Prologue
The Mooncrest Pack Hall glittered with silver lights and sound of celebration.
Music echoed through the grand room while wolves laughed, danced, and drank beneath the sacred moon banners hanging from the ceiling.
Tonight was the mating ceremony, the night young wolves discovered their fated mates.
Seraphina stood quietly near the edge of the ballroom, her fingers tightening around her silver cup. Her heart pounded painfully.
After her mother died ten years ago, she had learned to lived like a shadow.
But maybe tonight would finally change everything. Maybe tonight she would stop being the unwanted daughter of Alpha Maxwell or maybe tonight someone would finally look at her with love.
“Stand properly,” her stepmother, Luna Vivian, hissed as she passed beside her. “Do not embarrass this family.”
Seraphina lowered her eyes instantly. “Yes, Luna.”
Vivian scoffed and walked away while her step sister, Sonia followed behind with a smirk.
The sharp pain in Seraphina’s chest never faded no matter how many years passed.
Since her mother died, the entire pack treated her like a burden. Especially Vivian and Sonia.
But tonight… tonight she wanted hope.
The elders suddenly called for silence.
“The mating ceremony shall begin!” Elder Logan announced loudly.
Excitement spread across the hall.
One by one, wolves began finding their mates. And what followed was Gasps, Tears, Laughter, and the joy of finding a mate.
Seraphina swallowed nervously as a strong scent hits her.
Yes… This was it... Finally, her mate—
But then, a sharp cry pierced through the room and everyone turned.
Luna Vivian collapsed onto the floor, choking violently while the silver goblet slipped from her hand as blood spilled from her lips.
“MOTHER!” Sonia screamed, then rushed towards her.
Panic exploded across the hall.
Alpha Maxwell rushed forward while healers pushed through the crowd. Seraphina froze.
Vivian's shaking eyes suddenly locked onto Seraphina’s. Sonia followed the direction of mother's stare likewise everyone else as Vivian pointed directly at Seraphina.
“H-her…” Vivian choked weakly. “Sera…phina…” Her body went still.
Dead silence filled the hall.
“This is not good…” Seraphina whispered, as a knotting dread began to curl up in her stomach.
“YOU MURDERER! YOU KILLED MY MOTHER!” Sonia cried out, as she suddenly grabbed Seraphina arm.
“She poisoned the Luna!. It was her! She has always hated my mother! And now, she is dead!”
Seraphina shook her head desperately. “I didn’t! I swear I didn’t!”
But nobody listened.
Then a deep voice shattered what remained of her heart.
“I reject you.”
The entire hall froze once more.
Seraphina slowly turned toward the man she had secretly loved for years.
Kael Ashwood. Future Beta of Mooncrest.
And her mate.
Disgust filled his eyes.“I, Kael Ashwood, reject Seraphina Maxwell as my mate. I refuse to be bound to a murderer.”
The mate bond snapped inside her like shattered glass.
Pain tore through Seraphina’s body. She collapsed to her knees screaming.
And her father simply watched.
No pity or hesitation in his cold eyes. Only disappointment and anger.
“From this moment,” Alpha Maxwell announced before the entire pack, “Seraphina is no longer my daughter.” Her heart felt stabbing pain. But he continued “She is thereby demoted to a commoner and will serve as slave in the pack until my finally judgment” Her world ended with those words.
But fate was far from finished with her.
Because two days later…
The Rogue Alpha came for her.
