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.

Astra's POV

Astra woke up with a start, her heart racing. She jumped to her feet, ready to fight, but her legs wobbled and she fell back onto the soft bed. Wait-bed?

The last thing she remembered was Lyra's face as she shot her with a dart. Her own sister had betrayed her. And Damon too.

"You're awake," a deep voice said.

Astra's head snapped up. Alaric stood in the doorway, his face hard as stone. The partner mark on her arm tingled at his presence.

"What happened?" Astra asked. "Where's Lyra? And Damon?"

"Gone." Alaric walked into the room. "They escaped during the attack."

"Attack?" Astra's head was foggy. "The Silver Claws..."

"Were a distraction," Alaric said, his voice tight with anger. "While everyone was fighting, Lyra and her friend took what they wanted and vanished."

"He's not her friend," Astra said, though now she wasn't sure. Had Damon been lying to her all along? "How long was I out?"

"Two days."

Astra's eyes widened. "Two days? What did they shoot me with?"

"Moon sleep poison. Only an Alpha's blood could wake you." Alaric held up his hand, showing a fresh cut across his palm. "I had to feed you my blood while you slept."

Astra felt sick. "You put your blood in my mouth while I was unconscious?"

"It was that or let you sleep forever." Alaric's eyes flashed with anger. "You're welcome."

Before Astra could answer, a bell rang somewhere in the castle.

"Get dressed," Alaric demanded, pointing to clothes laid out at the foot of the bed. "The pack is waiting."

"Waiting for what?"

"For their Luna."

Twenty minutes later, Astra stood beside Alaric in the big hall. Hundreds of dogs stared at her with cold, suspicious eyes. The quiet was so heavy Astra could barely breathe.

"Brothers and sisters of the Northern Pack," Alaric's voice boomed through the hall. "The Moon Goddess has chosen. This is Astra, my mate and your Luna."

Not a single person clapped. Someone at the back booed.

"She is a rogue," a woman yelled. Her beautiful face was twisted with hate. "A nobody!"

"Silence, Selene," Alaric ordered. "The mate mark doesn't lie."

He grabbed Astra's arm and lifted it, showing everyone the crescent moon and stars that marked her as his. The mark glowed blue under his touch.

"I don't care what the mark says," Selene continued, stepping forward. Her long red hair swayed as she moved. "She doesn't belong here. She'll never be my Luna."

Many wolves nodded in agreement.

"The law is clear," Alaric said, his voice dangerous. "She is my mate, and therefore your Luna. Anyone who challenges this will answer to me."

The threat in his words made the room go quiet. Even Selene stepped back, though her eyes still burned with hate.

"This doesn't change our arrangement," Alaric said to Astra, his voice low so only she could hear. "Don't expect me to love you. This is job, nothing more."

Astra's cheeks burned with shame. Everyone was watching, and they all heard him reject her.

"Don't worry," she whispered back. "I'd rather kiss a snake than love someone like you."

Something flashed in Alaric's eyes-surprise, maybe even respect. But it was gone in an instant.

"Kael," Alaric called to a young man near the front. " Show Luna Astra to her rooms. "

A boy maybe a year or two younger than Astra stepped forward. He had friendly brown eyes and a kind smile.

"This way, Luna," Kael said, bending slightly.

As they left the hall, Astra felt everyone's eyes burning into her back. Whispers followed them down the hallway.

"...rogue trash..." "...probably killed someone..." "...can't believe she's our Luna..."

Astra held her head high, but inside, her heart was breaking. She had always dreamed of meeting her mate, of having a home. But this was a nightmare.

"Don't mind them," Kael said as they walked. "They're just scared of change."

"They hate me," Astra said.

"They don't know you yet." Kael's smile was warm. "I think you're going to surprise everyone."

Astra liked this boy. "Why are you being nice to me?"

Kael shrugged. "I know what it's like to be the outsider. I was born in another pack. My mom brought me here when I was little, after my dad died."

They reached a door at the end of a long hallway-far away from the main rooms of the house.

"These are your quarters," Kael said, opening the door. "The Alpha had them prepared specially."

The room was beautiful but lonely-tucked away in the farthest corner of the castle, as if Alaric wanted to hide her.

"Thank you, Kael," Astra said. "Will I see you tomorrow?"

"Of course, Luna. I'm assigned to be your guide." His eyes twinkled. "And friend, if you'll have me."

After Kael left, Astra explored her new cage. Though the room was nice, with a big bed and even a small living area, she knew it was still a cage. The windows were too small to climb through, and there would be guards outside her door.

A knock made her jump. Hoping it was Kael returning, she opened the door-and found herself face to face with Selene.

"What do you want?" Astra asked, quickly on guard.

Selene pushed past her into the room. "I want you to understand something, rogue. Alaric was mine before you showed up with your mate mark."

"Take him," Astra said. "I don't want him."

"Liar. I see how you look at him." Selene stepped closer. "But it doesn't matter. Alaric will never love you. His heart belongs to someone else."

"I don't care."

"You should." Selene smiled wickedly. "Because that someone is your sister."

Astra felt like she'd been hit. "What?"

"Lyra and Alaric have been lovers for years. Why do you think he hid her from the world? To protect her, yes, but also to keep her for himself." Selene watched Astra's face with evil joy. "The mate mark is just a trick of the Moon Goddess. It means nothing compared to real love."

"Get out," Astra whispered, her hands shaking.

"Gladly." Selene walked to the door but turned back. "Oh, and if you're thinking of running away, don't worry. Alaric has your smell now. He'll hunt you down like the animal you are."

When the door closed, Astra sank to the floor. Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Crying was for the weak, and she couldn't be weak. Not here, not now.

She looked at the mate mark on her arm. If what Selene said was true, then this mark was just another cruel joke the world had played on her.

Astra was so lost in her thoughts she almost didn't hear the soft tapping at her window. When she looked up, her heart stopped.

A small paper bird was tapping against the glass. Magic. Someone was using moon magic to send her a message.

With shaking hands, Astra opened the window and took the paper bird. It unfolded itself in her palm, showing a message written in blood: "The prophecy is in danger. Your sister plans to kill Alaric at the full moon and take his power. Only you can stop her. Meet me at the old oak tree at midnight. Come alone. -D " D. Damon. The friend who had betrayed her. Or had he?

Astra looked out the window at the rising moon. It would be full tomorrow night.

She had a choice to make: trust the boy who might have lied to her for years, or let her sister kill the mate she didn't want.

And time was running out.