His Warrior Luna

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

My hands shook as I stared at the torn silk sheets. No. This couldn't be happening. Not today. Not on my ceremony day.

“Miss Clara?” Grace's voice came through the door. “Your morning preparation team is here.”

I quickly bundled up the ruined sheets and shoved them under my bed. “Five minutes!”

“But Miss Clara, your mother insists-”

“I said five minutes!”

I raced to my bathroom, splashing cold water on my face. Everything looked normal in the mirror – same blue eyes, same perfect features. No sign of the wolf that had torn up my sheets at night.

My phone buzzed with texts from Melissa:

“OMG where are you??”

“Your mom is on the warpath”

“Caroline and Rebecca are already here in their ceremonial dresses”

“If you make me deal with their fake smiles alone, I'll never forgive you”

Great. The mean girls had arrived early to critique everything. I typed back quickly:

“Stall them. Beauty emergency.”

“Clara Elizabeth Silver!” My mother's voice could cut through steel. “Open this door immediately!”

I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and opened the door to face the chaos.

Mother burst in with an army of servants, each carrying some essential item for my transformation into the perfect Silver Pack princess. Behind them came Melissa, already dressed in her ceremonial gray dress, followed by Caroline and Rebecca in matching silver.

“You're late,” Mother snapped, gesturing for the beauty team to set up. “We have exactly six hours until the ceremony, and nothing is ready.”

“I'm right here, aren't I?” I settled into the vanity chair, trying to ignore how my hands were still trembling. “Everything will be fine.”

“Did you hear?” Caroline leaned in, her voice dripping with fake concern. “The Moon Blessed Pack's heir had a disaster at her ceremony last month. Tripped over her dress in front of everyone.”

Rebecca nodded eagerly. “Her mother nearly died of shame. They say she'll never find a proper mate now.”

“How tragic,” I said flatly. “Good thing, I've been practicing walking since I could stand.”

“Girls,” Mother cut in sharply. “Less gossip, more preparation.”

The next hour was pure torture as my hair was washed, dried, and styled. Caroline and Rebecca kept up a running commentary on everything from my choice of ceremonial jewelry to the latest pack politics.

“The Northern Pack's Alpha is bringing his whole family,” Caroline reported. “Including that gorgeous son of his.”

“Too bad Clara's already taken,” Rebecca giggled. “Poor Joffrey might have competition.”

I caught Melissa rolling her eyes in the mirror and had to bite back a smile. At least someone here was real.

“Speaking of Joffrey,” Mother interrupted, “he's requested a moment with you before the ceremony. Something about a family heirloom.”

My stomach fluttered. More jewelry, probably. Joffrey's family collected precious gems like others collected postcards.

A sharp pain in my chest made me wince.

“Miss Clara?” The hair stylist paused. “Are you alright?”

“Fine,” I said through gritted teeth. “Just nervous excitement.”

“Liar,” my wolf growled. “Something's wrong.”

I pushed her voice away. Nothing could be wrong. Not today.

The morning crawled by in a blur of beauty treatments. My skin was exfoliated, moisturized, and painted to perfection. The white ceremonial dress was carefully steamed and fitted.

“You look spectacular,” Melissa whispered as the final touches were applied. “Like something out of a fairy tale.”

“An expensive fairy tale,” Caroline added. “That dress probably cost more than my parent's house.”

I ignored her, focusing instead on staying still as the makeup artist applied shimmer to my collarbones. The burning in my chest had gotten worse, and I could hear my wolf pacing restlessly in my mind.

“Quiet,” I told her. “Just a few more hours.”

She growled in response, louder this time.

A commotion outside drew everyone to the windows. The other packs were arriving, their cars filling the long driveway to our mansion.

“The Eastern Pack brought both princes,” Rebecca squealed. “Oh my goddess, they're even hotter in person!”

“Focus, girls,” Mother clapped her hands. “Clara, the Elder Council is waiting for your blessing.”

I followed her to the preparation tent, leaving my gossiping court behind. Five ancient wolves waited to mark me with the silver-infused ceremonial paste. Elder Margaret, the oldest among them, stepped forward with the sacred bowl.

“Kneel, child.”

I knelt, keeping my back straight and chin high – just as I'd been taught. But when Elder Margaret's fingers touched my forehead with the paste, she jerked back.

“You're burning up,” she said, frowning.

“I'm fine,” I insisted, even as sweat beaded under my perfect makeup. “Please continue.”

She hesitated, studying me with those ancient eyes that seemed to see too much. Finally, she completed the markings, but I could feel her watching me carefully.

The drums began outside, signaling the start of the ceremony. Beta Robert's voice carried across the grounds as he announced each noble family.

“House Silvercrest, led by Alpha Jonathan and Luna Victoria, accompanied by their son and future mate of our Alpha heir, Joffrey Silvercrest!”

I peeked through the tent flap to see Joffrey standing tall in his ceremonial silver robes. He caught my eye and winked, looking completely relaxed. Of course, he did – he wasn't the one about to shift for the first time in front of hundreds of people.

A flash of movement caught my attention. Eliza, one of the lower-ranked wolves, was helping arrange the ceremonial circle. Something about her made my wolf stir uneasily.

“Watch her,” my wolf growled. “Something's not right.”

“Ridiculous,” I muttered. Eliza was nobody – just another servant's daughter.

“Ready?” Mother appeared at my side, adjusting my dress one last time. “Remember-”

“Walk slowly, smile gently, bow to the elders first,” I recited. “I've got it.”

The drums changed rhythm – my cue. Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the tent.

Hundreds of eyes turned to watch as I processed through the crowd. My white dress trailed behind me like fresh snow, the silver embellishments catching the evening light. I kept my steps measured, my smile serene.

“Wrong wrong wrong,” my wolf suddenly howled. “This isn't us!”

I stumbled slightly but caught myself. A few gasps from the crowd made my cheeks burn, but I kept going.

Father began the traditional shifting prayer, his voice strong and clear in the evening air. I tried to focus on his words, but they were drowned out by the rushing in my ears.

The moon rose fully, and pain shot through my bones.

This wasn't right. The books described the first shift as uncomfortable but beautiful. This felt like being torn apart from the inside.

I fell to my knees, the perfect white dress crumpling on the ground. Concerned murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“Clara?” Mother stepped forward, but Father held her back. Tradition demanded the shift be unassisted.

My bones cracked loudly – too loudly. Even Elder Margaret stepped closer, her ancient eyes wide with concern.

Then I saw it. Red fur. Blood-red fur sprouting along my arms where silver should be.

“No,” I gasped. “No, no, no…”

But I couldn't stop it. My body completed the transformation, and I stood before my pack as a massive red wolf. Not silver. Never silver.

The silence was deafening.

Then movement caught my eye. Another wolf stepped forward – Eliza. Her fur was perfect silver, gleaming in the moonlight.

“We knew,” my wolf said. “We knew something was wrong.”

Elder Margaret rushed forward with the sacred blood stone – the test of true Silver Pack lineage. When she held it to me, it remained dark. But when touched to Eliza, it glowed brilliant blue.

“Eighteen years ago,” Elder Margaret's voice shook, “during the rogue attack… two pups were brought to the nursery…”

My world spun as the truth emerged. I wasn't the Alpha's daughter. I was nobody. A switched child. A red wolf in a silver pack.

Through my haze, I saw Father's – no, Alpha Jason's face drain of color. Mother – no, Luna Alice collapsed into his arms. And there was Sarah, the servant I'd dismissed yesterday, stepping forward with tears in her eyes to claim her long-lost silver pup.

Caroline and Rebecca had backed away, horror on their faces. Only Melissa stayed close, her hand half-raised like she wanted to help but didn't dare.

I couldn't move. Couldn't shift back. Could only watch as my perfect world crumbled around me.

Then Joffrey approached, his face twisted with disgust, reaching for the ceremonial marking ribbon around my neck.

The crowd held its breath as his fingers closed around the silk.

“I reject this mating.”