THE LUNA BETWEEN TWO ALPHAS

The Sacred Hunt of the Eclipse only happened every five years. Five years. That meant every wolf inside the Obsidian Fang Pack treated tonight like it was the most important event of their lives. The entire pack house was decorated with silver banners carrying the mark of the crescent moon while black candles burned around the grand hall. Warriors laughed loudly while drinking expensive liquor. Elder women wore shining dresses and jewels that probably cost more than my entire miserable life. And then there was me. Kaia Frost. The cursed omega. Honestly, I still had no idea why I was even invited. Maybe the Moon Goddess wanted entertainment. Or maybe the pack needed someone to blame if things went wrong tonight. Would not be surprising. That had always been my role in this pack anyway. Scapegoat. Servant. Punching bag. Take your pick. I stood quietly near one of the massive pillars while watching everyone enjoy themselves. My dress was simple compared to the others. Dark gray fabric with small silver details near the sleeves. Nothing special. Nothing beautiful. Just enough to stop the elders from complaining that I looked like a homeless wolf wandering into sacred territory. The music around the hall sounded elegant, but the atmosphere underneath it felt dangerous. It always did whenever powerful wolves gathered together. The Sacred Hunt of the Eclipse was not just some celebration. It was a brutal tradition. A sacred event where wolves entered the forbidden Valeroth Forest to hunt magical beasts blessed by the Moon Goddess herself. Some joined for glory. Others joined to prove their strength. And many came hoping to find their mates. Funny, right? Imagine finding the love of your life while fighting monsters inside a cursed forest. Very romantic. I grabbed a drink from one of the silver trays before another omega servant could yell at me for breathing too loudly. My eyes wandered around the grand hall, watching wolves flirt, laugh, and boast about tomorrow's hunt. I looked away quickly when I noticed a group of she wolves whispering while staring at me. Yeah, definitely talking about me. Again. At this point, I should receive an award for being the favorite topic inside the Obsidian Fang Pack. I leaned against the pillar and released a small sigh. Sometimes I wondered how my life became this miserable. No matter what happened inside the pack, somehow my name always found its way into the problem. A failed hunt. My fault. A sick warrior. My fault. Bad weather. Also somehow my fault. Amazing, honestly. The Moon Goddess herself should clap for their creativity. Ever since I was born, people believed I carried bad luck. The elders claimed my wolf appeared weak because I was cursed. Children avoided me growing up because their parents warned them I would bring disaster into their lives. And the worst part? After hearing it for years, a small part of me almost believed them. Almost. But if there was one thing I refused to lose, it was my mouth. If I was already hated, I might as well make it entertaining. My eyes slowly moved toward the center of the hall. And there he was. Alpha Damon Blackmoor. The most feared man inside the Obsidian Fang Pack. No. Probably the most feared Alpha in all nearby territories. Even standing still, he looked terrifying. Tall. Cold. Untouchable. He wore a black suit that matched his dark appearance perfectly. His sharp jaw looked tense while his piercing gray eyes scanned the room carefully like he already expected betrayal before the night even started. People feared him for a reason. Alpha Damon was ruthless. Bloody. Merciless. I once saw him drag a traitor across the training grounds with blood covering his hands like it meant absolutely nothing to him. The poor wolf begged for mercy while everyone watched silently. Alpha Damon did not even blink. That was the kind of man he was. Cruel enough to make grown warriors shake in fear. And somehow my stupid heart still admired him. Embarrassing, I know. Trust me, I insult myself daily for it. Because what kind of delusional omega looks at a man like Damon Blackmoor and thinks, Maybe he could love me? Ridiculous. The man barely looked at anyone unless he planned to kill them. Yet every single time he entered a room, my eyes searched for him automatically. Pathetic. I took another sip from my drink and laughed quietly to myself. Maybe I really was cursed. Only a cursed woman would fall for someone completely impossible. Before I could continue humiliating myself internally, a familiar voice suddenly spoke behind me. "So you're here too, Kaia." I turned around slowly and saw Vera Quinn standing there. Beautiful as usual. Annoying as usual too. Her long dark hair rested perfectly over her shoulders while her expensive silver dress sparkled under the lights. Even though she was an omega like me, nobody dared treat her badly because she was the daughter of one of the elders. Must be nice living life without people throwing insults at your face every morning. "Oh, aren't you attending this event to hunt the strongest warrior of the pack and make him your mate, Vera?" I asked casually. Her eyebrow lifted slightly. Ah. There it is. That offended look rich girls always make when someone speaks to them without fear. Vera crossed her arms while staring at me from head to toe. She grinned after hearing my words. I have a sharp tongue, but honestly, I was not sorry for what I was going to say next. Poor Vera. Of all people to challenge tonight, she picked me. Tragic decision. "Good luck finding your mate, you cursed she wolf!" The hall suddenly became quieter around us. Of course it did. Wolves loved drama almost as much as they loved blood. I slowly blinked while staring at her. Wait. Did she just call me cursed in front of everyone? Bold. Very bold. Around us, several wolves turned their heads toward me immediately. Some whispered behind their drinks while others openly stared like I was some filthy stain ruining the beautiful celebration. As if I was dirt clinging desperately to the pack. Honestly, they always looked at me like that anyway. Still annoying though. I smiled sweetly at Vera. The dangerous kind of smile. "I don't need your luck," I replied smoothly. "Keep it for yourself. You might need it when the strongest warrior rejects you." A few nearby wolves gasped quietly. Worth it. Vera's expression darkened immediately. Heh. Right target. For a second, I thought she would slap me right there, but she only scoffed before walking past me aggressively. Her perfume nearly attacked my nose on the way out. I watched her leave before muttering under my breath. "Careful, Vera. Your jealousy is showing." Sadly, she still heard it. Her shoulders stiffened. Beautiful. I smiled proudly to myself before turning my attention elsewhere. That was when I noticed Alpha Damon standing near the large staircase beside his Beta. Beta Kieran Valesmoke. The atmosphere around them felt heavy. Serious. Dangerous. Even from afar, I could tell something was wrong. Kieran looked tense while speaking quietly to the Alpha. Damon stood completely still with his arms behind his back, but the darkness in his expression alone was enough to make my stomach tighten. Though I could not hear them clearly, I somehow felt danger hiding beneath their conversation. Curiosity slowly pulled me closer. Just a little. Not enough for them to notice me. I was sneaky, not suicidal. The closer I got, the clearer their voices became beneath the loud music and conversations around the hall. "The location was leaked," Beta Kieran whispered seriously. My heartbeat slowed. Leaked? Alpha Damon's jaw tightened slightly. "It's only a matter of time. Trust me..." Before Kieran could continue speaking, a loud gunshot suddenly echoed through the hall. Everything froze. Then another gunshot followed. The entire grand hall fell into chaos after the gunshots echoed through the air.