Chapter one: Lillias revised

Chapter 1: Lillias

Lillias POV

The wind tugged at my cloak as I stood at the cliff’s edge, the moonlight casting a silvery glow over Glen Cael. Below, the loch lay still, its glassy surface reflecting the stars. This was the only time I felt like myself—alone, beneath the open sky, with Scarlett stirring quietly within me.

I tilted my face toward the moon, letting the pale light wash over me. It felt like a blessing, a silent reassurance that I wasn’t entirely alone. But even as I stood there, free in the moment, the weight of my title pressed heavy on my shoulders.

The Alpha’s Princess. The words felt like a collar around my neck. To the pack, I was Lillias MacCrae, daughter of Alpha Callum and heir to the MacCrae dynasty. Pale-skinned, violet-eyed, and graceful—I looked every inch the royal wolf they expected me to be. But inside, I was restless. My wolf, Scarlett, was wild and untamed, her spirit chafing against the chains of duty.

Run, Scarlett whispered, her voice low and eager. Leave this place. Let’s find something real.

I smiled bitterly. “You know we can’t,” I murmured.

The ceremony loomed in my mind, an inescapable storm. Tomorrow, the pack’s council would present me with potential mates—noble wolves chosen for their strength, their lineage, and their loyalty. A union would secure the future of our pack, a political bond to strengthen alliances.

But I wanted no part of it.

Scarlett growled in agreement, her frustration mirroring my own. None of the wolves on that council’s list would ever feel like ours.

The sharp snap of a twig pulled me from my thoughts. I turned, my senses sharpening.

"Lillias!” My father’s voice rang through the trees, low and commanding.

I sighed, tugging my cloak tighter around me as I turned to face him. Alpha Callum MacCrae emerged from the shadows, his imposing frame cloaked in furs. His graying beard and the hard lines of his face told the story of a leader who had borne the weight of his pack for decades. He wasn’t just my father—he was my Alpha.

“You shouldn’t wander off alone,” he said, his voice a careful balance of reprimand and concern. “You know how dangerous it is beyond the castle walls.”

“I needed air,” I replied, keeping my voice calm. “The ceremony tomorrow… It’s overwhelming.”

He studied me for a moment, his sharp blue eyes softening slightly. “I understand, but you know your duty, Lillias. You are the Moon Goddess’s chosen, born to lead our people. Tomorrow is a step toward securing our pack’s future.”

Duty. The word hung in the air between us, heavy and suffocating.

“Yes, Father,” I said, lowering my gaze.

Satisfied, he rested a hand on my shoulder. His touch was firm but not unkind. “Good. Now come back to the keep. You need to rest. The Goddess will guide you when the time comes.”

I nodded and followed him down the forest path, the towering stone walls of MacCrae Keep looming in the distance. My father didn’t speak further, and I was grateful for the silence. The truth was, I didn’t trust the Moon Goddess’s guidance. How could I, when her supposed blessings had only ever brought me chains?

The castle was quiet when I returned to my chambers, the corridors lit by flickering torches. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, letting out a long breath. The room was cold, but the chill was a welcome contrast to the warmth of the firelight flickering in the hearth.

Scarlett stirred within me, her presence comforting but restless.

You felt it too, didn’t you? she asked, her voice low and tense.

I frowned. “Felt what?”

The air tonight. It’s… different. Something’s coming.