A Luna For The Reaper

Chapter 2

(Thirteen Years Later)

Aloha stared at her reflection, smoothing the silk of her sapphire-blue gown, a dress worth more than most pack families earned in an entire year. Her platinum ice hair, inherited from her mother, cascaded down her back in elegant waves. Her skin was flawless, scented with jasmine and moonflower oil.

She looked like royalty, smelled like the perfect Alpha’s daughter, but it didn’t help her low self esteem.

“You can stare at the mirror for as long as you want, Aloha. It won’t change what you are.”

Aloha didn’t need to turn around to recognize the voice.

Vivienne stood in the doorway.

Her half-sister had a remarkable talent for draining the warmth from any room she entered. At twenty-four, Vivienne was stunning in a cold, dangerous way, possessing her mother’s golden hair and piercing blue eyes. Her mother, Cassandra, had been exiled thirteen years ago after she was exposed for assassinating Aloha’s mom. Few of the pack members voted for her to be executed. But the council members decided to temper justice with mercy.

Vivienne had never forgiven Aloha for it.

In her eyes, every lonely year her mother spent in exile was Aloha’s fault.

Slowly, Aloha turned to face her.

“Hello, Vivienne. Did you come to wish me a happy engagement?”

Vivienne laughed. The sound of her laughter was unpleasant. Sending chills down Aloha’s spine.

“Happy engagement ?” she mocked. “Is that what you this event? So pathetic. You’re eighteen today, dear sister and still no sign of your wolf.

She inhaled dramatically before wrinkling her nose.

“Nothing. You still smell like the weak human you are.

Aloha’s hands clenched into fists beneath the folds of her gown.

It was the one insult she could never defend herself against.

In a world where shifting was as natural as breathing, she was an anomaly.

Her wolf remained silent, buried somewhere deep within her soul.

“Lucien doesn’t seem to mind,” Aloha replied evenly, despite the anxiety fluttering in her chest. “He’ll be here within the hour.”

Vivienne’s expression darkened instantly. The mention of Lucien always struck a nerve.

Lucien the future Alpha of the Nightfang Pack, powerful, wealthy, and deviously handsome, had chosen Aloha, the girl without a wolf, not her

“Lucien is a politician,” Vivienne spat, stepping farther into the room. She picked up the small velvet box resting on the vanity—Alpha Draven’s engagement gift.

Opening it, she revealed an intricate silver hair comb adorned with moonlit wolves.

“He wants an alliance with Father,” Vivienne continued. “Don’t fool yourself into believing he actually loves you. The moment he realizes you’re wolfless, he’ll throw you away like garbage.”

“Put that down.” The warning in Aloha’s voice was sharp.

Vivienne smirked, dangling the comb carelessly.

“and if I don’t? You’ll shift and attack me? Oh, wait. You can’t.”

“Vivienne!” The thunderous voice echoed through the doorway.

Both ladies froze.

Alpha Draven Blackthorn stood in the hallway.

Though still powerful, streaks of silver now threaded through his dark hair. Years had passed, but the grief of losing Elara remained etched into every line of his face.

Vivienne immediately dropped the comb on the dressing table. Her expression switching from venom to innocence in an instant.

“I was only helping her get ready, Father. She’s nervous about tonight’s engagement announcement.”

But Draven wasn’t fooled.

He fixed Vivienne with a stare so commanding that she immediately lowered her gaze.

“Go downstairs,” he ordered. “Help your sister organize the wines..”

Vivienne cast one final hateful glare at Aloha before leaving the room.

The silence she left behind felt heavy.

Draven walked over and picked up the silver comb.

His thumb brushed over the delicate engraving.

Moonlit wolves dancing beneath a crescent moon.

“This belonged to your mother,” he said quietly.

“She wore it the night we met.”

Stepping behind Aloha, he carefully tucked the comb into her platinum hair.

Their eyes met in the mirror. Pride shone in his gaze and so did fear.

An Alpha’s daughter without a wolf was vulnerable in ways neither of them liked to admit.

“You look beautiful, little moon,” he murmured.

The childhood nickname made Aloha smile.

“Does he treat you well?”

“He’s perfect, Father,” she lied.

She had to believe it. Lucien was her future.

The only person outside her family who didn’t look at her with pity or disdain.

Again and again, he had assured her that her wolf would awaken when the time was right.

He was patient and Kind. Or at least he seemed to be.

“He’s my mate,” she added softly, clinging to the hope like armor. “He said he felt the bond.”

Draven nodded, though concern still lingered in his eyes.

“Good. Because tomorrow you’ll leave for Nightfang territory. Once you’re there, I won’t be able to protect you anymore.” Her father’s expression darkened. “The Nightfang Pack is powerful and dangerous.”

“I’ll be fine dad.” Aloha stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.

She buried her face against his chest, breathing in the familiar scent of home.

“Just tell me you will miss me.”she whispered

“You know I miss you more than anything in the world “ her father replied almost in tears.

“Then I just have to survive the coming days” she replied confidently.

Alpha Draven nodded in affirmation.

But neither of them realized how true those words would become.

Outside the towering windows, a storm was gathering.

Aloha found herself staring at the approaching storm.

A shiver crawled down her spine. She could feel it, somewhere beyond the safety of Blackthorn territory, something was waiting for her.

Something that would change her life forever and it wasn’t a wedding.