SEALED BY HER MOON CLAIMED BY HER ALPHA

CHAPTER 1 - SIX MONTHS Six months. That's all Lucien Vale had left. He stood at the window of his study, watching the full moon rise over the Blood Moon Pack's territory. Once, that sight had filled him with power. Now it only reminded him of time slipping away. The curse didn't care that he'd rebuilt what his father destroyed. It didn't care that his pack finally had peace. On his 35th birthday, he would die. The prophecy had been clear about that. Lucien turned from the window and poured himself a drink. His hand shook slightly. He gripped the glass tighter, willing the weakness away. The pack couldn't see him like this. Not yet. A knock interrupted his thoughts. "Come in," he said. Ronan entered, his beta and closest friend. The man's face was grim. "Another attack?" Lucien asked. "Three wolves were injured. Silver weapons again." Ronan crossed his arms. "They're getting bolder, Lucien. More organized." Lucien's jaw tightened. The rogue attacks had been escalating for weeks. Someone was backing them, training them, giving them silver. But who? "Call a meeting," Lucien said. "I want everyone in the hall in twenty minutes." Ronan hesitated. "You should rest. You look…" "I'm fine." The lie came easily now. Ronan didn't believe him. Lucien could see it in his eyes. But his beta simply nodded and left. Alone again, Lucien allowed himself one moment of weakness. He pressed his palm against his chest, feeling the dull ache that had become constant. The curse was eating him from the inside out. He'd searched for his fated mate for years. The silver wolf the prophecy promised. The one who could save him. But she didn't exist. Or if she did, he'd never find her in time. So he'd accepted it. Death was coming. All he could do now was make sure his pack survived without him. The pack hall was full when Lucien arrived. Dozens of wolves gathered, their faces tight with worry. The attacks were taking a toll on everyone. Gregor, his uncle, stood near the front. The older man's expression showed concern, but something about it felt off. But Lucien still trusted his uncle's smiles. "Alpha," Gregor said with a slight bow. "We're ready." Lucien stepped onto the raised platform. Every eye turned to him. He felt their fear, their doubt. They knew he was dying. They knew the pack would need new leadership soon. "Three more injured tonight," Lucien began, his voice carrying through the hall. "Silver wounds. Same as before." Murmurs rippled through the crowd. A low growl rose from the crowd. Elder Mara, her gray braid tight, stood. It corrupts our shift and degrades us into lesser animals unable to shift or heal Alpha. This is humiliating and disrespectful; these rogue wolves shouldn’t be able to treat us like this. "These aren't random rogues," Lucien continued. "Someone is organizing them. Funding them. We need to find out who before…" Pain shot through his chest, sharp and sudden Lucien grabbed the edge of the podium to steady himself. "Alpha?" Ronan was at his side instantly. "I'm fine," Lucien growled. He straightened, ignoring the concerned faces staring at him. "We double patrols tonight. No one goes out alone. Ronan and I will continue investigating the attacks." "Perhaps you should let others handle the investigation," Gregor suggested smoothly. "You have... other concerns to focus on." A subtle reminder that I'm dying and should step aside. Lucien's eyes locked on his uncle. "I'm still Alpha. Until my last breath, I will protect this pack." Gregor smiled and bowed his head. The meeting ended shortly after. Wolves dispersed in small groups, whispering. Lucien caught fragments of their conversations. "How much longer does he have?" "What happens to us when he's gone?" "Maybe Gregor should take over now..." Mara’s voice cut through: “He’s still our Alpha. Show some respect.” Lucien forced himself not to react. They weren't wrong to worry. He was failing them. "Lucien." Ronan's voice was low. "You need to rest." "I need to find whoever's behind these attacks." Lucien headed for the door. "Come on. We're going to check the northern border where the last attack happened…" "No." Ronan's voice was firm. He grabbed Lucien's arm before he could move. "You can't. Not with the curse weakening you. If something happens to you out there…" "I don't care about the curse," Lucien growled. "Our people are under attack." "And they need you alive!" Ronan shot back. His grip tightened. "I'll handle this. You stay here and coordinate from the estate. That's an order." Lucien's eyes flashed. "You don't give me orders." "I do when it comes to keeping you alive." Ronan's expression was hard, but there was desperation underneath. "Please, Lucien. Let me do my job. Let me protect you." For a moment, they stared at each other. Then Lucien stepped back, jaw clenched. "Fine," he bit out. "But you take backup. Don't go in alone." "I won't." Ronan was already shifting, bones cracking as his body reformed. Within seconds, a large gray wolf stood in his place. Their eyes met one last time. Then Ronan was gone, racing into the night. Lucien stood at the window, fists clenched, watching his beta disappear into the trees. Every instinct screamed at him to follow. But Ronan was right. The curse had made him weaker. If he fell in battle, the pack would be left with no Alpha and no direction. So he waited. And hated every second of it. Hours passed. Lucien paced his office like a caged wolf, the silence pressing in from all sides. Through the pack bond, he could feel his wolves scattered across the borders, exhaustion, blood, the sharp tang of silver in the air. The bond was like heartbeats in his mind, each wolf a pulse, steady and strong. Ronan’s burned brightest, strong, unyielding. Until it wasn’t. The connection snapped clean and cold like a blade through his soul. Lucien froze, breath trapped in his chest. For one heartbeat, he thought he imagined it. Then came the hollow echo, a silence too deep, too final. “No…” His voice broke. He reached out again, clawing through the bond, searching. Nothing. Just a void where his beta’s presence should have been. Silver. Only silver could cut that deep. Through the heart… or the soul. He should have gone with him. Should have fought beside him. But he'd been weak. Afraid. And now Ronan was paying the price. The glass in his hand shattered.. He didn’t even feel the blood. “Ronan!” The roar tore from his throat He didn't think, didn't plan. His body shifted mid-stride, bones cracking, fur erupting across his skin. Within seconds, a massive black wolf stood where the Alpha had been. The curse be damned. Ronan was dying. And Lucien would burn the world down before he let that happen. "Search parties. Now," Lucien ordered. "Find him." They spread out immediately, but hours passed with no sign. The bond stayed silent. Lucien stayed in the forest long after the others returned to the estate, refusing to give up. He searched until dawn broke over the trees, his body exhausted, his heart shattered. Ronan was gone. And it was his fault. Then, just as the sun began to rise, something impossible happened. The bond flickered. Weak. Distant. But there. Lucien froze mid-step, his wolf form going utterly still. He reached through the connection, desperate, disbelieving. Ronan? Silence. Then, so weak he almost missed it: Alpha...safe…. she healed me… Who? Lucien demanded. No answer. The bond flickered again, too weak to hold. But it was enough. Ronan was alive. someone, somehow, had done the impossible. And he was about to meet her.