LOGINIn an instant, every Alpha, every warrior, every council member dropped to their knees. Even Elliot bowed without hesitation. Only Xavier and I remained standing, shocked, tense, speechless. Xavier reached for my hand, his grip steady but tight. I felt him inhale. Then he stepped forward.“Father. Mother.” His tone wavered only slightly. “I have chosen her. Please… give your blessing. Because there is no going back for me... I will choose her a thousand times over the throne.”The words hit the hall like thunder.My breath caught and my knees almost buckled.For a moment, I couldn’t feel my hands, my legs, my heartbeat.Xavier… choosing me over the throne?This man was royalty.The future ruler of Aetheris.A man born for power, raised for command.And he was telling the world that I mattered more.A low gasp rippled through the room.Some Alphas glanced at each other, stunned.Even the King’s eyes widened for a heartbeat.My father stared at Xavier like he’d never seen him before
“Father… council of Alphas… he is my chosen mate.”My voice softened.“If he still wants me.”Then I turned.“Xavier… I choose you as my mate.”For a moment, everything was silent, shock freezing the air.Then Xavier exhaled sharply, almost like a laugh of disbelief. He stepped toward me in three long strides and wrapped me in a tight, warm embrace. When he pulled back, his smile was bright and unguarded, full of pride and joy.Around us, murmurs rippled like a wave.Elliot’s face reddened, hurt, anger, disbelief all clashing in his eyes.My father stood slowly. “I have seen how Xavier fights for my daughter. How he protects her. How he looks at her.” He paused, his voice thickening. “I have no objections. But the question remains; who is he? From which pack does he come? I do not care whether he is Alpha or Omega. I only want my daughter’s happiness.”All eyes turned to Xavier.He stepped forward. Calm. Certain. Almost princely.“When I met Liora,” he began, “I fell in love with her
By the next day, we were back in Moonblood pack, where Alpha Callan formally introduced me to the pack as his true heir. I was accepted by all, and I felt like I was home, with my own people. --- Alpha Callan wasted no time, he sent messages to all the Alpha's of the realm and by the dawn of the next day, the palace grounds stirred with movement. Warriors guarded every entrance, and the air hummed with tension as one Alpha after another arrived, summoned urgently, restricted strictly to leaders alone. We could not risk traitors slipping into the heart of the strategy. By noon, the council chambers were full. Dozens of Alphas from every allied territory sat in a wide circle, Moonblood, Silvermoon, Ironfang, Duskriver, Thornridge, and even the rarely-seen Wintermane pack. Their faces were hard, wary, waiting. My father, Alpha Callan, stood at the center. “For years,” he began, his voice deep and steady, “the rogue king has taken our men, destroyed our borders, infiltrated
Luna Sabrina suddenly… laughed.A deep, hollow, chilling laugh that crawled under my skin.Her wrists were bound, but she looked at us with the wild triumph of someone who had nothing left to lose.“So what if our cover is blown?” she spat, smiling like a serpent. “Do you fools think this changes anything? The rogues will still destroy you all. Silas has powers your packs have never seen. You are all already doomed.”I felt Gina stiffen beside me.Then, as if her words were a signal, several Silvermoon soldiers stepped forward from the corners of the hall, followed by two Moonblood warriors. They moved silently, forming a line behind Luna Sabrina.My stomach dropped.Traitors.Inside both packs.They drew their weapons.Every loyal soldier instantly reacted, shields rising, steel clashing.The hall exploded into chaos.One of the traitor soldiers lunged toward me and Gina, blade raised......but before I could even raise my arm, a flash of steel cut through the air.The rogue soldier
The footsteps grew louder until a shadow filled the doorway.My heart almost stopped....but then the blur sharpened into the uniform of a Silvermoon guard.“Your presence is requested,” he announced.Relief washed over me, weak but real.Whatever this was, it wasn’t Ariana sneaking us out to deliver us to Silas.At the very least, it bought us time.Time for someone, anyone, to find us.Gina squeezed my hand as we followed the guard through torch-lit corridors. I tried to steady my limbs, but hunger made them feel like water.He led us into the Trial hall, the room where the Alpha conducts trials.And then I froze.Alpha Callan stood at the center of the hall.Beside him was Luna Sabrina.His elite guards flanked them in full armor.Ariana and Lana were also present, but their faces were twisted in confusion.Ariana stepped forward.“Father? Mother? What...what are you doing here?”Luna Sabrina folded her arms.“Your father said he had urgent business in Silvermoon, so I came along.
We were thrown into the palace holding cell like stray dogs. No food, no water.Just cold stone and darkness pressing against our skin.By nightfall, my head felt light, my throat raw, every breath scraping. Gina sat beside me, rubbing slow circles on my back even though she was shaking too.The iron door screeched open.Ariana stepped inside with Lana trailing behind her like a shadow.She didn’t bother hiding her smirk.“Is she really the one?” Ariana asked.Lana nodded once.“She is.”Ariana walked straight to me and grabbed me. Her fingernails dug into my skin as she yanked my shirt upward and forced the hidden mark to glow under the moonlight streaming through the barred window.Her eyes widened with triumphant delight.“My mother, and Silas our King, they will be thrilled,” she whispered, almost breathless. “I finally caught the real Blood Moon heir. The true Luna of prophecy.”Her words fell like stones in my chest.She stood taller, her pride swelling.“And you, you really fo







