chapter 3:The Gathering
699 Words
Sofia's POV
The Blood Moon Gathering.
Every wolf dreamed of attending it.
For some, it was a celebration.
For others, it was the day they found their fated mate.
For me...
It was another reminder that I didn't belong.
"Move faster!"
A guard shoved me from behind, nearly making me stumble down the rocky path.
I caught myself before falling.
"I said faster!"
"Yes," I whispered.
The Gathering was held once every five years on sacred land that belonged to no pack. It was the only place where rival Alphas stood on equal ground under the Moon Goddess's watch.
Thousands of wolves from different packs filled the valley.
Warriors stood proudly in polished armor.
Lunas wore elegant gowns.
Young wolves laughed as they whispered about finding their mates.
I lowered my head, wishing I could disappear.
My faded gray dress looked like a rag beside everyone else's fine clothes.
"You actually brought her?"
The voice came from a woman standing beside another pack's Beta.
She looked me up and down before wrinkling her nose.
"Is she a servant?"
"No," another woman replied with a cruel laugh. "She's Silver Crest's embarrassment."
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
I kept walking.
Their laughter followed me.
It always did.
Our Alpha led the pack toward the center of the valley, where a massive stone platform stood beneath the ancient Moon Tree.
Its silver leaves shimmered despite the daylight.
Legends said every mate bond began beneath those branches.
I wondered what it felt like...
To be chosen.
To matter.
To have someone smile because they saw you.
The thought hurt more than I expected.
"Sofia."
I turned at the sound of my name.
An elderly woman stood beside a stall filled with herbs and healing roots.
She smiled softly.
It wasn't a mocking smile.
It was... kind.
"I've seen you before," she said.
I frowned.
"I don't think we've met."
"We haven't."
She reached across the table and gently took my hand.
Her fingers were warm despite the cold breeze.
For a brief moment, her cloudy eyes widened.
Almost as if she'd seen something impossible.
"You carry a strange destiny, child."
My heartbeat quickened.
"W-What do you mean?"
Before she could answer—
"Sofia!"
Beta Darren's furious voice echoed through the valley.
"There you are!"
The old woman released my hand.
When I looked back at her, her gentle smile had disappeared.
Instead...
She looked afraid.
"Go," she whispered urgently.
"And when the time comes..."
She leaned closer.
"...don't run from him."
"Him?"
But Darren grabbed my arm before I could ask another question.
"What are you doing?" he hissed.
"I-I was just—"
"I don't care."
He dragged me through the crowd.
"You embarrass this pack every time you breathe."
Pain shot through my wrist.
Still, I didn't fight back.
As we reached the seating area reserved for Silver Crest, a sudden silence swept across the valley.
One by one...
Every Alpha rose to his feet.
Warriors straightened.
Even the air seemed heavier.
"He's here..."
Someone whispered.
"No..."
Another voice trembled.
"It's the Shadow Alpha."
My heart skipped.
I didn't know why.
Curiosity pulled at me despite myself.
Slowly...
I lifted my head.
At the entrance to the sacred valley stood a tall man dressed entirely in black.
His broad shoulders carried an effortless authority.
His dark hair shifted with the wind.
His expression was unreadable.
Cold.
Detached.
Powerful.
Several Alphas lowered their gazes as he walked past.
None dared block his path.
The whispers spread like wildfire.
"Craig Rhodes..."
"The Devil Alpha..."
"They say he wiped out an entire rogue clan in one night."
"They say even monsters fear him."
I swallowed hard.
He never looked left.
He never looked right.
Until...
He stopped.
For the briefest second.
His head tilted.
As though he had sensed...
Something.
Or someone.
My breath caught in my throat.
Then, without another glance, he continued walking.
I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding.
Good.
A man like Craig Rhodes would never notice someone like me.
And I wanted to keep it that way.
Because if the stories were true...
The Devil Alpha was the last man any girl should ever meet.
- Writer
