CHAPTER 7

RAINE

I couldn’t stay still. The chaos outside made my entire body tense like a drawn bowstring. Restlessness spread across my skin like wildfire. I paced back and forth like a madwoman in this room that felt smaller and more suffocating by the minute.

I knew I couldn’t just sit here while something was happening out there, not knowing where my mother was. Not knowing whether she was safe, or in danger.

I walked up to the door again. I touched the handle. Still locked tight. I pounded on it. Pushed it. Even tried to twist it open by force, but it was useless. I bit my lip, almost in frustration, but then my mind started working.

I wasn’t just a girl. I wasn’t just an ordinary human. I was a wolf.

So…I closed my eyes. Regulated my breathing. And in a few seconds that felt like an explosion inside my body, I let my instincts take over. I bit at the air and held in a grunt as my bones twisted and reshaped, my skin stretched, dark fur bursting through my pores, and my limbs transformed into four strong, powerful legs.

I shifted. Into my other self. My stronger self.

With a short growl, I ran toward the door, and without thinking twice, I threw all my strength into my front legs and slammed into it. The door shook, cracked, and with a second blow, the hinges tore off with a loud splintering sound that echoed down the hallway.

I did it. The door collapsed.

I stood in the doorway, panting, the fur on my back bristling with tension, but my heart pounded with exhilaration. Then I leapt out and sprinted down the long corridor, ducking behind a pillar to catch my breath before returning to my human form.

Once my body had fully returned to its human shape, I inhaled deeply, trying to calm the war drum beating in my chest. I adjusted the scraps of clothing still clinging to me and ran—half in panic, half in haste—through the halls toward the palace’s central altar, where the Alphas and their advisors usually met to handle serious matters.

But just before I reached the turn leading into the courtyard, a male servant appeared from around the corner. He was chubby, round-faced, and I knew that face all too well. His name was Gregor. He used to do bad to me. Hid my meal trays, spilled water when I passed, pretended not to see me because, as he said, I was “nobody.”

He stood stiffly now, eyes wide as he saw me outside the room, and quickly spoke up,

“I’m sorry, Luna. Alpha Killian ordered that you remain in his room. For your safety, you cannot go any further.”

I looked at him blankly. But I could feel my lips forming a slow, crooked smile.

“Gregor,” I said softly, holding all my emotions back from my voice, “have you forgotten… that I am the Luna of this pack?”

He blinked, visibly confused.

I stepped closer and continued, sharper now, a little cocky, “Or… are you volunteering to lose your job for standing in the way of the Luna? I could fire you right now. But I’m not in the mood to waste my time explaining my rights to you.”

Gregor gulped. His face instantly turned pale, and he nodded quickly while backing away.

“My apologies, Luna. Please go ahead…”

I raised my chin and walked past him without looking back.

My steps were quick. The cold night air began to creep into the main corridor. The noise from the front courtyard grew louder. I stopped behind one of the large stone pillars and peeked out through a small open vent window.

The scene in the courtyard made me freeze.

A jet-black Lamborghini Urus had just pulled up in the center of the courtyard. The car looked fierce, not just because of its sleek and aggressive design, but because its presence radiated dominance. It resembled a predator of the night: low, wide, muscular, with headlights that glared like the eyes of a wolf stalking its prey in the dark.

The golden bull logo on the hood gleamed, reflecting the moonlight as if it were alive. Its exhaust purred low, like it couldn’t wait to race back into battle.

The driver in the front seat jumped out first, moving quickly. He rushed to the passenger side and opened the door with reverence.

A woman stepped out.

Her steps were light, yet filled with arrogance. Her dress was blazing red, hugging her slender body perfectly. It split at her left thigh, revealing pale skin that stood out starkly against the night. Her brunette hair was shoulder-length, softly wavy, with wispy bangs covering part of her forehead.

She walked like she owned the place, and she walked straight toward Killian.

Killian stood tall, his posture firm, his left hand gripping the belt that held a long sword hidden beneath his black cloak. His eyes were sharp. But he didn’t move.

The woman smiled. A confident, knowing smile. Then she spoke, her voice loud enough to carry to where I was hiding.

“I’m Celine, daughter of Alpha Moon Qyi. And I’ve come to deliver two choices, Alpha Killian.”

She stopped one step away from him.

“Take me as your primary Luna… or we start the war right now.”

I froze behind the wall.

My heart felt like it had been smashed with a hammer. A choice? She wanted to be his primary Luna?