The Luna Who Disappeared at Her Own Ceremony

He saw my sad, silent expression and suddenly smiled.He pulled a small box from his pocket, got down on one knee, and opened it.Inside was a pair of delicate earrings."Still upset, my Luna?"He looked up at me, his golden eyes filled with adoration and apology. "It's the anniversary of the day we first met. Did you forget? I was going to surprise you at the restaurant."He took my hand and led me to his car, rushing to open the passenger door for me.But the moment I sat down, the cloying smell of vanilla surrounded me, so strong it was nauseating. Like she had just left.I thought of the photo Vesper sent me.She was in this very seat, legs wrapped around Ronan's waist as he moved inside her.Their clothes were a mess in the picture. The windows were steamed with their heat."Are you okay?" Ronan noticed my expression. "Should I open a window?""No," I choked out. "I'm fine."The car started moving. Ronan kept talking, trying to smooth over the awkwardness."You know, I was thinkin

Ronan's Alpha command slammed into me, a wall of force that sent me flying backward. I crashed hard against a stone pillar in the restaurant.A wave of agony shot up my spine. The force of his command wounded my wolf, and it let out a pained howl.Worse, a fine powder wafted up from the floor, stinging my nose.Wolfsbane.The poison was made to incapacitate werewolves. Even a tiny amount sent a wolf into excruciating pain.The poison and my agitated wolf mixed, suppressing my healing ability. The pain was so bad I could barely breathe."Cressida!"I heard someone shout my name, but the voice was distant, like it was coming from underwater.I lay on the cold floor, my vision blurring, my chest feeling like it was being torn apart.And Ronan... he didn't even glance at me. His world had shrunk to Vesper on the ground."Vesper! Oh my god, are you okay?"He rushed to her, gathering her up in his arms with pure panic on his face.I saw him take a deep breath, scenting her."The pup is still

"NO—!!!"The sound that tore from Ronan’s throat wasn't human. It was the raw, desperate howl of a dying beast.He watched Cressida leap from the cliff, and his entire world shattered.His mind went blank. Only one thought screamed through the void: Get her!He lunged for the edge like a madman, ready to follow her down."Alpha! You can't!"The guards who had just arrived tackled him, holding on for dear life. It took four, then five of them to restrain the feral Alpha."Let me go! Cressida! CRESSIDA!" he roared, struggling against them. The gold in his eyes vanished, replaced by pure blood-red.His Alpha power, fueled by despair, erupted. Several guards were thrown back, but more rushed in to take their place."Alpha, you have to calm down!""The waves are too dangerous down there!""We're sending a search party now!"Ronan's howls echoed across the clifftop, broadcast to the entire werewolf world.Every viewer saw it—the mighty Alpha, completely broken by the loss of his mate.The fe

In a VIP room at the medical center, Vesper was casually flipping through a fashion magazine.The room was filled with flowers and gifts—"congratulations" from pack members.After all, she was carrying the future heir."Perfect," Vesper purred to her reflection, stroking her perfectly flat stomach.There was nothing there, but everyone believed she carried Ronan’s child.Cressida was dead.That inconvenient woman was finally gone.In a few days, she would "miscarry," and use the tragedy to gain even more sympathy and affection.Then, when the time was right, she'd get "pregnant" again—for real this time.She would be the one and only Luna of the Black Moon pack.Power, wealth, status—it would all be hers."Poor Cressida," Vesper smirked at the mirror. "You thought death was an escape? Your death just made everything easier for me."She picked up her phone to post a social media update.She had the text all planned out: "My heart is broken over the loss of my dear sister, Cressida, but

Cressida's POVThe night of the aurora was more beautiful than I could have imagined.Ribbons of green and purple light danced across the starry sky. I lay on the thick blanket Liam had brought, feeling a sense of peace for the first time in ages."Thank you for bringing me here," I said softly."Of course," Liam replied, sitting beside me. The lights reflected in his kind eyes. "Everyone deserves to see something this beautiful."I don't know when I fell asleep, only that I felt a warm coat being draped over me in the hazy moments before I drifted off completely.Three days later, I saw something in a Fairbanks coffee shop that made my heart stop.An entertainment show was on the TV. "This photo has over five million likes on Instagram!" the host gushed. "The whole internet is trying to find this mystery couple!"On the screen was a picture from that night.I was asleep under the aurora, and Liam was gently draping his coat over me. His gaze was so focused, so tender, as if he were lo