CHAPTER 3: The Obsidian Fang Pack

The black carriage finally stopped in front of a massive mansion made of black stone, its windows glowing against the cold dark night.

Elara pressed her chubby hands against the cold glass, her eyes widening as she saw a pack that looked like heaven compared to the dirty hell of Red Moon.

Wolves lined the streets to stare, their beautiful faces full of pity and contempt and shock as they looked at the chubby rejected girl from Red Moon.

Silas stepped out first, "Welcome to Obsidian Fang Pack, little Luna, where wolves are richer, stronger and crueler than any wolf you have ever met in your life."

Elara frowned, tilting her head stubbornly as she climbed down from the carriage, "I have been stared at my whole life for being chubby and wolf-less, so a few more staring wolves will not kill me tonight."

A small chubby boy suddenly rushed forward from the crowd of servants, his round face red and his servant clothes too tight around his belly.

Milo was twelve years old, short, chubby and bullied for his weight. "Welcome home, Alpha Silas, and welcome Luna, my name is Milo and I work in the kitchen and I was told to carry your bags inside quickly."

Elara's heart softened instantly, "Milo, thank you for coming to help me."

Milo's head snapped up, his eyes wide and shocked, because no Luna had ever thanked him or looked directly at his chubby face before in his life.

Milo rubbed the back of his neck shyly, his gaze dropping to the ground. "Most people don't like me helping them. They say I'm too slow and clumsy, and sometimes they hide my things just to watch me search for them." His voice grew quieter with every word, as though he regretted saying so much.

Elara's smile faded slightly. She knew exactly what it felt like to become everyone's favorite target simply because of how you looked. She gently patted his shoulder. "Then they clearly have nothing better to do with their miserable lives. Don't let their foolishness make you believe there's something wrong with you."

System chimed softly inside Elara's head, flashing green words.

[DAILY QUEST 1: SURVIVE NIGHT ONE IN OBSIDIAN FANG. REWARD: +20 WOLF AWAKENING POINTS. STATUS: PACK HOSTILITY LEVEL 90%.]

[QUEST: GAIN ONE TRUSTED ALLY IN THE PACK. ALLY DETECTED: MILO - KITCHEN BOY. LOYALTY POTENTIAL: 100%. REWARD: +10 WOLF AWAKENING POINTS.]

Elara smiled at Milo, her hand reaching out to squeeze his small chubby hand gently, making his round face turn bright red with sudden happiness.

Before Milo could answer, the massive front doors of the black mansion opened, and a tall thin old woman stepped out with her back straight.

Elder Rowena stood with her grey hair pulled into a tight bun, her sharp face cold and calculating as her eyes swept over Elara's chubby body with open disgust.

"So this is the fat wolf-less girl from Red Moon who tricked our dying Alpha into making her Luna just for his money before he dies."

Rowena's voice was loud and sharp, dripping with hate that she did not even try to hide, her thin arms crossed over her chest like a queen.

"My name is Elder Rowena, I have run this house for twenty years, and I do not accept gold diggers who want our Alpha's fortune and title."

Vivian stepped forward, "Oh my, so you are the new Luna, the poor rejected chubby girl from Red Moon who thinks she can survive a night with our Alpha."

Vivian tilted her head, her perfect lips curling into a pitying smile, "Alpha Silas, darling, you know I have waited for you for three years, and I can give you a beautiful strong heir before you die from your curse."

Silas's grey eyes turned to black ice, his cold ruthless aura exploding outward, making both Rowena and Vivian drop to their knees instantly.

"Vivian, Rowena, this is Elara Moon, my Luna and my Mate, and if either of you disrespects her again, I will personally tear your throats out tonight."

Rowena's thin face paled, her body shaking as she bowed her head low, while Vivian's beautiful face twisted with jealousy and hatred.

Elara squeezed Milo's hand tighter, her voice calm and clear, "Thank you, Alpha Silas, but I can handle a sharp housekeeper and a beautiful girl who wants my Mate, because I have handled worse in Red Moon."

Vivian's beautiful eyes flashed, her hands balling into fists as she stared at Elara with pure venomous hate burning inside her chest.

Silas ignored both women, his large arms sliding under Elara's knees, lifting her up and carrying her inside.

He set her down gently, his large hands lingering on her soft waist for a second longer than necessary before pulling away slowly.

"This is now our room, little Luna." Silas closed the door, "No Luna has ever survived a full night in this bed beside me and my curse."

Elara frowned, "What do you mean no Luna survived?"

"Seven she-wolves tried to be my Luna in the past year, and all seven screamed and ran when I removed this mask and showed them my true face."

Elara quickly reached out, “I know how to heal the poison that is killing you."

Silas froze, his massive body going completely rigid, "Heal? Little Luna, what do you mean heal, because no healer in any pack has been able to heal this cursed wound for twelve long months?"

Elara's voice dropped to a whisper, her eyes flicking to the faint black veins crawling from under the edge of his mask.

"The Battle of Blood River, Alpha Silas, you were not scarred by a claw or a sword, but you were hit by a witch blade laced with Nightshade Venom."

Silas's entire body shook, his large hand shooting out to wrap around her throat, not squeezing to hurt, but holding her in place from pure shock.

"How do you know that, little Luna, how do you know about the witch blade, because that secret is known only to me?"

Elara's breath caught, she was about to talk when the system suddenly screamed inside her head.

[WARNING! WARNING! POISON IS ACCELERATING! HIS HEART RATE IS SPIKING DUE TO EMOTIONAL STRESS! NIGHTSHADE VENOM IS MOVING TOWARD HIS HEART!]

[EMERGENCY CURE AVAILABLE: YOUR MATE ENERGY AND SALIVA CAN SLOW THE VENOM TEMPORARILY. ACTION REQUIRED: KISS THE SCAR DIRECTLY TO STOP THE SPREAD. WILL YOU DO IT?]