Marked by the Alpha’s son

Unexpected choice

The night of the mating ceremony arrived under a bright full moon. The clearing in the heart of the pack lands glowed with lanterns and moonlight. Young wolves stood in a big circle, hearts beating fast with hope and nerves. Stephanie stood near the edge, her simple dress clean but old. She kept her hands clasped tight to hide how much they shook.

She had spent the whole day doing extra chores so her uncle wouldn’t complain. Lila had laughed at her before she left. “Don’t get your hopes up, stray. No one wants you.”

Now, here she was. The elders chanted softly as the Moon Goddess’s power filled the air. One by one, wolves stepped forward and felt the pull. Scents mixed, eyes locked, and happy marks were made. Cheers rose each time.

Stephanie waited. Her turn came. She stepped into the open space, eyes closed, praying hard. A scent reached her — nice but not special. Not the warm, strong pull she had dreamed about. She opened her eyes.

Lucian stood in front of her. The Beta’s son. He was tall and friendly-looking, with warm brown eyes and a kind smile. But something felt off. His shoulders were stiff, like he wasn’t really happy.

The pack clapped politely. Lucian gave a small nod and touched her arm lightly. “Looks like the Moon Goddess chose us,” he said quietly.

Stephanie tried to smile. At least someone had picked her. No more being completely alone. But inside, her heart felt heavy. This wasn’t the strong connection she had hoped for. Lucian seemed nice enough, but there was no spark. No deep pull.

The ceremony continued around them. Stephanie stood beside Lucian, feeling eyes on her. Some looked surprised. Others whispered. She caught Lila’s angry glare from the crowd.

Meanwhile, back at the Blackthorn Mansion, Darien trained alone in the yard. His powerful body moved fast, fists hitting a heavy bag again and again. He had refused to go to the ceremony. His father was angry, but Darien didn’t care. His thoughts kept going back to the girl chopping wood. Her hazel eyes. Her quiet strength.

Heavy footsteps approached. Lucian walked up, still in his ceremony clothes. He looked nervous.

“Darien,” Lucian said, stopping a few feet away. “You won’t believe what happened tonight.”

Darien wiped sweat from his face and turned. His silver eyes sharpened. “What?”

Lucian rubbed the back of his neck. “The Moon Goddess paired me with a girl. Stephanie. She’s from the outer lands. Lives with her uncle and cousins. Kind of quiet. Not from a strong family.”

Darien froze. The name hit him like a punch. Stephanie. His hidden girl. The one he had watched for weeks. The one his wolf had already claimed in secret.

He kept his face calm, but inside, jealousy burned hot. His hands tightened into fists. “You got paired with her?”

Lucian nodded. “Yeah. She seems… okay. But I don’t feel much. No real bond pull. I think she’s disappointed too. What do I do?”

Darien turned away for a second, staring into the dark trees. His wolf growled loudly in his chest. The thought of Lucian touching her, even lightly, made him want to shift and run straight to the clearing. She was his. He had felt it every time he watched her. Every secret moment.

“You don’t have to accept it right away,” Darien said, his voice low and careful. “The bond isn’t complete until the mark. Think about it.”

Lucian sighed. “I know. But your father expects me to do the right thing. He wants strong pairs.”

Darien looked back at his friend. His silver eyes were hard. “Just don’t mark her yet. Give it a couple days.”

Lucian studied him for a moment, then shrugged. “Alright. I’ll see how it goes. She’s waiting back at the clearing with her family. They looked shocked someone actually picked her.”

After Lucian left, Darien stood alone. His heart pounded hard. He paced the yard, mind racing. He had stayed away too long. Now the Moon Goddess had pushed them together — but with the wrong wolf. Anger and possessiveness mixed inside him. He couldn’t let this happen.

That same night, Stephanie walked back to the cabin with Lucian beside her. The walk was quiet. He was polite, but distant. When they reached the door, Uncle Harlan and the cousins came out.

Lila’s eyes widened. “Lucian? The Beta’s son?” Then she laughed. “You got paired with her? Must be a mistake.”

Marcus smirked. “Or maybe she tricked him somehow.”

Lucian shifted uncomfortably. “It’s the Goddess’s choice,” he said, but his voice lacked warmth.

Stephanie stood there, feeling small again. She had a mate now, but it didn’t feel like the dream she wanted. As Lucian said goodbye and left, promising to talk soon, she went up to the attic.

She touched the spot on her neck where a mark might go one day. Tears slipped down her cheeks. “Is this really it?” she whispered.

Little did she know, the strongest wolf in the North was already making plans. And he was no longer content to stay in the shadows.