Cerita Pendek Bias Werewolf & Novel Substitute Bride

I was born without a wolf—the Blackwood family's most shameful daughter. My twin sister Seraphina, however, was blessed with a rare white wolf. She'd been cradled in our parents' palms since birth. When she got hurt, I drank the potion and bled in her place. When she caused trouble, I took the punishment for her. At eighteen, she was betrothed to Prince Alaric—a man under a terrible curse. They said every full moon, he turned into a mindless monster. His first three brides had all died beneath his claws. Seraphina sobbed and refused to go. So my parents sacrificed me again. They dressed me up and sent me to the altar in her place. Even Alaric himself warned me with disgust: "Don't ever think I'll love you. That would kill you." Everyone waited for me to die on the first full moon. But when a poisoned arrow flew at Alaric's back, I still stepped in front of him. When I woke, the monster everyone feared was at my bedside—eyes bloodshot, hands still stained with the assassins' blood. He gripped my wrist, his voice hoarse: "Wren, who gave you permission to die for me?"

My cousin stole my fiancé's suppressant on the night of the full moon — just to test how much he loved her. Then she locked me in a room with him while he was out of his mind with pain. Watching Adrian writhe in agony, I wrapped my trembling arms around him and let him mark me. My cousin was devastated. She married the brutal Alpha of the neighboring pack in a fit of spite. When Adrian found out I was pregnant, he had no choice but to make me his Luna. But in five years of marriage, he never once came to see me or our son. After rogues kidnapped us, I thought he'd finally let us go. Instead, he shifted and fought to bring us back — only to die alongside those rogue wolves. I held his bloodied body and watched the light drain from his eyes. With his last breath, he gripped my hand: "Stop saving me! I regret everything… I never needed you to save me…" My heart shattered. Cold wind tore through the hollow in my chest until I couldn't stop shaking, and the world went dark. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on that full moon night — five years in the past.

In the Northern Alliance, the Claiming is an ancient tradition. On a Blood Moon, an Alpha must fight his way into the Omega quarters, carry his chosen mate on his back, and break through every obstacle to seal the bond. I waited five years for Joric. Tonight, he finally breached my courtyard with his Betas. My heart raced. I was about to run to him when I heard his hushed voice. "Grab Giselle in the chaos. She’s too fragile. I won't let that tyrant Alpha claim her. As for Faelan... she’s the strongest Omega we have. Practically a warrior. She can fend for herself." His Betas exchanged uneasy looks. "Alpha, is this a good idea? You and Faelan are practically mates already. If she finds out, she’ll raise hell!" "Let her," he brushed it off. "The Claiming is pure chaos. It’s easy to grab the wrong girl. I’ll smooth things over with her later. Besides, you all know I never officially filed our mating papers with the Council. Faelan will just have to deal with it for now." Behind the door, I heard every single word. My wolf didn't let out a tragic howl. I just quietly stepped back into my room. Everyone thought I’d bare my claws and fight to the death when a different Alpha came for me. Instead, I quietly climbed onto the back of a far more powerful Alpha. I became another pack's Luna.

When vampires attack the border, my mate's childhood female friend and I both end up trapped in the camp. My mate, Damon Aldridge, shifts into his wolf form and rescues her without a second thought, leaving me alone to face the flames and vampire assault. The next day, I submit a request to the council of elders to sever our mate bond. Damon shows up with a stormy expression, demanding, "You have a priestess bloodline. You can heal yourself. Lydia's more fragile, so I rescued her first. Are you seriously jealous over this?" I meet his eyes calmly. "Yes, but none of that matters anymore."