The Rival Alpha's Chosen Luna

The Funeral invitation

The words echoed in Lucien's mind.

Protect Elara. They're coming.

He read the note a second time.

Then a third.

The handwriting was unmistakably Alpha Gareth's.

But something didn't make sense.

"He was alive when he wrote this," Darius said quietly.

Lucien nodded.

"He knew he was going to die."

The realization settled over them like a dark cloud.

This wasn't an accident.

Someone had planned it.

Elara noticed the change in Lucien's expression.

"What happened?"

For a moment, he considered lying.

Then he remembered the promise he had made to himself the day he found her.

No more lies.

"Alpha Gareth is dead."

The words hit Elara like a physical blow.

"What?"

She stared at him in disbelief.

"He... he can't be."

"He was alive two days ago."

"He was."

Tears welled in her eyes.

Despite everything that had happened, Alpha Gareth had never treated her cruelly.

He had remained silent.

And somehow...

That silence now felt like a burden she would never understand.

Lucien stepped closer.

"I'm sorry."

She nodded numbly.

"When... when is the funeral?"

"Tomorrow."

Elara looked toward the mountains where Silver Fang lay hidden beyond the forest.

"I should go."

The words left her mouth before she could stop them.

The courtyard fell silent.

Darius looked at Lucien.

Every warrior waited for his answer.

Lucien's jaw tightened.

"No."

Elara turned sharply.

"No?"

"It's too dangerous."

"He was my Alpha."

"He was."

"I owe him my respect."

"And I owe you your life."

His voice remained calm, but his eyes carried a warning she had never seen before.

"If you leave this castle..."

"I can't guarantee your safety."

Elara folded her arms.

"So I'm a prisoner?"

Lucien's expression darkened.

"If you were my prisoner..."

His voice dropped.

"...you wouldn't be standing here arguing with me."

Before she could answer, Mother Agnes hurried into the courtyard carrying another letter.

"My Alpha."

"It came with the first one."

Lucien accepted it.

Unlike the previous message, this one bore the official seal of Silver Fang.

He opened it.

His eyes narrowed.

"What is it?" Darius asked.

"It's addressed to Elara."

Lucien handed her the letter.

Her hands trembled as she unfolded it.

She immediately recognized Ryder's handwriting.

Elara,

If this letter reaches you, please come home for my father's funeral.

There are things I should have told you before I rejected you. Things I can no longer keep hidden.

If you don't come... more people will die.

Please.

This is the last thing I'll ever ask of you.

—Ryder

Elara lowered the letter slowly.

Her heart was racing.

"He says people will die."

Lucien's face remained unreadable.

"He wants you to believe that."

"But what if he's telling the truth?"

"He rejected you in front of the entire pack."

"I know."

"He banished you."

"I know."

"He let you walk into the Shadow Forest alone."

Every word felt like another crack in the fragile wall around her heart.

Lucien stepped closer.

His voice softened.

"I won't tell you what to choose."

Her eyes met his.

"But if you decide to go..."

"I'll be right beside you."

For the first time since arriving at Blood Moon...

Elara smiled.

A small, grateful smile.

"Thank you."

Before Lucien could respond, a deafening explosion shook the castle.

The ground trembled violently.

Stone rained from the outer walls.

A terrified guard burst into the courtyard.

"My Alpha!"

"The western tower..."

"It's gone!"

Smoke billowed into the sky.

In the distance, the warning bells began ringing once more.

The enemy hadn't waited for nightfall.

They had come...

To break into Blood Moon itself.