Aria Moonvale – POV:
Lina and I reached the packhouse in silence.
The moment the heavy doors closed behind us, the noise of the clearing faded—but the voices in my head did not.
She's weak.
She couldn't even shift.
How can a wolf without a wolf be a Luna?
Each word echoed inside my mind like poison.
Lina guided me gently up the stairs, her hand wrapped firmly around mine, as if she feared I might break if she let go. When we reached my room, she pushed the door open and led me inside, making me sit on the edge of the bed.
The room felt suffocating.
I stared at my hands, my fingers trembling.
"I couldn't shift, Lina," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I tried. I really tried. I'm… I'm weak."
Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them.
Lina knelt in front of me instantly, wiping my tears with her thumbs.
"No," she said firmly. "You are not weak."
I shook my head helplessly. "Everyone saw it. Everyone heard them."
She cupped my face gently, forcing me to look at her.
"You are our Luna," she said softly but with conviction. "You are brave. You stood there in front of the entire pack even when they doubted you."
I sniffed, my chest aching.
"Everything will be fine," Lina continued. "Things like this don't always happen instantly. Sometimes wolves take time. Slowly, everything will fall into place."
She smiled reassuringly.
"And you're not alone," she added. "You have Ryan."
Her words settled into my heart like warmth after a storm.
I inhaled shakily and nodded.
"You're right," I said, forcing a small smile. "I have Ryan. He stood up for me… in front of everyone."
Lina's eyes lit up.
"Exactly," she said. "You should make him Alpha."
I blinked. "What?"
She leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"You are the Luna by bloodright," she explained. "But right now, the pack needs a strong Alpha—someone they already trust."
I listened silently.
"Make Ryan the Alpha," she continued. "You remain Luna. You rule together. That way, the pack stays united… and under your control."
Her words made sense.
Painful sense.
"If Ryan becomes Alpha," Lina added, "no one will dare question you. Slowly, you'll prove them all wrong."
Hope flickered inside me.
I stood and pulled Lina into a tight hug.
"Thank you," I whispered. "Thank you for standing by me. If you and Ryan weren't here… I don't know what I would've done."
She hugged me back, rubbing my shoulder.
"You're not alone," she said softly.
As she stepped away, a strange determination filled me.
Everyone thought I had forgotten.
Forgotten my parents.
Forgotten their deaths.
Forgotten the blood on the forest floor.
They were wrong.
I would find their killers.
And I would make them pay.
I was lost in my thoughts when I heard a familiar voice.
"Aria… are you okay?"
I looked up.
Ryan stood at the door.
In two long strides, he crossed the room and pulled me into his arms. His scent surrounded me instantly—warm, strong, grounding. Aera stirred restlessly inside me, responding instinctively.
But this time, love was not enough.
Something more important needed to be decided.
I stepped back and glanced at Lina, signaling silently.
She smiled knowingly, stood up, and said, "I'll give you two some privacy."
The door closed behind her.
I faced Ryan, my heart pounding.
"Ryan," I said quietly.
"Yes?" he asked, concern etched into his features.
"Will you marry me?"
His eyes widened. "What?"
"I know it's sudden," I rushed on. "But you saw what happened today. I couldn't shift. Everyone is doubting me."
I took a deep breath.
"The pack needs a strong Alpha," I said. "Someone they can follow. I need you."
Ryan took my face in his hands.
"You are not weak," he said firmly. "This doesn't change who you are."
"But I want you as my Alpha," I said softly. "And I'll be your Luna. Together, we'll rule this pack."
He searched my eyes for a long moment.
Finally, he kissed my forehead.
"If this is what you want," he said, "then I'll do it."
Relief flooded through me.
I hugged him tightly.
~
The Next Day
The council hall was full.
Alphas, elders, warriors—every important member of Moonvale Pack sat in attendance. Murmurs filled the air as I stood at the front, my heart racing.
Victor Blackwood stood beside me.
"My people," he announced, "we are gathered today to secure Moonvale's future."
Silence followed.
"By bloodright, Aria Moonvale remains our Luna," Victor continued. "But by her will, she has chosen her mate to lead beside her."
Gasps echoed.
Ryan stepped forward.
"I, Aria Moonvale," I said clearly, "appoint Ryan Blackwood as the Alpha of Moonvale Pack."
The room erupted.
Some cheered.
Some nodded approvingly.
Some whispered.
Except noah, beta of moonvale pack
Ryan knelt before me.
"I accept," he said loudly.
Victor smiled.
"And," he added, "in two days' time, Alpha Ryan Blackwood will marry Luna Aria Moonvale."
Cheers filled the hall.
I smiled too.
But what I didn't see,
the way Lina's lips curved slightly behind the crowd.
I didn't hear the quiet laughter in her mind.
I believed I had saved my pack.
I believed I had secured my future.
I had no idea—
This decision would destroy everything.
~
Two days later
Moonvale Pack was glowing.
White banners fluttered between ancient trees, silver ribbons wrapped around the pillars of the ceremonial hall, and the scent of flowers mixed with wolf musk in the air.
Laughter echoed everywhere. Warriors stood tall in their best coats, elders whispered blessings, and guests from allied packs filled the clearing.
I stood inside the hall, already dressed, already waiting.
My white gown clung softly to my body, embroidered with moonstones that shimmered under the torchlight. My long white hair flowed freely down my back, braided only at the sides. Lina had insisted—"A Luna should look like the Moon herself."
My heart beat fast, but it was not fear.
It was hope.
I glanced toward the entrance again.
Ryan still hadn't arrived.
A quiet murmur spread through the hall.
"Where is the Alpha?"
"He should've been here by now."
"Is something wrong?"
I swallowed and forced a smile.
He's coming, I told myself. He wouldn't miss this.
Minutes passed.
Each second stretched painfully.
Victor Blackwood shifted beside the elders, his jaw tight. Even he looked unsettled now.
"Aria," one of the elder women whispered gently, "do you know where Alpha Ryan is?"
I shook my head. "No… but he'll be here. He promised."
My fingers curled into the fabric of my gown.
Then—
The doors opened.
All eyes snapped forward.
Ryan Blackwood walked in.
Relief flooded me instantly.
There he is.
I took a step forward, my lips parting in a smile—but it froze halfway.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Ryan's eyes were red.
Not glowing with wolf power.
Red with rage… and something darker.
He stopped directly in front of me.
"Ryan," I whispered, my heart suddenly pounding. "What happened? Where were you? Today is our wedding."
I reached for his hand.
He laughed.
Not softly.
Not warmly.
A sharp, hollow laugh that sent a chill through my bones.
"Wedding?" he said mockingly.
My smile shattered.
"What are you saying?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Ryan, please… the ceremony is getting late."
He stared at me like I was a stranger.
"Why are you acting so strange?" I whispered. "What's wrong?"
Ryan reached into his coat pocket.
Before I could react—
He threw something at my face.
Photographs.
They fluttered to the floor like fallen feathers.
I bent down, my hands shaking, and picked one up.
The world tilted.
My vision blurred.
The photo showed a woman—me—or someone who looked exactly like me, naked in a man's arms. Another showed the same woman kissing someone who wasn't Ryan.
My breath caught painfully in my chest.
I dropped the photo and looked up at him in horror.
"This is a lie," I said desperately. "You know me, Ryan. You've known me since childhood. I would never—"
"I thought I knew you," he interrupted, his voice breaking. "But clearly, I never did."
Tears slipped from his eyes.
My own followed.
Ryan bent down, picked up the photos, and threw them toward the crowd.
"Look at your Luna!" he shouted. "I thought she was just weak—"
His gaze burned into me.
"But she's not just weak," he snarled. "She's also a whore."
The word ripped through my chest.
Gasps erupted around us.
I felt like I couldn't breathe.
My legs nearly gave out as I whispered, "Ryan…"
He glared at me. "Not Ryan."
The hall fell silent.
"Call me Alpha."
Pain crushed my lungs.
"What has happened to you?" I begged. "I'm your Aria. I'm your love—your mate."
He laughed again. Dark. Cruel.
"Mate?" he repeated.
Then his face hardened completely.
"I, Ryan Blackwood, Alpha of Moonvale Pack," he declared loudly, "reject you—Aria Moonvale—as my mate."
The words struck like knives.
A scream tore from my throat as a burning pain exploded in my chest. Aera howled inside me, her pain merging with mine.
But I cannot allow myself to appear weak in front of everyone.
If this is what he wants, then so be it.
I will show him that I am not weak.
"I, Aria Moonvale, Luna of the Moonvale Pack, accept your rejection." I sobbed aloud.
The bond snapped.
Ryan dropped to one knee, clutching his chest, his own scream echoing through the hall.
For a moment, I thought he would look at me.
He didn't.
He stood abruptly and walked away—out of the hall, out of my life.
No one stopped him.
The pack didn't look at me with pity.
They looked at me with disgust.
One by one, they turned their backs and left.
I collapsed to my knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
A hand touched my shoulder.
I flinched and looked up.
Noah - beta of moonvale pack stood there—my childhood friend.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I can't do anything… I have to follow Alpha's orders."
I nodded weakly.
Then I stood.
And ran.
Toward the packhouse.
Toward Ryan.
Because somewhere deep inside my shattered heart, hope still whispered—
He loves me.
He'll listen.
I didn't know yet—
That hope was about to die too.
_______________