Selene’s POV

My father, Darius, gave me a curious glance, raising an eyebrow in mild amusement. “Give me a moment, chickee,” he murmured before turning back to continue his hushed conversation with Alpha Orion.

Luna Selah turned to Rowan with a warm smile. “Be a dear and bring up our best bottle from the cellar, would you?” As Rowan disappeared down the hallway, she gently excused herself and moved toward the kitchen, her movements graceful and precise.

I stayed frozen in place for a moment, observing my father’s conversation with Alpha Orion as unease rolled in my stomach like a storm brewing in the distance.

A few minutes passed before Darius turned to me and gave a small nod toward the porch. Wordlessly, I followed him outside. The wind of Duskwatch Valley brushed my cheeks as we stepped into the open night air. Alpha Orion watched us leave with a faint, unreadable smile on his lips, swirling his whiskey glass with practiced calm.

Darius leaned against the railing, folding his arms. “Alright, Selene. What’s on your mind?”

I wrung my hands together, my throat tightening. “Dad… I don’t want to go through with this,” I whispered. “Aiden isn’t meant to be mine. He and Marissa… they’re fated mates. If I marry him, it’ll ruin her. It’ll ruin him. He’ll despise me, and Marissa—she’ll never forgive me. Please, don’t let this happen. Don’t let them force me into a life I never asked for.”

His gaze softened for a heartbeat, the tension in his jaw relaxing. “Your mother and I made this decision a long time ago, Selene. We always believed Aiden would be the best match for you.” He paused, and I saw the weight behind his words. “It may be difficult now, but with time, you’ll grow to care for each other. You’ll see.”

“But, Daddy—”

His voice snapped with finality. “Selene.” His expression hardened. “This isn’t just about you or Aiden or even Marissa. The Elders have agreed, and so have Alpha Orion and Luna Selah. The decision is sealed. As for Elara and Marissa, leave them to me—I’ll speak with them.”

I swallowed my protests, my teeth clenched against the scream building inside. His words were law now. Unchangeable.

“Go help Luna Selah with the preparations,” he said dismissively. “And get ready for your first shift.”

Then he was gone, striding back into Crescent Hollow Manor without another word.

I stood alone for a few moments before dragging myself back into the kitchen, where Luna Selah welcomed me with a serene smile. Rowan returned soon after, playfully nudging me with his elbow. Despite everything, we fell into easy banter, the distraction a small mercy in an otherwise devastating day.

Dinner time came and went, but Aiden never showed. Deep down, I knew he was with Marissa—comforting her, holding her through the heartbreak I was being blamed for. The thought twisted like a blade in my gut, but I couldn’t even be angry. They didn’t ask for this either.

The evening concluded with a quiet procession to the backyard, where we prepared for my first shift. The moon bathed the landscape in silver, casting everything in a magical, eerie glow.

“Stay centered,” my father advised in a low voice. “Let her guide you.”

“It’ll hurt at first,” Luna Selah added with warmth, her hand brushing my back. “But you’ll come to treasure the bond.”

Alpha Orion stood beside her, looking every bit the regal leader as he sipped his wine, his arm loosely wrapped around his Luna’s waist. They looked effortless, perfect. I found myself wondering—could Aiden and I ever look like that?

“Hey!” Rowan called out. “I’m staying for her shift!”

Alpha Orion chuckled. “No one’s stopping you.”

We walked toward the woods, where a basket of clothes had already been placed near a log. I tried not to think about Aiden. I tried to pretend the ache in my heart wasn’t there. But every step toward the trees made the pain more real. He wasn’t coming. He didn’t care.

As I reached the clearing, I lifted my face toward the full moon. It was magnificent, commanding the sky with such intensity that the stars faded behind it. Its silvery beams drenched the forest in a glow that made everything shimmer.

“It’s rare,” Luna Selah said softly, watching me. “To have your first shift under a full moon.”

Her words stirred something deep inside. And then I felt it.

A ripple. A pulse.

Myra.

That was her name. She whispered it to me in a voice that echoed through my soul.

Hi, Selene. I’ve been waiting. I’m Myra.

Emotion surged through me as my body trembled. Bones cracked, twisted, reshaped. The pain was unlike anything I had imagined—blinding, shattering, raw.

But Myra held me.

Let go, she whispered.

My scream rang through the clearing as the shift completed. When I opened my eyes, my vision had changed. My limbs were fur-covered, powerful. Myra had taken over.

My father, Luna Selah, Alpha Orion, and Rowan stood watching, their eyes wide with awe.

“I knew it,” Luna Selah whispered, clasping her hands.

Hi, Myra, I greeted back through our mind-link.

She chuckled softly. Ready to run?

And just like that, she sprinted.

The world became a blur of sound, scent, and color. Every movement was fluid, perfect. The earth beneath our paws welcomed us. We soared across the woods, the breeze wrapping around us like a lover. Myra was joy, fire, and freedom all in one.

Eventually, we reached a quiet stream. She drank deeply, her thoughts quieter now. Then, footsteps.

My father. Alpha Orion. Luna Selah.

They had followed us. But one scent was still missing.

Aiden.

Sadness crept through Myra.

He’s a fool, she muttered bitterly.

Then she turned and darted off again, away from their presence, from their rules, from everything. I didn’t know how far she ran. I stopped counting. We both needed the silence. We both needed to run until it didn’t hurt anymore.

At some point, we collapsed beneath a tree, exhausted and aching. Myra tipped her head back, preparing to howl—

But something moved.

A tall, black wolf stepped out of the shadows. Muscles rippled under his sleek coat. His amber eyes glowed in the dark.

Aiden.

Myra’s growl softened into a soft, uncertain whimper. She paced slowly toward him, her tail twitching low. He didn’t move. He simply watched her, his presence still and intense.

Then he let out a low, guttural growl.