One

Lila’s POV

To be a werewolf is to know that there will always be someone that the Moon Goddess has chosen for us.

But to live as a werewolf also means to accept that you will be at the mercy of your other half–the person who will either hold a stake and aim it at your heart or shelter you with everything they have.

My mother wasn’t quite lucky.

I grew up seeing different kinds of love. And the first one I saw–really saw–was the kind that suffocates. The one that leaves my mother with bruises and cuts. Although she tried to hide it and gave me a smile that looked more like a grimace, she still said it was love.

Because of that, I believed that love was supposed to hurt. That it was supposed to feel consuming. If it didn’t, then it wasn’t real love.

That’s what I thought.

“I can’t believe Elias is my mate!”

It means that tomorrow, I will become the Luna of Silvermoon Kingdom.

I couldn't stop smiling.

"You're staring again." My mother pointed out when she noticed me looking at the only man who ever existed in my eyes.

I quickly looked away.

Across the royal dining hall, Elias sat at the head table with his father, the Alpha King. Even from this distance, I could recognize him instantly.

Dark hair. Sharp features that made him look so rough and manly. The eyes that never fail to make me feel so lost. So deep and blue. And that calm, commanding presence that made the entire room seem to revolve around him.

My fated mate.

My future Alpha King.

And, by tomorrow, I would be his Luna.

I lowered my eyes, trying to hide my smile.

I had spent years chasing after Elias's attention. Sometimes, I found excuses to visit the palace. Sometimes, I brought him things he liked. Sometimes, I simply watched him train from a distance.

He had never encouraged me or showed any interest, but he never stopped me either. And after the Moon Goddess revealed our bond, I had believed everything would change.

Perhaps tomorrow, it finally would.

"Lila."

I looked up.

Elias was standing beside my chair.

My heart immediately jumped like it always has.

"Elias."

He frowned slightly.

"Why are you sitting all the way over here?"

I blinked.

"You asked me to stay with my mother."

"I changed my mind." He pulled out the chair beside him. "Come."

I stared at him.

He rarely did things like this.

A smile slowly appeared on my face, and slowly, I stood up.

My mother gave me an amused look as I crossed the room.

I sat beside Elias.

He leaned closer.

"You've been smiling all evening."

"Tomorrow is important."

"I know." His blue eyes met mine. "Tomorrow, you're officially my Luna."

My heart nearly burst.

I looked down at my hands.

"I've been waiting a long time." I’ve always known there was a reason for my infatuation towards him. That it wasn’t just some silly crush I developed the moment I saw him.

"I know."

For once, Elias smiled. It was small. Just barely even there but it was enough to make me feel like the happiest woman in the kingdom.

I didn't know that it would be the last happy moment of my life.

Dinner continued peacefully.

Servants moved between the tables, carrying wine, meat, fruit, and desserts.

I was barely paying attention. I was too busy listening to Elias talk about tomorrow's ceremony.

Then a young server approached our table. He carried a silver tray.

"Your Highness."

Elias glanced at him.

The server lowered his head.

"Your dinner."

He smiled but it looked weird. Maybe he was just nervous. Most people feel that when they are in the presence of the royal family.

He then placed a covered dish in front of Elias.

I frowned.

Something felt wrong but I couldn't explain why.

Perhaps it was instinct.

Perhaps it was my wolf.

The server's hand suddenly disappeared beneath his cloak.

A silver blade flashed.

My eyes widened.

"Elias!"

I moved before I could think. Call it instinct, but for me? It was my entire life on the line, so I did the first and only thing I could think of–I jumped and pushed him out of the way.

The blade drove into my side, tearing through my flesh like I had never experienced before.

Then, pain exploded through me. It was blinding. I was to scream like everything was on fire because that’s what I feel.

The tray crashed to the floor as the dining hall erupted in screams.

"Lila!"

Elias caught me as I collapsed.

The assassin tried to strike again but the royal guards rushed forward before he could do anything else. I watched in a daze as one tackled him to the ground and another seized his arm.

"Protect the Crown Prince!"

"Seal the doors!"

"Nobody leaves!"

But I could barely hear them.

Elias was holding me. His hands were covered in my blood.

"W-why did you do that?" He looked shocked, confused, and shaken. He seemed terrified for a second.

I looked at him.

Because you're my mate.

Because I love you.

Because I couldn't watch you die.

Instead, I whispered,

"You're safe." Despite the pain, I felt a small smile tugged at my lips.

His face twisted.

"Get the healer!"

There was a tremor in his voice. Something I never heard from the proud and powerful future Alpha King of Silvermoon.

It made me happy…and quite hazy.

The healer arrived within seconds.

She examined the wound but then, her expression immediately changed.

She looked at Elias with a grave expression.

"Your highness, it was wolf venom." She whispered as if she didn’t want me to hear.

Elias went pale as a ghost.

"Can you cure it?"

"I need to examine the blade."

She looked toward the assassin. The guards had already dragged him away but he was being held down.

"We need to know what poison was used."

Elias's arms tightened around me.

"Do whatever it takes. And do it fast.”

I tried to stay awake but the pain was becoming unbearable. My breathing was labored and my eyes were blurry. I could barely function.

Then someone rushed toward me.

"Lila!"

I would recognize that voice wherever I go, not because I like it, but because something about it never felt right.

Clara.

My stepsister dropped beside me.

"Oh, Goddess!" She reached for my hand. "Look at me." I looked at her and saw the tears streaming down her face.

"You saved Elias." She squeezed my fingers. "Don't worry. I'll stay with you."

I was too weak to question her or to say I didn’t want the help.

She looked toward Elias.

"She needs to rest."

He nodded.

"We're postponing tomorrow's ceremony."

My heart lifted slightly.

"Y-you are?" My voice came out weak.

Elias looked at me.

"Yes."

His hand brushed my hair away from my face.

"There won't be a coronation tomorrow."

I swallowed.

"U-until I'm…b-better?"

"Until you're safe." His eyes were serious. "I promise."

I closed my eyes.

His voice was the last thing I heard before exhaustion took me.

"I won't let anything happen to you."

When I woke, sunlight was streaming through the windows.

My first thought was Elias, and the second was the ceremony.

I tried to sit up.

Pain shot through my side. I bit the inside of my cheeks to stop myself from screaming.

I exhaled.

"Mama?"

No answer.

I looked around.

The room was empty.

"Elias?"

Nothing.

I pushed the blankets away but stopped when black dots danced around my vision. I waited for it to stop before I stood up.

I noticed that my wound had been bandaged but something was wrong.

The palace was silent…too silent.

I stumbled toward the door. It was unlocked.

I stepped into the hallway.

Empty.

No servants.

No guards.

No Clara.

No Elias.

My heart began to pound.

"Hello?"

My voice echoed through the corridor.

Nothing.

I checked the rooms.

Empty.

The dining hall.

Empty.

The courtyard.

Empty.

Everyone was gone.

I pressed a hand against my wound as a terrible feeling settled in my chest.

Elias had promised. He promised there would be no coronation, so where was everyone?

I forced myself forward, despite the pain. Despite risking my life by using my strength that could possibly quicken the spread of the venom.

I went to every place until I reached the Grand Hall. It was the place where my Luna Ceremony would have taken place if only the assasination didn’t happen.

If Elias had gone anywhere, someone there would know. I could ask them.

I dragged myself through the palace corridors. Each step sent pain through my body but I fought through it.

When I finally reached the massive doors of the Grand Hall, I heard music.

My brows furrowed.

It wasn’t the simple kind of music. It was the kind that was meant for…grand celebration and ceremonies.

My blood ran cold.

I pushed the door open with all my strength.

The sight before me stole my breath.

The hall was filled with people.

Nobles.

Alphas.

Royal guards.

Servants.

The entire kingdom seemed to be gathered and at the center of it all stood Elias.

Beside him—

Clara.

She was dressed in white.

A Luna crown rested in the hands of the royal priestess.

It didn’t take long for me to realize what was happening.

My heart stopped.

"No..."

I gripped the doorway as memories of yesterday flashed through my mind.

Elias had promised. He had promised me that my Luna ceremony would take place until I was better, so what…what is this?

My eyes moved across the room and there, I saw my mother. She stood in the middle of the hall, surrounded by guards, not that far from where the people and ceremony was taking place.

"Lila!"

Her eyes found mine.

"Don't come in!"

I stared at her, already feeling light headed.

"W-what…?" I couldn’t even finish my own sentence.

She shook her head desperately.

"Run!"

I stepped forward but a guard immediately blocked the doorway.

"Let me through."

"His Highness ordered no one to enter."

My breath caught. "Elias?"

I looked past him. Elias was standing only a few meters away.

He could see me.

He could hear me.

Yet he didn't move.

"Mama!"

My mother struggled against the soldiers.

"You promised her!" Her voice broke, not for her, but for me. "You promised you would postpone the ceremony! Lila is your mate!”

Elias's expression remained cold, causing everything in my mind to stop.

I just blinked at him, not entirely processing why he was acting like this. Far from the man I was with just yesterday.

"Take her away."

My heart stopped.

"No…” I shook my head. “No!”

The soldiers dragged my mother toward the dungeon entrance.

"Mama!"

I tried to rush forward but the guard shoved me back.

I nearly fell.

"Let me go!"

"You cannot enter."

"I am Elias's mate!"

The guard looked at me without emotion.

"Not anymore."

My blood ran cold.

Behind him, Clara slowly turned toward me. Our eyes met.

Her tears were gone. Her worry-filed face and sickening care could no longer be seen.

She smiled so wide it almost looked evil. Maybe it was. Maybe she was.

The priestess lifted the Luna crown.

My knees nearly gave out.

"No..."

Clara walked toward Elias. He took the crown from the priestess and raised it on top of her head. And as my mother screamed my name from the other side of the hall, I realized—

Elias had broken his promise.

But that wasn’t the only thing he had broken that day.