Chapter 1

Father raised his hand, signaling the ceremony to continue.

Mother personally draped the Moon Watcher cloak over Lila's shoulders.

It was supposed to have been woven for me.

The collar had been embroidered with gold thread—Mara Fenraven.

Three days ago, Mother had ripped it out. Stitched Lila's name over it instead.

She hadn't forgotten who the cloak belonged to.

She just erased me with her own hands.

My brother Kael stepped down from the dais and reached out to me.

"The Moon Seal."

I didn't move.

The Moon Seal was the key to activating the rune arrays. For seven years, I was the one who'd reinforced the Moon Tower's wards—kept every single vampire from setting foot in our pack.

Lila couldn't even tell the simplest rune apart. What was she going to do with it?

"The Seal only works for the barrier mage." I looked at my father. "Lila doesn't know how to set wards."

Lila bit her lip softly, her voice sweet as honey:

"Sister, I'll only wear it for the ceremony. Once it's over, I'll lend it back to you."

She paused, like it was the most natural thing in the world. "You'll still be in charge of the border wards, of course."

I almost laughed. Almost.

"My Seal—given to you—then lent back to me?"

Lila's eyes glistened instantly. "I'm just keeping it safe for you, sister. I would never really take something that belongs to you."

I looked at the Watcher's cloak draped over her shoulders and felt nothing but absurdity.

She took my title. Left me all the work. And still expected me to thank her for not taking everything.

Kael huffed, stepped forward, and yanked the Seal from my palm.

"It's just a formality. Stop stalling. We have a ceremony to finish."

He turned and pressed it into Lila's hand.

Lila beamed through her tears. "Thank you, brother."

She climbed back up the dais, Seal clutched in her palm, and murmurs rippled through the pack below.

"We've survived all these years because of Lila's wards."

"I heard the arrays drain the wolf spirit constantly—she's been suffering in silence for so long."

"Of course. Only a white wolf blessed by the Moon Goddess deserves to be a Watcher."

My fists clenched. Rage burned hotter than the disappointment in my chest.

Mother glanced at the crowd, then leaned in and muttered through a frozen smile:

"Today is Lila's ceremony. Put on a happier face—this is for the Fenraven name."

Father heard it and nodded like she'd said something wise.

"Lila's wolf spirit is too fragile to handle the backlash. You're her sister—you'll keep handling the barrier work."

Sister.

I was only thirty minutes older.

When I was little, Lila wanted my room. Mother told me to give it up.

When I was sixteen, Lila didn't want the risk of being the barrier mage. Father told me to take her place.

They said I'd be compensated. That it would all come back to me.

And now they were taking the one title I had left.

Mother was gazing up at Lila with adoring eyes. Father had already signaled the priest to continue.

No one asked if I agreed.

They assumed I'd keep carrying Lila's burden—just like I had for seven years.

My voice cut through the air like a blade.

"I won't be the barrier mage anymore."

Silence crashed down.

Father's face darkened. His Alpha pressure slammed into me—a suffocating weight that made my wolf spirit scream to submit.

I ground my teeth. Held my ground.

"No Seal. No title. I'm not maintaining the wards for Lila."

"You dare defy your Alpha?"

"I built those wards."

We stood locked, neither giving an inch. Mother rushed between us, panic bleeding through her composure.

"Today is Lila's big day—don't make a scene in front of the pack. Finish the ceremony. We'll talk about this at home."

The priest resumed the chant.

Above the Moon Tower's core, Lila's name ignited in silver flame—letter by letter.

That night, I didn't go home.

I was done waiting for a place that would never give me one.

I sent a message to the Northern Alpha—the one who'd invited me.

One sentence:

"Does your pack accept an Omega as Moon Watcher?"