The Moonstone Curse

Ivory Eclipse

Zeke POV

If Livia knew the true reason for our journey here, she would not willingly sit beside Damon, the Beta of Ivory Eclipse. He'd have to drag her by her legs, her nails clawing at the ground, desperate to get back to her pack. She's safest within these forbidden woods, nestled among the mountains, but her steady loyalty to her pack will become her chains, binding her to a life I refuse to let her endure.

It's true; I do want to consult their shaman, to get answers as to why the goddess intertwined Livia's fate with mine. What purpose does she serve? Is she destined to be my true mate, the one who’ll stand beside me in battle, altering the path of our packs? Or am I meant to love her and set her free—to leave her among her true family, hoping she finds happiness in my absence?

The thought of setting her free sends a sharp pang through my chest, one I can’t ignore. Every instinct in me screams to claim her, to bind her to me forever, but is that fair? Could I condemn her to a life under the weight of my father’s curse, or is setting her free the real act of love? My heart pulls in both directions—desperation to keep her close and the painful thought that perhaps letting her go would be the only way to protect her.

However, the underlying truth behind our arrival here is to leave Livia and Calista within the sanctuary of this hidden wolf pack, where they are safe from my father’s abuse.

My father’s ambition knows no bounds; he craves dominion over the entire world. He seeks to make humans, witches, and wolves alike bow before him—under his merciless rule. Livia is his meal ticket. Her bloodline carries the legacy of two Alphas. If she were to bear his or my pups, their DNA would intertwine with that of all three clans, giving them superiority over the others.

This is why he conquered her pack and killed her family. It wasn’t due to her father’s alleged insult; it was because, once he discovered her true identity and her unique lineage, he couldn’t resist claiming her as his own. He knows that she could be the key to keeping up his ruthless reign.

“You have competition,” Rowan links, teasing me about Livia giggling at something Damon said.

I shrug because there is no room for feelings, not until I talk to the shaman, not until I know for sure if she is meant for me. Sure, I want to rip Damon’s throat out with my teeth, roll on his corpse, coating my fur in his blood, and then I want to prance around Livia and show her that I am the only one she will ever touch again.

But, that would be a bit extreme if my path was not meant to lead back to her.

Livia’s laughter rings through the air, light and free as she leans toward Damon, brushing her hand against his arm playfully. I clench my fists under the table, my knuckles turning white. Her laughter, normally a beautiful sound, twists like a dagger in my chest. Does she know what she’s doing? Or is she simply unaware of the fire she’s stoking inside me? My control is slipping, and the primal urge to stake my claim is crawling up my spine. I don’t want to lose her, not now, not ever.

An involuntary, uncontrollable growl escapes my chest, its severity enough to silence all the chatter around us. Rowan and Cali both stare at me in surprise, while Sage smirks with amusement.

I push my chair back with a sharp scrape, the sudden movement causing the utensils on the table to rattle. I need to put distance between them and me before I lose control and reveal the depth of my frustration. Standing up, I rise with an air of controlled poise, every movement calculated. My shoulders tense, and I straighten to my full height, drawing the attention of the others around the table. With a subtle but deliberate shift in my body language, I convey a silent message of authority and dominance, a wolf’s warning to those who might challenge his territory.

“I need to see the shaman,” I bark, my voice carrying the undertones of a barely restrained alpha, as if I could hardly wait another moment.

Knitting his brows together, Damon shakes his head. “I told you, Whitefang, the shaman is up in the mountains paying tribute to the goddess. You will have to wait until after the ceremony.”

“What ceremony?” Livia asks him curiously, ignoring me completely like she has been doing since I claimed her as my mate back in the woods. As soon as she felt she finally had an ally, she hasn’t once looked my way.

Damon grins, “Our pack is holding a bonding ceremony tonight. Three of our young warriors have chosen mates. They are getting them ready now.”

Livia’s eyes light up brighter than I’ve ever seen them, and for some odd reason, it makes my heart ache. I should be happy that she’s been glowing ever since she learned about the secret pack tucked off in the woods. While Damon talks about preserving ancient traditions, her smile gleams brighter than the northern star.

I should have known she was a dreamer, someone who fantasized about the world we once knew. It’s written into her DNA. She was born for a life of traditions, of fated mates and rituals.

“Let’s go talk to the Alpha and Luna. Make sure they are still willing to take the girls in,” Rowan links. I nod my agreement and take off toward the great hall. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rowan and Sage following, leaving my mate in the hands of their witch.

“Ezekiel, what a pleasant surprise.” The Luna drops the roses she's clipping into a jar and saunters over to us, throwing her arms around my neck and squeezing hard. She holds me out at arm’s length but peers over my shoulder at the twins. “You boys are just in time. We are holding a bonding ceremony tonight and have a few more unmated females.” She wiggles her eyebrows at them. “Interested?”

Rowan declines like a gentleman, but Sage raises his brows, intrigued. “Depends, Luna Aspen. Have you suddenly become available?”

I laugh when Alpha Jaxon comes into view. He slings his arm around Sage’s shoulder with a cocky grin. “I’m available.” Sage freezes, embarrassed that Alpha Jaxon caught him flirting with his young mate. Jaxon laughs and makes a kissy face at Sage, taunting him with his joke.

Sage squirms out of his grip and retreats to the other side of the room, where a plate of cookies catches his attention. He points to them and asks the Luna for one, dismissing the Alpha's banter. She shrugs him off and kisses Jaxon, greeting him warmly.

“You three are back rather early. We were not expecting you until the spring. Is everything alright?” Jaxon asks as he pulls a snipped rose out of a nearby vase. He sticks it under his nose and sniffs it before handing it to Aspen in a romantic gesture.

“My father slaughtered the Moonstone’s alpha, taking the princess and most of the pack as prisoners,” I tell him straight up, no sugarcoating.

Aspen gasps and drops her clippers, her hand covering her mouth. “No,” she exclaims, horrified.

The alpha’s expression holds the weight of his emotions, but he does not break; he waits for me to finish my explanation, knowing there must be more for me to have come back. So, I continue. “My father’s plan is to use her to create his army. She is one of yours, and I want her to stay in your safety.” Rowan clears his throat with a reminder, “Oh, and our witch, she helped the princess terminate an unwanted pregnancy, so she will need refuge away from him too.”

Aspen comes around the counter and folds her arms around Jaxon, laying her cheek against his chest. “She is your niece, Jay.” She peers up at him with tears in her eyes. “We cannot let that be her fate.”

Knowing there is more to the story, Jaxon glares at me with suspicion. “Why do you care so much about her? Isn’t Moonstone your enemy?”

“I do not have enemies. I believe in our traditions and know the importance of a diverse world.” I answer with what he has taught me. We are all equal, no being above another.

The corners of his lips curl, a proud moment for my mentor, but his moment is lived short when Rowan interrupts, telling him the other part of the story. “And she’s his fated mate. A gift from our dear Goddess.”