assassins —men and women who could kill without a sound, without even a second thought.

The books I read spoke of their eyes, cold and hard, and their unmatched skills in battle. This was the kind of place where even the strongest shivered at the thought of crossing them. My heart beat fast as I walked up to the giant stone gates.

I felt my heart race with each step I took closer to the gates . Stone tower walls loomed ahead, like something out of a dark fairytale.

When I reached the gates, two guards stood watch. Their eyes were sharp, scanning every inch of me. I felt small under their gaze, but I knew what I had to do. I couldn’t let them turn me away.

I had practiced my story in my head over and over again. I was just a messenger with information the Alpha needed to hear. It was an urgent matter that only he could understand. It had to work.

“Halt,” one of the guards barked.

“Hello my name is sirella , I’m here to see Alpha Salvatore,” I said, my voice calm despite the rush of panic in my chest. “I have important news. Only he can hear it.”

The guard’s eyes narrowed, clearly skeptical. “And who are you?”

I didn’t hesitate. “I’m here on behalf of the Silver Crest pack. I’ve been sent to deliver a message to the Alpha. It’s urgent.”

For what felt like an eternity, the guard studied me, his gaze cold and calculating. I could feel my heart thumping in my chest, but I stood tall, meeting his stare. Finally, after what seemed like an endless moment, the guard gave a small nod.

“Follow me.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, my legs a little unsteady as i walked through the massive doors of the palace. The inside was even more intimidating, the hallways were long and filled with shadows and secrets.

As I walked deeper into the palace, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the place—its walls seemed to watch me , as though they knew who i was and what i was here for. My thoughts began to race again, and i had to force myself to focus. I was here to speak to Alpha Salvatore.

After what seemed like a while , we finally reached a large room at the end of the hallway. The guard knocked once, then entered without waiting for a response. He stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter.

I walked in, the room grander than anything I had ever seen. It was filled with rich furniture and a large stone fireplace. At the far end of the room, sitting on a throne-like chair, was Alpha Salvatore. He looked just like the books said—tall, commanding, and with an air of authority that made my heart skip a beat.

His eyes, cold and calculating, locked onto mine the moment I entered. He didn’t say anything, just watched me as I stood there, unsure of what to do. He had the kind of presence that made everything feel smaller, quieter. I tried not to look down, but it was hard to keep my hands from shaking.

“Come forward,” his voice broke the silence, deep and commanding.

I walked slowly toward him, my steps unsure. I had no idea what to expect from him.

I stopped in front of him, keeping my head low, showing respect. As I raised my gaze, my heart skipped a beat.

I was looking at him—the Alpha—and for the first time in my life, I felt something strange twist in my chest. His face, the sharpness of his jaw, his pointed nose , the deepness of his eyes—we shared so many features, but mine more feminine.

He stared at me, his eyes searching mine, and for a moment, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. He didn’t speak.

Alpha Salvatore stood up from his chair, moving toward me with slow, measured steps. I didn’t know what to expect, but when he reached me, he gently lifted my chin. His touch was cool, his fingers firm yet not harsh. He studied my face, like he was memorizing every detail.

I saw his eyes flicker to something around my neck—the necklace. I could feel his gaze on it, while his fingers brushed against it. It was the same necklace my mother had worn when she was young. The same necklace that had been a gift from him.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then, with surprising gentleness, he pulled me into a hug. The warmth of it stunned me. I had never felt anything like this before, and I froze, unsure of how to react. He held me tightly, like he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

“Welcome home,” he said, his voice soft, almost like a whisper.

I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t sure I could even speak. Everything felt unreal. He pulled away from me, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Come,” he said, his voice more upbeat. “Let’s eat. There’s much to talk about.”

He called for servants to set the table. It was like he had all the time in the world.

“Your mother…” he started, his tone shifting a little, like he was suddenly worried. “How is she?”

I blinked, surprised by his question. “She’s alright,” I replied softly. “She’s home.”

Before he could say more, one of the servants stepped forward, announcing that the table was set.

Alpha Salvatore nodded and motioned for me to follow him. “Come, my child.”

As we sat down to eat, I couldn’t help but be taken aback by his kindness. This wasn’t the terrifying Alpha I had imagined. He was warm, almost fatherly. It made me question everything I thought I knew.

“So, what’s your name, my child?” he asked cheerfully.

“Sirella,” I replied, my voice trembling a little.

He chuckled. “Sirella, like the powerful female Alpha? Your mother always liked that name. It’s no surprise.”

For a moment, everything was quiet. The kind of quiet that made everything feel strange, like I was in a dream.

I didn’t know what to say. The food was good, but my mind was on other things. I had come here with a purpose, but now, with him being so kind to me, I didn’t know what to think.

Finally, I broke the silence. “Why I came here, Alpha Salvatore,” I said, trying to sound confident. “

“I came here because of Damian,” I said, my voice steady despite the knot in my stomach. “Damian, the son of Alpha Kane from the Silver Crest pack, He wants to marry me and He’s my mate.”

“And I want to claim your name , because I feel it would be easier for his father to accept me as a fellow Alpha’s child than a mere maid “

Alpha Salvatore took a long breath, his gaze hardening. “I see,” he said quietly. Then, after a long pause, he looked at me , his eyes piercing. “ I think you should know a bit about your legacy , then I’ll comment on what you’ve just said “

“ I come from a long line of Alpha’s, Sirella . A line of Alpha’s who possess something called a Moonbane. My ancestors had it , same as my father , me , and now , you have it too.”

My heart skipped a beat. Moonbane? What was that?

He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering. “The Moonbane has the ability to trick one’s wolf to think they’re mates . But it’s more than that , it activates when a person is a dangerous threat to your life and others.

it binds you to a mission. A mission that involves gathering information. And most times, assasinating the person , the missions are quite deadly.”

My mind spun. “What mission?”

He looked at me with cold intensity. “Damian. Your mission is to spy on him. Gather information. And when the time comes, you will eliminate him if necessary. That’s the way it works with the Moonbane.”

I felt my stomach drop. I couldn’t believe it. This wasn’t what I thought it would be.

“But... Damian loves me,” I whispered, a tear threatening to fall. “He loves me.

I continued. “You wouldn’t know anything about love or how if feels , How would you even know? When You left me and Mum. You never for once looked for us or even cared about us.”

Alpha Salvatore’s face softened, but there was a sadness in his eyes.

“Sirella, you’re being naïve. You’ve only known him for a short time. You don’t understand how quickly love can fade. Men don’t fall in love that quickly, Trust me, I know. And you can’t expect his father to accept you just because of that.”

I shook my head. “I don’t believe that. I know Damian’s father will accept me. He will, i don’t even know why I came here” the tears finally dripping from my face.

Alpha Salvatore leaned back in his chair, studying me. “ okay here’s the deal, Sirella,” he said, his voice firm. “If Damian’s father accept you—and you get married—then you can forget all about the Moonbane. You can live your life with Damian, and I’ll even give you my name. But if they don’t...”

I felt my breath catch in my throat.

“Then,” he continued, “you’ll fulfill your mission. You can’t loose both ways , so you’ll do what the Moonbane wants you to do. Understand?”

You’ll be accompanied by the top Gamma of this pack for the mission .

Alpha Salvatore motioned for the Gamma to approach. The man stepped into the room, and I froze.

He was tall—taller than most men I’d ever seen. His hair was dark and wild, almost as if he had been out in the wilderness for days without care. His eyes were sharp, cold, and had a dangerous intensity. The way he walked—his movements were deliberate, slow—like a predator stalking its prey.

He wore all black, his clothes fitted like they were meant to help him blend into the night.

His dark and piercing eyes, seemed to look right through me, making me feel small and vulnerable.

I swallowed hard as he turned to face me. He didn’t say a word, but the way he looked at me sent a chill down my spine. There was no warmth in his gaze.

I tried not to show my fear , but it was hard .This man wasn’t like the others. He was dangerous. Deadly. And from the way he stood, I could tell he wasn’t interested in anything other than his next mission.