The Rival Alpha's Chosen Luna

Return To The Silver Fangs

The sun had barely risen when the gates of Blood Moon Castle opened.

A procession of twenty elite warriors rode out in perfect formation.

At their head was Lucien.

Beside him rode Elara on a magnificent white mare.

She had protested at first.

"I can walk."

Lucien had simply replied,

"Not while you're under my protection."

There had been no room for argument.

As they traveled through the mountain pass, Elara couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching them.

Twice she looked over her shoulder.

Twice she saw nothing.

But the sensation remained.

Hidden among the trees...

A pair of crimson eyes followed every step.

"They're coming," a cloaked figure whispered.

"The trap is ready."

By midday, the towering walls of Silver Fang Pack appeared on the horizon.

Elara's chest tightened.

Only three days ago, those gates had been her home.

Now...

She wasn't sure what they were.

The guards on the wall spotted the Blood Moon banners.

Alarm horns sounded immediately.

"Blood Moon warriors!"

"Open the outer gate!"

"Prepare the defense!"

Within moments, dozens of Silver Fang warriors gathered inside the entrance.

Lucien raised one hand.

"We come under the ancient laws of mourning."

The warriors hesitated.

Even rival packs honored funeral rites.

To refuse entry would disgrace the Moon Goddess herself.

The gates slowly creaked open.

As Elara crossed the threshold, whispers spread through the crowd.

"Isn't that Elara?"

"The rejected girl..."

"No..."

"She's with Alpha Lucien."

"And look..."

One woman gasped.

"She's wearing his cloak."

Every eye turned toward the black cloak draped over Elara's shoulders.

The Blood Moon crest embroidered on the back fluttered in the breeze.

To everyone watching...

It looked like a public declaration of protection.

Inside the ceremonial hall...

Alpha Gareth's coffin rested beneath the sacred Moon Tree.

White flowers surrounded the platform.

Warriors stood with bowed heads.

The atmosphere was heavy with grief.

Ryder stood at the front of the hall, dressed entirely in black.

His eyes were hollow from sleepless nights.

When the doors opened...

He looked up.

His breath caught.

Elara.

She looked different.

Still beautiful.

But stronger.

There was confidence in the way she carried herself.

Then he noticed the cloak.

Lucien's cloak.

Something inside him shattered.

His wolf howled in agony.

Mate...

For the first time since the rejection, the mating bond surged so violently that Ryder nearly lost his balance.

Elara met his eyes.

She felt it too.

A sharp ache spread through her chest.

She quickly looked away.

Lucien stepped closer to her.

Without a word...

He rested a protective hand against the small of her back.

The gesture was subtle.

But Ryder saw it.

Every person in the hall saw it.

A murmur swept through the mourners.

"Is Blood Moon claiming her?"

"Has she chosen the rival Alpha?"

Ryder's fists clenched.

"No."

The single word escaped before he realized he had spoken aloud.

The room fell silent.

He walked toward them slowly.

Every step echoed across the stone floor.

Until he stood face to face with Lucien.

The two Alphas locked eyes.

The tension between them was suffocating.

"You brought her here."

Lucien's expression remained calm.

"She chose to come."

Ryder looked at Elara.

"I need to speak with you."

Lucien answered before she could.

"She doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to."

Ryder ignored him.

His gaze never left Elara.

"Please."

Just one word.

Yet she heard more pain in it than she ever had before.

She took a slow breath.

"I'll speak with him."

Lucien studied her face for a long moment.

Then he nodded.

"I'll be right outside."

As he walked away, he leaned close enough for only Elara to hear.

"If you call my name..."

His golden eyes softened.

"...I'll come."

Elara watched him leave.

Then she turned back to Ryder.

For several seconds...

Neither of them spoke.

Finally...

Ryder reached into his jacket.

"I've been carrying this since the night we were children."

He pulled out a small silver bracelet.

The one Elara had made for him when they were ten years old.

She had believed he lost it years ago.

Instead...

He had kept it all this time.

His voice broke.

"I never stopped loving you."