chapter 2
793 Words
"The morning sun painted the Silver Crescent Pack in shades of gold, but no warmth reached Lyra Ashthorne's heart.
Whispers followed her everywhere.
"She failed."
"The future Luna couldn't even keep the rogues away."
"Alpha Kael deserves someone stronger."
Each word struck like another stone against an already fractured soul.
Lyra lowered her head and continued arranging herbs in the infirmary. The scent of lavender and wolfsbane usually calmed her, but today it only reminded her how powerless she truly was.
"Lyra."
She looked up to find her childhood friend, Eliana, standing at the doorway.
"You haven't eaten."
"I'm not hungry."
"You've said that for three days."
Lyra forced a weak smile. "I'm fine."
Eliana sighed. "No, you're pretending."
Before Lyra could answer, the deep howl of the Alpha echoed through the pack grounds.
Every wolf immediately stopped what they were doing.
The howl meant only one thing.
Pack assembly.
...
Hundreds of wolves gathered in the central courtyard beneath the ancient Moon Oak.
At the top of the stone platform stood Alpha Kael Blackwood.
Tall.
Handsome.
Powerful.
Everything a leader should be.
His piercing silver eyes swept across the crowd before settling briefly on Lyra.
There was no affection in them.
Only calculation.
Beside him stood Beta Rowan and Elder Miriam.
"The Rogue attacks are increasing," Kael announced.
"The neighboring packs believe someone within our borders is feeding them information."
A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.
Kael raised a hand.
"Until the traitor is found, security will be tightened."
Then Elder Miriam stepped forward.
"There is another matter."
Her old eyes settled directly on Lyra.
The morning sun painted the Silver Crescent Pack in shades of gold, but no warmth reached Lyra Ashthorne's heart.
Whispers followed her everywhere.
"She failed."
"The future Luna couldn't even keep the rogues away."
"Alpha Kael deserves someone stronger."
Each word struck like another stone against an already fractured soul.
Lyra lowered her head and continued arranging herbs in the infirmary. The scent of lavender and wolfsbane usually calmed her, but today it only reminded her how powerless she truly was.
"Lyra."
She looked up to find her childhood friend, Eliana, standing at the doorway.
"You haven't eaten."
"I'm not hungry."
"You've said that for three days."
Lyra forced a weak smile. "I'm fine."
Eliana sighed. "No, you're pretending."
Before Lyra could answer, the deep howl of the Alpha echoed through the pack grounds.
Every wolf immediately stopped what they were doing.
The howl meant only one thing.
Pack assembly.
...
Hundreds of wolves gathered in the central courtyard beneath the ancient Moon Oak.
At the top of the stone platform stood Alpha Kael Blackwood.
Tall.
Handsome.
Powerful.
Everything a leader should be.
His piercing silver eyes swept across the crowd before settling briefly on Lyra.
There was no affection in them.
Only calculation.
Beside him stood Beta Rowan and Elder Miriam.
"The Rogue attacks are increasing," Kael announced.
"The neighboring packs believe someone within our borders is feeding them information."
A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.
Kael raised a hand.
"Until the traitor is found, security will be tightened."
Then Elder Miriam stepped forward.
"There is another matter."
Her old eyes settled directly on Lyra
"The Alpha and his fated mate have not completed the Lunar Bond Ceremony."
Lyra's heart skipped.
She knew where this was going.
"For the prosperity of the pack," Elder Miriam continued, "the ceremony must happen during the Blood Moon Festival... seven nights from now."
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Only Lyra stood frozen.
She searched Kael's face, hoping to see even a flicker of happiness.
Instead...
He looked trapped.
...
That evening, Lyra found Kael standing alone on the training grounds.
"I heard the announcement," she said softly.
He didn't turn.
"So?"
"I thought... maybe we could finally talk."
"There is nothing to discuss."
She swallowed painfully.
"Do you even want this bond?"
Kael remained silent for several long seconds.
Finally, he spoke.
"I will do whatever is necessary for the pack."
Not for us.
Not because I love you.
For the pack.
Those unspoken words hurt even more.
Tears threatened to spill, but Lyra refused to let him see them.
"I understand."
She turned and walked away.
Behind her, Kael clenched his fists until blood dripped from his palms.
Hidden among the shadows of the forest, another pair of glowing crimson eyes watched everything.
A man cloaked in black smiled.
"So..."
"The Moon's chosen has begun to break."
"Perfect."
Far above, hidden behind drifting clouds, the full moon glowed with an eerie silver light.
And somewhere beyond mortal sight, the Moon Goddess watched in silence, knowing that Lyra's greatest heartbreak was only the beginning of her destiny."The Moon Goddess has remained silent."
Silence swallowed the gathering.
- Writer
