REVENGE OF THE BROKEN LUNA

LYRA’S POV Grand-mother Selene always said the Moon Goddess had a peculiar way of answering prayers. She never gave you what you wanted when you begged for it. Instead, she waited until hope had almost slipped through your fingers before reminding you that she had been listening all along. Those were words that I had been brought up with but didn’t really believe. Still, I had carried those words for as long as I could remember. This morning, I repeated them under my breath as I stood before the small, cracked mirror hanging crookedly on my bedroom wall. The reflection staring back at me was painfully ordinary. Long chestnut hair tumbled over my shoulders in loose waves I had spent the better part of an hour brushing until they shone. My silver-gray eyes…my mother's eyes…looked brighter than usual, filled with nervous anticipation that I couldn't quite hide. My blue dress had once belonged to her, I had somehow convinced myself that the dress would change the way I was feeling. Time had softened its color, and careful stitching along one sleeve revealed where I had repaired a tear myself, but it remained the most beautiful dress I owned. I smoothed my hands over the skirt anyway, pretending I couldn't see the faded fabric. Maybe tonight, none of that would matter. Maybe tonight, someone would look at me and see more than the broken wolf everyone believed I was.A knock sounded against my bedroom door. "It's open," I called. Grandmother Selene stepped inside carrying a small bundle wrapped in white cloth. The lines on her weathered face deepened as she smiled, though her eyes held the same quiet sadness they always seemed to whenever she looked at me. "You look just like your mother," she whispered. A lump settled in my throat. "I wish I could remember her." "You remember her kindness." She reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Sometimes that's enough." She unfolded the cloth in her hands, revealing a delicate silver pendant shaped like a crescent moon. The metal had dulled with age, but its beauty hadn't faded. "My mother wore that." Selene nodded. "She asked me to keep it safe until the day of your Blood Moon Ceremony." My fingers trembled as I accepted it. It felt cool against my skin when I fastened it around my neck. "I don't know what to say." "You don't have to say anything." For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence between us was comforting, the kind only shared between people who had long ago learned that words couldn't mend every wound. Finally, Selene cupped my face between her wrinkled hands. "Listen to me carefully, Lyra." There was something in her voice that made my stomach tighten. "Whatever happens tonight, never measure your worth by the choice another person makes." I frowned. "Why would you say that?" She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Because life has a habit of testing the strongest hearts first." I laughed softly, trying to chase away the sudden heaviness that settled over the room. "I am hardly the strongest wolf in the pack." "No," she agreed gently. "Strength comes in many forms." Before I could ask what she meant, voices drifted through the open window. The ceremony was beginning. My heartbeat stumbled. "It's time." Selene kissed my forehead. "Go." I stepped outside, drawing in a slow breath as the cool evening air brushed against my face. The entire Silver Hollow Pack had gathered in the central clearing. Bonfires crackled beneath the darkening sky, sending sparks dancing toward the full moon rising above the ancient pines. Music drifted through the air while children chased one another between laughing adults. For everyone else, tonight was a celebration. For me, it felt like standing on the edge of a cliff. Young wolves my age filled the clearing, each secretly hoping tonight would be the night they found the person the Moon Goddess had chosen for them. I wasn't any different. I wanted what everyone else wanted. Someone who looked at me and saw a future instead of a burden. As I walked toward the gathering, conversations faltered. Whispers followed. "I didn't think she'd come." "Maybe she's hoping the Moon Goddess feels sorry for her." "Pity doesn't create mate bonds." A few people laughed, I lowered my gaze and kept walking. Years ago, those words would have reduced me to tears. Now they simply settled somewhere deep inside me, joining every other insult I had collected over the years. Near the bonfire, several young women stood together in shimmering dresses, their excitement impossible to miss. One of them glanced in my direction before leaning toward her friend. "If she's anyone's mate, he'll reject her before sunrise." Another covered her mouth to hide a smile. "I almost feel sorry for him." Almost. I swallowed the ache rising in my throat, tonight wasn't about them. It wasn't about cruel whispers or sideways glances. It was about hope. Even broken wolves deserved that much. The Alpha stepped onto the raised stone platform overlooking the clearing, instantly silencing the crowd. "My pack," he called, his deep voice carrying easily across the open space. "Tonight, beneath the Blood Moon, we celebrate destiny. Trust the Moon Goddess, for she never makes mistakes." His words echoed in my mind, she never makes mistakes. I wanted to believe him. The ceremony began. One by one, wolves stepped forward as the ancient ritual unfolded. Some found their mates immediately, their joyful cries met with cheers and applause. Others waited patiently, confident their turn would come. I watched them with a smile I hoped looked genuine. Then... The air shifted. A strange warmth spread through my chest. My heartbeat quickened. My wolf, quiet for so many years, stirred for the first time. Every instinct inside me urged me to turn around. Slowly… I did. Standing at the edge of the crowd, surrounded by warriors and pack elders, was the future Alpha. Dariel Ashborn. Tall. Commanding. Every eye naturally gravitated toward him, as though sensing my gaze, he looked up. Our eyes met. The world around me disappeared. The music. The laughter. The voices. Everything faded beneath the overwhelming pull that settled deep within my soul. My wolf whispered a single word. Mate. At that exact moment, I saw recognition flash across Dariel's face, he froze. Then, without taking his eyes off mine, he began walking toward me. The crowd parted in silence.Every step he took echoed through the clearing. He stopped only inches away. His emerald eyes searched mine, filled not with joy… ...but something I couldn't understand. He opened his mouth. "My name is Dariel," he said quietly. Then his expression hardened as he lifted his gaze toward the watching crowd. "There has been a mistake."