1. The Mate Ceremony

"Lyra Vale."

My name echoed through the temple.

Every conversation stopped.

Hundreds of wolves turned toward me.

My mother's hand slipped from mine, giving my fingers one last reassuring squeeze.

"Go," she whispered.

I couldn't.

One step.

That was all it would take.

One step, and the Moon Goddess would decide the rest of my life.

The High Priestess waited beside the moon-carved altar, a silver blade glinting in her hand.

Around us, the temple glowed beneath the full moon pouring through the glass ceiling. Families crowded the stone balconies. Warriors lined the walls. Every eligible wolf from every clan had gathered to witness the ceremony.

Easy.

All I had to do was let the Goddess decide the rest of my life.

"Lyra."

The High Priestess called my name again.

This time there was no escaping it.

I drew a steadying breath and forced my feet to move.

The chamber seemed impossibly quiet as I crossed the polished stone floor.

Every footstep echoed.

Every eye followed.

When I reached the center, I finally looked up.

The High Priestess smiled kindly.

"Are you ready?"

No.

"Yes."

She nodded as if she'd expected the lie.

"Then offer your hand."

I held out my palm.

The silver blade kissed my skin.

A sharp sting.

One crimson drop struck the ancient stone.

Everyone held their breath.

Nothing happened.

The silence stretched.

One heartbeat.

Two.

Three.

Still nothing.

Whispers spread through the crowd.

"...Nothing?"

"...Has the blessing failed?"

"...Impossible."

Heat crept into my face.

The High Priestess frowned at the symbols etched beneath my feet.

They remained dark.

A woman somewhere behind me whispered just loudly enough to hear.

"I told you something was wrong with that girl."

Another voice answered.

"They say her wolf never awakened."

"So it's true..."

My stomach dropped.

Of course.

Even today.

The whispers never stopped.

The High Priestess lifted her gaze to mine.

For the first time...

She looked uncertain.

"I'm..." she began.

The temple shook.

The floor lurched beneath my feet.

Gasps erupted throughout the chamber.

The moon-carved markings beneath me blazed to life.

Silver light exploded across the stone.

It climbed my legs.

Wrapped around my waist.

Curled around my arms.

Heat slammed into my chest.

I cried out.

Something inside me—

Something that had been asleep my entire life—

Opened its eyes.

Mine.

I froze.

I had never heard another voice inside my head.

Never.

Until now…

Not soft.

Not gentle.

Certain.

Possessive.

Alive.

Power flooded my body.

It searched.

Reached.

Found.

My head snapped toward the crowd.

A man stood frozen among the warriors.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

Dark hair.

Silver-gray eyes.

The instant our gazes locked—

Fire exploded through my chest.

A silver thread shot across the room.

It connected to—

No.

It couldn't.

The man didn't smile.

He didn't move.

He looked at me...

like I'd become his greatest nightmare.

Someone gasped behind me.

"Alpha Kael..."

Kael Veyron stared back at me.

The strongest Alpha alive…

was mine

My heart stopped.

Shock flashed across his face.

Not joy.

Not relief.

Shock.

Like fate had chosen the wrong woman.

Then another wave of power crashed through the temple.

The silver thread split.

Gasps echoed around the chamber.

"No..."

The word escaped someone's lips.

I turned.

Another man stared at me from across the temple.

Golden hair.

Amber eyes.

The heir to the Moonshadow Clan.

Another silver thread shot across the room.

It connected to him.

No.

The first had to be wrong.

It couldn't happen twice.

The temple fell silent.

"There has never been two."

"It can't happen."

"The Goddess doesn't make mistakes."

The High Priestess stumbled backward.

"No..."

She shook her head violently.

"No. End the ceremony."

No one moved.

"I said end the ceremony!"

The silver light surrounding me slowly faded.

My knees threatened to buckle.

The room seemed to exhale.

Maybe...

Maybe it was over.

A crack split the air.

Every candle in the temple went out.

Darkness swallowed the chamber.

Someone screamed.

Moonlight poured through the glass ceiling.

Not silver.

White.

Blinding.

Pain exploded through my chest.

I doubled over with a cry.

Another silver thread ripped free from my heart.

It shot across the temple.

Past the Ironfang Alpha.

Past the Moonshadow heir.

Past every wolf inside the chamber.

It disappeared through the open doors.

Silence.

Then...

Footsteps.

Slow.

Measured.

Getting closer.

Every warrior reached for their weapon.

The elders turned deathly pale.

My mother's fingers dug painfully into my shoulder.

"No..." someone whispered.

"He's dead."

Another voice answered.

"He was supposed to be."

The footsteps didn't hesitate.

Whoever was coming...

wasn't afraid of anyone inside the temple.

A figure stood framed in the doorway.

Moonlight caught pale silver hair.

Violet-gray eyes swept across the temple.

No one breathed.

No one moved.

Even the two wolves fate had just bound to me stood frozen.

Then his gaze found mine.

Recognition flashed across his face.

A slow smile touched his lips.

"My Luna."

The third bond slammed into place.