Snow Luna

Lydia stood in front of her full-length mirror, staring at her reflection. She knew the figure gazing back at her was herself, but she felt conflicted about believing it. The long, sleeveless silver dress she wore sparkled with diamonds, and her tiny arms gleamed as if she had polished them all day to impress. The dress gracefully covered her neck, with the fabric draping down her bare back, adding to her elegance. Today was an important day for Lydia. After months of preparation, she hoped everything would go well. She had long anticipated this moment, a day when she would finally belong to someone who shared a part of her soul. Someone who would understand her pain, become her life, and be her fated mate. The thought gave her a thrill. For two years, since turning eighteen and gaining her wolf, Circe, she had waited for this day. While most she-wolves met their mates in school, Lydia’s journey was different. She searched for her mate among the male wolves but found none. Although

Blake was taking her sister’s words lightly as she stared at her in disbelief. “Are you kidding me, sis? There’s no way your wolf can just disappear like that!” Lydia agreed; it seemed impossible. She had never heard of anything like it. In all her studies about their wolves, she knew they didn’t die unless their host was killed. They just went to sleep or something similar. This was stunning; it was the first time she had heard of such an occurrence, and the worst part was that it was happening to her. Panic set in. This was impossible! She tried to recall what she had read about wolves years ago in the library. This couldn’t be ordinary. Just a minute ago, everything had been fine—before she went downstairs to sit with Thalia, drank some wine, and fell asleep. And… then she couldn’t think any further. It was confusing; if she told anyone, they would think she was mad, and no one in the pack would believe her. They would call her a liar because she didn’t have a mate, and that wo

Circe was right. This wasn’t her mate. Yet here she was, in his arms. Lydia kept her head held high as the Lycan spun her gently into his embrace, pressing a warm palm against her waist. His grip was strong but respectful, his golden eyes watching her with interest—perhaps even admiration. She should have felt something—heat, electricity, fate—but instead, her wolf was silent, absent. The connection wasn’t there. Still, she played along. She had to. Her eyes flicked to Thalia across the ballroom. Her best friend looked radiant, wrapped in the arms of the short-haired Lycan prince. Her mate. Lydia’s real mate. But he didn’t even glance her way. Didn’t flinch. Didn’t seem to sense a mistake had been made. She looked back at the man dancing with her. His touch was firm, his posture relaxed, and he was smiling at her like he meant it. Like he believed she was his. The music swelled, soft and melodic, slowing the tempo further. Lydia moved with him, keeping her steps measure

Knox patted his brother on the shoulder. “She’ll come around, brother. Just be patient.”The young Lycan looked at him, frustrated. “And how do you know that? She just told me she’s in love with another male. How am I supposed to take that?”Knox smiled. “Eddie, she’s just confused, that’s all.”“You’re lucky your mate isn’t in love with someone else,” Eddie muttered with a dry chuckle. Knox slapped him lightly on the shoulder.“She’s beautiful,” Eddie said, eyes fixed on Lydia dancing with her father.“Yes, she is,” Knox replied, though his smile slowly faded.“She’s good, too. She loves you. When I saw her smile at you, I was jealous,” Eddie added with a wistful smile.Knox’s chest tightened.Ah, look at this ignorant fool. He doesn’t even realize he’s adding salt to our wounds, Kai growled in his mind.Knox chuckled softly. Of course Kai would speak up now. Then he heard laughter and turned to see Thalia and his brother Harold dancing in each other’s arms—kissing.His stomach churn

“I’ll see you again, sister,” Blake said, hugging her tightly.Lydia nodded. “Of course. Just make sure to call me.”“Don’t forget we can still mind-link—unless…” Blake made a face, and Lydia knew what she meant. She and Knox weren’t going to mark each other. That was the only way a wolf could sever her ties with her old pack—being marked or officially joined to a new pack cut all previous connections, including the mind-link. But Lydia was sure that would never happen. Blake was confident, too—that's why she believed they could still stay connected.Alpha Damon walked up to his daughter. “I’ll see you around, Lydia.”“See you around, Dad.” She hugged him tightly. This was the first time she had ever been away from him. Since she was little, she’d never even lived a mile from him.Then the Luna stepped forward.“You always doubt yourself, Lydia,” her mother said, “but that’s why you’re worthy. Only a true Luna doubts herself when choosing a mate—because she knows the weight of the dec