RAINA

"Hold it higher, slave! Don't drag my gown on the floor!" Trish yelled at me as I limped behind her on our way to the great Hall.

Howlgroove was everything I had ever imagined and even more. The city sparkled in the morning light when we arrived, and in the evening, the Supreme Alpha's magnificent Castle made of pure gold as rumored shone bright in the setting sun.

"Yes, my lady," I whispered, though my arms ached from holding up the heavy train of her black and burgundy gown. The fabric is so rich and thick she looked like royalty in it, but every other she-wolf I had seen from the other clans looked royal too.

My feet burned inside my torn shoe as I put every effort in moving. I noticed everyone who passed by me looked at me strangely, some sniffed trying to place my scent.

The golden walls of the palace reflected everything - the glimmer of torches, the rustle of silks, everything here screamed power.

We reached the towering double doors, carved with wolves howling at a moon of pure crystal. Two guards stood on either side, dressed in the black and gold insignia of the Supreme Pack. They didnt even glance at me, my ragged clothes and tangled white hair gave me off only as a slave.

Luna Fran walked beside her daughter, she wore too much jewelry and makeup which made her look like a drag queen. She looked back at me with a scowl on her face.

Standing by the large double doors of the entrance of the great hall, she turned around

"You will wait outside, half-blood," she said coldly "You are not worthy to enter the presence of the Supreme Alpha, you stink and I wouldn't want your presence to taint the image of our pack."

I bow quickly, hiding my relief. "Yes, Luna."

Her gaze narrows. "Do not wander, do not draw attention to yourself. If anyone asks who you belong to, you say nothing. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Luna."

Trish smirked. "Don't think you'll see anything grand from here, Raina. This place isn't meant for creatures like you."

"Yes my lady," I murmured

"Good." She tossed her hair, the scent of roses choking me. "Now fix my train, and remember, one mistake tonight and Mother will skin you alive."

I watched as they walked into the ballroom, vanishing into a swirl of music and laughter, the large doors close.

I stood there for a moment, clutching the edge of my ragged shawl. I heard faint echoes , laughter, the clinking of glasses and the steady rhythm of music.

After a while the hallway became empty, all the guest had gone inside the hall.

My heart beat wildly against my chest, this was my chance to run away.I glanced around.... empty hallways, guards stationed far at the ends. The corridor stretched before me towards the massive golden gates.

Now, I tell myself. Run. I lift my skirts and take off.

The sound of my feet slapping against marble echoed louder than my heartbeat. My lungs burned but I didnt stop. I run past gilded pillars, through a hall lined with ancient tapestries of wolves and moons.

I could almost see the front gates open to everyone for the night. Beyond them, dark woods stretch out under the stars. If I could just reach them.....

Suddenly I collide with something hard, darkness was thick but it felt like a wall of muscle. The impact threw me backward, and I stumbled crashing to my knees. My palms sting as they scrape against cold stone, my vision blurry.

A growl filled the air, it was loud and menacing

"Who dares?"

My breath hitched, I looked up blinking through the blur in the darkness of the night and see boots. Black leather polished boots. Then a black cloak long, embroidered with silver wolves.

And then faces, one which was most striking I knew instantly I was looking at the supreme Alpha.I had seen his face staring down from billboards and portraits when we arrived Howlgroove.

Zane, the Alpha of Alphas. My heart stopped for a second as I knelt on the hard floor shaking. Behind him stood another man..... his Beta, by the insignia on his clothe , his eyes sharp and cold as steel. He stepped forward instantly.

"Answer the Alpha," he snapped "Who are you, girl?!"

"I ... I.." I stuttered unable to speak.

Zane's gaze locked on me, and something stirred in the air between us. The hallway trembled slightly.

"Speak," he thundered

My lips trembled "R-Raina, my lord," I whisper, lowering my head. "I didn't mean to... I wasn't...." I knew I was done for, he will order my execution; my tragic end.

His beta grabbed my arm, yanking me up from the ground where I was grovelling like a begger. His grip strong like an iron "You dare cross the Supreme Alpha's path and think an apology will save you?"

"Please," I cried , tears streaming down my face

"I didn't know....... I was just....."

"Running," Alpha Zane's deep voice cut me off. His tone calm, but the power in it makes the air vibrate. I couldn't look into eyes. My mind screamed at me to bow, to crawl, to vanish all at the same time.

He steppes closer, his scent hits me; the strong most overpowering wolf scent I had ever smelled... he smelt like wild cedar, smoke, and blood. Suddenly I felt a low growl stir inside me, no, no it couldn't be. My wolf? I have no wolf, I was told the moon goddess bound my wolf at birth never to be awaken. But now, suddenly restless , she stirred inside, though i had never felt her before now, I knew it was her.

"Look at me." Alpha Zane ordered, his beta and bodyguards were all at alert as if waiting for his signal to tear me into shreds.

I shook my head, trembling. "I can't... my Lord"

"Look at me " he repeated, softer this time but I knew it was a command I couldn't disobey, so slowly, I lifted my eyes and our eyes meet, locked in the moment.

And everything stopped , the world tilted, the torches flickered, the ground felt like it's moving. My breath hitched as his pupils dilate, the golden light in his eyes deepened into something dark. his jaw tightened, his nostrils flare slightly. His entire body goes still, his gaze fixed on me.

Then his wolf growled, I feel it, it surged beneath his skin, roaring to the surface.

"MATE."

The word echoed in my head before I realize he never spoke it aloud. My own wolf, non-existent and silent for eighteen years, stirred faintly in response ,...... like a whisper in the back of my mind, faint but undeniable.

No. No, it can't be, not me, not him. Everything was happening so fast my head spinned, my thoughts were chaotic.

Firstly I was supposed to be escaping, secondly I was cursed at birth as a half-blood by the moon goddess never to have my wolf, never to find a mate or become a Luna- much more a Supreme Luna of the ten clans. This isn't fate, it's. a cruel joke being played on the miserable little half-blood.

How ?.. why?... questions gnawed at me. He is the Supreme Alpha, the most powerful werewolf in existence. I am... nothing, so how could this be.

His Beta stiffened beside him, eyes widening.

"My lord?"

Alpha Zane didnt answer, his gaze is locked on me, unreadable, as if the world has narrowed down to this one impossible moment.

My legs feel weak. My vision blurs. I whisper,

"Please, forgive me my Lord, I will go....."

"No," he growled, his voice low but firm "You won't."

He took a step closer to me and I feel the pull from his wolf to mine. something magnetic, ancient and terrifying. It's not just attraction. It's instinct, a bond older than time itself.

He stared down at me as I knelt on the floor, too terrified I glanced back toward the entrance , toward the open gates that had promised freedom just moments ago, far from freedom I knew what lay ahead for me, death, public execution of the half-blood who dared to speak before Alpha Zane, I expected to hear him say it, Kill her, but instead.

"Get up".

ZANE

"Who is she?"

Dante continued to growl restlessly within me, MATE, Mate?. This was so different from how I had thought the evening would turn out, right here outside the the great hall.

The girl trembled before me, her head bowed, her silver-white hair catching the torchlight, I had never seen such magnificent white hair, but it was all tangled as if she hadn't brushed them in ages. Her scent hit me, she smelled strange, something wrong. It wasn't wolf, It wasn't human either, it was something else. I could smell her fear , raw and pathetic, she could never be my fated one.

My wolf, Dante, lunged within me again, Mate. The single word thundered through my head. I felt the bond snap into place between us, cutting through my reason, through my control.

No. It couldn't be, this?

I was Zane, Supreme Alpha of Howlgroove, the most powerful of all ten clans, bound by blood to the Moon Throne itself. I couldn't have this......a trembling, ragged creature, kneeling on the marble like a beaten dog......as my mate.

"Get up," I ordered again, my tone sharp and harsh. She didn't move. Her hands shook against the floor.

"I said get up."

The command came out colder this time, authority erupting from me like heat from the sun. My guards shifted uneasily. Even Beta Mark's posture tightened beside me; he had heard it too-that dangerous vibration in my voice that meant my wolf was barely restrained.

The girl flinched, her body trembling as she pushed herself to her knees. I saw the bruises then dark marks along her arms, her collarbone, the side of her neck. Her clothes were rags, torn at the hem. She wouldn't even look at me.

Dante snarled inside my chest. She's ours.

"She's nothing," I muttered under my breath. "You're mistaken."

But Dante wasn't listening. His energy surged, hot and wild, pressing against the surface of my control. I felt the bond hum again, a pulse beneath my skin, like an itch.

"Alpha?" Mark's voice broke through the haze.

"Do you want me to remove her?"

I nodded stiffly. "Take her to the Great Hall. With the others."

Mark hesitated. "The council......."

"Now," I snapped.

He bowed his head and gestured for the guards. They hauled her to her feet. She didn't resist, only whimpered softly, her eyes still downcast. For some reason, that sound cut through me more deeply than I cared to admit.

As they dragged her away, Dante growled, low and furious. You let them touch her.

"She's filth," I hissed back under my breath. "A half-blood? I can smell her impurity, she's forbidden, she can never be Luna supreme."

She's ours, ours, mate!

I ignored him, but my jaw clenched hard enough to ache. I turned and strode toward the Great Hall, where the gathered clans were still feasting under the crystal chandeliers. Music swelled, laughter echoing off golden walls. The scent of roasted meat and wine mingled with the faint metallic tang of dominance-the kind that came whenever powerful Alphas gathered in one place.

At the high table, the leaders of the ten clans rose as I entered. My presence silenced the room; conversation fell away to total silence. Every eye turned to me, the Supreme Alpha, heir of the Howlers, ruler of all. But my thoughts weren't on them. They were on the girl.

Raina.

I had heard her name whispered as she had been dragged inside. The half-blood of Moonshire Pack. The cursed daughter of Alpha Silver and a human woman. I remembered the whispers from years ago: the scandal that had shaken the southern territories, the child born of forbidden union, the one the Moon Goddess herself had supposedly cursed. And now she was here, in my hall, wearing my mark.

Dante howled with triumph, I flinched , I wanted to strangle him.

Beta Mark stepped forward beside me, clearing his throat. "My Lord, The ten clans of the moon await your word."

I forced my face into neutrality "Proceed."

Luna Fran of Moonshire bowed low, her jewels glittering in the candlelight. "My lord," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness, "we are honored to stand before you. My daughter, Trish, is humbled to be considered for your grace's choosing."

I didn't look at the daughter. I was too aware of the figure standing behind them, Raina. Her head lowered, hands folded and trembling , trying to make herself invisible. Her smell hit me once again. That strange, clean scent that burned through every other aroma in the room.

Dante pushed forward. Call her to us.

"No," I muttered under my breath.

Mark glanced sideways at me. "My lord?"

"Nothing," I said tightly.

Luna Fran was still talking, boasting about her daughter's beauty, their pack's loyalty, their history. I barely heard her. My eyes kept drifting back to the half-blood. She looked exhausted, thin, pale, a ghost among wolves. Every instinct in me screamed to pull her closer, to shield her from the eyes that sneered, from the whispers that slithered through the air.

But I couldn't, not here, not before the council.

The High Council would never permit it. The Supreme Alpha could not take a half-blood mate. It would break centuries of law, shatter alliances, and invite rebellion from every corner of the realm.

This was politics, power, legacy, and she was a threat to all of it. My jaw tightened with rage. The room felt too hot, too loud and too small.

Dante's growl rolled through my mind. You deny what's ours.

"I protect what's mine," I snapped inwardly.

I rose abruptly from my seat. "Enough," I said aloud, my voice echoing off the large hall. "The dinner is over."

A ripple of confusion spread through the hall. The music stopped. Luna Fran's smile faltered.

"B-but my lord......"

"I said enough." I growled and she whimpered in fear.

Mark nodded to the guards, who began ushering guests out. I turned on my heel and walked toward the exit, every step measured, deliberate. The air outside the Great Hall was cooler, but it did nothing to ease the fire crawling under my skin.

I needed distance, space. Anything to quiet Dante's roaring.

You can't hide from the bond.

"She's a mistake," I whispered, pacing the corridor outside the council chamber. "A cursed one."

She's the Moon's choice.

"No," I growled aloud. "The Moon doesn't make mistakes like this." Mark appeared in the doorway, his brow furrowed.

"My lord, shall I summon the Moonshire Alpha? The council expects your decision on the matter of alliances."

"Yes," I said, too quickly. "Bring him. And... bring her too."

Mark hesitated. "The girl?"

"Yes."

He nodded and left.

I turned toward the window, watching the moon hang low over Howlgroove. Its pale light painted the city in silver, the towers gleaming like frost. For a moment, I let myself imagine a different world, one where rank and law meant nothing, where I could follow the pull of my wolf without consequence. But that world didn't exist.

When the door opened again, I turned sharply. Alpha Dirke entered first, his bow too deep to be sincere. His eyes glimmered with greed. Behind him came Raina, flanked by guards. She kept her gaze on the floor, her posture small, submissive.

I hated how my pulse jumped.

"Supreme Alpha," Dirke said smoothly, "I must apologize if my servant has caused any offense. She is... defective. Her presence alone is often enough to sour an evening."

Dante's snarl was instant and vicious. He insults our mate.

I clenched my fists behind my back. "Servant?" I asked quietly.

"Yes, my lord," Dirke said. "A half-blood wretch we've kept out of charity. The late Alpha Silver's mistake. She carries human blood.......unclean, weak. We keep her for labor, nothing more."

My gaze shifted to her. She didn't speak, didn't move. Only the faint tremor in her fingers betrayed that she had heard every word.

Something inside me cracked.

I stepped closer, my voice dropping to a growl. "And yet you parade her in front of me dressed in rags. You bring her into my presence without permission."

Dirke blinked, confused. "I-"

"Do you understand the risk you've taken?" I said, my tone slicing through the air. "What if the Supreme Alpha mistook this girl for something more? What if your insolence cost you your pack?"

Dirke paled. "Forgive me, my lord. It won't happen again."

"No," I said. "It won't."

I turned to Mark. "See to it she's housed in the lower quarters. Away from the others. And make sure she's... cleaned up."

Mark hesitated. "Yes, my lord."

Raina lifted her head slightly then, and our eyes met for the second time in that bright light. She had ocean- blue eyes, wide and innocent.

The bond between us pulsed again, electric and undeniable. Dante pressed against my chest, whispering in my mind, She's ours.

I looked away before I did something reckless. "Dismissed," I said.

They turned to leave. But as she walked past me, her limp pronounced and painful to watch, Dante roared.

She's hurt. She's starving. You let them treat her like this?

"She's not my concern," I hissed inwardly.

She's your mate.

"Enough!" I said aloud before I could stop myself. Everyone froze. Dirke stared at me in alarm; Mark's eyes widened. I forced myself to breathe, to smooth my tone. "Leave us."

They bowed and exited quickly, the door closing behind them. Silence filled the chamber, thick and suffocating.

I turned to the window again, gripping the sill until my knuckles whitened.

"This can't happen," I whispered. "The law forbids it. The council will......"

The council doesn't own us, Dante growled. The Moon does.

I shut my eyes, the pull between reason and instinct tearing me apart.

"She's half-blood," I said. "Unworthy and Weak."

She's fate.

I could feel her heartbeat somewhere in the castle, could sense her scent lingering even after she'd gone. And for the first time in my life, I wasn't sure if being Supreme Alpha meant anything at all. Because what kind of ruler was I... if I couldn't command my own soul?

RAINA

"Please, stay still, my lady," the maid said, her hands were gentle but the water was too warm. I flinched as the rough cloth brushed over a bruise along my ribs, one of many. Steam filled the air, carrying the faint scent of donkey milk and rose oil. I couldn't remember the last time I had been bathed by anyone other than myself, much more with rose oil and donkey milk.. didn't even know that was a thing.

The room glowed in soft gold light from a chandelier that hung like a thousand stars hanging from the ceiling. Every corner was too beautiful, too polished, too unreal. I didn't belong here.

I was a slave, cursed at birth , not a lady as the servant had called me. And yet here I was, half-naked in a tub carved from marble, three servants kneeling beside me as if I were something precious, and two others standing by holding the large white cotton towels.

Something I had never imagined could happen to me.

My heart raced with every stroke of the cloth. The scent of the soap reminded me too much of Luna Fran's chambers, and my stomach twisted. Was this a trick? Had they decided to humiliate me before executing me for daring to cross the Supreme Alpha's path?

"Why are you doing this?" I whispered.

The maid hesitated. "Orders from the Supreme Alpha himself," she said softly.

My chest tightened. Zane.

I remembered his eyes; dark, burning, endless. The way the world seemed to still when they met mine. The way my breath caught and my wolf stirred restlessly, as though she recognized him. But that couldn't be right?, this isn't a movie where the poor orphaned girl marries the prince, this is real life, my life.

When the maids were done, they dressed me in a soft white nightgown that felt like clouds against my skin. I couldn't stop touching the fabric, half afraid it would vanish. My hair ... white as snow was brushed until it shimmered. Then they left me alone in the room so large I could have fit the Moonshire kitchen inside it twice over.

The bed looked too big, the sheets too clean. I sat on the edge, my body trembling. I was supposed to be happy about this, after all, this meant they hadn't killed me. But all I could think was why?

Why would the Supreme Alpha, ruler of all packs, take an interest in a cursed half-blood like me?

The maids had whispered as they worked, glancing at me as though afraid to speak too loud. I caught fragments of their gossip. "She smells strange..." "The Supreme has never brought anyone to the east wing before..."

I wrapped my arms around myself, pulling the blanket up. The ointment they had rubbed into my bruises tingled, but my heart hurt more. I had to leave, escape now or face eminent death.If I stayed, I would be killed for sure, or worse, become a pawn in whatever game these powerful wolves played. The door creaked, and my breath froze. A shadow appeared - tall and broad.

My wolf whimpered before I could even see his face. The air changed; it thickened, charged like electric.

It was him

"Why are you here?" My voice was barely a whisper. He didn't answer, only the sound of his breathing, slow, like a predator stalking prey. I turned my head slightly, and there he was. Alpha Zane.

The Supreme Alpha of all the clans. He stood partly in shadow, only the faint glow of moonlight revealing the sharp line of his jaw, the cold perfection of his expression. His eyes glimmered like the moon itself.

"You shouldn't be out of bed," he said quietly, though his tone was more command than concern.

"I.....I didn't know this bed was mine," I stammered.

His gaze swept over me, lingering on my large breast. I saw the conflict flash behind his eyes, like he was fighting something within himself. The air between us felt tensed. Then he turned and stepped back into the shadow. "Rest." And just like that, he was gone.

I stared at the door long after it closed. My pulse hammered against my ribs, my breath shallow. Something in his voice... in his eyes... stirred a part of me I didn't understand.

But my fear was stronger, because I knew what men like him did when they felt something they shouldn't.

I waited until the castle went silent, until even the crickets outside stopped chirping. Then I slid off the bed and tiptoed to the door. The floor was cold against my bare feet. My heart pounded so hard I was sure someone would hear it.

The hallway stretched before me, long, lined with portraits of Alphas past. The lights flickered weakly. I crept through the shadows, hugging the walls. My hands trembled with every step I took.

I needed to find Diego. He was the only one who might help me. I slipped past guards, holding my breath as they passed, then darted into the side passage I had remembered from earlier when we arrived. The scent of roasted meat drifted faintly from the kitchens far below. The castle was so vast I could easily get lost in it.

Finally, I found the hallway leading to the guest quarters where the Moonshire pack stayed. My stomach clenched as I heard voices ahead-laughter, clinking glasses. I moved quietly, keeping to the shadows until I reached the door I believed was Diego's.

I knocked softly.

"Diego," I whispered. "It's me."he didn't answer.

I knocked again and still no reply. I panicked, maybe he wasn't here. Maybe......

The door behind me creaked open.

"Looking for someone?"

The familiar voice made my blood run cold. I turned around slowly. Alpha Dirke stood there, dressed in a robe of dark velvet, a cruel smile on his lips. His eyes gleamed with malice.

"Well, well... the little half-blood thinks she's a princess now."

I took a step back, clutching my hands together. "I......... I was just......."

"Just what?" His tone dripped with mockery. "Sneaking around the Supreme's castle like a thief? Or trying to seduce him with your cursed stench?"

My throat tightened. "Please, Alpha, I wasn't....."

He moved faster than I expected, closing the distance between us. His hand shot out, gripping my chin hard enough to make me wince.

"Listen to me, you filthy mistake," he hissed. "You will stop whatever charade you are pulling. The Supreme may pity you now, but he'll learn what you are soon enough. And when he does, I'll make sure he rips your heart out himself."

His breath was hot and sour against my face. My wolf whimpered, but I forced myself not to cry.

"I don't understand," I whispered. "Why are you doing this?"

He laughed, low and cruel. "Because your father should never have been Alpha. The Moon Goddess punished him for defying her and you are the proof of his sin. You shouldn't even exist." His fingers dug deeper into my jaw until I tasted blood.

"I will make sure your death redeems our pack," he growled. Suddenly, the air shifted: electric, thick, and violent.

Dirke froze, his grip slackened.

A growl-not human, not even fully wolf rumbled from behind him, deep and lethal.

"What the hell is happening here?

Dirke paled instantly and released me. He turned, bowing so fast his head nearly hit the floor. "My Lord! Forgive me, I......."

I stumbled back, clutching my aching jaw.

Alpha Zane stood at the end of the hall, his expression unreadable, but his eyes... they burned into mine. He took a step forward, and I felt the pull again, the invisible string tying me to him. My knees nearly buckled.

"What did you do to her?" Zane's voice was calm, but every word carried power.

"N-nothing, my Lord. I found her wandering......."

"She doesn't answer to you here," Zane cut in sharply. "Leave."

Dirke hesitated, his face twitching. "But, my Lord, she......"

"Now."

Dirke bowed lower, muttered something I couldn't hear, and hurried off. His scent lingered; bitter and hateful.

I stood frozen, every muscle tense. My breath came shallow and quick.

Zane approached me slowly, his gaze never leaving me. "You shouldn't have left your quarters," he said, but his tone lacked the harshness I expected.

"I... I thought I was being set up," I whispered.

His jaw tightened. "By who?"

I didn't answer. My throat was too dry, my body trembling too much.

He stopped in front of me, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating off him. His eyes flicked briefly to the faint bruise still on my jaw, and something in his expression changed, something protective.

My wolf whimpered again, louder this time, and to my horror, I felt tears sting my eyes.

"Why do you fear me?" he asked quietly.

"Because everyone does," I breathed.

The silence between us was suffocating.

Zane's eyes darkened, and his voice dropped lower. "They hurt you often, don't they?"

I swallowed hard. "It doesn't matter."

"It matters," he said, so firmly it startled me.

For a heartbeat, I saw it, the flicker of something human behind the Supreme Alpha's mask. Then he turned away, his shoulders rigid.

"Go back to your quarters," he said finally. "Before I forget I'm trying to be merciful."

He started to walk away, but I couldn't move because my wolf was howling inside me, calling his name, not with fear, but with longing. I pressed a hand to my chest, breathless. Something was wrong. The pull was stronger now, almost painful.

He paused, as if hearing it too. Then he turned his head slightly, and for the briefest moment, our eyes met again. Something ancient sparked in the space between us, something neither of us could fight.

And then suddenly we both heard a crash. It echoed from deeper inside the castle. A low growl followed, distant but fierce.

Zane's head snapped toward the sound, his posture shifting instantly into that of the predator, the Alpha, the ruler.

"Stay here," he commanded.

But before I could answer, he was gone, disappearing down the hall like a shadow swallowed by darkness. I pressed my back against the cold wall, shaking.

And deep inside, my wolf whispered what I didn't dare admit out loud.

He's not just watching you, Raina.

He's bound to you.