Chapter 1: The Curse Of Mooncrest

Beta Thomas’s boot hit my ribs before I even heard him coming.

The blow knocked the wind out of me, sending me sprawling across the freezing cobblestones. The wooden bucket tipped over with a dull clatter, spilling filthy water straight across my lap. I pressed my palms against the wet stone, my throat burning as I fought to force air back into my lungs.

"Did I tell you to take a break, curse?" Thomas’s heavy shadow fell over me, blocking out the last bits of daylight.

I didn't answer right away. I pulled myself up onto my elbows, trying to blink away the dark spots dancing in my vision. Beside my trembling hands, a muddy puddle caught my reflection. The eyes staring back weren't amber, brown, or gold like the rest of the pack. They were pale, metallic silver.

To the elders, those eyes were a bad omen. They blamed me for every bad winter, every ruined crop, and every hunt that came back empty. Ever since my parents died during a rogue raid years ago, Mooncrest didn't see me as a person. I was just the unwanted orphan who cleaned the blood off the courtyard floor.

"Look at me when I’m talking to you!" Thomas barked.

He grabbed the front of my torn tunic, dragging me up until we were nose-to-nose. He smelled like stale wine and cheap tobacco.

"The Moon Blessing Ceremony starts in less than an hour," he growled, shaking me until my teeth rattled. "Alpha Kael wants this place spotless for the visiting high lords. If I find one speck of dirt left on these stones, I'll let the border guards use you for target practice tonight. Got it?"

My lip was split, the sharp taste of copper thick on my tongue. "Yes, Beta."

He shoved me backward. I hit the stone hard, but I kept my chin tucked so my head wouldn't slam against the ground. He wiped his hand on his pants as if touching me had dirtied him, then turned and stomped toward the mansion doors.

I stayed on my hands and knees, clutching my side as my chest heaved. I dipped the stiff burlap rag back into the freezing bucket, my hands so numb I could barely keep a grip on the coarse fabric. The rough stone tore into my knuckles, leaving small smears of blood on the wet ground, but I kept scrubbing. Stopping wasn't an option.

"Selene?"

A small voice came from behind the marble pillars. Toby, a six-year-old pup, peeked out from the shadows. His dark ears twitched, checking the empty court before he darted over to me, his small feet pattering softly against the wet stone.

He thrust a warm piece of bread wrapped in a napkin into my hands. "Eat it before my mom sees," he whispered, offering a small, nervous smile. "You worked really hard today."

The tight knot in my chest loosened just a fraction. "Thank you, Toby," I murmured, squeezing his little hand. "Now run back inside before someone catches you out here."

He nodded quickly and scrambled back into the dark shadows near the hall.

I ate the bread in three quick bites, feeling the sharp cramp in my stomach ease up. It wasn't much, but it gave me enough strength to finish wiping down the courtyard. By the time I gathered my broken bucket and hauled it back to the cellar steps, my arms were aching and my clothes were soaked through.

I smoothed down my stained skirt as best as I could, trying to cover the tears in the hem, before taking the slow walk up the stone stairs toward the ceremonial grounds. Every step sent a dull throb through my bruised ribs, but I forced my head to stay up.

BOOM. BOOM.

The heavy ceremonial horns blew across the valley, signaling the start of the night. Every wolf who had come of age was expected to attend the altar and discover their fated mate beneath the full moon.

For everyone else, it was a night of drinking and music. For me, it was the only way out. I didn't care who my mate was. I didn't need a powerful Alpha or a handsome warrior. I just needed someone who would look at me and see Selene not the curse they had created. A fated bond was sacred; not even Beta Thomas or the elders could break a match made by the Moon Goddess. If I was paired with even a low-ranking guard from a neighboring pack, I’d finally have a legal reason to leave this place behind.

I slipped into the crowd gathered around the high stone altar. Torches roared along the stone perimeter walls, casting long, dancing shadows across the court. I pulled my dark hood low over my face, leaning against a marble pillar at the very back to avoid notice.

"Look who dragged herself out of the cellar," a sneering voice whispered nearby.

"Why is she even allowed on sacred ground?" another muttered. "Pity the poor guy who gets stuck with a cursed monster."

I kept my eyes glued to the dirt, digging my nails into my palms until the skin nearly broke. Just hold on, I told myself. Just a few more minutes.

The double oak doors at the top of the balcony creaked open, and the entire crowd went dead quiet.

Alpha Kael walked out onto the elevated stone floor. He moved with slow, heavy confidence, flanked by three senior elders. Broad-shouldered and sharp-jawed, his golden eyes scanned the court like a hawk watching a field.

"Wolves of Mooncrest!" Elder Vance’s voice boomed across the court. "Tonight, beneath the full moon, we ask the Goddess to reveal your fated matches!"

The crowd cheered, the noise rattling the stone walls.

"Let the blessings begin," Kael said. His deep voice carried easily over the noise.

One by one, the young wolves stepped forward to touch the sacred silver bowl set beneath the moonbeams. Right in front of the platform, a young female warrior touched the water, and a bright spark flared between her and a scout from the eastern border. Cheers and tears of happiness broke out across the yard as fated bonds formed one after another, filling the air with the unmistakable scent of a newly formed bond.

I stayed in the dark behind my pillar, pressing my trembling back against the cold marble. Goddess, I prayed silently, closing my eyes tight. Give me a way out. Anyone. Just get me away from here.

A strange spark flared in the center of my chest.

It wasn't a slow build—it hit me like a sudden shock. For the first time in years, the wolf sleeping deep inside me stirred... then rose with a powerful howl that shook through my mind. Heat rushed through my veins, carrying the scent of crisp mountain air, dark cedarwood, and rain after a storm.

Near the altar, Alpha Kael froze mid-step.

His golden eyes snapped wide open. He sucked in a sharp, jagged breath, his head whipping around with dangerous speed as his nostrils flared.

My body moved before my mind could catch up. An invisible, heavy pull dragged me out from behind the pillar and into the open moonlight. My hood slipped back, letting my pale skin and silver eyes catch the light.

Across the silent courtyard, Alpha Kael's golden eyes locked onto mine.

Time stopped.

The laughter died.

The whispers vanished.

My heart slammed against my ribs as a single word exploded through my entire soul.

Mate.