INICIAR SESIÓNClaire’s POVAfter leaving my parents’ house, I hide deep in the woods. Every sound keeps me alert, but exhaustion eventually wins. I fall asleep against a tree.I wake to unbearable pain.A scream tears from my throat as I collapse onto the damp ground. Leaves cling to my burning skin. My body feels like it’s being ripped apart from the inside.Above me, the moon glows—bright against a starless sky. Its light feels focused… like it’s meant only for me.It feels like my first shift all over again.Only worse.My bones crack and reform. My muscles tear and rebuild. The pain is endless, suffocating.Lolly never told me it would be like this.This is not what I expected for my birthday.My body convulses, heat surging through me until—I shift.Relief comes, but it’s weak.I stand unsteadily on my paws, my body trembling. I glance down at myself—raven-black fur glistening under the moonlight.Then I see it.Silver.A crescent-shaped marking across my back, the same shade as my human hair
Claire’s POVMy anger is now directed at Lolly. She told the one person who wanted to ruin me—and didn’t tell me.Maybe she’s right. Maybe if I had been raised with promises of safety, security, and honor… things would be different.But they’re not.And I will never satisfy this destiny.I understand what Tara has been doing now.“She’s telling the alphas what I am,” I whisper, the realization hitting me so hard my heart nearly stops.“And they’ll come after me.”“I…” I can’t even finish.“Since your existence was kept so quiet, not many believed in the prophecy. But with Tara spreading it… I fear you won’t be safe from the most ruthless alphas. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.”Hopelessness settles deep in my chest.We sit in silence for a moment.“So either way… I’m screwed.”“No, child. I’m sure Alpha Martin will do his best to keep them out of his pack until you make up your mind.”“What do you mean make up my mind?” I snap. “You mean if I decide to sleep with every unmated
Claire’s POVA cold droplet lands on my face.I flinch.Another follows, then another—each one sending chills down my spine. My body trembles uncontrollably, yet inside… I’m burning.Slowly, I open my eyes.The room is dim. Shadows stretch across the walls.Lolly sits beside me.I’m lying on a bed, damp cloths draped over my skin. The water is freezing, but it does nothing to cool the fire raging inside me.“What happened?” I ask weakly.“You’ve been unconscious for a full day,” she replies.My eyes snap open wider.“Martin…” I whisper.Panic surges through me.“I have to tell him where I am. He must be going crazy—”I try to sit up, but she firmly pushes me back down.“You’re not going anywhere.”“What do you mean? Martin is my mate—he would never hurt me.”The words leave my mouth before I can stop them.Her expression shifts instantly.A heavy sigh escapes her.“Oh, my dear… there is so much your parents never told you.”Fear creeps in.“No—please,” I beg, tears already forming. “Y
Martin’s POV“Martin!”My father’s voice calls out as I make my way toward the council area. This is where the meeting will take place—where the surrounding alphas will decide whether to accept me into their alliance.Jax stands beside him, as always.Herk, surprisingly, is nowhere in sight.That alone irritates me. After I allowed him to stay in my pack, I expected him to be the first to arrive—not the last. My jaw tightens as I think about the way he looked at Claire last night.I didn’t miss it.My fists clench, but I force myself to relax.Just one more day… and she’ll be mine completely. I’ll finally be able to tell her.“Good morning,” I say, dipping my head slightly.“Good morning, son,” my father replies—with a smile.It catches me off guard.“How is Claire? Is she feeling better?”“I’m not sure. I didn’t want to wake her. She has school,” I answer.He nods slowly.“She’ll make a fine Luna… no doubt.”There’s something in his tone—like he knows more than I do.“Making pups as
Claire’s POVI wake the next morning to the first light of day streaming through the window—and I’m alone.Pushing my silver hair from my face, I turn over and notice a note resting on Martin’s pillow.Good morning, my love,Didn’t want to wake you, but my father called for me. He’s still worried about the allied alphas arriving.I’ll pick you up after school—you’ll be right by my side, where I need you.Peter will take you to school.Have a good day, Claire.– MartinI smile softly at the note, warmth blooming in my chest. But I know if I don’t get up now, I’ll be late.I jump out of bed and throw on jeans and a T-shirt from the closet—my closet here. The thought still feels unreal. Living with the Alpha. Being with the man I love.My mind drifts to last night, and I quickly decide to blame everything on hormones.Then it hits me.My birthday… it’s in two days. I’ll be eighteen. I’ll have a mate.Martin has to be.I almost want to ask him outright, force the truth from him—but I stop
Claire’s POVThe sky was dark and dull, gray clouds sweeping across the open, starless expanse. The air was thick and damp, sending a chill down my spine. The woods around me were deathly quiet. I stood in the furthest field of the pack territory, yet I felt strangely… strong, almost radiant. I looked down at my skin and it seemed to shimmer, capturing a hidden sun within me.I startled when I saw my parents, frozen in fear. My mother knelt, hands folded, while my father crouched protectively beside her. Their eyes were hypnotized, staring at the full glowing moon as it peeked from behind the clouds. With each passing second, it grew larger, pulsing like a heartbeat, a voice of anger in its glow.Then I saw her—Tara. She stood at the edge of the tree line in her wolf form, growling, teeth bared, eyes burning with pure hatred. I tried to scream, but my voice wouldn’t form. I struggled to my feet, panicked.Behind her, more wolves appeared, as if she commanded them. They all howled at o
Luara's POV The light was streaming onto my face, causing me to blink constantly wanting to force the sunlight out of my face, unpleasantly awakening me. I sat up and stretched before I noticed that I wasn't in my bedroom. Looking around I could see that I was in a dark large fancy room.I began
Luara's POV Before Bryan could even take one more step toward me, I turned and ran.I pumped my legs faster the moment I heard a thundering growl quake through the woods. I knew they were close behind but I continued to run, dodging trees and heading straight for the territory line.I knew I had a
Luara's POV I stared open-mouthed at my brothers. I was honestly fed up with her thinking that I was teaching them this 'behavior'. Yes, I admit that I did teach them a few things but that was years ago! They're not as innocent as they look and I can't stand the fact that she believes that they do
Luara's POV (Years Later)Having to walk through the corridors of Oakville high school on my first day of senior year was the last thing I wanted to do on a Monday morning. In fact, I would prefer to never have to grace my presence in this school again. But apparently according to my mom, that is n







