At the sacred Moonfire Festival, Sera Vane suffers a betrayal that shatters her life and drives her from her pack in shame. In a moment of heartbreak and desperation, she disguises herself and takes part in a secret ritual meant for the Alpha and it changes her fate forever. No one speaks of what happens during the Moonfire Ritual. But five years later, the consequences have returned with sera as she returns to Crimson Hollow with a young son James whose striking resemblance to Alpha Aldric Thorne sparks whispers throughout the pack. Her unexpected reappearance threatens to disrupt the carefully guarded hierarchy, especially for those who once cast her out, and for the Alpha himself, who remains unaware of the truth behind that fateful night. Bound by duty Aldric agrees to Sera’s bold demand: a union that secures her son’s place… but keeps their hearts locked away. As political tensions rise and enemies close in, Sera must navigate a dangerous game of power, betrayal, and buried emotions. In a world where bloodlines determine destiny and love is both a weapon and a weakness, Sera must rise from the ashes of her past to protect her child, uncover the truth, and claim the strength she never knew she had.
View MoreChapter 1
Sera
"Don’t stop," I heard a faint voice from afar.
I drew closer, and a soft groan escaped my boyfriend Gilbert’s mouth, I came here searching for him, he said he would be at the festival but I couldn’t find him anywhere. What I thought was urgent now I find him with another familiar figure, my sister Gina.
My jaw dropped, and I covered my hands around my mouth.
Gilbert, my mate of four years was right there in the woods wrapped around my sister doing the unthinkable.
“What in the actual fuck Gil?”
I wanted to scream out at the top of my voice but my mouth betrayed me.
My breath hitched as I froze for a few minutes, then I pushed through the branches, the sacred grove’s moonflowers brushing my arms. I shouldn’t be here in the first place.
No one was supposed to come this far during the Moonfire Festival.
But Gilbert requested for me here just an hour ago but here I come to find him with my sister.
The second I saw their bodies moving, his hand tangled the back of her hair as she arched her back, breathe left my lungs. The soft grunts, the sticky, desperate rhythm of it, her giggle.
"Don’t you think if you keep up like this someone will hear us?” Gina asks with a low tone.
“Someone like?” Gilbert asks mockingly.
“Anyone, your girlfriend.”
I swallow hard.
"She cries over everything." Gilbert chuckled. "She is too soft for me, that’s why I like you, you are different."
“She is just a flinch, can we forget about her now?”
What? Just a flinch? Is that how low I have become in his eyes?
I gasped trying to take in air and I think they heard me as their eyes darted towards my direction.
His words pierced right through my heart like a dagger. Just like in the movies but this time it isn’t, it was real.
I don’t know which one broke my heart more, Gilbert cheating or cheating with my sister or I was just a flinch to him? All this time?
“Really I am just a flinch?” I yelled at the top of my voice, as I clenched my fist.
“Sera please….calm down, I can explain.” He plea.
“Explain what exactly?” I shot back.
My feet on impulse backed away bolting back to the moon fire festival, but I tripped over something, a fallen branch or some roots.
I gasped in pain as my head hit a trunk in the process it hurt but I had no time to process the pain, I couldn’t hold it as I tried to get up the floor. I just pray I don’t get a concussion.
“Sera,” Gilbert calls out but I don’t respond as I am already in motion.
I hastily scramble up ignoring the pain. My dress got stuck to a branch.
Fuck.
I ignore as run, shredding a piece of my ceremonial dress. I try not to look back.
“It’s not what it looks like Sera.” His voice faded as I spun.
I just ran through the crowd, the confused stares of my packmates make me uncomfortable but I really don’t care.
“Sera?” someone called.
“What’s wrong?” But I didn’t stop.
I couldn’t. The shame burned hotter than any fire the Moon goddess could summon. My lungs screamed as I bolted toward the mountain trails, higher and higher until the lights of the festival dimmed behind me.
The pain of betrayal coupled with mockery really stings.
I don’t know how long I ran. My legs gave out near a rock ledge, and I collapsed, the cold stone biting through my knees. I should’ve screamed. I wanted to. Instead, I pressed my fist to my mouth and shook in silence.
That’s when I heard whispers.
Below, a flicker of torchlight. A group of cloaked handmaidens, laughed softly as they passed beneath me.
"The Moon Offering is late,” one murmured. “He won’t like that.”
“Alpha Aldric never does.” Another said.
“She’s lucky. No one’s ever allowed into the Offering chamber without the Priestess’s blessing.” She paused then continued. “And no one ever talks about what happens inside.”
The air stilled. My heartbeat slowed, offering. Sacred night. Secrets. This was the ritual no one dared speak of.
An unwanted thought crept in. Why not go? If Gilbert could betray me like that then I could do the same to him in the most dramatic way and we will see who is too soft now.
I don’t remember making the decision but the next moment, I was down the slope, my heart hammering hard against my ribs.
One of the cloaks was discarded on a rock, still warm so I took it.
The chambers smelled of smoke and cedarwood, it was dark and quiet.
I pressed deeper inside, my body shivering as the heavy doors shut behind me. The scorch of candlelights left shadows. My heart pounded heavily with each step as it grew louder and louder.
Alpha Aldric stood by the window, bare-chested beneath a long robe, moonlight painting his scars in silver with a bottle of alcohol in his hands. He didn’t turn.
“I said no more delays,” he growled.
I didn’t speak. I couldn’t.
He turned slowly before stopping when we locked his gaze.
It was dark but we stared at each other. His eyes were pale gray.
“You’re not the Offering.” He bare his teeth.
I stayed still, not sure what to say or do as my voice trembled.
“No. I’m not.”
His jaw clenched. Power pulsed off him like a storm.
“Who are you?”
Still not sure how to respond but I thank the moon goddess a thousand times as he didn’t recognize me in the dark. Maybe he is partially drunk.
I pulled the hood back slowly.
“Just someone in the right place at the right time, as I can see my Alpha is stressed out.”
A pause. Then another. Then… he exhaled, long and slow.
“You have balls, and I like that.”
I stepped closer. “Someone that has balls and is willing to do whatsoever.”
Another pause.
Something in his face flickered like I just hit a nerve or something.
“Willing to do whatsoever?” he murmured.
I nodded. The image of Gilbert and Gina in my head gave me the strength and boldness I thought I never had.
I dropped the cloak and moved closer, slowly taking off my dress in the sexiest way possible, and the cat working to his sight.
I made trailed his tattoos. I stopped breathing when his fingers curved around my breasts slowly before he pushed me to the bed whispering to my ear. "Don't tell a soul about this."
****
A sharp bang on the door woke me up the next morning as I forced myself from the Alpha’s tight grip. Cutting my utopia short.
“Get your filthy ass out here, Sera!” Gilbert yelled from outside.
I barely had time to cover myself before the door burst open and the boy who once called me mate stormed into the Alpha’s chamber.
“You little slut, I know you are in there.”
Heat thudded violently in each part of my body instantly, how did he know I was there?
Aldric Two Weeks AgoThe cold breeze of the morning air on my skin making my hair stand, I smiled as I breathe in, taking in all of it. It reminded me of my father, he always pushed me in the early hours of the morning to receive the morning air, and he called it medicine. “Continue this and you would live more than a hundred years old, without falling ill.” He said, one morning.But despite knowing this secret, he didn’t get to live that long. I stared out at the woods stretched in front of my view, where the wind stirred the trees like whispers in the dark. I admired the view; it looked beautiful. “What’s with the good mood, Aldric?” Reece asks, his voice mocking.I turned my beta, Reece sitting on the cushion chair, hanging cross, his legs crossed, his eyes fixed to mine. I don’t even know why he is here. I can’t remember requesting for him. He has been my best friend right from childhood and has a way of reminding me of my schedule, which is sometimes annoying.“And what makes
Sera “Tell me what’s happening in there,” I slammed my fists against the heavy, thick door, my voice laced with emotion. My fists hurt as my knuckles turned white, but I didn't care. My wolf’s rage from within matched mine. She had gone a bit silent and was still angry with me for the past few days, but couldn’t help herself when it came to James. Despite not being in a chatty mood, my wolf tried to calm me down, but I couldn’t hold myself again; the silence was killing me more than anything, and I needed answers. One of the pack guards I recognized on border patrol duty the day I returned to Crimson Hollow Pack stood outside the chambers in a dialogue with another figure I couldn’t quite place, yet backing me. I moved closer to see it was beta Reece giving him what looked like instructions with subtle movements of his hands, they looked in the middle of something, but I still interrupted anyway.. “Reece, ” I called out, my voice racing with rage. He turned to my direction, his
Sera A faint scream coming from my east hit my ears, but when I turned, all I heard or saw was the rustling of leaves beneath my feet. But there was something familiar about the voice that made me think for a slight second, something isn't right. When I saw or heard nothing to make me paranoid, I shook my head, shrugging off the negative thought. “It's just in your mind, Sera, bad energy far away," I said to myself, but it came out more of a whisper. But when the scream rang in my ears again, this time louder, it confirmed my worst possible nightmare. The herbs I collected from the forest fell instantly from my hands in slow motion as I froze, my jaw dropping wide. The unfortunate basket shattering on impact with the floor. My herbs spreading on the grass, my hard earned labor, but right now I don't care, it doesn't matter, not what my jewel is in pain. "James," I cried at the top of my voice. My legs bolting towards the direction. My wolf’s instincts surged forward, prima
Aldric “Welcome, everyone. Tonight, we celebrate the union between your Alpha… and your new Luna.” I declared, my voice steady but echoing slightly across the room. All eyes darted towards me, and I bit my lower lips then smirked but it reach my eyes in attempt of masking the disgust swirling within me. “My Luna indeed, just on paper,” I whispered to myself. “Careful, boy, you are playing with fire,” my wolf groaned within. The crowd continued murmuring, but nobody had the balls to look me in the eye while hushing. Sera, standing to my right, froze for some seconds; my eyes landed on the twitching muscles on her neck as she stilled. What the heck is wrong with her? She looks like she has just seen a ghost. Sera stood frozen beside me, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as if she were afraid they’d shake. She didn’t look at me. She hadn’t looked at me once since the wedding ceremony, at least not eye to eye. Not when I recited the vows. Not when I took her hand. Not e
Chapter 5Sera“Mommy, why did that man say those bad things to you?” Caleb asked with a soft voice.He held my arms, clutching his little fingers tightly against mine, a gesture which melted my heart, as I brushed his curls back from his face, forcing a smile.“People like him are just troublemakers,” I said, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Some people speak out of hurt or hate. But don't worry, it’s not about you, okay? You did nothing wrong.” I assured him.His eyes, those blue eyes he got from Aldric stared at me, I wonder what was on his mind. “But... he said you were a whore. What does that mean?”I almost choked out at his question.I cleared my throat. “It’s nothing, honey, stuff adults say when they want to be mean.”A breath caught in my chest. I blinked, trying to hold the tears back, but they slipped anyway but I turned my face to the side hiding it from him before wiping off.“Mama, are you okay?” he asked.“Yes, something just got in my eyes.”“Does it hurt?”“No, b
Chapter 4SeraTwo weeks later, here I stood in an ivory wedding gown that clung too tightly to my curves making life difficult for me to breathe. I cursed under my breath the tailor.The ceremony took place at the Moonstone Courtyard beneath the full moon. A sacred place for sacred bonds. But nothing about this day felt sacred at least not to me.It was all a charade we both just wanted this to be done already so we could go about our normal lives. Speaking of normal I don't know what that will look like now as the Luna.I didn't look at Aldric when he slipped the ring on my finger. My hand was steady, but my heart wasn't and neither was his I could tell from his unreadable expression. At least that was clear to both of us but that was the least of my worries now, since I was on the alter, I constantly looked over to see if James was still sitting in the front row, I couldn't trust anyone to here to leave them with him.So I made sure he was sitting in the front row, his feet barely
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