Chapter 6 – The Hunt Festival
1590 Words
The Hunt Festival was the most important celebration in Black Hollow.
For generations, it marked the beginning of the winter hunting season—a sacred tradition honoring the Moon Goddess, the strength of the pack, and the bloodlines that would carry Black Hollow into the future.
Normally, Lyra loved it.
She loved the glowing lanterns hanging from towering pine trees, the smell of roasted meat drifting through the cold air, the sound of drums echoing through the mountains while wolves danced around massive bonfires beneath the moon.
But this year…
Everything felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Snow blanketed the festival grounds outside the pack house while hundreds of wolves gathered in ceremonial furs and dark silver clothing. Warriors laughed loudly near the fire pits while children chased each other between market stalls overflowing with wine, jewelry, and carved hunting weapons.
Music filled the night.
Yet Lyra had never felt more alone.
“You look beautiful tonight, Luna.”
Lyra turned slightly as Mara adjusted the silver cloak resting over her shoulders.
“Thank you.”
The elderly maid smiled sadly.
“You should smile more tonight.”
Lyra forced one carefully. “Like this?”
Mara sighed softly. “A real smile, child.”
Lyra looked away toward the glowing festival grounds below her balcony.
She couldn’t remember the last time smiling felt natural.
A knock sounded behind them.
“Enter.”
One of the younger servants stepped inside nervously.
“Luna… Alpha Kael requests your presence outside.”
Of course he did.
Lyra inhaled slowly before nodding.
“I’ll come now.”
—
The moment Lyra stepped onto the main festival grounds, conversations quieted briefly.
Every head turned toward her.
Because regardless of the whispers…
Regardless of the tension…
Luna Lyra was still breathtaking.
Silver hair flowed over her fur-lined cloak like moonlight itself, while the delicate silver markings painted along her throat and wrists symbolized her rank as Black Hollow’s Luna.
Several wolves bowed respectfully.
“Luna.”
“Blessed evening, Luna Lyra.”
She greeted them gracefully while searching the crowd for Kael.
Her gaze found him immediately near the central bonfire.
And her heart sank.
Selene stood beside him holding the infant while Kael spoke with elders and neighboring Alphas. The child wore ceremonial black furs embroidered with the Black Hollow crest.
A future heir’s colors.
Lyra slowed her steps.
No.
Surely not.
General Rowan noticed her first and bowed.
“Luna Lyra.”
Kael turned at the sound of her name.
For a brief second, something softened in his eyes.
“You’re late.”
The warmth disappeared instantly.
Lyra swallowed the sting quietly.
“The preparations took longer than expected.”
Selene smiled gently. “You truly look stunning tonight.”
“You look lovely as well.”
The infant suddenly reached toward Kael, making soft noises.
Kael immediately took him from Selene’s arms with practiced ease.
The sight drew approving murmurs from nearby elders.
“Strong grip already.”
“The child will become a fine Alpha someday.”
“Black Hollow is fortunate.”
Lyra felt her stomach twist painfully.
Then Elder Magnus stepped forward holding a ceremonial silver staff.
“Alpha Kael,” the old wolf announced loudly, “the Hunt Blessing ceremony is prepared.”
The surrounding crowd quieted immediately.
Traditionally, the Alpha and Luna stood together during the blessing ceremony to symbolize unity between strength and wisdom within the pack.
Every year since becoming Luna, Lyra had stood beside Kael before the sacred fire while the elders blessed the coming winter.
Kael glanced briefly toward Lyra.
Then—
“Selene,” he said calmly, “stand beside me.”
The world stopped.
Lyra stared at him.
Surely she misheard.
But Selene froze in equal shock.
“Kael…” she whispered nervously. “I shouldn’t.”
“The child carries Black Hollow blood,” Kael replied firmly. “Tonight’s blessing is for the future of this pack.”
The surrounding wolves immediately began whispering.
Lyra felt every single stare in the crowd.
Every whisper.
Every flicker of pity.
Elder Magnus hesitated awkwardly. “Alpha… traditionally, the Luna—”
“This is my decision.”
His voice silenced the elder instantly.
Selene looked horrified now.
“Kael, this will upset people.”
“It’s fine.”
No.
It wasn’t fine.
Not even close.
Lyra stood completely motionless as Kael guided Selene beside him near the sacred bonfire.
The infant rested against Kael’s chest while Selene stood at his side beneath the firelight.
Together—
They looked like a family.
The realization hit so hard it nearly stole Lyra’s breath.
Around her, whispers spread rapidly through the crowd.
“Did he replace the Luna in the ceremony?”
“Maybe because Selene carries the heir now.”
“I heard the Luna still hasn’t conceived.”
“How humiliating…”
Lyra’s fingers curled tightly beneath her cloak.
Still.
She remained perfectly composed.
Because a Luna never broke publicly.
Never.
Elder Magnus reluctantly began the ceremony.
“Before the Moon Goddess, we honor the hunters, the protectors, and the future blood of Black Hollow…”
The words blurred together painfully.
Lyra barely heard anything.
All she could see was Kael standing beside another woman during a ceremony that once belonged to them.
A ceremony symbolizing mate unity.
Family.
Legacy.
And Kael had replaced her without hesitation.
The sacred fire crackled violently as the elders raised their hands toward the moon.
“May Black Hollow remain strong through winter.”
The crowd echoed loudly.
“May Black Hollow remain strong!”
Kael rested one protective hand against the child’s back.
Selene stood quietly beside him beneath the silver firelight.
And Lyra suddenly realized something horrifying.
They looked right together.
Not because they loved each other.
Not because they intended betrayal.
But because Kael instinctively centered his world around people who needed him.
And lately—
That person was no longer her.
The ceremony finally ended to loud applause and celebration.
Music erupted again while warriors returned to drinking and dancing around the bonfires.
Lyra turned immediately.
She needed air.
Needed distance before the humiliation shattered her completely.
But before she could escape, someone stepped directly into her path.
Golden eyes met hers.
Darius.
Of course.
The Nightfang Alpha wore dark ceremonial leathers lined with silver wolf fur, making him appear even larger and more dangerous beneath the moonlight.
Unlike everyone else, he wasn’t looking at the celebration.
He was looking at her.
Specifically her.
“You look furious,” he observed calmly.
Lyra forced her expression blank. “Move.”
Darius didn’t.
Instead, his gaze shifted briefly toward the sacred bonfire where Kael still stood beside Selene speaking with elders.
Something cold flickered behind Darius’s eyes.
“Interesting choice,” he murmured.
Lyra’s composure cracked slightly.
“You should mind your own business.”
“I would,” Darius replied lazily, “if your mate wasn’t publicly disrespecting you.”
Heat rushed painfully into her face.
Not because he was wrong.
Because he noticed.
Again.
Darius stepped slightly closer, lowering his voice.
“Do all Black Hollow traditions involve humiliating their Luna?”
Lyra inhaled sharply.
“You know nothing about our traditions.”
“No,” he agreed calmly. “But I know what I just saw.”
His gaze sharpened dangerously.
“And I know that every male in this territory noticed it too.”
That hurt the most.
Because he was right.
Every wolf here witnessed her replacement tonight.
The humiliation would spread across neighboring territories by morning.
Darius studied her silently for several seconds.
Then his voice lowered further.
“Your control is impressive.”
Lyra frowned slightly.
“What?”
“If another Alpha humiliated my mate publicly,” Darius said softly, “I would’ve buried him beneath that fire pit already.”
The possessiveness in his tone startled her deeply.
“You speak as though I belong to you.”
Golden eyes darkened briefly.
“I’m speaking as a male watching another male make a terrible mistake.”
Before Lyra could respond, Kael’s voice suddenly cut through the crowd.
“Lyra.”
She turned immediately.
Kael approached them with visible tension in his expression.
The moment his eyes landed on Darius standing too close beside her, his jaw tightened.
“Is there a problem here?”
Darius smirked faintly. “Not yet.”
Kael ignored him and looked directly at Lyra.
“You disappeared.”
A bitter laugh nearly escaped her.
“You seemed occupied.”
Something unreadable flickered across Kael’s face.
Behind him, Selene stood several feet away holding the child awkwardly while clearly sensing the tension.
Kael lowered his voice slightly.
“The ceremony upset you.”
Not a question.
A fact.
Finally.
Finally he noticed.
Lyra stared at him beneath the cold moonlight.
“You replaced me tonight.”
Kael exhaled heavily. “It wasn’t like that.”
“Then explain it to me.”
The surrounding noise of the festival suddenly felt distant.
Muted.
Kael glanced briefly toward the watching crowd.
“They were blessing the future heir of Black Hollow.”
The words shattered something inside her.
Because he didn’t even realize what he had admitted.
Future heir.
Not nephew.
Not child.
Heir.
Darius’s expression darkened dangerously beside her.
But Lyra simply smiled.
A small, broken smile.
“I understand now.”
Kael frowned immediately. “Lyra—”
“Enjoy your festival, Alpha.”
Then she turned and walked away into the falling snow while whispers followed her through the crowd like ghosts.
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