When The Moon Remembers

Elowen Thaloris’s POV I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my palms damp, my heartbeat too loud. I had to look perfect tonight. No trembling. No second-guessing. Bold — that’s what I needed to be. The necklace lay cool against my collarbone, catching the candlelight as if it had been forged for me. But it hadn’t. It was an heirloom, passed down through the Thaloris women from my fore-grandmother. Tonight, I wore it for one reason only — the Wolfing Out Ceremony, held every eighteen years beneath the full moon. Tonight, I was supposed to awaken my wolf. It was the night every young lord and lady dreamed of. The night our strength — and our future — was decided. The door creaked open. Serenya stepped inside without knocking, her vanilla scent sweeping into the room before she even spoke. Everything about her was perfect — her hair, her dress, even the way she carried herself. Perfect, and she knew it. “I still don’t know why you have to wait for a stupid ceremony,” she said, her voice laced with that familiar, silken mockery. “I wolfed out at seventeen. You saw it. You were there.” She flipped her perfect chestnut hair over one shoulder, watching me like a hawk watching a mouse. Serenya was my elder sister, but she treated me like a rival. Maybe it was because one of us was destined to be mated to a royal prince. Even after she wolfed out, she wasn’t chosen. And maybe — just maybe — she feared that if I awakened tonight, the crown might notice me instead. “Mother says everyone’s different, Sera.” I rose from my stool, meeting her eyes in the mirror. Her lips curled. “We’ll see about that.” She turned to leave, then paused at the door. “The carriage will leave soon. Don’t keep us waiting.” I sighed as the door closed behind her, then smoothed my dress one last time. Mother had made sure it was crafted from the finest fabric by one of the best seamstresses in the kingdom — a gown worthy of the night I would finally awaken. The carriage ride to the royal hall was silent. My earlier nerves had twisted into a restless excitement. I couldn’t wait to wolf out. I couldn’t wait for my mate to find me. The royal hall glittered with candlelight and quiet music, the air heavy with anticipation. At least a hundred of us stood waiting beneath the gaze of the full moon as it poured silver light through the high windows. In the center, Sareth Morrath, the ancient seer of the Moon Goddess, moved with deliberate grace, arranging her tools for the ritual. The room hushed as the Lycan King strode in, his presence commanding every breath in the hall. Behind him came his sons — two of them. There were supposed to be three. My eyes searched instinctively for the missing one. This was supposed to be my chance to see the cursed prince. A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd — the unspoken question everyone was thinking: Where is he? Rumor painted him as an abomination. Few had ever seen him, and fewer still had lived to tell the tale. They said he was born of blood and moon — the son of a Lycan king and a vampire queen who had dared cross into the Moon Kingdom centuries ago. His birth had nearly killed her. His hunger was unnatural, his strength beyond reason. And worst of all, they said anyone who shared his bed… died. They called him the monster prince. The cursed lycan. The third son. Mother jolted me from my thoughts with a gentle nudge of her shoulder. She smiled warmly, her red hair — the same rare shade I’d been lucky enough to inherit — cascading over her shoulders. A delicate tiara rested on her head, a quiet display of her rank: wife of the royal commander of the King’s Guard. My father had fought countless battles — against vampires, rogues, even other packs — and returned from each one victorious. His skill had earned him the title that carried both honor and weight: the King’s Guard and Royal Commander. “Tonight is your night, Wen,” Mother said, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. She always made me feel small when she did that, in the way only a mother could. “Yes, Mother. And I bet Kaelen and I are destined together,” I replied, my gaze already scanning the crowd. And there he was— My heart sank. He was speaking to another girl, smiling in that easy, charming way that had drawn me in years ago. Mother followed my gaze and patted my shoulder. “There is always another lad, Wen. And besides, tonight is about you and your wolf. I wonder—will you be red? Black? Silver?” She meant well, but Kaelen was one of the reasons I’d been counting down the days to this ceremony. One of the reasons I’d chosen this heavy gown, hoping he’d notice. Her voice faded into the background as I got lost in my thoughts. “Excuse me, Wen. Your father needs me.” I glanced past her to see Father gesturing for her to come, my brother standing at his side as always. I smiled at her retreating figure, then looked around the hall. Sera stood in a corner with her friends, twirling a strand of her chestnut hair. Her eyes kept flicking toward someone, her lips curving in a secret smile. I followed her gaze and, of course, it led straight to Kaelis Duskbane — the King’s second son. They smiled at each other, and I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if they turned out to be mates. So far, neither of them had found theirs. The King’s deep voice cut through the low hum of conversation, his throat-clearing loud enough to echo against the vaulted ceiling. The hall fell silent — so silent that Sareth Morrath’s whispered prayers to the Moon Goddess could be heard. “All hail the Moon and her blessings,” he declared. “All hail,” the packs echoed. My lips shaped the words without sound. “Tonight, we welcome the new packs.” I began to make my way toward the center of the hall, the heavy skirts of my gown slowing my steps. I nearly stumbled — and would have, if strong arms hadn’t caught me. “Watch your step, miss,” a deep, familiar voice murmured. The world tilted. My breath caught as I met those striking grey eyes I’d missed more than I cared to admit. Straightening, I smiled, both embarrassed and grateful for his ever-heroic timing. “Thank you, I—I…” The words tangled awkwardly on my tongue. Kaelen’s soft laugh wrapped around me like warmth. “You look beautiful tonight, Wen. You always do, but tonight… you’re something else.” Heat rushed to my cheeks. “Thank you, Kaelen.” “You’re welcome. And tonight, I’ll be watching you—” He pointed toward the very corner where that other girl still stood. My smile faltered. Why there? I forced a polite smile and bowed slightly before walking away. “Be a red wolf!” he called after me. I forced a small smile over my shoulder and kept walking. My heart was still racing from Kaelen’s words when something made me slow. A flicker of movement caught my eye — up on the shadowed balcony above the hall. Someone was standing there, half hidden in the darkness, though the moonlight caught just enough to illuminate sharp cheekbones and eyes that gleamed like liquid silver. Our gazes locked. It was only for a heartbeat, but it felt as if the air had been yanked from my lungs. The noise of the hall faded. My pulse thundered in my ears. And then he was gone, swallowed by the shadows before I could even blink.