BLOODBOUND ALPHAS

Blood Moon Hollow was beautiful at night. At least, that was what the wealthy families said. Luna Asteria had never understood it. From the small window of her family's house, she could see only the distant glow of the royal district. Beyond the tall stone walls, the city rose toward the mountains, filled with enormous estates belonging to families whose names carried power. The Ashwoods. The Moonveils. The Nightshades. The Astras. The Danicas. And then there were the Asterias. Her family. Poor. Ordinary. Almost invisible. Luna rested her forehead against the cold glass. The moon was unusually bright tonight. "Stop staring outside and come eat." Her mother's voice pulled her away from the window. Luna turned. Ophelia Asteria stood beside the small wooden table, placing the last plate of food down. "I'm coming, Mum." "You've been quiet all evening." "I'm always quiet." "Exactly." Luna smiled. Her mother gave her a suspicious look before sitting down. Across from them, Luna's father, Silas Asteria, was unusually silent. Luna noticed immediately. "Dad?" Silas looked up. "Yes?" "What's wrong?" "Nothing." She narrowed her eyes. "You've said that three times today." Her father sighed. Before he could answer, a deep sound rolled across the city. BOOM. Luna froze. Another followed. BOOM. Then a third. BOOM. The entire house seemed to tremble. Ophelia's face immediately changed. Silas stood. Luna looked toward the window. In the distance, three enormous towers were glowing beneath the moon. "The Royal Bells," Silas whispered. Luna's stomach tightened. She had heard the bells before. Everyone in Blood Moon Hollow knew what they meant. A royal command. A pack emergency. A gathering of the powerful. Or something far worse. "Why would the King ring them tonight?" Luna asked. Silas didn't answer. Then came a knock. Three sharp knocks. Knock. Knock. Knock. Silas exchanged a worried glance with Ophelia. "I'll get it." He crossed the room and opened the door. Two royal guards stood outside. Their black uniforms bore the silver wolf emblem of the royal family. Silas immediately lowered his head. "Your Highness's guards." The taller guard held a sealed envelope. "Silas Asteria?" "Yes." "We have a royal summons." Silas looked at the envelope. "For whom?" The guard's eyes moved past him. "Luna Asteria." Luna's heart dropped. "Me?" Everyone turned toward her. The guard stepped forward. "By order of King Lycaon, Luna Asteria is required to appear before the royal council tonight." Silence. Luna stared at the royal seal. "Why?" The guard's expression remained unreadable. "I was not told." Silas stepped forward. "She's only an Omega." The guard looked at him. "The order specifically names her." Luna slowly took the envelope. The moment she touched it, a strange chill passed through her fingers. She quickly pulled her hand back. Her mother noticed. "Luna?" "I'm fine." But something about that letter made her uneasy. Silas looked at his daughter. "You don't have to go alone." The guard shook his head. "Only Luna was summoned." Silas's jaw tightened. "Then I'll accompany her." "I'm afraid that isn't permitted." For the first time, fear appeared in Luna's father's eyes. Not fear for himself. Fear for her. Luna swallowed. "I'll go." "Luna—" "It's okay, Dad." She tried to sound confident. She wasn't. The royal guards stepped aside. "You have thirty minutes to prepare." The door closed behind them. For several seconds, nobody spoke. Then Ophelia rushed toward Luna. "No." Luna blinked. "Mum?" "You shouldn't go." "But it's a royal command." "I know." Her mother's hands trembled. "That's what frightens me." Silas looked toward the window. "The royal family has no reason to summon an Asteria." Luna looked down at the sealed letter. "Then maybe they have a reason now." --- Across the city, inside the Royal Palace, the atmosphere was equally tense. The great council chamber was filled with powerful figures. At the head of the room sat King Lycaon. Beside him was Queen Ylva. Four elders stood before the throne. Elder Zeev. Elder Velkan. Elder Ashina. Elder Adira. And several members of the great families stood farther back. Among them were two young men. Draven Moonveil. Kael Ashwood. Draven stood near one of the enormous windows, staring into the darkness outside. His expression was cold. "Why was an Asteria summoned?" Kael glanced toward him. "That's what I'd like to know." Draven turned. "You think the King will tell us?" "No." A faint smile crossed Kael's face. "That's why I'm curious." Before Draven could respond, Elder Zeev struck his staff against the marble floor. "Enough." Everyone became silent. King Lycaon rose from his throne. "Tonight, an Omega from one of the city's lowest-ranking families has been summoned." Draven's eyes narrowed. Kael said nothing. The King continued. "Luna Asteria." The name echoed through the chamber. Draven frowned. He didn't know why. But something about the name made the back of his neck prickle. Elder Ashina stepped forward. "Your Majesty, are you certain this is wise?" "It is necessary." "She is an Omega." "I am aware." "Then why her?" King Lycaon's expression hardened. "Because something has appeared in the records." The room fell silent. Kael's attention sharpened. "What records?" The King looked toward the elders. "Records that were believed to have been destroyed many years ago." Draven pushed away from the window. "What does that have to do with Luna Asteria?" King Lycaon looked directly at him. "We don't know yet." Draven's eyes narrowed. "So we're bringing an innocent Omega into the palace because of something you don't understand?" Queen Ylva spoke quietly. "Perhaps." She looked toward the enormous doors. "But perhaps she is the answer." At that exact moment, the palace doors opened. A royal guard entered. He bowed. "Your Majesty." Everyone turned. "The Asteria girl has arrived." Luna stood beyond the doors. Alone. Small compared with the enormous palace. But she lifted her head and stepped forward. She had no idea why she had been summoned. She had no idea what waited for her inside. And she certainly didn't know that the decision made tonight would change the fate of Blood Moon Hollow forever.