Chapter 12 Part 1
1239 Words
Beneath the Winter Moon
The Winter Moon Festival had reached its most important night. The night every wolf in White Fang Territory waited for.
The night of tradition.
The night of blessings.
The night of promises.
The night when the future Alpha and future Luna would stand before the entire territory.
Together.
The central square overflowed with people.
Lanterns illuminated the snowy streets.
Music floated through the cold air.
Children laughed while chasing each other around glowing ice sculptures.
Merchants called out to customers.
Families gathered around bonfires.
The entire White Fang Territory felt alive.
For the first time in years.
And at the center of it all—
Stood Summit Angel Warm.
Unfortunately, Sam was currently trying not to panic.
“Why is everyone staring?”
A servant smiled. “Because you’re beautiful.”
Sam groaned. “That doesn’t help.”
“It wasn’t supposed to.”
The servant walked away.
Traitor.
Absolute traitor.
Sam adjusted her silver dress nervously.
The elegant fabric shimmered beneath the lantern light.
Every step felt dangerous.
What if she tripped?
What if she fell?
What if she embarrassed herself in front of thousands of people?
What if—
“You’re overthinking.”
Sam turned.
And immediately forgot what she was about to say.
Froz.
The future Alpha stood a few feet away.
Dressed in formal black and silver festival clothing.
The silver embroidery on his jacket reflected the moonlight.
His dark hair was neatly styled.
His sharp jaw looked unfairly attractive.
Everything about him looked unfairly attractive.
Honestly.
It was annoying.
Very annoying.
“You clean up nicely.” The words escaped before she could stop them.
Froz raised an eyebrow. “That’s your compliment?”
Sam immediately regretted speaking.
The Alpha’s lips twitched.
Barely.
But she saw it.
“Don’t.”
“What?”
“That.”
“What?”
“The almost smiling.”
His eyebrow lifted higher.
“Almost smiling?”
“It’s disturbing.”
Froz looked offended.
Good.
The familiar banter eased her nervousness.
A little.
Only a little.
Then the ceremonial horns sounded.
The crowd immediately quieted.
Thousands of eyes turned toward the stage.
The atmosphere changed.
Became serious.
Traditional.
Sacred.
Sam swallowed.
The moment had arrived.
An elder stepped onto the platform.
His voice echoed throughout the square.
“Wolves of White Fang!”
Cheers erupted.
The elder smiled.
“Tonight, beneath the Winter Moon, we celebrate our unity.”
More cheers.
“We celebrate our future.”
The elder’s gaze moved toward Froz.
Then toward Sam.
The crowd immediately became excited.
Very excited.
“The future Alpha.”
Thunderous applause.
“The future Luna.”
Even louder applause.
Sam wanted to disappear.
Immediately.
The elder extended his hand.
“Step forward.”
Froz moved first.
Confident.
Calm.
Like a true Alpha.
Sam followed.
Trying not to trip.
The crowd watched every movement.
Every glance.
Every breath.
The pressure was unbelievable.
Then the elder smiled knowingly.
“The ceremonial dance shall begin.”
The crowd exploded.
Sam froze.
The dance.
She forgot about the dance.
How did she forget about the dance?
Queen Rhed had mentioned it.
Repeatedly.
Several times.
Many times.
A lot of times.
Apparently Sam’s brain had simply refused to remember.
Froz turned toward her.
Then extended his hand.
The simple gesture made her heart skip.
One beat.
Then another.
Then another.
His blue eyes met hers.
For one brief moment, the crowd disappeared.
The noise disappeared.
Everything disappeared.
There was only him.
Waiting.
Sam slowly placed her hand in his.
Warm.
Strong.
Steady.
The music began.
Soft.
Beautiful.
Ancient.
The dance was simple.
Traditional.
Yet somehow—
It felt intimate.
Far too intimate.
Froz guided her effortlessly. His hand rested against her waist. Her fingers remained intertwined with his. The distance between them felt dangerously small. Every movement brought them closer.
Then closer.
Then closer still.
The crowd watched in silence.
Captivated.
Because something unexpected was happening.
The feared future Alpha looked different.
Softer.
Calmer.
Alive.
And the sunshine wolf from the Warm Clan looked like she belonged beside him.
Perfectly.
The realization spread through the crowd like wildfire.
Meanwhile—
Neither dancer noticed.
They were too busy noticing each other.
Sam looked up.
Their eyes met.
Again.
And suddenly she understood why everyone kept staring.
Because this felt different.
Not political.
Not forced.
Not arranged.
Real.
Dangerously real.
The music ended.
The crowd erupted into applause.
Yet neither moved immediately.
For one brief second—
The world stood still.
Then reality returned.
And they stepped apart.
Though neither liked it.
The rest of the festival became a blur.
People approached constantly.
Nobles.
Warriors.
Village leaders.
Merchants.
Everyone wanted to meet the future Luna.
Everyone wanted to talk.
Everyone wanted her attention.
Sam handled it surprisingly well.
She smiled.
Laughed.
Spoke kindly with everyone.
Exactly as Queen Rhed taught her.
Froz watched from nearby.
Pretending not to watch.
Unfortunately—
Metro noticed.
Of course he did.
“My Alpha.”
“No.”
“I haven’t said anything.”
“You were about to.”
Metro adjusted his glasses. “I was.”
Froz sighed.
The servant continued. “You’ve been watching Lady Summit all evening.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
The Alpha considered firing him.
Briefly.
Very briefly.
Then something caught his attention.
A young noble wolf.
Tall.
Handsome.
Confident.
Walking directly toward Sam.
Froz immediately disliked him.
For absolutely no reason.
None whatsoever.
The noble bowed politely. “My Lady.”
Sam smiled. “Hello.”
The noble smiled back.
Too much.
Far too much.
“I was hoping for a dance.”
Froz narrowed his eyes.
Nearby.
Very nearby.
Metro suddenly looked interested.
The traitor.
Sam blinked. “A dance?”
“If you’ll allow it.”
The noble extended his hand.
The gesture was harmless.
Completely harmless.
Yet for some reason—
The Alpha’s jaw tightened.
Dangerously.
Sam hesitated.
Then smiled politely. “One dance.”
The noble looked delighted.
Froz looked murderous.
The music began. The noble guided Sam toward the dance floor. Everything remained appropriate.
Respectful.
Proper.
Yet the longer Froz watched—
The worse his mood became.
The noble made Sam laugh.
Froz hated it.
The noble leaned closer while speaking.
Froz hated that too.
The noble placed a hand on her waist.
The Alpha’s patience officially died.
Metro wisely took several steps away.
Self-preservation.
A useful skill.
Then the noble made a mistake.
A terrible mistake.
He brushed a strand of hair away from Sam’s face.
The crowd didn’t notice.
Sam barely noticed.
But Froz noticed.
And suddenly—
The future Alpha was moving.
Fast.
Very fast.
The dance stopped.
The noble froze.
Because Froz White Fang now stood directly in front of him.
The entire festival became silent.
Everyone sensed danger.
Everyone.
The noble swallowed. “My Alpha.”
Froz didn’t look at him. Not even once. Instead, his gaze remained on Sam.
“Come with me.”
Sam blinked. “What?”
“Now.”
The crowd collectively stopped breathing.
The noble looked terrified.
Metro looked entertained.
Queen Rhed looked delighted.
The dangerous woman.
Sam stared.
Then slowly realized what was happening.
The realization nearly made her smile.
Was he—
No.
Surely not.
Yet his expression said otherwise.
The Alpha looked irritated.
Possessive.
Jealous.
Very jealous.
And completely unaware of it.
Which somehow made it worse.
Or better.
Depending on who was asked.
- Writer
