Under the vast night sky, a full moon hung high, casting a silver glow across the territory of the Blood Moon pack.
The central plaza before the pack house was surrounded by blazing torches, illuminating the night in golden firelight.The steady rhythm of ceremonial drums echoed through the air, mingling with the haunting melody of flutes that danced on the night breeze. Thick clouds of fragrant smoke rose from ancient bronze incense burners, filling the air with a heady, intoxicating scent that cloaked the space in a sacred, timeless atmosphere.The high-ranking wolves of the pack had gathered, all dressed in traditional ceremonial robes, seated in neat rows with solemn expressions, their eyes fixed on the altar ahead.On the stage stood two ancient stone pillars, carved with the majestic insignia of the Blood Moon pack. Between them hung a wreath of laurel, woven from mint leaves, ivy vines, and white roses, symbolizing the sacred union of two destined souls. FromRaven returned to the packhouse completely unconscious, and naturally, the mating ceremony had to be called off, despite being just moments from completion.The guests had all left. Only Evelyn remained, standing alone in the ceremonial hall, rage churning violently inside her chest.She had paid so much, sacrificed so much. Just one final step and she would’ve had everything she ever wanted, yet everything collapsed in the blink of an eye.Her dignity, her pride, her ambition and dreams, all of it was destroyed in a single night. Every bit of effort, every calculated move she had made over so long now amounted to nothing.She could still hear the whispers, see the glances, some sympathetic, most mocking or gleeful, from those who had watched Raven leave her standing there alone, the ceremony unfinished. The memory stoked her fury until it overwhelmed her.She hated Raven. She hated Cara. She hated everyone who had witnessed her humiliation. But above all, she ha
“Is this Raven’s order? Or are you acting on your own?”Just this morning, Raven had made love to her, whispering sweet promises in her ear. That’s why she couldn’t believe this was truly his command.As soon as Cara asked the question, a flicker of hesitation appeared in Draken’s eyes. But it was gone in an instant. His voice turned cold and firm as he replied,“Yes.”He didn’t know if she had cast some spell on the Alpha, but he believed the only thing that mattered now was to sever all of her lingering hopes.That single word, so simple, yet it pierced through Cara’s chest like a sharp blade, shattering her heart into pieces.She was the one who had chosen to break their bond. She had made the painful decision to let go, to walk away from the man who had caused her so much anguish. But learning that he could be so heartless, so utterly detached, to the point of wanting her dead… it was more than her soul could bear.“You’re lying. Raven would never do
Under the light of the full moon, the mating ceremony of the Blood Moon pack's Alpha had reached its final moment. A joyful atmosphere blanketed the entire square, smiles of blessing spread across every face as they awaited the destined moment.On the ceremonial stage, Raven stood facing Evelyn. In his hand was a laurel wreath woven from mint leaves and white roses, the sacred symbol of the mating ritual. His fingers clenched around it tightly, as if trying to suppress the intense emotions roaring inside him.Evelyn lifted her chin proudly, eyes shining with anticipation. Just one final step remained, Raven would place the wreath on her and speak the oath, and the ceremony would be complete. The entire pack would then officially acknowledge the eternal bond between their Alpha and Luna.A long beat of the ceremonial drum echoed, urging Raven to make the final move. He took a deep breath, about to raise the wreath…But at that very moment, a sharp pain struck through
Under the vast night sky, a full moon hung high, casting a silver glow across the territory of the Blood Moon pack.The central plaza before the pack house was surrounded by blazing torches, illuminating the night in golden firelight.The steady rhythm of ceremonial drums echoed through the air, mingling with the haunting melody of flutes that danced on the night breeze. Thick clouds of fragrant smoke rose from ancient bronze incense burners, filling the air with a heady, intoxicating scent that cloaked the space in a sacred, timeless atmosphere.The high-ranking wolves of the pack had gathered, all dressed in traditional ceremonial robes, seated in neat rows with solemn expressions, their eyes fixed on the altar ahead.On the stage stood two ancient stone pillars, carved with the majestic insignia of the Blood Moon pack. Between them hung a wreath of laurel, woven from mint leaves, ivy vines, and white roses, symbolizing the sacred union of two destined souls. From
Cara froze for a moment, completely caught off guard by Raven’s sudden kiss.Tonight was supposed to be his mating ceremony with Evelyn, and yet, he was here, kissing her.She felt a bit awkward, her body stiff, neither pushing him away nor responding.But then her thoughts drifted to the escape she had planned for tonight.This might be their last kiss, the last time they could be this close.A bitter ache rose in her chest, tightening her heart.Maybe… just this once, she could allow herself to let go. Just once, before they parted forever.Cara slowly closed her eyes and raised her arms, gently wrapping them around Raven’s neck.Feeling her respond, Raven was overwhelmed.A surge of raw emotion crashed through him, sweeping away all the self-control he had clung to.He pulled her tighter, as if he could fuse her into his very being.The kiss deepened, wild, desperate, filled with both longing and fear.It was as if letting go meant
As the first rays of sunlight streamed across the Blood Moon Pack’s territory, Cara slowly stirred awake from a deep, dreamless sleep. For a moment, she lay there, disoriented, until full awareness returned and she realized the space beside her was empty. The lingering warmth and scent of Raven still clung to the bed, wrapping around her like an invisible chain.Cara reached out, her fingers brushing the pillow he had used, still faintly warm. A brief flicker of confusion crossed her eyes. She hadn’t expected to fall asleep in his arms last night, safe, warm, undisturbed, just like when they used to share that cave together.“You are the mate I truly want to be with, forever.”Raven’s words echoed once again in her mind, earnest and sincere. Her heart clenched. But… she couldn’t forgive him. The wolf she once loved no longer existed, and she couldn’t allow herself to hold on to someone who had once treated her so cruelly.Though Cara had little experience with the ou
In the days that followed, a heavy tension settled over the pack house, so thick it felt like it could be sliced into pieces. The Council repeatedly requested private meetings with Raven, each time emphasizing the urgency of choosing a Luna for the pack.“Alpha, a pack cannot go too long without a Luna,” Elder Hector said, his voice low but firm. “The she-wolves are growing restless. They need a figure to look up to, a symbol to steady their hearts.”“Evelyn Dermot is the most reasonable choice,” another elder added. “She’s intelligent, comes from a good bloodline, and most importantly, she’s always been loyal to the pack.”Raven sat motionless in the Alpha’s chair, his cold gaze fixed on the large window. Outside, a massive oak tree swayed gently, its peaceful green canopy a stark contrast to the storm raging inside his chest.Every time he thought of Cara, of compromising with the council and bonding with another she-wolf, Raven felt as if an invisible hand was tig
In a secluded courtyard inside the pack house, a man and a woman stood facing each other, he, handsome and imposing; she, elegant and composed. But deep within their gazes, turbulent undercurrents churned.Draken clenched his fists at his sides, his voice low and restrained, as if suppressing a storm of emotions.“Evelyn, is that truly the path you want to take?”Evelyn was silent. She lowered her eyes, hiding the fierce turmoil within. After a few moments, she looked up at him and replied calmly,“Yes.”Draken’s brows drew together tightly. He stepped closer, his deep black eyes locking onto hers, pressing her with his stare.“Even knowing it won’t bring you happiness?”Evelyn tilted her chin slightly, meeting his burning gaze, forcing herself to stay steady.“How could it not? Any she-wolf would be happy to become a Luna.”A bitter, raspy laugh escaped Draken. He shook his head, pain evident in every hard line of his face.“Evelyn, stop lyin
Evelyn had always been well aware of the predicament Raven had been facing these past few days. After all, the chaos wasn’t random, it was the result of her mother’s behind-the-scenes efforts, all aimed at clearing the path for Evelyn to become the Luna of the Blood Moon pack.Her mother had done so much for her. Now that they were just one step away from success, Evelyn had to do her part to ensure nothing went wrong.Beneath the soft golden light of the guest lounge, Raven walked in with a cold air about him. Evelyn Dermot had been waiting, a proper, gentle smile on her lips. Yet, there was a trace of weariness on her face, as if she, too, had been enduring tough days.Raven barely glanced at her, his gaze indifferent and distant. He didn’t bother to hide his displeasure, and the aura of an Alpha unconsciously seeped from him, making it hard for Evelyn to stay composed. She clenched her hands under the folds of her gown, but her face remained calm and steady.“You