chapter 1: Gilded Cage

The full moon hung high in the midnight sky, bathing the Crescent Fang Pack’s territory in a silvery glow. The grand hall was alive with laughter, music, and the sound of glasses clinking, but Aria Nightshade felt none of the joy that filled the room.

She stood near the edge of the hall, watching the pack members revel in the glow of tradition. Her father, Alpha Darius, stood at the center, his commanding presence the heart of the celebration. His voice boomed with authority, laughing with the other alphas and betas who had come from neighboring territories.

Aria, dressed in a flowing silver gown meant to complement the moonlight, felt like a decorative statue, present only to be admired. Her wolf stirred uneasily within her, sensing her frustration.

“Smile, Aria,” her father had told her earlier. “Tonight isn’t just about the pack. It’s about showing strength to our allies. You represent us.”

Her smile, carefully practiced and painfully hollow, had lasted as long as she could manage. But now, as she stood against the wall, her chest tightened with a longing for freedom she couldn’t suppress. She didn’t want this life—this role as the Alpha’s obedient daughter, destined to marry a strong wolf for the benefit of the pack. She wanted more.

She wanted to choose.

“Aria.” A sharp voice snapped her from her thoughts. It was Marcus, her father’s loyal beta. His graying hair and weathered face carried years of service to the pack. “The Alpha is expecting you to meet Cedric tonight.”

Her stomach twisted at the mention of Cedric, the arrogant heir of the Shadowfang Pack. The thought of him made her wolf growl in distaste. “I just need some air,” she said, her voice clipped.

Marcus frowned but didn’t stop her. He knew better than to push her when she was in one of these moods.

Without another word, Aria slipped out of the hall and into the cool night. The forest loomed ahead, its darkness a welcome escape from the suffocating light of the celebration. She kicked off her heels, letting her bare feet sink into the soft earth before she shifted into her wolf form.

Her sleek silver wolf burst forth with a rush of freedom, her muscles tensing and relaxing as she bounded into the woods. The wind brushed against her fur, and the scents of pine and damp earth filled her nose. Here, under the open sky, she felt alive.

She ran until the music and laughter from the hall faded entirely. The forest enveloped her, its shadows a comforting embrace. Only then did she stop, panting softly as her wolf reveled in the quiet.

That’s when she smelled it.

An unfamiliar scent drifted on the breeze—pine, rain, and something distinctly male. Her wolf stilled, ears twitching as she scanned the shadows. The scent wasn’t from her pack. It was a stranger, a trespasser.

Her instincts sharpened as she followed the trail, moving silently through the trees. The scent led her to a small clearing where a young man sat on a fallen log. His dark hair was tousled, and his posture was relaxed, as though he had every right to be there.

Aria shifted back into her human form, her silver hair tumbling down her back as she stepped into the clearing. “You’re trespassing,” she said, her voice cold.

The man turned to face her, and the moment his piercing green eyes locked onto hers, Aria felt her breath hitch. There was something about him—something that made her wolf stir with curiosity rather than aggression.

“I didn’t mean to,” he said, standing slowly. His voice was deep and calm, with a hint of playfulness. “Just passing through. Didn’t realize this was Crescent Fang territory.”

“You’re lucky I found you,” she replied, crossing her arms. “My father’s patrols wouldn’t be so forgiving.”

“Good thing it was you, then,” he said with a crooked smile.

Aria frowned, unsure whether to be annoyed or intrigued. “Who are you?”

“Kian,” he said simply. “And you are?”

“Aria,” she said reluctantly.

“Ah,” Kian said, his grin widening. “The Alpha’s daughter. That explains the regal presence.”

She stiffened at the title, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “You shouldn’t be here,” she said sharply. “Leave. Now.”

Kian held her gaze, his expression softening. “You don’t have to carry it all, you know.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Carry what?”

“The weight,” he said, gesturing vaguely. “Of being who they expect you to be.”

Aria’s heart skipped a beat. How could he see through her so easily? She straightened, her walls going back up. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“Maybe not,” Kian admitted. “But I know what it’s like to feel trapped.”

The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard. For a moment, the tension between them faded, replaced by an unspoken understanding.

“You need to go,” she said again, though her voice was softer this time.

Kian nodded, taking a step back. “I’ll go. But something tells me this isn’t the last time we’ll meet, Aria.”

Before she could respond, he turned and disappeared into the shadows of the forest, leaving her standing alone in the clearing.

As she made her way back to the pack house, her thoughts were consumed by the green-eyed stranger. She told herself she would forget him, that he was nothing more than a rogue passing through.

But deep down, she knew he had left an impression on her that she couldn’t ignore.