The wolf he cast aside

The first time I heard a wolf howl on my birthday, I was six years old. The second time, I was twelve. The third time, I was standing barefoot in the snow, watching my mother die. Tonight, on my twenty-second birthday, the wolves were howling again. And I was beginning to suspect that the Moon Goddess had a cruel sense of humor. “Stop staring at the window, Seraphina. You’re going to ruin your makeup.” I blinked. My reflection stared back at me from the enormous mirror in front of my vanity. Pale skin. Dark lashes. Silver earrings shaped like crescent moons. A midnight-blue gown that had cost more than most servants earned in an entire year. And, as always, absolutely nothing special about my eyes. No golden glow. No silver shimmer. No sign of a wolf waiting beneath my skin. Just brown. Ordinary, disappointing brown. “I wasn’t staring,” I lied. My maid, Elara, appeared behind me with a brush in one hand and an expression that suggested she had no intention of believing me. “You’ve been staring for the last ten minutes.” “Perhaps the window is particularly fascinating.” “Perhaps you’re particularly nervous.” I offered her a smile. She didn’t return it. “Tonight is your birthday,” she reminded me gently. “The entire kingdom is celebrating. The Alpha King himself will be attending. You should be excited.” Excited. I almost laughed. Excitement was a luxury reserved for people who had something to look forward to. For me, tonight was simply another opportunity for the kingdom to witness my greatest failure. My wolf. Or, more accurately, the absence of one. At twenty-two, every she-wolf in the Bloodmoon Kingdom had already shifted. Most experienced their first transformation at sixteen. The particularly powerful ones shifted even earlier. I had waited six years. Six years of whispered prayers, humiliating examinations, expensive healers, and increasingly desperate rituals. Six years of my father pretending that my condition was merely temporary. Six years of my older sister reminding me that I was fortunate to have been born into a noble family. And six years of learning that there was no such thing as fortunate when you were wolfless. “Do you think it will happen tonight?” Elara asked. I lowered my gaze to my hands. “Do you think I will finally shift?” She hesitated. That hesitation was answer enough. “Of course,” she said eventually. “The Moon Goddess wouldn’t abandon you.” I wanted to believe her. I really did. But there was something about the way the wolves had been howling lately. Something strange about the way the forest seemed to fall silent whenever I walked through it. Something about the dreams. Every night, I saw the same thing. A white wolf standing beneath a blood-red moon. Its eyes were silver. And it always looked at me as though it had been waiting. “Seraphina.” Elara’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “What?” She placed a delicate necklace around my throat. A small silver pendant rested against my collarbone. My mother’s. I had worn it every day since her death. “You’re beautiful,” Elara whispered. I looked at the girl in the mirror. Beautiful. Perhaps. But beauty was not worth much in a kingdom where power determined everything. And tonight, I would be expected to prove that I possessed none. ⸻ The Vale family occupied one of the oldest estates in the Bloodmoon Kingdom. Our ancestors had fought alongside the first Alpha King. Their bloodline had once been considered among the most powerful in the realm. Once. Now, my father was a nobleman whose influence had begun to fade. My sister, Isabella, was the family’s greatest hope. At nineteen, she had already shifted into a magnificent golden wolf, and her engagement to a powerful Alpha from the eastern territories had elevated our family’s standing. And then there was me. The daughter who had inherited nothing. I walked down the marble staircase, my fingers gripping the railing. Music drifted from the ballroom below. Laughter. The clinking of glasses. Hundreds of voices mingling beneath the glittering chandeliers. The scent of wolves filled the air. Powerful wolves. The moment I entered the ballroom, conversations faltered. Not all of them. But enough. I knew the looks. The barely concealed amusement. The pity disguised as politeness. “Is that the wolfless Vale girl?” “Twenty-two years old. Imagine.” “Her father should have kept her out of sight.” I kept walking. My heels clicked against the marble floor. One step. Another. I had learned long ago that lowering my head only encouraged people to look down on me. My father stood near the center of the ballroom, speaking with several distinguished nobles. His dark hair had begun to gray at the temples, and his expensive black suit was embroidered with the silver crest of our family. He spotted me. His smile faltered. Then he beckoned. “Seraphina.” I approached him. “Father.” His gaze traveled over my gown. “You should have worn something more modest.” I looked down at myself. The dress covered my shoulders, my chest, and most of my back. It was elegant. Beautiful, even. But apparently, not modest enough. “I thought it suited the occasion.” “The occasion is not about you.” The words landed quietly. They always did. My father didn’t need to shout to make me feel small. He leaned closer. “Tonight is important. The Alpha King is attending. Isabella’s engagement will be announced, and our family must make a good impression. I don’t want any embarrassing incidents.” I nodded. “Of course.” “And Seraphina?” I looked up. “Please, for once, don’t draw attention to yourself.” Then he walked away. I stood there for a moment, watching him disappear into the crowd. For once. As if I had ever been given the choice. ⸻ “Seraphina!” My sister’s voice was impossible to mistake. Isabella crossed the ballroom in a shimmering golden gown, her blond hair arranged in elaborate curls. She was breathtaking, and she knew it. Behind her walked her fiancé, Lord Adrian Whitmore. He was handsome, broad-shouldered, and possessed a wolf whose reputation was nearly as impressive as his family’s wealth. Isabella smiled at me. “Happy birthday, little sister.” “Thank you.” Her eyes traveled over my dress. “Oh. Navy?” I frowned. “What about it?” “Nothing.” She laughed softly. “I simply thought you would choose something brighter. You know, to make yourself look a little more alive.” Adrian chuckled. I clenched my fingers. Isabella had always been beautiful. She had always been powerful. And she had always been cruel in ways that made it difficult to explain why everyone adored her. “Have you received any birthday gifts?” she asked. “Not yet.” “Oh, how unfortunate.” She tilted her head. “Perhaps the Moon Goddess will finally give you something tonight.” I stared at her. She smiled. “Your wolf, perhaps.” Adrian’s laughter grew louder. I forced myself to smile. “Perhaps.” Isabella leaned closer. “Just don’t get your hopes up. It would be rather embarrassing if nothing happened. Again.” Then she walked away, her hand resting on Adrian’s arm. I watched them disappear into the crowd. Sometimes I wondered whether Isabella hated me. Other times, I wondered whether she simply enjoyed reminding me that she had everything I didn’t. I turned toward the balcony. The cold air might help me breathe. ⸻ The balcony overlooked the royal gardens. Moonlight spilled across the fountains and silvered the tops of the trees. Beyond the estate walls, the forest stretched into darkness. I rested my hands against the railing. Tonight. Twenty-two years. The age when a wolf-less person was no longer considered a late bloomer. They were considered a lost cause. I closed my eyes. “Please.” The word slipped out before I could stop it. I didn’t know whom I was addressing. The Moon Goddess. My mother. The universe. Anyone. “Just once. Please.” A strange sensation crept through my chest. Warmth. I pressed my palm against my heart. For one impossible moment, I felt something move beneath my ribs. Not a heartbeat. Something else. Then it vanished. I opened my eyes. The forest had gone silent. Not quiet. Silent. Every bird. Every insect. Every distant rustle. Gone. A shiver crawled down my spine. Then I heard it. A howl. Deep. Terrifying. It rose from the forest, shaking the night. My fingers tightened around the railing. Another howl followed. And another. The wolves were calling. But this time, there was something wrong. They weren’t calling to the moon. They were calling to me. “Seraphina?” I turned sharply. A servant stood in the doorway. “His Majesty has arrived.” My stomach dropped. The Alpha King. Kael Draven. ⸻ The ballroom erupted the moment he entered. Every wolf in the room bowed their heads. Even my father. Even the oldest and most respected nobles. The Alpha King was twenty-eight years old, and his reputation had preceded him long before his coronation. Ruthless. Unforgiving. Possessive. His wolf, Shadow, was said to be among the largest in the kingdom. Some claimed that Kael had killed three rival Alphas before he was twenty. Others whispered that he had never lost a battle. I had seen him only twice before. Both times, from a distance. Tonight, he wore black. A tailored suit. Silver buttons. A royal crest resting over his heart. His hair was dark, his jaw sharp, and his eyes— Gold. The color of a wolf’s gaze. He walked through the ballroom as though the entire kingdom belonged to him. Because it did. My father hurried forward. “Your Majesty. It is an honor to welcome you to our home.” Kael inclined his head. “Lord Vale.” His voice was deep. Cold. The sort of voice that made people listen before they even understood why. My father gestured toward Isabella. “Allow me to introduce my eldest daughter, Isabella Vale.” Isabella curtsied. Kael barely glanced at her. Then his eyes moved. Across the ballroom. Toward me. I froze. His gaze locked onto mine. And something inside my chest shattered. Not painfully. Not yet. It felt like a door had been opened. A warmth spread through my body, fierce and sudden. My breath caught in my throat. Kael stopped walking. His expression changed. The golden glow in his eyes intensified. For one moment, he looked as though he had forgotten where he was. Then he whispered something. I couldn’t hear it. But I saw his lips move. “No.” My heart began to race. The warmth surged again. I gripped the railing. What was happening? Kael took one step toward me. Then another. The entire ballroom seemed to fade. His eyes never left mine. And then— “MATE.” The word exploded inside my head. I stumbled backward. My hand flew to my chest. No. No, no, no. I had spent twenty-two years begging the Moon Goddess for a wolf. And now— The Alpha King was my mate. ⸻ The silence lasted only seconds. Then the ballroom erupted into whispers. “Impossible.” “Did he just say—” “Seraphina Vale?” My father looked as though someone had struck him. Isabella’s smile disappeared. Kael stood in the middle of the ballroom, staring at me. His wolf was awake. I could feel it. The bond was pulling at my chest, tightening with every breath. I had never experienced anything like it. It was overwhelming. Terrifying. Beautiful. Kael moved toward me. I couldn’t move. He stopped just a few feet away. His expression was unreadable. Then he spoke. “Come here.” My feet obeyed before my mind could catch up. I walked toward him. Every step felt unreal. When I stood before him, he looked down at me. The golden glow in his eyes was almost blinding. His hand lifted. His fingers brushed my cheek. The bond surged. My heart nearly stopped. “Mate,” he whispered again. My lips parted. “Kael—” His expression changed. Something dark flickered across his face. His hand fell away. He stepped back. The warmth inside me began to fade. Confusion twisted through my stomach. “Your Majesty?” He looked at me. Then at the crowd. Then at Isabella. And I understood. Something was wrong. Very wrong. ⸻ “Impossible.” The word came from Kael’s mouth. He sounded almost angry. He looked at my father. “Is this a joke?” My father’s face drained of color. “Your Majesty, I—” “Answer me.” “No. Of course not.” Kael’s jaw tightened. His wolf was fighting him. I could see it. His hands curled into fists. For a moment, I thought he might reach for me again. Instead, he turned away. “Clear the ballroom.” Nobody moved. Kael’s voice thundered. “NOW.” The nobles scattered. Servants hurried toward the doors. My father grabbed my arm. “Seraphina, come with me.” I pulled away. “Father—” “Silence.” His fingers tightened. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” I stared at him. “What have I done?” His eyes burned. “You’ve humiliated this family.” I couldn’t breathe. Kael stood near the windows, his back turned. The bond was still there. A faint thread. A desperate pull. But he wasn’t looking at me anymore. And then Isabella stepped forward. “Your Majesty.” Her voice was soft. Kael turned. She lowered her head. “Perhaps there has been a mistake.” My stomach twisted. A mistake? The Moon Goddess didn’t make mistakes. Kael stared at Isabella. Something passed between them. Something I couldn’t understand. Then he looked at me. His expression hardened. The golden glow in his eyes disappeared. And when he spoke, his voice was colder than the winter outside. “Seraphina Vale.” I swallowed. “Yes?” “Do you understand what this bond means?” I nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.” “Then understand this.” He stepped closer. My heart trembled. “I will not take a wolfless woman as my Luna.” The words echoed through the empty ballroom. I stared at him. “What?” His face was expressionless. “The kingdom cannot afford a weak queen.” I felt the bond recoil. Pain shot through my chest. I grabbed the front of my dress. “Kael, please—” “Do not call me by my name.” My breath caught. He looked at the royal guards. “Bring the priest.” I didn’t understand. The priest? Why? Kael’s gaze returned to me. “Seraphina Vale.” My knees felt weak. “By the authority of the Bloodmoon throne, I hereby reject you as my fated mate.” The bond snapped. ⸻ Pain. That was the first thing I felt. Not the kind that came from a wound. Something deeper. Something that tore through my soul. I screamed. The sound echoed through the ballroom. My knees hit the floor. My hands clawed at my chest. It felt as though someone had reached inside me and ripped something apart. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t even see. The last thing I heard was my father’s voice. “Your Majesty, please. She is my daughter.” Then Kael’s voice. Cold. Final. “Remove her.” ⸻ I woke up on the floor. The ballroom was empty. The candles had burned low. My gown was stained with blood where I had bitten my lip. My head throbbed. My chest felt hollow. I slowly pushed myself upright. The bond was gone. Completely. I pressed my palm against my heart. Nothing. No warmth. No pull. No connection. I was alone. For the first time in my life, I understood what it meant to be truly wolfless. I had been born without a wolf. And now I had been rejected by the only man who could have made me belong. A bitter laugh escaped me. Of course. Of course this would happen. I looked toward the doors. The guards stood outside. My father entered a moment later. His face was furious. “Get up.” I stared at him. “Father—” “Get up, Seraphina.” I pushed myself to my feet. He looked at me with disgust. “Do you have any idea how much damage you’ve caused?” I said nothing. “Do you understand what this means for our family?” I looked down. He stepped closer. “You have embarrassed us before. Your condition, your inability to shift, your constant need for attention. But this?” His voice lowered. “This is unforgivable.” I looked at him. For the first time, something inside me broke that had nothing to do with the bond. “Attention?” My father stared. I laughed. It was a terrible sound. “I spent twenty-two years trying to make you proud.” His expression hardened. “And you failed.” The words were quiet. But they hurt more than Kael’s rejection. My father turned away. “Pack your belongings.” I blinked. “What?” “You are no longer welcome in this house.” The world tilted. “Father, please—” “Your sister’s engagement will be announced tomorrow. I will not have your presence ruining it.” I stared at him. “Where am I supposed to go?” He didn’t answer. He simply walked away. The door closed behind him. And I was alone. ⸻ Three hours later, I stood outside the Vale estate. The night was freezing. My belongings had been packed into a single trunk. A servant had left it beside the gate. No carriage. No escort. No goodbye. I looked up at the enormous gates. The place where I had lived for twenty-two years. The place where my mother had died. The place where I had spent my entire life hoping someone would love me enough to make me feel worthy. I wiped my cheeks. No more crying. I was tired. So tired. I reached for the necklace around my throat. My mother’s silver pendant. It was the only thing I had left. I turned toward the forest. The kingdom had laws about banishment. A wolfless woman could not survive alone beyond the territory. The forests belonged to the rogues. And the rogues did not take kindly to trespassers. But I had nowhere else to go. I took one step. Then another. The gates closed behind me. And somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled. I stopped. The sound was deep. Ancient. It vibrated through my bones. I turned toward the forest. A pair of silver eyes glowed between the trees. My breath caught. The wolf stepped forward. Its fur was white. Not ordinary white. Silver. Moonlight seemed to cling to its body. It was enormous. Larger than any wolf I had ever seen. I stumbled backward. The wolf tilted its head. Then it opened its mouth. And a voice echoed inside my mind. Not a growl. Not a howl. A voice. “Finally.” I froze. My heart slammed against my ribs. The wolf stepped closer. The voice came again. “You took long enough to find me.” I stared at the creature. My lips trembled. “Who are you?” The wolf’s eyes narrowed. Then it spoke the words that would change my life forever. “I am your wolf, Seraphina.” My knees nearly buckled. Impossible. I had never shifted. I had never felt a wolf. I had never— The creature’s gaze sharpened. “And I am not the only thing they lied to you about.” The silver light intensified. The forest trembled. The wolf stepped forward. “Run, little queen.” I stared at it. “Queen?” The wolf bared its teeth. “Because the moment your blood awakens, every Alpha in this kingdom will come hunting for you.” A terrible howl ripped through the forest. And then, somewhere behind me, a second voice spoke. “Seraphina?” I turned. Kael Draven stood at the edge of the road. His eyes were glowing gold. His wolf was awake. And he was staring at me as though he had just witnessed something impossible. His gaze moved to the white wolf. Then back to me. His expression changed. Not with anger. Not with disgust. With horror. Because the Alpha King had just realized something. Something that made even his wolf tremble. The girl he had rejected was not wolfless. She had been hiding something far more dangerous. And the Moon Goddess had never intended for her to be his Luna. She had intended for her to be his downfall.