Carina's - [P.O.V]

My wolf and I were both wondering why my mother thought it was best to take the dragon's body away from the laboratory, but how did my frozen mate relate to the Dragon Moon ceremony.

"Mom, what about the Dragon Moon..." I asked her, and she turned giving me a look that explained exactly why she had mentioned it.

I knew it was because she wanted me to pray to the Great Dragon Spirit for him.

"But Mom... I'm supposed to be praying for myself... I always wanted a unicorn," I said to her, and a huge smile followed with a sigh over her matured face.

"Grow up, Carina.

One day, you'll be a Luna like me, and your priorities shouldn't be on fantasies but on the wellbeing of the pack your mate will rule as a dragon alpha," she said, staring at my frozen mate with newfound respect.

"Fine... I'll wish him well on the Dragon Moon," I said to my mother, and she smiled proudly.

"Good girl... now help me carry this dragon alpha mate of yours," she said as I assisted her in lifting what seemed to be an impossibly heavy silver ice block.

I drafted a home research permit and gave it to the laboratory officer, which allows me as a scientist to conduct studies at home.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly until we reached our pack territory.

My mother and I carried the silver ice block to the house through the back yard, only for a thunderous growl to echo so powerfully that I immediately knelt down, dropping my dragon mate in submission to the overwhelming alpha authority.

I knew it was my father, and he was furious.

But then other aggressive growls joined in, and I could already tell that something dangerous was about to happen to my mother or me.

Elsa pulled me protectively to herself, her Luna powers radiating outward from her body like visible waves of energy.

It was a clear warning to any foreign werewolf who might be thinking of attacking us.

"Which uninvited intruder are you sneaking into our pack territory..." my father, the alpha, demanded in a furious, commanding tone that made the ground seem to vibrate.

"It's our daughter's destined mate, not an enemy," my mother declared boldly.

The other pack wolves immediately rejoiced for me, and a look of complete surprise appeared across my father's stern features.

"I want to see him immediately..." my father commanded.

My mother stepped away from me, but I kept my body positioned protectively over my dragon mate.

My father growled impatiently, and I quickly stepped aside, feeling embarrassed about what he was about to discover.

I watched his face carefully as his eyes widened with the shock of what he was seeing.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as he turned to look at me with utter confusion.

"What exactly is that..." he asked me as he moved closer to examine my dragon mate's silver prison.

"That's her destined mate.

I believe he was cursed to be trapped in this silver ice by powerful dragon magic, only to be freed by a true mate's wish during the Dragon Moon ceremony.

He's a dragon alpha," Elsa explained to him with conviction.

"I can sense that he's an alpha...

I can feel his incredible aura radiating even through the ice.

He must be of exceptional dragon bloodline, but was unfortunately cursed..." my father said in a way that sounded like a compliment initially but ended with a tone of sympathy.

"Bring the ice block inside," my father ordered.

The visiting young alphas who were still present came forward, working together to carry his massive silver prison into our mansion.

"Tomorrow is the Dragon Moon ceremony, and I believe you already know exactly what to wish for," my father said, staring directly at me.

I acknowledged his words with a solemn nod as he walked away with obvious disappointment.

"But Mom... this isn't fair at all... how come my mate turned out to be trapped in silver ice, and now I can't wish for a..." I started complaining to my mother, but she interrupted me immediately.

"I will punish you severely if you ever think of saying that you'd rather wish for a unicorn than your dragon mate," she warned with her full Luna authority.

I yielded to her overwhelming power as she walked away, radiating confidence and determination.

So I can never get what I want... Great...

I ran to my room and climbed onto my bed, but felt something unusual against my pillows near my neck.

I sat up and turned to discover a stunning white dress with shimmering silver stones and intricate gold threading along the silk edges.

It looked absolutely extraordinary, and I couldn't resist trying it on immediately.

When I put it on, I looked like an ancient goddess of the moon.

I knew this magnificent gown was meant for the Dragon Moon ceremony when the full moon would reach its peak at midnight tonight.

I couldn't believe the day had finally arrived when I would ask the Great Dragon Spirit for my heart's deepest wish, and it would be granted.

According to ancient tradition, the Dragon Spirit will only grant one true wish and ignore any irrelevant requests you might make.

All the pack elders couldn't participate in the sacred ritual since they had already done so when they were much younger and couldn't repeat it without risking their lives in the process.

This tradition had been maintained for over a thousand years, and today was finally my turn.

A genuine smile spread across my face.

I was incredibly excited to enter the sacred ritual chambers where only alphas and Lunas were permitted to commune with the ancient dragon spirits.

It was absolutely divine.

I removed the ceremonial dress after contemplating what I would ask the Great Dragon Spirit for, and realized that all my emotions and thoughts were completely focused on my dragon mate, which meant I had to pray for his freedom.

I walked downstairs to catch another glimpse of his magnificent form, and my wolf practically begged to see more of him.

She was approaching her mating season, and the overwhelming attractiveness of our mate's powerful physique was making both of us react intensely to his presence.

I forced myself to turn away, running back to my room and closing the door firmly.

I put on the sacred white dress and lay back on my bed, eventually drifting off to sleep.

But I suddenly jolted awake when I heard something that shocked every fiber of my being to its very core.

It was the Dragon Moon's ancient call!

And it was time for the ceremony to begin!