The Curse Of The Blood Moon

~Evelyn~ The wind bit at my skin as I stood by my father's grave, the hum of it filling my ears. The earth, heavy and damp, swallowed the casket that held the last piece of him...my father, the man who had raised me after my mother's death, built our pack, and never wavered in his devotion. But now, I couldn't cry. I had already shed those tears, alone, in the quiet of my memories. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to push back the wave of grief. I remembered the nights, the stories of my mother, the quiet bond we shared. He'd refused to remarry, raising me alone with pride and stubbornness. Training me like a son, preparing me to lead. And now, with him gone, that legacy was mine to carry. The elders arrived, their faces impassive. I could feel their cold expectations pressing on me before they even spoke. "Evelyn," Elder Colton's voice cut through the air, low and gravelly. "The pack is without an alpha. You must step in immediately. You cannot wait, not even for mourning." My hands balled into fists, fury bubbling inside me. How dare they? My father had just been laid to rest, and they were already demanding I take his place. "Are you serious?" I spat, the anger rising in my throat. "You think I should just... take over? Like that? After everything? After he..." My voice broke, and I struggled to keep it steady. "There can be no weakness in leadership, Evelyn. You know this," Elder Colton's face remained unchanged. "Exactly," Elder Zane added, his tone sharp. "A pack cannot go without its leader. It's a chance for other packs to attack. Your father trained you for this. Now it's time for you to step into his shoes. You're the only one who can do it." I opened my mouth to argue, but nothing came out. The pressure in my chest was suffocating. Elder Colton placed a hand on my shoulder, and I wanted to shove it off, but I knew better than to disrespect him. "I know this is hard," he said gently. "You've lost your father, your protector, but now you must lead the pack. You're the only one they trust." I looked around at their faces, their eyes filled with silent expectations. They were looking to me, waiting for me to be their savior, to pull them out of the mess they were in. The lump in my throat grew. I turned away, my heart pounding as I retreated toward the pack house, desperate for space. My father's death was still so raw, and yet, all they cared about was my ability to replace him. "I'm not ready," I muttered to myself, my fists trembling. The elders' voices faded as I walked further away, not stopping until I reached the pack house. Inside, alone in my room, I finally allowed myself to break. I sank to the floor, hands covering my face as a shuddering breath escaped me. The door creaked open, and I didn't need to look up to know who it was. Mason. He stepped into the room, his presence always soothing, always grounding. Without a word, he sat beside me, his arm wrapping around me, pulling me close. For a moment, I allowed myself to relax into him, the tension in my muscles slowly unwinding. "I'm sorry," he murmured softly, his voice steady and comforting. "I know how hard this is for you." I nodded against his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his body seep into mine. Mason was a rogue, he had come to the pack broken, and desperate, and I had given him shelter, a chance. What I hadn't expected was that the rogue I had saved would become my mate. His voice continued to murmur, but I couldn't focus. My mind raced, and everything seemed unbearable. I pulled away gently, sitting up to face him. His dark eyes were full of understanding, but I knew he could sense the storm inside me. "Mason," I began, my voice steady, quieter. "I don't want to be alpha. I can't do it." He opened his mouth to speak, but I stopped him with a raised hand. "You're going to be the alpha," I said quickly, the words tumbling out in a rush before I could stop them. "I've made up my mind." His brow furrowed, confusion flashing across his face. "What are you talking about?" I swallowed, the burden in my chest growing heavier. "I can't lead this pack. I can't bear the weight of it. But you... you're strong, Mason. You deserve to lead. I'll be by your side, as your Luna. I trust you enough and I know we can do this together." * "Your mate, a rogue, becoming alpha?" Elder Colton asked, his tone sharp. "It goes against tradition." "I'm sure," I said. "Mason has earned his place. He will lead us well." The next day was filled with tension. It was hard convincing the elders to let Mason rule especially with Mason's rogue background. But I stood before them, unshaken. "You know this is a heavy responsibility you are bestowing on him, are you sure he can carry on the legacy of the late alpha, you know he was a..."Elder Colton paused glancing at Mason "A rogue," I completed "I trust him Elders and I know you all trust me enough that I won't do something that will bring harm to the pack." The elders exchanged glances. After a pause, Colton nodded. "The coronation will take place tomorrow. Mason Logan will be our alpha." The coronation day arrived. I let out a deep breath as Mason stood before me, his clothes pristine. "You look handsome," I teased, brushing off imaginary dirt from his shirt. He smiled. "You look beautiful too, my soon-to-be Luna," he replied and I smiled widely. "I want to do this with you." "I can't wait. Let's do this," he murmured and I nodded as we joined the crowd. The ceremony was simple, a crown on Mason's head, the elders' blessings, the pack watching in silence. I stood beside him, my heart swelling with pride. This was his moment, and I had chosen to stand by him. Then came the moment for the Luna to be named. Nervous, I waited as Mason turned to me. The pack was watching, waiting for me to crowd their Luna, their cheers filled the hall and all I did was smile. Then my smile faltered as I saw a shift in Mason's expression, something cold. "I, Alpha Mason Logan, reject Evelyn Stone as my Luna." My heart stopped. I staggered back, breath caught in my throat. "What?" My voice cracked. The crowd fell silent, all eyes on us. Mason's face was hard, distant. "I refused to be mated with someone like you neither will I want you to rule beside me," he said, his voice cold. A wave of panic hit me, but before I could react, a sharp cough rattled my chest. I gasped, blood spilling from my mouth. I collapsed, my vision blurring, and the world around me faded. The last thing I saw was Mason's smug face. He wasn't exactly the man I thought he was.