Astra's POV

"Kneel before your Alpha," growled the scarred guard, pushing Astra to the ground.

Her knees hit the dirt hard, but Astra kept her eyes up. Ten years as a rogue had taught her one thing – show fear and they'll tear you apart.

Alpha Alaric towered over her, his ice-blue eyes burning with disgust. The mate mark on Astra's arm throbbed painfully, as if trying to pull her toward him despite his clear hatred.

"A rogue," he spat the word. "The Moon Goddess must be playing a cruel joke."

Astra's heart sank. She had expected rejection, but the pure hatred in his voice cut deeper than she'd imagined. Still, she wouldn't give him the pleasure of seeing her hurt.

"Trust me, I'm not exactly thrilled either," she shot back. "Being mated to an arrogant Alpha wasn't on my birthday wish list."

The guards gasped at her rudeness. One raised his hand to strike her, but Alaric stopped him with a slight motion.

"Lock her up," Alaric ordered coldly. "I need time to think about this... unfortunate situation."

Two guards grabbed Astra's arms and pulled her away from the clearing. As they marched her through the trees, her mind raced. Being locked up was bad, but at least she wasn't dead. Yet.

The guards brought her to a small cabin at the edge of the area and shoved her inside. The door slammed shut, and Astra heard the heavy click of a lock.

"Great," she mumbled, looking around the single room. There was a bed, a small table, and a barred window. Not exactly a five-star hotel, but better than the dirty floor she'd slept on at Master Kron's.

Astra sat on the bed and looked at her mate mark. The crescent moon and stars seemed to shimmer in the dim light.

"Fat lot of good you are," she told it. "Found my mate, and he hates me. Perfect."

The sound of footsteps outside made her nervous. Was Alaric coming back already? Had he chosen to kill her after all?

But the face that showed at the window wasn't Alaric's. It was a man with kind brown eyes and shaggy dark hair.

"Astra," he whispered. "It's me, Damon."

Relief rushed through her. "Damon! What are you doing here? If they catch you-"

"Shh," he warned, looking around nervously. "I've been tracking you since you ran from Kron's place. I saw them catch you." He frowned at the mate mark on her arm. "So it's true? You're mated to that monster?"

Astra nodded sadly. "Apparently. Not that he wants anything to do with me."

Damon had been her only friend for years. Another rogue, he'd helped her survive when things got tough, showing her how to hunt and hide. He was older than her by several years and had always been like a watchful older brother.

"We need to get you out of here," Damon said quickly. "That Alpha... he's scary, Astra. They say he killed his own father to take control of the pack."

Fear rippled through Astra's stomach. "But the mate bond-"

"Means nothing to wolves like him," Damon ended. "He'll use you or kill you. Either way, you're not safe here."

Part of Astra wanted to argue. The mate pull was stronger than ever with Alaric so close. But Damon was right. The disgust in Alaric's eyes had been real.

"How do we escape? There are guards everywhere."

Damon grinned, holding up a small key. "I made friends with one of the kitchen staff. Not everyone is loyal to the big bad wolf."

Hope sparked inside Astra. Maybe they could actually pull this off.

"Meet me at the back window in ten minutes," Damon whispered. "There's a shift change then. It's our best chance."

As he disappeared, Astra paced the small room. Running away from her mate went against every sense she had. The mark burned at the very thought. But staying could mean death.

When ten minutes passed, Astra crept to the back window. Damon was there, quickly working on the bars with a small tool.

"Hurry," he urged. "The next patrol comes by in two minutes."

With a final twist, the bars came loose. Damon helped Astra squeeze through the tight space. Her foot had barely touched the ground when a shout rang out.

"Hey! Stop right there!"

A guard ran toward them, already shifting partly to wolf form. His hands became claws, teeth growing into fangs.

"Run!" Damon pushed Astra ahead of him. "I'll hold him off!"

"No! I won't leave you!" Astra cried, but Damon was already turning to face the guard.

"Go!" he growled. "I'll find you!"

Heart beating, Astra ran. Behind her, she heard growls and the sounds of fighting. Each step away from the Northern Pack area made the mate mark burn worse, like it was trying to drag her back to Alaric.

She forced herself to keep moving, running until her lungs felt like they might burst. When she finally stopped to catch her breath, leaning against a big tree, she realized she had no idea where she was.

"Damon?" she called softly. No answer.

Guilt crushed down on her. Had she just left her only friend to die? And for what? To run from a mate who didn't want her anyway?

A twig snapped nearby. Astra froze, listening closely. Footsteps approached-too heavy to be Damon's.

She prepared to run again, but her legs trembled with tiredness. She couldn't escape another wolf, not now.

"Well, well," came a familiar voice that made her blood run cold. "Look who I found."

Master Kron stepped into view, a cruel smile twisting his face. A patch covered the wound on his head where she'd hit him with the poker.

"You've caused me a lot of trouble, girl," he growled, moving closer. "But now you're going to pay."

Astra backed away, looking desperately for an escape route. But Kron wasn't alone. Two other wolves flanked him, cutting off any path she might take.

"Did you really think you could escape me?" Kron laughed. "You're mine. I paid good money for you." "I belong to no one," Astra said, trying to sound brave despite her fear.

Kron's eyes fell on her mate mark. His smile faded. "What's this?" He grabbed her arm roughly, studying the mark. "A mate bond? To whom?"

Before Astra could answer, a deep growl rumbled through the trees. All four wolves turned to see a massive shape emerge from the shadows.

Damon stepped into view, his clothes torn and bloody from his fight with the guard. But he wasn't alone.

Next to him stood the tall figure of Alpha Alaric, his ice-blue eyes glowing with rage. Around them, at least ten Northern Pack warriors emerged, surrounding Kron and his friends.

"She belongs to me," Alaric said, his voice deadly cool. "The mark proves it."

Kron's face drained of color. "Alpha Alaric? I didn't know... I would never have-"

"Silence," Alaric ordered. "You dare to threaten what's mine?"

Astra looked between Alaric and Damon in confusion. Why was Alaric here? And why was Damon with him?

"Damon?" she asked, her voice small. "What's going on?"

Damon wouldn't meet her eyes. "I'm sorry, Astra."

Suddenly everything clicked into place. The easy flight. Damon knowing exactly where to find her. The convenient look of Kron.

"You led me into a trap," she whispered, feeling sick. "You brought me right to them."

"It wasn't like that," Damon started, but Alaric cut him off.

"Enough talking." The Alpha stepped forward, his eyes locking with Astra's. "You ran from me, little mate. That was a mistake you won't make twice."

Fear and anger battled inside Astra as Alaric neared. Had Damon misled her? Or was there something else going on?

All she knew for certain was that she was trapped between the Alpha who hated her and the master who wanted to punish her-with her only friend caught somewhere in the middle.

Alaric reached out and grabbed her arm, his touch sending electric shocks through her body.

"Take care of the others," he told his warriors, nodding toward Kron and his friends. "My mate and I need to have a private conversation."

The last thing Astra saw before Alaric dragged her away was the look of anguish on Damon's face and the terror in Kron's eyes as the Northern Pack fighters closed in.

Astra's POV

Astra's lungs burned as she ran. Tree branches hit her face, but she didn't slow down. Every step away from Alaric hurt like fire on her skin, but she kept going.

"Wait up!" Damon called from behind.

Astra looked back. Blood stained Damon's shirt from the fight with the guard. She slowed down.

"Are you okay?" she asked, breathing hard.

"I'll live," Damon winced, putting a hand to his side. "But we need to keep moving. They'll be after us soon."

They pushed through the thick forest. The mate mark on Astra's arm throbbed with each step. It felt like it was trying to pull her back to Alaric, back to the Alpha who hated her.

"The border is just ahead," Damon said. "Once we cross it-"

A howl cut through the night air. Then another. And another.

"They're coming!" Astra's heart beat. "Run!"

They ran toward the border. Astra could feel it – a strange energy in the air that marked where Northern Pack territory stopped. Just a few more steps and they'd be safe.

But before they could cross, four massive wolves jumped out, blocking their way. They shifted quickly into human form – Northern Pack guards with hard eyes and guns ready.

"Going somewhere?" The biggest one stepped forward, a cruel smile on his face.

Astra backed up against Damon. "Let us pass," she said, trying to sound brave despite her shaking legs.

The guard laughed. "Alpha Alaric wants his mate back. Can't say I blame him – even if you are just a dirty rogue."

He reached out to grab Astra's arm. The moment his fingers touched her skin, a blinding blue light burst between them. The guard flew backward, crashing into a tree ten feet away.

Everyone froze, staring in shock.

"What the-" The guard scrambled to his feet, eyes wide with fear. "What did you do?"

Astra looked at her hands, just as confused as they were. "I didn't do anything."

Another guard tried to grab her, and the same thing happened – blue light, and he was thrown back like he weighed nothing.

The guards looked at each other, then at Astra. Fear had replaced the hatred in their eyes.

"Take them to Alpha Alaric," the boss ordered. "Don't touch the girl. Just make sure they follow."

With guards on all sides, Astra and Damon had no choice but to go where they were told. They walked deeper into Northern Pack lands, headed toward a massive stone castle that rose above the trees.

"What was that?" Damon whispered. "The light?"

"I don't know," Astra whispered back. "It just happened."

"Has it ever happened before?"

Astra shook her head. Nothing like this had ever happened in her ten years as a rogue. But then again, she hadn't had a mate mark until today.

As they got closer to the castle, her heart beat faster. The pull of the mate bond grew stronger. Despite everything, part of her wanted to see Alaric again.

"This is bad," Damon whispered. "If they find out who I really am-"

"What do you mean?" Astra asked.

Before Damon could answer, they arrived at the castle gates. They were huge – carved with wolves and made of dark iron. The guards pushed them inside, through a courtyard filled with soldiers training with swords and spears.

Everyone stopped to stare at Astra. She kept her head high, unwilling to show fear.

They were led into a great hall with a high roof and stone walls. At the far end sat a chair made of bones and silver. And on that throne was Alaric.

He looked even more powerful here, surrounded by his troops. His ice-blue eyes locked onto Astra's, making her knees weak. The mate mark burned like hot metal against her skin.

"You tried to run from me," Alaric said. His voice was calm, but Astra could feel the anger behind it.

"You locked me up," she shot back. "What did you expect?"

Alaric stood up and walked toward her. Every step he took made the pull between them stronger. Astra had to fight not to move toward him.

"And now you bring a strange wolf into my territory," Alaric said, looking at Damon with cold eyes. "A wolf who smells of secrets and lies."

Damon dropped his head. "Alpha Alaric, I-"

"Silence!" Alaric's voice rang through the hall. "I'll deal with you later."

He turned back to Astra. "The guards say you have power. Show me."

"I don't know what they're talking about," Astra said. "I didn't do anything."

Alaric nodded to one of his men. The guy stepped forward and reached for Astra's arm. The blue light flashed again, throwing him across the room.

Gasps filled the hall. Some warriors backed away. Others drew guns.

Alaric's eyes widened slightly – the first real feeling Astra had seen from him.

"Interesting," he said. He stepped closer to Astra and raised his hand.

Astra flinched, but he didn't touch her. Instead, he held his hand near her face, so close she could feel the heat of his skin.

"The prophecy," someone whispered in the crowd. Others took up the word, passing it around the room like a secret.

"Prophecy?" Astra asked. "What prophecy?"

A commotion at the entrance of the hall stopped them. Guards were trying to hold someone back – a woman with long dark hair who fought like a wild animal.

"Let me through!" she screamed. "I need to see him!"

The guards were thrown aside, and the woman burst into the hall. She stopped when she saw Astra, her face going white with shock.

"It can't be," she whispered.

Astra felt like she'd been hit. She couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.

Because the woman standing in front of her was impossible. The woman had the same green eyes as Astra, the same dark hair, the same face shape.

It was like looking in a mirror.

"Lyra?" Astra whispered.

Lyra – her dead sister – stared back at her with tears in her eyes.

"Astra," she said. "My sister."

Alaric looked between them, his face blank. "You know each other?"

"She's my sister," Astra said, her voice breaking. "But she died. Ten years ago, she drowned."

"I didn't die," Lyra said, stepping closer. "I was saved. By him." She pointed at Alaric.

"What?" Astra turned to Alaric, confusion and anger rising inside her. "You knew my sister was alive? For ten years, while I thought she was dead?"

Before Alaric could answer, Lyra ran forward and grabbed Astra's hands. Unlike the guards, Lyra's touch didn't spark the blue light. Instead, their hands started to glow with a soft golden light.

"The Moon Sisters," someone gasped. "The prophecy is true!"

Alaric's face darkened. He pulled Lyra away from Astra.

"Take Astra to my quarters," he told the guards. "And lock him up." He pointed at Damon.

"No!" Astra cried, reaching for Damon. "Leave him alone!"

As guards dragged Damon away, he looked back at Astra with desperate eyes.

"Astra, listen to me!" he shouted. "Don't trust Lyra! She's not who you think she is!"

Before Astra could respond, Lyra stepped forward, her face twisted with rage.

"Liar!" she screamed, lunging at Damon with claws extended.

And that's when Astra saw it – the look that passed between Lyra and Alaric. A look of secret agreement. A look that said they were hiding something big.

Something about Astra.

Astra's POV

Astra fought against the guards' grip as they dragged her down the long hallway. Her sister Lyra was living! After ten years of thinking she was dead, feeling guilty for her death, Lyra was standing right there. And now these guards were pulling her away before she could even talk to her sister.

"Let me go!" Astra kicked at the nearest guard's leg. "I need to speak with my sister!"

"Alpha's orders," the guard growled, tightening his hold.

They stopped in front of a huge wooden door with silver wolf heads carved into it. One guard knocked three times, and a deep voice from inside said, "Enter."

The door swung open, and Astra was pushed into the room so hard she fell to her knees. When she looked up, her breath caught in her throat.

Alaric sat on a smaller throne, much like the one in the great hall but made for his private chambers. His ice-blue eyes locked onto hers, and Astra's mate mark burned so strongly she gasped from the pain.

"Leave us," Alaric told the guards. They bowed and backed out, closing the door with a heavy thud.

For a long moment, Alaric just stared at her. Astra climbed to her feet, refusing to kneel before him any longer.

"Why did you run?" he finally asked, his voice quiet but sharp.

"You locked me up," Astra shot back. "Was I supposed to stay and wait for you to kill me?"

Alaric's eyes narrowed. "If I wanted you dead, you wouldn't be standing here now."

He stood and walked toward her. Each step he took made the pull between them stronger. Astra's heart beat faster. Part of her wanted to back away, but another part-the part tied to the mate bond-wanted to move closer.

"My sister is alive," Astra said, her voice shaking. "You knew. All this time, you knew she didn't die."

"Yes."

The simple word hit Astra like a slap. "Why? Why would you keep that from me? Do you know what I've been through? Ten years believing I was guilty for her death!"

Alaric's face stayed cold. "It was necessary."

"Necessary?" Astra's hands balled into fists. The strange blue light started to glow around them. "Necessary for what? To make me suffer?"

"To protect you both," Alaric said. He reached for her hand, and unlike with the guards, the blue light didn't push him back. Instead, it seemed to wrap around both of them, joining them.

Astra tried to pull away, but Alaric held on. "Let go of me."

"I can't," he said, and for the first time, she heard something like pain in his words. "The Moon Goddess made sure of that."

"What do you mean?"

"The prophecy," Alaric said. "The Moon Sisters. One to lead, one to fight. One with power over light, one with power over darkness. Together, they will either save our kind or destroy it."

Astra's head spun. "What are you talking about? What prophecy?"

Before Alaric could answer, the door burst open. Lyra ran in, her face streaked with tears.

"Astra!" She threw her arms around her sister. "I can't believe it's really you!"

Astra tensed, remembering Damon's warning. Don't trust Lyra. But how could she not trust her own sister?

"I thought you were dead," Astra whispered. "For ten years, I thought I'd killed you."

Lyra pulled back, confusion on her face. "Killed me? Why would you think that?"

"They told me you drowned because of me. Because I took you to the forbidden forest."

Lyra looked at Alaric, something passing between them that Astra couldn't read.

"That's not what happened," Lyra said carefully. "I was taken-to protect me. Just like Alaric said."

"Taken by who? Protected from what?" Astra wanted.

"From those who want to stop the prophecy," Alaric said. "The same people who will now be hunting you both."

A howl rang out from somewhere in the house. Then another. And another. Soon the air was filled with the sound of wolves calling to each other.

Alaric's head snapped up. "They're here."

"Who's here?" Astra asked, fear creeping into her voice.

"The Silver Claws," Lyra whispered. "They've found us."

Alaric moved quickly to a cabinet and pulled out a silver knife. He gave it to Astra. "You'll need this."

"I don't understand-"

The castle shook as something hit it-something big. Dust fell from the roof.

"No time to explain," Alaric said. He grabbed Astra's arm, and again, the blue light appeared, stronger this time. "You need to get to the holy cave. Both of you."

"What about Damon?" Astra asked. "We can't leave him locked up."

Alaric's face darkened. "He's not what you think he is, Astra."

"What does that mean?"

Another boom shook the castle. Shouts and growls rumbled through the halls.

"Go with Lyra," Alaric ordered. "She knows the way to the cave."

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's happening!" Astra pulled away from him. "Who are the Silver Claws? What do they want with us? And what did you mean about Damon?"

Alaric grabbed her shoulders. For the first time, she saw real feeling in his eyes-fear.

"The Silver Claws are a pack of assassins who hunt wolves with special skills. Wolves like you and Lyra. They've been looking for the Moon Sisters for centuries. And Damon-" Alaric's jaw tightened. "Damon is one of them."

Astra felt like the ground had disappeared beneath her feet. "No. That's a lie. Damon is my friend. He's been protecting me for years."

"Keeping you isolated, you mean," Lyra cut in. "Making sure you never found your way back to your real pack-to your mate."

Before Astra could answer, the door burst open again. A warrior covered in blood stumbled in.

"Alpha! They've breached the east wall! There are too many!"

Alaric cursed. "Take them to the tunnels," he told the warrior. "Make sure they reach the sacred cave."

"What about you?" Astra found herself asking, shocking even herself with how much she cared.

Alaric's eyes softened for just a moment as they met hers. "I'll find you."

He leaned forward quickly and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was short but intense. When he pulled back, Astra felt dizzy from the rush of feelings it caused.

"Go," he whispered.

The warrior grabbed Astra's arm and pulled her toward a secret door in the wall. Lyra followed.

As they slipped into the secret tunnel, Astra looked back one last time. Alaric stood watching her, his face a mask of determination and something else-something that looked almost like desire.

The passage door closed, leaving them in darkness except for the torch the fighter carried.

"This way," he said, leading them down a narrow stone tunnel.

They ran through the dim cave, hearing the sounds of fighting above them. Astra's mind raced. Damon was one of the Silver Claws? Her friend who had protected her all these years-had it all been a lie?

They turned a corner, and suddenly Astra stopped. A familiar smell hit her nose.

"What's wrong?" Lyra asked.

"I smell-" Astra didn't finish, because there he was. Damon stood in front of them, blocking the tunnel.

"Damon!" Astra cried. "How did you escape?"

But the look on his face made her blood run cold. In his hand was a silver knife, just like the one Alaric had given her.

"I'm sorry, Astra," Damon said, his eyes filled with pain. "But I can't let the prophecy come true."

Behind her, Lyra gasped. The knight who had been leading them drew his sword.

And that's when Astra felt it-a sharp pinch on her neck. She reached up and pulled out a small dart.

"Lyra?" she whispered as her vision began to blur. She turned to see her sister holding a small blowgun, a sad smile on her face.

"Sorry, sister," Lyra said as Astra's legs gave out beneath her. "But there can only be one Moon Sister. And it's going to be me."

The last thing Astra saw before darkness took her was Damon and Lyra standing side by side, looking down at her with matching looks of triumph.