MOONBOUND: THE ALPHA'S CLAIM

The scent was everything. For Luna, it wasn’t just a smell—it was her very essence. It was the invisible thread that tied her to her identity, her strength, and the destiny woven by the moon itself. It was the mark that defined her place in the pack, the sign that would lead the Alpha to her—the one true mate she was meant to claim and be claimed by in return. But now, that sacred scent was slipping away from her, vanishing like a wisp of smoke in the cold, unforgiving night air. She could feel it fading inside her, as if someone had reached into her soul and stolen the part of herself that was meant to belong to the Alpha King, Kaelen. The bond she was supposed to share, the connection destined by blood and spirit, was being stolen—taken from her by the one she once trusted more than anyone. Serah. Her closest friend. The woman she had shared secrets with, laughed beside, trusted with her heart. And now, Serah stood in the shadow of betrayal, wearing Luna’s scent like a mask, weaving lies so convincing that even Kaelen, the Alpha, had been fooled. Kaelen’s amber eyes burned into Luna’s with confusion, pain, and a flicker of doubt that only made her feel smaller—more alone. His gaze was sharp, accusing, filled with the kind of betrayal that cut deeper than any wound. But he was wrong. The scent he followed, the one that claimed Serah as his mate, was a lie. It was not Serah's, it was mine. Luna’s voice trembled as she forced the words out, the weight of despair pressing down on her chest. “Kaelen, please… you’ve been deceived.” Her plea hung fragile in the cold air. His gaze hardened like stone. “You just stole her scent. You're not my true mate, she is...” The accusation hit her like a slap—stinging, unjust, and brutal. “No!” Luna gasped, desperation bleeding through every syllable. “It was Serah who stole mine.” Her words echoed in the stillness, but they felt swallowed by the heavy silence that followed. No one moved to defend her. No one reached out to believe her truth. The pack whispered behind closed eyes and pressed lips—rumors that dripped like poison through the halls. Accusations wrapped in cold stares and whispered judgments. “Traitress.” “Liar.” “Omega without honor.” Each word was a blow, a nail in the coffin of her shattered identity. Luna felt the walls close in, the weight of their scorn crushing her spirit. The scent she once carried proudly was now a ghost fading into oblivion, her connection to her true mate ripped away by deceit. And in that moment, she realized the cruel truth—sometimes the fiercest enemies wore the faces of friends. --- The whispers echoed in her ears long after the words were spoken—like a relentless storm battering the fragile walls of her heart. Each accusation, each suspicious glance, was a blade twisting deeper into her soul. She was no longer the Luna she once was. She was a shadow fading beneath the weight of doubt. Her fingers curled into fists against the cold stone floor, tears stinging her eyes—not from weakness, but from the unbearable ache of betrayal. How could Serah do this? How could the friend she trusted steal what was so intimately hers, wearing it like a crown before the Alpha? The thought churned in Luna’s chest—bitterness, heartbreak, and rage mingling in a storm. Kaelen’s tall frame loomed before her, amber eyes flickering with confusion and hurt. “I don’t know what to believe anymore,” he said quietly, voice heavy with doubt. “Your scent… it’s… different. Sometimes I smell you, sometimes it feels like someone else’s.” His gaze bore into her, searching for answers she didn’t have. “Tell me the truth, Luna. Have you been hiding something? Did you steal Serah’s scent after all?” The accusation cut through her like ice. “No!” Luna gasped, desperation spilling over. “It’s Serah who stole mine. She used deceit and dark tricks to wear my scent and claim you.” Kaelen’s jaw tightened, a storm raging behind his eyes. “If that’s true… why can’t I fully sense your bond? Why does it feel broken?” Luna’s throat tightened, words failing her. The pack’s judgment pressed down, heavy and suffocating. But she refused to fall. She wiped the tears that escaped and lifted her chin, voice steady but fierce. “I am still Luna. And I will fight to reclaim my scent, my bond, and my place—even if you doubt me.” Kaelen’s silence was a battlefield. The truth remained tangled in shadows. And Luna was left standing alone. --- The grand chamber of the council was cold and imposing, shadows flickering against stone walls etched with ancient runes. Luna stood alone in the center, flanked by the stern faces of the pack’s elders, their eyes sharp with judgment. At the head of the council, Kaelen’s amber gaze locked onto hers, torn between confusion and betrayal. Serah sat among the elders, her lips curled into a delicate, innocent smile—too perfect, too practiced. Her eyes glimmered with a secret triumph no one else seemed to see. One elder’s voice cut through the silence. “Luna, you stand accused of stealing the scent of Serah, the Alpha’s true mate. Such betrayal threatens the very foundation of our pack.” Luna’s voice trembled but held firm. “I swear on the moon—it was Serah who stole my scent. I have done no wrong.” Murmurs rippled through the chamber—whispers of disbelief, some laced with suspicion, most with scorn. Another elder, a woman draped in silver robes, raised her hand for silence. “The bond of scent is sacred. To tamper with it is to dishonor the Moon Goddess herself.” Kaelen’s eyes flickered between Luna and Serah. “Your scents… they’re confused. Entwined. But the bond is with Serah.” Luna’s desperation rose. “Please, look deeper! I am innocent!” Serah’s smile widened imperceptibly, her eyes shining with feigned sympathy as she leaned forward and whispered softly, “We all want peace, Kaelen.” The council leader, cloaked in midnight blue, nodded solemnly. “The evidence is clear. The Alpha’s claim stands with Serah. Your denial cannot undo the bond.” With a heavy voice, he pronounced the sentence. “Luna, for the crime of scent theft and deception, you are imprisoned until the truth emerges. You will be confined in the dungeon under guard.” As guards stepped forward, Luna’s knees shook, but her gaze never faltered. She caught Serah’s eyes—those shining orbs of innocent triumph—and vowed silently.