BOUND BY THE MOON

Ava’s boots crunched against the dirt path as she walked through the Wilder pack’s territory, her sharp gaze surveying the horizon. The sun was beginning to dip behind the mountains, casting long shadows across the training grounds. The pack was small, but their training was rigorous, and Ava took great pride in their progress. She had built this pack from the ground up, and every success felt like a personal victory. Her Beta, Jaxon, walked up to her, his face serious. He had been with her since she was a young, inexperienced Alpha, and she trusted him implicitly. “Ava,” he said, his voice low, “you need to come with me. The Council’s message just came through.” Ava’s heart skipped a beat. The Council? They rarely involved themselves with smaller packs, only when it was absolutely necessary. “What is it?” she asked, keeping her voice steady. Jaxon hesitated for a moment. “They... They want to see you. Tonight.” Her stomach dropped. The Council’s summons was never a good thing. They were the governing body of the largest werewolf packs, and their decisions could change the course of history for smaller packs like hers. Ava’s eyes narrowed as she studied Jaxon’s tense posture. She could tell something was wrong. “What’s this about, Jaxon?” “They didn’t give any details,” he said, looking around nervously as though afraid someone might overhear. “But it sounds urgent. You need to prepare.” Ava’s mind raced, her instincts flaring with unease. She could already feel the weight of the conversation pressing down on her. The Council only summoned an Alpha for a serious reason. Whatever was coming, it wasn’t going to be good. “I’ll go,” she said, her voice firm. “And I’ll go alone. You know the drill. Make sure the pack stays focused.” Jaxon nodded, but his eyes were filled with concern. “Be careful, Ava. The Council isn’t known for making friendly requests.” Ava didn’t respond, already lost in her thoughts. She turned and walked back to the heart of the pack’s territory, her mind a whirlwind of questions. What could the Council want with her? Why now? She had always stayed out of their politics, focusing solely on her pack’s well-being. But if they were calling on her, it meant things were about to change—and not in a way she would like. The grand hall of the Council was as imposing as ever. Massive stone columns rose to the ceiling, where ancient symbols were carved into the rock. The air was thick with history, every inch of the room steeped in the decisions of generations past. Ava had always felt a chill in her bones when entering the Council’s chambers. It was a place of power, where the fates of entire packs were decided with a word, a sentence. No one ever left unchanged. As she stepped inside, the murmurs of the assembled Elders fell silent. Ava’s eyes were immediately drawn to Ethan Blackwood, standing at the far end of the room. His dark hair was slightly tousled, his tall, broad form a stark contrast to the ancient stone walls. He stood there with the same calm, impassive expression she had seen a thousand times in the past. But something about him today felt different. His posture was rigid, his jaw set in a way that made his presence even more commanding. Ava’s heart raced, though she refused to show it. She had never liked Ethan. He was arrogant, proud, and far too calculating for her liking. But there was something in the way he held himself now that made her uneasy. As if he, too, was awaiting an inevitable storm. “Alpha Ava Wilder,” Elder Malek’s voice rang out, breaking the tense silence. “You are here because of the escalation of conflict among the packs. Your name has come up repeatedly in recent discussions.” Ava’s stomach twisted. “What does this have to do with me?” she asked, her voice steady despite the rapid beating of her heart. Elder Malek’s eyes, ancient and wise, locked onto hers. “You are a key figure in this situation, Alpha Wilder. The Wilder pack has been steadily gaining strength, and with that comes a certain level of responsibility.” Ava’s brow furrowed. “I’ve done what’s necessary to ensure my pack’s survival. What more could you want?” Elder Malek didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he motioned toward Ethan, who stepped forward, his gaze never leaving Ava’s. “There is a solution,” Ethan said, his voice low but strong. “A union. A marriage between our packs will ensure that both remain strong and protected.” Ava’s world seemed to stop. She turned to Ethan, disbelief and anger flashing across her face. “A marriage?” she repeated, her voice cutting through the tense atmosphere. “You want me to marry him?” Ethan’s eyes never wavered. “This isn’t about personal desires, Wilder. This is about the survival of both our packs.” Her fists clenched at her sides. “I don’t care about your pack, Blackwood. I’ve built my pack from the ground up. And I won’t let some political arrangement decide my future.” “You don’t have a choice,” Elder Malek interjected. “This union is the only way to prevent the war that looms over us. The packs are growing restless, and the Council has decided this is the most viable solution.” Ava’s gaze flicked to Ethan again, her mind a whirl of anger, confusion, and something darker—something she couldn’t quite name. Ethan Blackwood, the proud Alpha of the Blackwood pack, standing there as if he were a part of this agreement. She didn’t trust him, and she sure as hell didn’t trust this arrangement. “I won’t marry him,” Ava said, her voice sharp. “You can’t make me.” “The decision has already been made,” Elder Malek said, his tone firm and final. “The packs will unite. And you will do your duty, Alpha Wilder.” Ava wanted to argue, to protest, but she could see the finality in their eyes. There was no room for negotiation. Her fate, and her pack’s future, had already been sealed.