Prologue

“The Alpha summons you to his office.”

I was pulled from the pages of my favorite book by the sharp, ice-laced voice of my sister—Serafine.

Sera’s tone was as cold as ever, reverberating through the dim confines of my room. With measured calm, I placed the book on my bed and turned to face my older sister.

Sera stood in the doorway, her piercing gaze assessing me with the usual disdain. As the Beta of our pack and our father’s most trusted second-in-command, she held a firm grip on the Siverious Clan’s hierarchy. Unlike me, whom she saw as weak, Sera had clawed her way to the top, commanding power, respect, and fear. And she wanted more.

She had never seen me as a true rival—just an obstacle. A frail, disappointing little sister who bore the title of the Alpha’s daughter but lacked the strength to wield it. Sera despised the thought of me ever becoming strong enough to challenge her position. That fear, though unspoken, simmered beneath her every glare.

I was used to the contempt—the dismissive glances, the whispers that I was unworthy of the Siverious name. It was nothing new. I had been called the weakest she-wolf in the pack for as long as I could remember, my abilities paling in comparison even to our youngest warriors. It was a truth that haunted me—one that others delighted in reminding me of.

I met Sera’s gaze with quiet defiance but said nothing. Words would be wasted; Sera never cared for them anyway. With a flick of her sleek black hair, she turned on her heel and strode off, not bothering to wait for a response. The sound of her boots against the wooden floor echoed down the hall as she disappeared.

I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to steady the unease coiling in my stomach.

Three sharp knocks. A hesitant turn of the doorknob. And then I stepped inside.

My father, Alpha Salve Moonridge, sat behind his grand mahogany desk, his hands folded neatly as he regarded me with an unreadable expression. Candlelight flickered, casting long shadows across the walls. He wasted no time.

“Sera said you wanted to talk to me,” I said, keeping my voice light and indifferent even as my heart drummed against my ribs.

“Sit down, Selene.”

His tone left no room for argument. I obeyed, lowering myself onto the chair across from him. I had always followed orders, always played the role of the obedient daughter—not because I wanted to, but because I had no choice. Speaking out had never been an option. Every time I thought of rebelling, of snapping back at the whispered insults and cruel laughter, doubt crept in—sharp and unforgiving.

I wasn’t strong enough.

My father leaned forward, his fingers tapping idly against the wood. “The pack is growing, and so are our enemies. To maintain our dominance, we must strengthen our alliances.”

I remained silent. I had no idea what he expected of me. My strength was laughable; my influence nonexistent. It was Sera he should be relying on.

Then his next words struck like a dagger.

“And as the daughter of this pack’s Alpha, I have no choice but to arrange your marriage to the Alpha of the North.”

The air left my lungs. My hands tightened into fists on my lap as disbelief crashed over me.

“What?” The whisper barely left my lips, but the weight of it trembled in the space between us.

I knew exactly who he meant.

The Alpha of the North.

A man feared across the lands, infamous for his merciless rule and his unshakable grip on power. His pack was the strongest, his warriors unparalleled. He was ruthless, calculating—a force of nature that none dared to defy.

Magnus.

My breath hitched.

I had known him once. Or at least, I had known the boy he used to be. Before he became an Alpha. Before he became a legend of brutality. We had grown up together, childhood friends bound by innocence and the golden light of simpler days.

But those days were long gone.

The Magnus I had once known had vanished the moment he left for the North, swallowed by blood, war, and duty.

And he had forgotten me.

The rumors were endless—whispers that he despised weakness, that he had no use for anything fragile.

And that was exactly what I was.

I swallowed hard.

My father’s expression did not waver. “We need the North as an ally. And you will ensure that alliance.”

I clenched my jaw, my mind racing.

They needed Magnus.

But deep down, I knew that I needed him more.

“M-Me?” I could barely force the words out. The weight of my father’s declaration pressed down on my chest, making it difficult to breathe. Surely I had misheard him. Surely this was some cruel jest.

But Salve Moonridge was not the type of man to joke. His piercing gaze held no trace of humor, only the cold, unyielding authority of an Alpha.

“Yes, you,” he said firmly. “You will marry Magnus Lancaster. This is not a request, Selene. It is a necessity. The North’s Alpha is our only chance at strengthening our pack. Sera cannot take this on—she is the next leader and must remain here. You, however, will fulfill this duty.”

Each word struck me like a lash. I opened my mouth, desperate to argue, to refuse—but the protest died in my throat. It wouldn’t matter. It never did. My father had decided, and my fate was sealed.

Dazed and hollow, I stumbled out of his office, the walls of the Siverious Clan’s stronghold closing in on me. The thought of crossing the narrow sea to face Magnus after all these years sent a chill down my spine.

What did he even look like now?

The childhood friend I once knew was long gone, replaced by a man who ruled the most formidable pack in existence. Stories of his ruthlessness echoed in every corner of the kingdom.

Would he even accept me?

I am not fit to be his Luna.

I am nothing but a weak she-wolf.

Sleep evaded me that night. My mind churned with fear and unanswered questions. When the four walls of my room became suffocating, I gave in to the urge clawing at my insides.

I ran.

The crisp night air stung my skin as I sprinted into the dense woods, my bare feet barely making a sound against the forest floor. The wind whipped through my hair, my heart pounding in rhythm with the crunch of dried leaves and broken twigs beneath me.

The farther I went, the lighter I felt. Only in the solitude of the wilderness could I momentarily forget my shackles.

When I reached the crest of a hill, I halted, my chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. Before me stretched an endless sea of trees bathed in the silvery glow of the full moon.

I tilted my head back, staring at the celestial body that had watched over me all my life.

A raw, primal sorrow welled up inside me.

With a sudden, desperate need to release the anguish festering within me, I threw my head back and howled.

The sound split the silence of the night, carrying my pain into the vast unknown. Moments later, a chorus of distant howls answered me—my pack, or perhaps mere strangers in the dark.

I collapsed onto the grass, my human form returning as I hastily pulled my clothes back on. Silent tears streamed down my cheeks as I gazed up at the moon, as if pleading for answers.

Why?

Why must it be me?

The stars offered no response. The world remained indifferent to my suffering.

Just as I thought I was alone in my grief, a new sound shattered the fragile peace.

A series of howls rang out from the base of the hill—distinct and commanding.

My father.

And Sera.

They had come for me.

I staggered to my feet, furiously wiping away the tears that threatened to expose my vulnerability. Panic pounded against my ribcage, but I forced myself to remain composed.

I turned to flee, my bare feet kicking up dirt and fallen leaves—but before I could take a step, two hulking figures emerged from the shadows, blocking my path.

Their glowing red eyes burned like embers in the darkness, their sharp fangs gleaming under the moonlight.

A cold wave of terror crashed over me.

Not because I was a coward—no, I had never been that—but because I understood the brutal reality of my own limitations.

These wolves were stronger. Faster. More ruthless.

Fighting them would be a death sentence.

My breath came in short, ragged gasps. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but there was no escape.

My pulse thundered in my ears as my hands clenched into fists.

If this was how I was meant to die, then so be it.

I refused to cower.

A growl rumbled from my throat as I braced for their attack.

They lunged without hesitation, moving like shadows—swift, deadly, unrelenting. I twisted and dodged, narrowly avoiding their razor-sharp claws. Years of training kept me alive, but just barely.

Every step, every strike—I was falling behind.

Then pain.

White-hot agony tore through my side as one of them slashed deep into my flesh. The force of the impact sent me sprawling onto the ground, my vision flashing white.

Blood seeped into the dirt beneath me, the metallic scent thick in the air.

I heard them scoff.

“I can’t believe this is the Alpha’s daughter,” one sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. “Pathetic.”

“She’s not worth our time,” the other grumbled. “The Beta would’ve put up a real fight. This one? She’s already broken.”

I lay motionless, my body trembling—not from fear, but from the raw humiliation that cut deeper than their claws ever could.

I had never been enough.

Never strong enough. Never fast enough. Never worthy enough.

The outsiders vanished into the night, their laughter echoing in my skull long after they were gone.

I didn’t know how long I remained there, bleeding into the earth, my vision swimming. My mind drifted in and out of darkness, my body numb with pain.

Then—

“Selene!”

A voice. Sharp. Commanding. Edged with something unfamiliar.

Sera.

Strong arms lifted me, cradling my battered form as the scent of home surrounded me.

I wanted to speak, to tell my sister I was sorry, to say anything—

but the words never came.

Darkness took me.