Chapter Two: Adelaide's POV
1207 Words
Beata, my omega friend from Frostfang, was waiting inside.
After I showered and changed my wet clothes, I sat down to comb my hair. I told Beata everything that happened.
Beata started crying.
"Luna Adelaide, Alpha Ulrik is so mean. He's your mate—how could he do this?"
"Stop crying," I said sharply. "He never really marked me. That bite on my neck was just a scratch. He's not my true mate. Now go get the Frostfang money records."
"Why do you need those?" Beata wiped her eyes.
I tapped her ear.
"Think, Beata. If Bloodmoon's Alpha treats me like trash, why should I stay and work for them?"
Beata rubbed her ear where I tapped it.
"But the agreement—your mother Luna Airella arranged it. Alpha Bentley wanted you to have strong babies."
Hearing my mother's name made me bite my lip hard.
My father and mother were true mates for life. They had six sons and one daughter—me.
My brothers went with my father to fight for the Lycan King. All of them died three years ago in the Silvermoon Canyon battle.
I was born into Frostfang. I had so many brothers that I would never be Alpha. But my father still sent me away to train.
In Shadow Peaks, I learned hunting, fighting, and planning from the old teachers.
When I was fifteen, I found my wolf and changed shape for the first time.
But when I came home, Frostfang was destroyed. My father and all my brothers were dead from that same battle.
My mother's wolf got weaker without her mate.
She held me and whispered, "Find a strong Alpha. Have strong babies under the full moon. You're my last bit of moonlight."
My heart felt empty. I couldn't even cry. Just a howl stuck in my throat.
I trained to be a Luna—someone who helps the Alpha and takes care of everyone in the pack.
Then my mother chose Ulrik for me. She did it because he promised to make me his Luna and honor our bond.
But six months ago, Frostfang was attacked again.
Every wolf—old ones with white fur, babies still drinking milk, even the guards—was killed.
My youngest nephew, barely old enough to eat solid food, was nailed to the moon altar.
When the Lycan King's guards came, they caught only a few killers. They were Bloodtooth wolves with their pack symbol on their bodies.
They didn't care about hiding. Their cruelty was revenge for something.
By the time I got there, I found only my mother and grandmother's bodies.
Now Frostfang had only me left. I was the only one without a mate.
To the mean old pack leaders, rebuilding Frostfang was a joke. To them, a female without a mate was just decoration.
But Velda was different. She killed a northern tribe leader and became the first female to earn the Bloodclaw Medal.
With her helping Ulrik, his path would be easier. No wonder his family agreed to let her join Bloodmoon as Luna.
Beata brought the Frostfang money list.
"You paid six million for Bloodmoon's costs this year. The mines, houses, and land are still untouched. All your mother Luna Airella's bank accounts and property papers are locked in the safe."
I looked at the list. My mother prepared all this to make sure I would be happy. How sad she would be to see me now.
My wolf whined with pain inside me.
"Where can we go, Adelaide?" Beata asked. "Back to Frostfang?"
I remembered Frostfang's plaza covered in blood.
My heart hurt.
"Anywhere is better than here," I said.
"But won't Ulrik be happy if we leave?" Beata said angrily.
"Let him be happy," I said flatly. "Staying here means watching them love each other forever. Beata, I'm the only one left from Frostfang. I need to live well to honor my parents and brothers. The Moon Goddess will watch over us."
"Adelaide!" Beata sobbed.
I knew her pain. Everyone she loved died in Frostfang's attack too.
"Is there no other way?" she asked.
"There is one way," I said. My voice sounded like my wolf's growl.
I touched the fading mark on my neck. Moonlight from the candle made wolf shadows on the walls.
"I'll go to the Lycan King."
I pricked my finger on the mark. Silver-blue blood stained my shirt.
"I'll use my family's war rewards to ask him to cancel the order."
Beata turned pale.
"Don't! The Lycan King won't agree—he'll be so angry. He has powers stronger than regular shifters. Don't risk it."
"Do you think I'm stupid?" I smiled a little. "If the Lycan King let Ulrik and Velda be together, he can let me leave Bloodmoon."
I wouldn't leave as a deserter or an exile.
As the last of Frostfang's Alpha bloodline—one of the strongest packs in the kingdom—I would leave with my head high.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Luna Adelaide, Luna Rosemary wants to see you," a voice said from outside.
I pushed down my wolf's anger and stood up.
"Let's go," I said.
The rain had stopped. Sunset colored the Bloodmoon Pack plaza. Autumn wind blew toward the packhouse.
Bloodmoon's territory was a gift from the old Lycan King. It used to be strong.
Now it was fading.
The Tenar family had no power with the current king. They had no important positions in the royal council.
Only Alpha Ulrik and his brother Simon fought for the Lycan King.
The old Alpha's brother stayed in the pack and refused to start his own family.
With fewer and fewer members, Bloodmoon got weaker.
Beata and I reached Luna Rosemary's house. She looked healthy.
She sat on a black sofa. Her claws tapped the armrest as a greeting.
Other people were there too. Simon and his mate Tamara, Ulrik's sister Sabrina, even the old Alpha's brother.
"May the moonlight bless you, elder family, loyal friends," I said. I bowed so they could see the healing mark on my neck.
"Come closer," Luna Rosemary said. Her silver fur shined. "The north winds finally brought your mate home. Frostfang's revenge will happen."
I asked calmly, "Have you met Velda today?"
Luna Rosemary's smile flickered, then came back.
"Met her? She's as rough as sandpaper, though she's not as pretty as you."
I kept looking at her.
"So you don't like her?"
Luna Rosemary forced a smile.
"Likes and dislikes take time. Since the Lycan King spoke, it's decided. Velda will fight with Ulrik, and you'll manage the pack as Luna. Perfect."
"Perfect," I said. My smile was sharp. "A warrior like her just making babies—what a waste."
Luna Rosemary laughed.
"The Lycan King's order makes her a Luna too, just like you."
"Two Lunas? Is that even tradition?" I asked.
Luna Rosemary's voice got colder.
"You've done well, Adelaide, but a Luna's job is to support the Alpha."
"With Velda here, she can do it easily," I said.
"But Velda's always at war," Luna Rosemary said. "You're the one here managing the pack."
I turned to Tamara.
"You're a Beta's daughter. You were trained for this. You can do it."
- Writer
