Chapter 2: A promise before dawn.

★Elian pov★

 The walk home stretched out longer with each step heavier than the last. The streets of our Silvermist Pack lay hushed under the moon's silvery light, but the silence did nothing to ease the pressure in my chest—the echo of the council hall's judgment follows me like a shadow.

  Whispers seemed to trail in my step, even though no one dared speak them aloud. Word had spread like wildfire through the pack: Orion Silvermist's omega son, me, Elian, had just offered myself up as the Enigma's bride. The weight of that choice pressed harder with every breath.

  My mother, Lyra, walked beside me in utter silence, her presence a quiet storm. I could sense the tremor in her steps, the way her fingers clenched at her sides. When we finally reached our modest wooden home, she pushed the door open with a hand that shook just enough to betray her. The moment we crossed the threshold, the walls she had built in the hall crumbled.

  "You shouldn't have done that!" Her voice broke like fragile glass as she turned to face me, tears falling down her pale cheeks.

  "Elian, please—you can still take it back. We'll go to the elders at dawn, tell them it was a moment of rash anger. They can't force you into this—"

  "They can," I interrupted softly, my words barely above a whisper, but they landed like stones in still water.

  She froze, her eyes widening in horror. "Elian..."

  "They can," I repeated, gentler this time, though the truth stayed at my throat. "And even if they couldn't... someone else would have to take my place."

  Lyra's hand flew to her mouth, stifling a sob that tore through the quiet room. Her shoulders shook, and I felt my own heart shatters at the sight.

  "They would have sent that poor girl," I went on, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest. "You heard her father—his fear was raw, desperate. I couldn't let it be her."

  "And what about me?" she whispered, her words fracturing with pain. "Don't you think I'm terrified? For you?"

  The question hit like a punch, stealing my breath. My chest tightened so fiercely I could barely stand it. I stepped closer, gently taking her trembling hands in mine, feeling the cool dampness of her skin against my warmth.

  "Mother..."

  "You're my son," she choked out, her voice shaking with the depth of her love and fear. "I carried you for nine long months, felt your first kicks, held you in my arms. Do you honestly believe I can stand by and watch you march into that forsaken place?"

  The small room seemed to close in around us, thick with unspoken grief. I opened my mouth to respond, to find some words that might soothe her, but before I could, a soft creak echoed from the hallway.

  We both turned. There, in the doorway, stood a small figure, rubbing sleep from her eyes. My younger sister, Selene Silvermist, steps into the dim light, her loose night robe hanging off her slender frame. Her silver hair was a scattered mess, wild from sleep, and those sharp golden eyes—already so piercing—blinked in drowsy confusion.

  "Mother...?" she murmured, her voice thick with the remnants of dreams.

  "Why are you shouting?" She yawned, walking closer on bare feet, oblivious at first to the storm forming.

  Then her gaze landed on Lyra's face, and something shifted. Selene's expression hardened, the sleepy face vanishing like mist under the sun.

  "What happened?" she demanded, her young voice laced with the authority she was born to wield.

  Lyra swiped her cheeks, trying to compose herself, but I spoke up before she could make up a gentle lie.

  "I'm leaving tomorrow, Selene."

  She blinked, tilting her head. "Leaving?"

  "For a while."

  Her brows knitted together, suspicion flickering in those golden depths. "Where to?"

  I hesitated, the name of the place lodging in my throat like a bitter pill. Selene had always hated being kept in the dark, treated as the child she no longer was. She crossed her arms, impatience sharpening her features.

  "Brother," she said firmly, "what's really going on?"

  I mustered a small, weary smile, though it felt more like a grimace. "I'm going to Moonveil Citadel."

  The words hung in the air, heavy and final. The room plunged into a stunned silence.

  Selene stared at me, her face blank for a heartbeat. Then realization dawned, and her eyes widened in disbelief.

  "You're joking. Right?"

  I shook my head slowly, the motion feeling like it cost me everything.

  "I volunteered." The confession slipped out, quiet but unyielding.

  Her sleepy demeanor shattered in an instant. "You did WHAT?!" Her shout shook the walls, the voice of the Alpha she was destined to become.

  "That's suicide, Elian! Absolute madness!"

  "Selene—"

  "No!" She advanced on me, fists balled at her sides, her small frame radiating fury. "Those elders are deranged! The whole pack knows what happens to the brides who go there—disappearing into those shadows, never to return! And you just... volunteered? Like it's nothing?"

  I held her gaze, saying nothing, the silence between us stretched. Her breathing quickened, chest heaving with a mix of rage and something deeper, more vulnerable.

  Then, abruptly, her tone softened, edged with determination. "...Fine. Then I'm coming with you."

  I blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

  "I said I'm coming," she insisted, jutting her chin out stubbornly. "If that so-called king lays a finger on you, I'll tear him apart myself."

  "You can't, Selene." The words tasted like ash.

  She froze, searching my face. I shook my head, reaching out to rest a hand on her shoulder.

  "I can't take you with me. You have to stay here, in the pack."

  Her jaw clenched, defiance flashing. "Why not? I'm not some helpless pup!"

  "Because..." I swallowed hard, tears stinging my eyes now. "You're going to be the next Alpha. This pack needs you—strong, unbroken. You have to lead them one day."

  Selene's golden eyes shimmered, her tough facade cracking. "You're stronger than I ever was," she whispered, her voice breaking on the words.

  "I don't care about that! I care about you!"

  The raw honesty in her plea undid me. For the first time since we'd stepped through the door, my own tears escaped, hot trails down my cheeks. I brushed them away hastily, forcing one last smile for her sake.

  "I'll visit, Selene. I promise."

  She searched my eyes, doubt and longing warring within her. "You promise?"

  "With everything I have."

  A heavy quiet settled over us, broken only by the distant hoot of an owl outside. Finally, Selene closed the distance, wrapping her arms around my waist in a fierce hug, her face buried against my chest.

  "...You better keep that promise, brother," she muttered, her voice muffled but fierce.

  I held her close, my arms enveloping her small form, breathing in the familiar scent of home and wildflowers that clung to her hair. But deep in my soul, a shadow lingered—a quiet dread that this promise might be one I could never fulfill, no matter how desperately I wanted to.

  Outside, the moon climbed higher, casting its cold light over the forests. And far beyond, piercing the horizon like jagged teeth, the dark towers of Moonveil Citadel loomed, waiting to claim what was now mine to give.