Marked by Destiny.

A Howl Unheard.

****The room was dark, save for the pale silver glow of the moonlight leaking through the shutters. Liora stood before the cracked mirror, her hands trembling as they hovered over her reflection. Her face looked pale and drained,like life had been pulled from her body.

Her eyes searched herself desperately, as though she might find the answer carved into her skin.

“Why didn’t I shift? The Moon… it called to me, I felt it… but then…” Her voice broke. The memory of the crowd’s laughter, their whispers, the way they turned their backs on her, crashed into her chest like stones.

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Am I cursed? Wolfless? Broken?”

She pressed her forehead against the glass, closing her eyes tightly as tears slipped down her cheeks. Behind her reflection, she could almost see it, that moment when power had surged inside her, something vast and untamed. It had been there. She was sure of it. And then it had vanished, leaving her weak and humiliated before them all.

The mirror blurred with her tears. She lifted her chin, forcing herself to stand straighter, even though her heart felt hollow.

Her hair hung wild and tangled from the collapse, her lips pale, her eyes rimmed red from unshed tears. But it wasn’t her face she focused on, it was the faint glow that still lingered on her shoulder where the birthmark burned against her skin.She had hid it all her life but as she gets older it becomes more visible.

A crescent, etched as though the Moon herself had kissed her before birth.

She traced the mark with trembling fingers, her heart pounding. Why me? Why this?

All her life, that mark had been a mystery, but last night it had come alive under the Moon’s gaze. For a moment, she’d felt a surge of power coursing through her veins, fierce and unyielding. And yet… it vanished, Abandoned her and Left her crumpled in the dirt like a fool before the entire pack.

A lump rose in her throat. She pressed a palm to the mirror, leaning close as if her reflection could whisper answers.

“What are you?” she murmured to her own image. “Why do I have you?”

Behind her, the household stirred the faint laughter of Ravena, basking in her glory, the clink of plates being set for breakfast, the rhythm of life continuing as though nothing had shattered.

But for Liora, everything had.

Liora forced herself through the motions,

pouring cold water into the wooden basin, scrubbing her skin until it was raw, trying to wash away the shame of the night before.

When she finally dressed and stepped into the dining hall, the smell of roasted bread and venison filled her nose. Her stomach twisted, not from hunger but from the sight before her.

Her family, Beta Rexor, Mariseth, and Ravena, were already seated at the long wooden table, eating heartily as if nothing had happened. No one had checked if she was even alive after collapsing under the Moon’s power.

The laughter died the moment she stepped in.

“Well, well,” Ravena said, setting down her goblet with a smirk. “Look who decided to crawl back from the dead. I was beginning to hope the Moon had taken pity on us and spared us your uselessness.”

Liora froze, her throat tightening. She tried to summon strength, but Ravena’s words cut deep, slicing into the wound still raw from the night before.

“You’re not only unwanted,” Ravena continued, her voice sharp and cruel, “you’re wolfless. A stain on our family’s name.”

“Ravena!” Beta Rexor’s voice thundered, startling both girls. His eyes blazed as he pushed back his chair. “That is enough!”

Ravena flinched but quickly masked it with a scowl.

Rexor turned toward Liora, his tone softening, his hand lifting as if to beckon her closer. “You are not useless, Liora. Don’t ever let anyone make you believe otherwise.” His gaze lingered on her birthmark, and for a flicker of a moment, pride gleamed in his eyes. “What happened last night may have been confusing, but it doesn’t make you less. Do you understand me?”

Liora’s chest ached at his words, tears threatening to spill. At least someone saw her.

But Mariseth slammed her goblet down, her face dark with fury. “Oh, enough of this coddling, Rexor!” she snapped. “You saw what happened, she humiliated us before the entire pack. She is cursed, and you know it!.

And now you defend her? Perhaps you should ask yourself why our daughter, your true daughter, shifted into a magnificent wolf, while this one lay writhing in the dirt like a broken creature.”

Silence fell, sharp and suffocating. Ravena smirked again, satisfied at her mother’s support. Rexor’s jaw clenched, torn between his mate and the fragile girl standing alone in the doorway.

Liora burst out crying as she ran towards the garden, there, she bore her heart out and cried profusely as if releasing all the pains she had bottled in.

Footsteps crunched over the gravel path.

“Liora,” came a voice, soft, coaxing.

Her heart clenched. She didn’t need to look up to know it was him. Kaelen. The Alpha’s son. Her childhood sweetheart. The boy who had once made her believe in things like forever.

He lowered himself onto the bench beside her, his scent warm and familiar, yet suffocating. “Why won’t you look at me?” he asked gently, tilting his head in an attempt to catch her gaze.

Shame burned her cheeks. She turned away. “Because I can’t,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “You saw what happened. I….I couldn’t shift. Everyone saw. I’m nothing.”

Kaelen’s lips curved into the faintest smile, though he quickly masked it. In truth, he had been eager to witness her transformation, curious to see what her wolf might look like. But now, watching her broken and vulnerable, he realized this was better. So much better. A wolfless Liora was easier to control. Easier to keep.

He leaned closer, his voice low and soothing. “Don’t ever say that again. You are not nothing, Liora. You’re… you’re more precious than you know. Wolf or not, you’re still mine. You’ll always be mine.” His hand brushed against hers, warm and possessive.

Her heart stuttered at his words. She wanted to believe him. needed to believe him. Slowly, she let herself meet his gaze, and his eyes softened, wrapping her in comfort she didn’t deserve.

But from behind the hedges, a sharp gasp broke the fragile moment.

Ravena.

Her eyes were wide, burning with betrayal and rage as she clutched the folds of her gown. How could Kaelen! her Kaelen!! say those words to Liora? The same Liora who had stolen everything from her without even trying.

Tears stung her eyes as she turned and ran, skirts whipping against her legs. She didn’t stop until she burst into the dining hall, throwing herself into Mariseth’s arms.

“Mother!” she cried, her voice breaking. “She’s trying to steal him! Liora’s trying to take Kaelen away from me!”

Mariseth’s face darkened, her fury sparking like fire.

And somewhere in the garden, still sitting with Kaelen, Liora remained oblivious to the storm about to break.

The Beta’s carriage pulled to a stop before the Alpha’s grand hall. Mariseth stepped out first, her daughter Ravena following with calculated grace, though her fingers twisted nervously in her skirts. Today, they came with a purpose and Mariseth would see it through.

Inside, the Alpha and Luna greeted them with polite warmth. Golden light from the hearth flickered across the walls as servants laid out refreshments.

“My lord, my lady,” Mariseth began smoothly, her voice honeyed but laced with ambition. “It is no secret that Kaelen will soon take his rightful place as Alpha. With that in mind, it is only fitting that he has Luna at his side. Someone worthy, Someone strong,Someone who would complement his greatness.”

Her hand gently brushed Ravena’s arm, guiding her forward. “My daughter, Ravena. She is of age, strong, and blessed with a powerful wolf. Surely the moon goddess herself smiles upon this match.”

Ravena lowered her gaze demurely, though inside her heart thundered. She had dreamt of this moment of wearing Luna's crown, of standing beside Kaelen as his chosen.

The Alpha and Luna exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. Then the Alpha leaned forward, his voice calm but firm.

“Lady Mariseth, you honor our family with such an offer. Ravena is indeed a fine young woman, and any Alpha would be fortunate to have her.” His gaze softened briefly at Ravena. “But you know as well as I do, Kaelen is blessed by the Moon Goddess. He has the freedom to either wait for his fated mate… or choose a Luna of his own will. That decision rests with him.”

Mariseth’s smile wavered, though she quickly masked it. “Of course, Alpha. I only wished to… plant the seed. Kaelen deserves the very best, and Ravena is ready to serve him as both Luna and partner.”

The Luna of the house leaned forward gently, her voice kinder than her mate’s. “It would indeed be a good decision, but in the end, it is Kaelen who must choose.”