All Chapters of MOONBOUND THE ALPHA'S FLAME : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

THE DINNER The time of the official dinner arrived with a heavy tension that hung in the air like a brewing storm.The grand hall of Lycarra Manor stood bathed in golden light. Towering chandeliers spilled a warm, glittering glow over the polished wooden floors and endless banquet tables dressed in linens so fine they looked like spun gold. Platters of roasted meats, bowls of rare delicacies, and goblets brimming with deep red wine filled the air with the richness of indulgence.But beneath it all something deeper pulsed.A scent that did not belong to the feast.Octavia’s scent.She stood just outside the grand hall, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum of war. Her palms were clammy, and her breath came in slow, steady draws she forced herself to take.Tonight was the night Alpha Xavier would introduce her publicly as his mate.There would be no more hiding.No more pretending.And she refused to cower.She wore a deep crimson gown that hugged her body like a second skin, t

IN THE WAKE OF WANT She looked closely and there she saw. Mira. Hiding in the shadows beneath the stairwell, clutching her cloak tight around her.Octavia stepped closer, her voice low, gentle.“Are you okay?” she asked, her eyes scanning Mira’s pale face, searching pleading for the truth.Mira nodded quickly, too quickly. “Yes, Luna. I'm okay. just lost my way.”She bowed, the gesture stiff and uneasy, then turned and scurried away like a frightened deer disappearing into the forest.A heavy silence followed.Octavia stood frozen for a moment, her chest tight with something she couldn’t name. Then she turned and fled not from danger, but from the storm swelling inside her.Her feet carried her fast, almost blindly, back to her chambers. Her breath came in ragged gasps. By the time she reached the room, her heart was hammering so loud she could barely hear Astra calling her name.As the door shut behind them, Octavia crumpled onto the edge of the bed, her legs giving out as if the f

CRAVING THE CHAOS Tears stung Octavia’s eyes before she could even make it to the door.She stumbled backward off the massive bed, nearly tripping over the thick rug beneath her feet. Her trembling fingers fisted the hem of her dress, pulling it up just enough to stop herself from falling as she turned and bolted, heart pounding like a war drum in her chest.The room behind her Xavier’s room felt like it was closing in on her, suffocating with heat, emotion, and that primal energy that still lingered in the air like smoke after fire.Her bare feet slapped against the cold stone hallway, the chill biting her skin, grounding her, but not enough to steady her spiraling thoughts.Her breath came in sharp, ragged gasps. Her pulse was a frenzied rhythm in her ears.He’d stopped. Xavier had pulled back.But gods, he’d almost lost She couldn’t even finish the thought. Her throat clenched. Her stomach twisted with a toxic mix of fear, shame, and something darker, something she didn’t dare

TAMING HIS WOLF Across Lycran and every allied pack, lanterns were lit, drums rehearsed, and elders whispered of the ancient rites soon to be performed beneath the full moon. The kingdom was alive with movement, florists weaving moonpetals into garlands, warriors practicing the ceremonial march, and pack omegas scrubbing every inch of the castle until the marble floors gleamed. But deep inside the heart of the Alpha’s wing, all that celebration felt a world away. Alpha Xavier sat heavily behind his towering mahogany desk, the muscles in his jaw grinding as his fists clenched against the smooth wood surface. Across from him, Kemer stood like a pillar, arms folded tightly across his chest, his Beta presence grounded and sharp. The tension between them was thick. “She came into my chambers,” Xavier muttered, barely louder than a growl. “I didn’t even hear her. One moment, I was alone. The next…” He shook his head, the heel of his palm pressing into his temple. “I almos

THE ATTACK They stood beneath the vaulted ceiling of the Lycarra grand hall, two figures bathed in torchlight and destiny.Alpha Xavier stood tall and composed, though his jaw clenched beneath the weight of emotion. His broad frame was draped in ceremonial black leathers, his crimson sash a slash of color against the dark. His eyes were fixed only on the woman before him.Octavia.She stood opposite him, luminous in her midnight blue gown, the fabric catching the light like stars caught in silk. Her hands trembled slightly at her sides, not from fear but from the magnitude of the moment. Her eyes, wide and solemn, met Xavier’s with both courage and quiet vulnerability.The hall fell silent.The Elder stepped forward, robes whispering against the polished stone floor as he raised his staff high."Octavia of the Lost Bloodline," he intoned, his voice echoing, "do you accept Xavier of House Lycarra as your mate, your Alpha, your protector?"Octavia’s throat tightened, but she did