Chapter 1

"Luna, the Alpha won't be coming tonight. You'll have to enter the full moon banquet on your own."

On the phone, the Beta's voice was businesslike.

I stood in front of the mirror, slowly fastening the moonstone necklace around my neck.

"Understood."

I hung up without asking a single question.

There was no need to ask why. The rumors had already spread through the pack.

Tonight was the once-in-a-decade full moon banquet. Every elite wolf from the Northern Territory would be there.

Cedric was supposed to appear with me—the future Luna he'd personally acknowledged—for all to see.

Instead, he was busy comforting a rogue she-wolf named Chloe.

In the past, this call would never have happened.

Back then, I was the wildest, most untouchable she-wolf in the entire pack.

If a male wolf dared provoke me, I'd drag him into the fighting ring and beat him until his ribs cracked and he begged for mercy.

When the council tried to use pack law to restrain me, I'd flip the council table on the spot and go head-to-head with those old men until they trembled with rage.

Everyone knew I was the wildest, most rebellious she-wolf in the Northern Territory.

But Cedric loved it.

Every time I caused trouble, he'd be the first to stand in front of me, shielding me from the elders' accusations, then turn and laugh, ruffling my hair.

"Good fight. However you want to do it, just don't hurt yourself."

"My Luna doesn't bow to anyone."

Even when he went to the border to negotiate alliances, he'd rush back overnight.

Just to put this one-of-a-kind moonstone necklace around my neck himself.

I thought his favoritism would never change.

Until three months ago, when the rogue she-wolf Chloe appeared.

She collapsed at the border of the Black Moon Pack, covered in wounds.

Gentle, fragile, always sensible.

The first time Cedric looked at me coldly and said, "Can you rein in your wildness and learn to be sensible and obedient?" I crushed a glass with my bare hand.

Later, he postponed the pack council to take her to the hospital.

Then, to keep Chloe from being upset, he expelled everyone who questioned her rogue status from the pack.

My personal maid hesitated, but didn't dare stop me.

I went to the full moon banquet alone.

The moment I walked into the Moon Goddess Hall, every eye in the room fixed on me.

The air went silent for a full three seconds.

No one could ignore the moonstone at my throat. And no one could ignore that the Alpha was not by my side.

"Well, well. Isn't this the future Luna of the Black Moon Pack? Why are you here alone?"

Lydia, Cedric's cousin, appeared with a glass of champagne, her shoulders shaking with laughter.

"Didn't the Alpha promise to hold a marking ceremony with you?"

"What's the matter? Postponed again?"

I picked up a glass of red wine and swirled it gently.

"The Alpha is busy. I can't force him to do everything according to my wishes."

My tone was cool, flawless.

"I heard the Alpha recently picked up a rogue wolf. Gentle as a lamb. He's practically holding her in his palms."

"The future Luna of Black Moon might be getting replaced."

I didn't even lift my eyes.

Just then, the doors of the hall were pushed open again.

The crowd parted automatically.

Cedric walked in.

Black suit, sharp cut, cold and arrogant features.

Beside him was a girl.

An old cloth dress washed pale, bare face, shoulders hunched. Like a fawn that had wandered into a wolf's territory.

It was Chloe.

A gasp rippled through the hall.

A rogue wolf, brought by the Alpha himself into the sacred Moon Goddess Hall where outsiders were never allowed.

Chloe clutched Cedric's sleeve, her knuckles white.

"Alpha, there are so many people here. I'm scared..."

Her voice was timid, carrying a hint of grievance.

Cedric didn't shake off her hand. He just turned his head slightly, his voice softening.

"Stay with me. No one will dare look at you."

I stood by the long table, watching this, a faint curve at the corner of my mouth.

Before, only I could stand boldly by his side. Even the elders didn't dare say a word against me.

Now he was giving that one-of-a-kind protection to a rogue wolf.

Cedric's gaze swept across the crowd and landed on me.

He walked toward me with Chloe.

"Why did you come alone?"

He frowned, his tone carrying a hint of barely noticeable reproach.

As if I were the one who'd broken a promise.

"The Beta said you were busy. I didn't want to disturb you."

My tone was calm. My gaze swept over Chloe beside him.

The moment Chloe met my eyes, she shrank behind him.

"Luna..." She bit her lower lip, her eyes reddening instantly.

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, the Alpha wouldn't have been late."

"Don't be angry with the Alpha. Blame me. I'm just too useless."

A textbook display of weakness.

No arguing, no fuss. Every word an apology. Every word marking her territory.

The surrounding gazes grew more intrigued.

Everyone knew I was the wildest, fiercest she-wolf in the pack.

They were waiting for me to flip the table, bare my claws, and tear this rogue wolf apart in front of everyone.

That was my style.

But I looked at Chloe and smiled faintly.

"Miss Chloe, you're joking. You're the Alpha's guest. Why would I be angry with you?"

I leaned in slightly, my gaze landing on her washed-out old cloth dress.

"It's just that at an occasion like this, dressing like that is a bit... inappropriate."

"If word gets out, people might think the Black Moon Pack is too poor to buy its guests a dress."

Chloe's face went white. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I... I know I don't deserve to be here. I'll leave..."

She turned to flee.

Cedric grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to his side.

The look he gave me turned cold instantly.

"Selena, that's enough."

His voice wasn't loud, but it silenced the entire hall.

"She's just a homeless rogue wolf."

"As my mate, the future Luna of this pack, you should learn to be gentle and sensible, not full of hostility and aggression."