His Rogue Luna

TWO

Selene

---

Morning came with a kick to my ribs.

"Up, rogue." The female warrior from yesterday sneered down at me. "Alpha wants the courtyard cleared before breakfast."

I coughed, tasting blood. My whole body ached from sleeping on stone. The dagger in my boot pressed against my ankle—still hidden. Still mine.

Outside, frost coated the ground. The entire pack was gathering near the Moonstone Altar, whispering excitedly.

"What's happening?" I asked a passing omega.

She flinched away like I'd cursed her. "Luna Ceremony tonight. Unmated females present themselves to the Alpha."

My stomach twisted. Of course. Draven would choose a proper mate—some high-ranked, vicious she-wolf who'd make sure I "slipped up."

I grabbed a rusted shovel and started scraping frozen dung from the cobblestones.

Then I heard a giggle.

Livia stood nearby with her Gamma friends, watching me. "A rogue shoveling s**t. How fitting."

I kept shoveling.

She stepped closer. "You know what happens after the ceremony? The Alpha's new mate gets to decide what to do with pests like you."

My grip tightened on the shovel.

"And you must know, our laws don't favor rogues at all, especially with the ruckus you're causing these days."

I've heard of the recent fierce attacks of rogues on packs, but I wasn't bothered as I was neither a pack member or a rogue warrior. I was a lone wolf.

A kitchen boy ran up, panting. "Gamma Livia! The rogue stole a dagger from the Alpha!"

My blood turned to ice.

Livia's smile widened. "Did she now?"

---

Some guards dragged me before Draven at high noon.

Torin stood at his right hand, grinning. Livia at his left, holding the silver dagger I'd hidden under my grain sack.

"My Alpha," she purred. "This rogue stole your blade. Clearly plotting to kill you in your sleep."

The pack growled.

I spat blood on the ground. "Liar."

Draven took the dagger. His face gave nothing away. "This is mine. I gave it at the kitchen and she was supposed to return it. "

"I gave it back!" The lie burst out before I could stop them.

Silence.

Livia's smirk faltered.

Draven turned the dagger in the sunlight. "To who?"

I dropped my eyes and clamped my mouth shut. I wanted to ask why he gave me in the first place since it was such an abominable act, but I'd be accusing him for arming a rogue. A death sentence either way.

Torin stepped forward. "Let me execute her, Alpha. Send a message."

Draven's eyes never left mine. "After the ceremony."

Livia's nails dug into my arm as warriors hauled me away. "Enjoy your last sunset, rogue."

---

They chained me to a post near the altar—a warning to others. My arms burned from the strain. The entire pack gathered as twilight fell, females lining up in glittering gowns.

Livia stood at the front, dressed in moonlight-white silk.

Draven appeared in black furs, his crown of antlers casting long shadows. The crowd bowed.

Then the shaman began chanting.

One by one, the females approached. Livia went first, offering her wrist.

The shaman sliced her palm. "Moon Goddess, bless this blood."

Her blood dripped onto the altar stone.

Nothing happened.

The next female tried. Then the next.

Still nothing.

A murmur spread through the crowd. The Alpha's mate should be chosen tonight.

Then a cold wind blew.

Torches snuffed out.

The moon glowed blood-red.

And my chains shattered.

Every head turned as I collapsed forward, free.

The shaman gasped. "The Moon Goddess speaks!"

A beam of silver light struck me.

My skin burned. I screamed as power ripped through me—and a glowing mark appeared on my wrist.

The Luna Mark.

Draven's eyes locked onto mine, blazing gold.

The crowd erupted.

Livia shrieked. "Impossible!"

And the dagger I'd dropped yesterday?

It flew straight into my hand.

Silence.

The kind of silence that comes before a storm.

I stared at the glowing mark on my wrist—a crescent moon wrapped in thorns. My skin still burned like someone had branded me.

The entire pack was frozen.

Then chaos erupted.

"She tricked the ceremony!" Livia screamed, pointing at me with shaking hands. "This is some rogue witchcraft!"

Warriors reached for their weapons. The scent of aggression filled the air. My fingers tightened around the dagger—Draven's dagger—as wolves started shifting around me.

A snarl ripped through the crowd.

Everyone flinched back.

Draven stood with his claws out, eyes blazing. "Enough."

The command in his voice made even Livia whimper.

The shaman fell to his knees, trembling. "Alpha... the Moon Goddess has chosen. This is your true Luna."

Livia made a sound like a dying rabbit.

Draven didn't look at her. He walked toward me, each step measured. I raised the dagger between us.

He stopped.

For three heartbeats, we stared at each other. Then—

"Kneel."

The word wasn't for me.

The pack dropped like felled trees. Even Torin went down, though his jaw was clenched tight enough to c***k teeth.

Livia stayed standing.

Draven turned his head just enough to glare at her. "I said. Kneel."

When she didn't move, an invisible force slammed her to the ground. Alpha command.

I'd never seen one used before. It made my bones vibrate.

Draven reached for my marked wrist. I tried to pull away, but his grip was iron.

"Look at me."

I looked.

His nostrils flared as he inhaled my scent. Then his eyes did that weird glowing thing again. "The mark is real."

Torin dared to lift his head. "Alpha, you can't possibly—"

Draven's growl shook the earth. "Challenge my mate again, Beta, and I'll rip your tongue out."

The mark on my wrist pulsed like a second heartbeat.

Then the pain hit.

I collapsed against Draven as fire spread through my veins. My vision whited out. Distantly, I heard him shout something.

Strong arms lifted me.

The last thing I saw before passing out was Livia's face—twisted with hate.

And the knife still in my hand.

---

I dreamed of running.

Paws pounding earth. Wind in my fur. The thrill of the hunt.

Then—screams. Fire. Blood soaking into snow.

A woman's voice: "Find them, little wolf. Before they find you."

I woke gasping.

Soft furs. Stone walls. A massive bed.

Not my cell.

Not the kitchens.

I sat up too fast. The room spun.

"Easy."

Draven sat in a chair by the fire, sharpening a blade. My dagger rested on the table beside him.

I touched my marked wrist. The skin was raised and tender. "Where—"

"My chambers." He didn't look up from his whetstone. "You've been out for two days."

Two days? I scrambled back on the bed. "Why am I here?"

Finally, he met my eyes. "Because the Moon Goddess marked you as mine. And my enemies already tried to poison you once. Wolfsbane was scented in your mouth."

A chill went down my spine. I perceived a strange smell in the last meal I was given but was too hungry to reject it. “It was from my last meal."

A nod. "Your body rejected it. The mark healed you." He stood in one fluid motion. "Can you walk?"

I swung my legs over the edge. My knees held. Barely.

"Good." He tossed me a bundle of clothes—dark leathers, better quality than my servant rags. "Dress. We have a pack to address."

I caught the bundle. "What happens now?"

Draven paused at the door. Gold eyes burning. "Now you learn what it means to be Luna."

The way he said it sounded like a threat.

And a promise.

I had no problem with that as long as the position would put food in my belly and a roof over my head.

The pack gathered in the great hall. Hundreds of wolves, all staring as I entered behind Draven.

Whispers followed us:

"Cursed."

"Rogue whore."

"Moon Goddess' mistake."

Draven's hand settled on the small of my back. A warning—to them or to me, I wasn't sure.

Torin stood at the base of the alpha's dais, smiling like a snake. "My Luna." He bowed mockingly. "How... unexpected."

I smelled the lie on him.

Something inside me snapped.

Before I could think, I grabbed his throat and slammed him against the nearest pillar. The hall erupted in shouts.

I didn't care.

Power—real, pulsing power—surged through me as the mark on my wrist flared bright. "Say that again, Beta."

Torin's eyes widened. He couldn't speak with my hand crushing his windpipe.

Draven didn't stop me.

The pack fell silent.

I leaned close to Torin's ear. "The next time you disrespect me, I'll feed you your own entrails." Then I released him.

He collapsed, gasping.

I turned to the stunned crowd. Let them see the rogue covered in their Alpha's scent. Let them see the glowing mark.

Let them fear me.

Draven's lips curved. Just slightly.

Then he addressed the pack. "The Moon Goddess has spoken. Selene is my Luna. Any who challenge her..." His claws slid out. "...answer to me."

Livia, standing at the front, looked ready to vomit.

Good.

I met her glare with a smile.

Game on.