•Chapter 5•

Ashley

Like an iron cage, the Mating Ceremony loomed over me.

The entire pack had gathered, elders and warriors alike, along with visiting wolves from other packs.

Inside the dressing chamber where I waited to be called upon, I fastened the intricate waist chain around my ceremonial gown, the weight of my expensive cloak pressing on my shoulders. Outside, four high-ranking warriors stood guard. Four. As if I were a high-value prisoner rather than a former warrior stripped of my wolf and status.

Carina stormed in, eyes gleaming with malice.

She wore a gown so similar to mine that at a glance, you’d mistake her for the Luna.

"Feeling proud of yourself?” she sneered. “Don’t get too comfortable. I’ll make sure everyone remembers who the real Luna is."

I’m pretty sure Carina has no idea that I’m truly just her substitute. Otherwise, she wouldn’t waste her time. She used to ignore me—even after I got together with Jace. But once he started talking about marrying me, everything changed.

With a vicious smirk, she yanked the scarf from my neck, revealing the bruised fingerprints Elder Joseph had left behind. A grotesque reminder of how close I had come to death.

“What a shame,” she chuckled, spinning on her heel. “He should’ve finished the job.”

Exhaling sharply, I turned to face the ceremonial altar. It was a breathtaking sight, adorned with flowers and gleaming gold. Yet all I saw was a stage set for my destruction.

Jace approached, his touch deceptively gentle as he led me toward the Moon Goddess statue at the front of the hall, which overlooked everyone. I knew better, though. His grip was firm, unyielding. The moment he marked me, I would be bound to him, stripped of any remaining freedom.

Yes. Part of this unifying ceremony was the fact that he was also going to mark me. To publicly lay claim to me.

“Oh, Jace . . . !" There Carina was, reaching for Jace from the line of seated guests. “Jace, help me . . .” She shakily stood to her feet, drawing everyone's attention, before pressing her hand to her forehead.

I had never found Carina's voice so sweet before. Her old trick again.

I watched Jace, waiting for him to abandon the ritual as he always had before because of Carina.

But this time was different.

He hesitated only briefly before giving a sharp nod to his right-hand. Lucas, ever obedient, carried Carina away as she cast Jace a tearful, disbelieving look. Like she couldn't believe her eyes.

My stomach twisted with disappointment. I need chaos—something that will let me escape to the border where Lucas promised to let me go.

The ceremony continued without hitches, and soon after, we reached the main crux of the event. The marking itself.

Jace’s breath was warm against my skin as he lowered his lips toward my neck. Coming closer and closer with every passing second.

A crazy plan was already forming in my head. An escape plan, or at best, a plan for the purpose of rebellion. I wasn't going to go gently.

“Wait!” A commanding voice cut through the tension. “I believe Miss Ashley has a better option—one that will truly help her grow.”

He was Alpha Henry, leader of a neighbouring pack. I had met him once during a joint operation. He was from Jace’s father’s generation, a seasoned Alpha whose reputation was built on blood and victory. If our old Alpha hadn’t died in battle, Jace wouldn’t have been forced to take over so soon.

I suspected this was the plot that was meant to unfold. The plan that Jace had told me about earlier.

Tension crackled in the air as the two alphas faced off. Henry, though much older, carried an air of dominance that came from years of hard-won experience. His gaze was sharp, his stance unshaken.

“Let her go, Jace.” His voice was firm, almost condescending. “I don’t want to hurt you. You are, after all, Luca and Elena’s son. We want the same thing.”

Jace’s jaw clenched. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His voice was low, steady, but the way he emphasized our and my left no doubt about his claim. “Ashley grew up in our pack. She has always been my mate.”

A murmur spread through the gathered wolves. They couldn’t hear the alphas’ hushed words, but the tension alone had them on edge. To them, this wasn’t just a ceremony anymore—it was a spectacle.

A fight for possession.

The moment the Alphas turned on each other, their dominant auras clashing in silent battle, I felt the shift in the air. I tensed up, my muscles locking in place.

Jace’s refusal to yield darkened Henry’s expression. His patience snapped.

Henry lunged first. Jace met his attack head-on, shifting mid-air, their massive wolf forms colliding with a thunderous crash.

The battle erupted in full force. Chaos spread, wolves scattering as the Alphas clashed, their raw power sending tremors through the ground.

No one was watching me.

Slipping into the shadows at the edge of the hall, I dashed toward the nearby forest, hoping to spot Lucas.

Then, the stench of blood and chaotic wolf aura hit me so powerfully that I was disoriented for a moment.

A rough hand clamped around my arm like a vise.

Rogues. How could it be rogues again?

I didn’t hesitate. Twisting my wrist, I drove my free fist upward, striking true. But the Rogue was stronger. His grip tightened before he staggered, barely hindered by my attack.

I fought, kicking, slicing, but I was outnumbered. My limbs were wrenched back, a rope binding my wrists. Then, with brutal efficiency, they lifted me over a broad shoulder.

No! Not again.

The sounds of the battle faded as they carried me outside toward the end of the forest.

Something felt off. They weren’t in a hurry, moving at a steady pace as if they had no fear of being caught by the wolves.

I forced myself to stay calm, to conserve my strength. But the creeping sense of dread gnawed at me, growing heavier with every second.

Then, they stopped.

I was thrown to the ground. The impact jarred my body, but I gritted my teeth and pushed myself up, my legs trembling beneath me.

Beta Lucas stood in front of me, rigid and imposing. A second figure stood a short distance away, his back turned to me—familiar, yet unrecognizable in this moment.

“Why didn’t you tell me the plan changed?” I demanded, keeping my voice steady despite the sickening weight in my chest. “I didn’t expect there’re rogues.”

A cold sneer cut through the air. “You’re too naive,” he scoffed. “We went through so much effort to strip you of your wolf. Did you really think we'd ever let you go?”

His words hit like a slap. My mind reeled, struggling to process them. So it was all part of a plan—to strip me of my wolf… Even the rogues had been nothing more than their pawns!

I glanced toward the figure ahead of me, my pulse hammering. And then, as if sensing my gaze, he turned.

Jace.