The Rival Alpha's Chosen Luna

Welcome Home

Elara stared at the stranger in disbelief.

"I've finally found you."

His deep voice lingered in the cool forest air, sending a strange shiver down her spine.

She instinctively took a step back.

"You... know me?"

The man didn't answer immediately.

Instead, his molten-gold eyes traveled over her face, as if reassuring himself she was real.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"I know enough."

His answer only confused her more.

Elara tightened the coat around her shoulders.

"Who are you?"

Before he could respond, the forest erupted with movement.

More wolves.

Huge black wolves burst from between the trees, surrounding the clearing with military precision.

Elara's pulse quickened.

There were at least twenty of them.

Every single one lowered its head toward the stranger.

They weren't preparing to attack.

They were bowing.

One by one, they shifted into human form.

Each wore black leather armor embroidered with a crimson wolf crest.

The man closest to the stranger knelt on one knee.

"My Alpha."

Elara's breath caught.

Alpha?

Her eyes widened as realization struck.

Only one Alpha in the kingdom commanded wolves dressed in crimson.

Blood Moon.

The rival pack.

The man before her was...

Alpha Lucien Draven.

The most feared Alpha in the werewolf world.

Every terrifying story she'd heard as a child flooded back into her mind.

They said he was ruthless.

Merciless.

A killer who showed no compassion.

Yet only moments ago...

He had saved her.

Lucien noticed the fear in her eyes.

"I assume you've heard the stories."

Elara swallowed hard.

"A few."

"A few lies."

His calm reply caught her off guard.

Before she could think of another question, the Beta who had knelt rose to his feet.

He was broad-shouldered, with dark brown hair streaked by a faint silver scar across his temple.

"Alpha," he said quietly. "The scouts have confirmed Silver Fang's patrols are searching the forest."

Lucien didn't even glance at him.

"They're too late."

His eyes never left Elara.

The Beta finally looked at her.

His stern expression softened.

"So..."

"This is her."

Lucien nodded once.

"Yes."

The Beta smiled—a genuine smile.

"Welcome, my Lady."

Elara blinked.

"I think you've mistaken me for someone else."

"We haven't."

"I'm not your Lady."

"No?"

The Beta's smile widened.

"Then why did our Alpha cross half the kingdom the moment he heard the Moon Crystal had shattered?"

Elara looked at Lucien.

He offered no explanation.

Instead, he extended his hand toward her.

"Come with me."

She hesitated.

"I don't even know you."

"You know one thing."

"What?"

Lucien's golden eyes darkened.

"I didn't abandon you."

The words hit her harder than she expected.

Images of Ryder turning his back on her flashed through her mind.

Pain tightened her chest.

Lucien lowered his hand.

"I won't force you."

"You won't?"

"No."

"If I say no?"

"I'll make sure you reach the nearest human town safely."

Elara stared at him.

This wasn't the monster she'd been warned about.

Monsters didn't offer choices.

Monsters didn't drape their coats over frightened strangers.

Monsters didn't protect people they didn't know.

So why...

Why did he keep looking at her as though she'd been missing from his life?

A distant horn echoed through the forest.

One of Lucien's warriors stiffened.

"Silver Fang scouts."

Lucien finally turned toward the sound.

"They're closer than expected."

His Beta frowned.

"They'll find her tracks."

"They won't."

Lucien looked back at Elara.

"This is your last chance."

She glanced toward the direction of her former pack.

They had rejected her.

Banished her.

Thrown her into the Shadow Forest to die.

No one had come looking for her.

Not even Ryder.

Slowly...

She placed her trembling hand into Lucien's.

His fingers closed gently around hers.

For the briefest moment, a pulse of silver light flashed between their joined hands.

Lucien's eyes widened.

His Beta sucked in a sharp breath.

"The mark..."

Lucien immediately released her hand, his expression unreadable.

"Take us home."

Before Elara could ask what had happened, the warriors shifted into massive black wolves.

Lucien looked over his shoulder and met her confused gaze.

Then, with the faintest smile, he said,

"Welcome to Blood Moon."