Chapter 1

The moment the silver door closed, Mom tried to reassure me from the other side.

“Once Elara shifts first, the blood resonance between you will disappear. We’ll come back for you before sunrise.”

I sat down against the wall and quietly agreed.

Today was Elara’s and my eighteenth birthday.

It was also the last time I would ever have to suppress my wolf.

When I was twelve, my Alpha bloodline first began to emerge, and Elara collapsed on the spot. The pack healer explained that because we were twins born under the same Blood Moon, our wolves shared a rare blood resonance.

My Alpha bloodline was too powerful.

If I shifted first, the backlash would kill Elara.

From that day on, I was injected with suppressants every month. I wasn’t allowed to attend full-moon training, enter the hunting grounds, or even remain beneath the moonlight for too long.

Whenever the drugs left me in too much pain to sleep, Dad always told me the same thing.

“Just hold on a little longer. Once you both turn eighteen, this will all be over.”

I had been holding on for six years.

Elara’s anxious voice came through the door.

“Mom, maybe we should let Lyra out. I can wait another month.”

“We can’t wait any longer,” Dad cut in. “Tonight is a Blood Moon. Your wolf has the best chance of awakening. If we miss it, no one knows how much longer Lyra can keep hers suppressed.”

“But the silver cell will hurt her.”

“The lowest setting only blocks the moonlight. It won’t harm her.”

Dad sounded completely certain.

Only a few hours earlier, he had personally promised me that once Elara’s wolf was stable, he would hold a separate first-shift ceremony just for me.

Mom had already ordered my ceremonial dress.

Caden had promised to take me on next year’s youth hunt.

Even my fated mate, Rowan, had promised that once I completed my first shift, he would complete our mate bond in front of the entire pack.

Everyone was preparing for my future.

All I had to do was survive one more night.

Not long after the moon rose, my wolf suddenly awakened inside me.

She threw herself against the restraints holding her back. I soothed her, begging her to wait just a little longer.

Just until Elara shifted first.

At last, my wolf calmed down and curled into herself.

Then silver power ripped through my skin.

It felt as if countless red-hot blades had plunged into my body at once.

This wasn’t the low setting that had blocked the moonlight for the past six years.

The silver wards were running at maximum strength.

I stumbled to the door and pounded on it.

“Dad!”

The hallway went quiet. A few seconds later, Dad reached the other side.

“What is it?”

“The silver wards are fully activated.”

My voice shook.

“My wolf is trying to shift. Please open the door.”

Dad didn’t answer immediately. I heard him checking the control panel outside.

Then he exhaled in relief.

“It says Level One, the same setting we use every month.”

“No!” I struck the door again. “All the silver walls are active. They’re burning my wolf!”

Another wave of agony tore through my chest.

I collapsed to my knees, my forehead slamming against the silver door.

Mom’s hurried footsteps approached from outside.

“What’s happening to her?”

“The Blood Moon is agitating her wolf,” Dad answered. “It’s a normal reaction.”

Mom placed her hand on the door handle.

“Maybe I should go in and check on her.”

The handle turned halfway.

Then Caden’s voice came from behind her.

“Don’t open it.”

“Elara has already taken the awakening potion. If Lyra comes out now, her Alpha presence could interfere with Elara’s shift.”

“But Lyra says the silver wards are fully activated.”

Caden was silent for a moment before speaking to me through the door.

“You know Elara has to shift first tonight.”

His voice hardened.

“The control panel clearly shows Level One. Dad checked it himself.”

“Opening this door now could destabilize Elara’s shift. We can’t take that risk.”

“Hold on for a few more hours. Once Elara shifts, I’ll come and get you myself.”

They had said those words to me countless times over the past six years.

And every time, I had endured it.

But this wasn’t resentment.

I wasn’t jealous that Elara would shift first.

The silver cell was running at full strength.

I was going to die.

I pressed my forehead against the freezing door. For the first time, I abandoned every shred of pride I had as the Alpha’s daughter.

“I can’t feel my wolf anymore.”

Mom finally lost her patience.

“Enough, Lyra.”

“The suppressants are supposed to put your wolf to sleep. You’ve taken them for six years. Don’t pretend you don’t know what they feel like.”

“But this time is different—”

“How is it different?”

Mom cut me off sharply.

“Because Elara gets to have her first-shift ceremony before you? Or because everyone is with her tonight instead of waiting outside this door with you?”

“You know that if we open this door now, your Alpha presence could trigger another backlash in Elara. Her shift has already begun. She cannot survive any interference.”

Her voice filled with anger.

“Stop acting as if you’re dying just to force us to choose between you and Elara.”

“You are not going to die.”

“By sunrise, everything will be back to normal.”