The Silver Crest Pack had never looked so alive.

By the time the sun began to set, lanterns had already been lit across the pack grounds. Warm golden light glowed from the packhouse windows while long wooden tables were arranged outside beneath the open sky.

The Full Moon Gathering happened only once a year.

It was a night when rivalries were set aside, when packs shared food and stories beneath the moon. It was also the night many wolves secretly hoped for.

The night fate revealed mates.

Lira stood near the kitchen entrance, adjusting the tray of glasses she carried. Her hands trembled slightly, though she wasn't sure why.

The pack felt... different tonight.

Charged.

As if the air itself was humming with anticipation.

"Lira."

She looked up.

The older omega, Mara, stood beside her.

"Are you alright?" Mara asked softly.

"Yes," Lira replied quickly. "Just nervous."

"That's normal tonight."

Mara smiled kindly, something few people in the pack ever did.

"Just remember to stay near the serving tables. The visiting Alphas will bring strong auras."

Lira nodded.

She had heard that before.

Powerful wolves carried energy that weaker wolves could feel. Sometimes it made omegas dizzy or uncomfortable.

But tonight...

Something inside Lira felt restless instead.

Almost curious.

Mara gently touched her arm.

"If you feel overwhelmed, step outside for air."

"I will."

The older woman nodded and walked away.

Lira picked up her tray again just as a loud howl echoed across the pack territory.

One of the warriors near the entrance straightened.

"They're here."

The visiting packs had arrived.

Outside the main hall, wolves began gathering near the entrance.

Warriors lined the path as guests approached the packhouse.

Lira stepped carefully between the tables, placing fresh glasses down while trying not to draw attention to herself.

She heard the first group arrive.

The Iron Ridge Pack.

Their Alpha greeted Silver Crest's Alpha with loud laughter and firm handshakes.

More wolves followed.

The River Fang Pack.

Then the Storm Valley Pack.

Each arrival brought stronger scents and stronger energy into the air.

Lira could feel it building like pressure in her chest.

But it wasn't overwhelming.

Not the way Mara had described.

Instead...

It felt like something inside her was waking up.

She paused for a moment.

A strange warmth spread through her chest again.

The same feeling she had felt beneath the forest moon.

Before she could think about it further-

Another howl echoed across the valley.

This one was different.

Deeper.

Stronger.

Dominant.

Every wolf in the courtyard fell silent.

One of the warriors whispered quietly.

"Nightfall."

The Nightfall Pack had arrived.

The moment Alpha Kael stepped onto Silver Crest territory, he felt it.

Something shifted in the air.

His wolf stirred instantly.

Mate.

Kael froze mid-step.

His Beta, Roran, noticed immediately.

"What is it?"

Kael inhaled slowly.

The scent was faint.

But unmistakable.

Warm.

Soft.

And completely intoxicating.

His wolf pushed forward inside his mind.

She's here.

Kael's eyes darkened.

After years of waiting...

His mate was somewhere inside this pack.

Roran watched him carefully.

"You smell her, don't you?"

Kael nodded once.

"Yes."

Roran grinned.

"Well, that explains the look on your face."

Kael ignored the comment.

His senses sharpened.

Every scent.

Every movement.

Every heartbeat around him.

The bond was pulling him forward.

Drawing him toward the packhouse.

Toward her.

Inside the main hall, music had begun playing.

Wolves laughed and talked around the long tables as food was served.

Lira moved quietly between them with her tray.

She tried not to notice how many eyes were watching the visiting Alphas.

But the moment the Nightfall Pack entered the hall...

Everything changed.

The air grew heavier.

Even the music seemed to soften.

Lira felt it instantly.

A powerful presence filled the room.

Her heart began beating faster for no reason she could explain.

She kept her head down as she approached one of the tables.

"Wine?" she asked softly.

No one answered.

A strange silence spread through the hall.

Lira frowned slightly.

Then she felt it.

A pull.

Strong.

Sudden.

Her head lifted before she could stop herself.

And across the crowded hall...

Her eyes met his.

Alpha Kael.

The world seemed to stop.

The moment their gazes locked-

Something inside Lira's chest exploded with warmth.

Kael's breath caught.

His wolf roared inside his mind.

MATE.

The word echoed through him like thunder.

He stared at the girl across the room.

Small.

Quiet.

Dressed in simple servant clothes.

An omega.

Impossible.

But the bond didn't lie.

The Moon Goddess never made mistakes.

Kael began walking toward her.

Every wolf in the hall instinctively stepped aside as the powerful Alpha moved forward.

Lira's heart pounded harder with every step he took.

Why was he coming toward her?

Had she done something wrong?

When he finally stopped in front of her, she could barely breathe.

The tray in her hands trembled slightly.

Kael stared down at her.

Up close, her scent was overwhelming.

His mate.

After all these years.

His wolf growled softly with satisfaction.

Ours.

Lira lowered her gaze immediately.

"Alpha," she whispered respectfully.

Kael's voice came out low and steady.

"Look at me."

Her eyes lifted slowly.

The moment she looked into his silver gaze...

The bond snapped fully into place.

Kael felt it surge through his entire body.

Powerful.

Unbreakable.

His wolf surged forward inside him.

Claim her.

The entire hall waited in breathless silence.

Then Kael spoke the words that would change everything.

"MATE!!."

Gasps erupted across the room.

Lira's eyes widened.

"What...?"

Kael didn't look away from her.

"You are mine."

Across the hall, Clara shot to her feet in shock.

"That's impossible!"

But Kael ignored her.

His gaze remained locked on the girl in front of him.

The omega.

The one no one expected.

The one the Moon Goddess had chosen.

His Luna.

And far above them, the moon shone brighter.

For several seconds after Alpha Kael spoke, the hall remained completely silent.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

It was as if the entire room had forgotten how to breathe.

Lira still held the tray in her hands, her fingers trembling slightly as Kael's words echoed in her mind.

MATE!

Her heart pounded against her ribs.

That couldn't be right.

There had to be some mistake.

She was just an omega.

Across the hall, whispers began spreading like wildfire.

"Did he just say-"

"An omega?"

"That girl?"

"I thought Alphas always mated with strong wolves."

Clara stood frozen near the head table, her face slowly turning pale before anger quickly replaced the shock.

"This is ridiculous," she snapped.

The murmuring stopped as everyone turned toward her.

Clara stepped forward, her heels striking sharply against the wooden floor.

"Alpha Kael," she said loudly, forcing a polite smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "There must be some misunderstanding."

Kael didn't look at her.

His eyes remained fixed on Lira.

"There is no misunderstanding."

Clara's smile tightened.

"With respect," she continued, "that girl is a sla......an omega."she stuttered.

Lira felt the words like a slap, even though she had heard them countless times before.

But this time, something about the way Clara said it made her stomach twist.

Clara gestured toward her dismissively.

"She has never even shifted. She has no wolf."

The whispers grew louder again.

"She's right..."

"How could an Alpha mate with someone like that?"

Lira's chest tightened.

Part of her wished the floor would simply open and swallow her whole.

But Kael finally turned his head toward Clara.

And the moment he did, the entire room felt the shift in his aura.

Power rolled through the hall like a storm.

His silver eyes darkened.

"Be careful and choose your next words carefully," he said quietly.

The warning in his voice was unmistakable.

Clara faltered for a moment, clearly not used to being spoken to that way.

But her pride pushed her forward.

"I'm only pointing out what everyone else is thinking," she replied.

Kael stepped slightly closer to Lira.

Not aggressively.

But protectively.

The gesture alone sent another wave of whispers through the crowd.

"She's an omega," Clara repeated. "Surely the Moon Goddess wouldn't choose someone so... weak."

Something inside Lira twisted painfully.

She lowered her gaze again, gripping the tray tighter.

The words shouldn't hurt anymore.

But tonight, they did.

Kael's voice cut through the noise like steel.

"The Moon Goddess does not make mistakes or are you saying She does?"he added with a dangerous to

The room went quiet again.

Even Clara seemed momentarily stunned.

Kael looked back at Lira.

For the first time, she noticed something unexpected in his expression.

Not frustration.

Not disappointment.

Something softer.

Curiosity.

Almost wonder.

"You," he said gently.

Lira swallowed.

"Yes... Alpha?"

"Tell me your name."

Her voice came out barely above a whisper.

"Lira."

The moment he repeated it, something inside her chest fluttered strangely.

"Lira," Kael said.

The way he spoke her name made it sound important.

Like it mattered.

"Do you feel the bond?"

Her heart skipped.

"Yes," she admitted quietly.

She had been trying to ignore it, but the strange warmth spreading through her chest was impossible to deny.

It felt like invisible threads pulling her toward him.

Something ancient.

Something powerful.

Kael nodded once.

Then he turned back to the room.

"You have your answer."

Clara crossed her arms.

"This changes nothing."

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"This pack will never accept an omega as a Luna," she said coldly.

Several wolves shifted uncomfortably.

No one openly agreed with her.

But no one defended Lira either.

That silence felt just as loud.

Lira stared at the floor.

She wished this night would end.

Wished she could go back to cleaning floors where no one noticed her.

But Kael's voice spoke again.

And this time, it carried the unmistakable authority of an Alpha.

"My mate will be respected."

The command rolled through the hall like thunder.

Several wolves instinctively bowed their heads slightly.

Even Clara hesitated.

But she wasn't finished.

"You may believe she's your mate," she said carefully, "but Silver Crest is still my father's pack."

Her eyes flicked toward Lira again.

"And she belongs here."

The meaning behind those words was clear.

Lira wasn't free to leave.

She was pack property.

Just an omega servant.

Kael's eyes darkened.

"Does she?"

His voice had grown colder.

Silver Crest's Alpha finally stood from his seat at the head table.

The older man had remained silent throughout the confrontation, watching carefully.

Now his deep voice filled the hall.

"That depends."

Everyone turned toward him.

The Alpha studied Lira thoughtfully.

"If the bond is real," he continued slowly, "then she may choose to leave."

Clara's head snapped toward him.

"Father-"

"But," he added, raising a hand, "the decision must be hers."

The entire hall fell silent again.

Every pair of eyes shifted toward Lira.

She suddenly felt very small standing there.

Kael looked down at her.

"Lira."

Her heart pounded.

"Yes?"

"If you come with me," he said quietly, "you will be my Luna."

The words felt unreal.

His Luna.

No one had ever spoken about her like that before.

But Kael continued.

"You will be protected."

Something deep inside her chest warmed at that promise.

"But the choice is yours."

The room waited.

Lira's mind raced.

She looked around the hall.

At the faces she had known all her life.

Most of them avoided her gaze.

Some looked annoyed.

Some looked curious.

But none looked like they would miss her.

Slowly, she looked back at Kael.

The strange warmth inside her chest pulsed again.

Stronger now.

Like a heartbeat waking up.

Maybe...

Just maybe...

Her life didn't have to stay the same forever.

"I..." she began.

But before she could finish-

A sudden pulse of energy rushed through her body.

Lira gasped.

The tray slipped from her hands, glasses shattering against the floor.

For a split second, the lanterns hanging from the ceiling flickered violently.

The entire hall seemed to tremble.

Then everything went still again.

Lira stood frozen.

Her heart racing and she slumped

"What... was that?" someone whispered.

Kael stared at her, his expression suddenly intense.

Because the energy he had just felt...

Was not the power of an omega.

And somewhere deep inside Lira's soul...

The seal placed there years ago had just cracked for the first time

The hall remained silent long after the glasses shattered across the wooden floor.

No one moved.

Every wolf present had felt it.

That sudden pulse of energy that had rippled through the room like a quiet earthquake.

Lira laid in the arms of Karl or was she dreaming? Because it felt like her whole life had changed in 1hr. Slowly she opened her eyes and saw glasses everywhere, she felt the ground should swallow because Clara would definitely flog her mercilessly tonight for the embarrassment and the damage

She hadn't meant for that to happen.

She hadn't done anything.

At least... she didn't think she had.

"What was that?" someone whispered.

The murmurs returned immediately.

"I felt it too."

"That wasn't normal."

"Did she do that?"

Lira's fingers trembled at her sides.

"I-I'm sorry," she stammered softly.

But Alpha Kael wasn't listening to the crowd.

He was watching her.

Carefully.

His wolf had surged forward the moment that strange power burst from her.

And his instincts were screaming one thing very clearly.

She is not weak.

Something inside Lira was potent, locked away.

Something powerful.

Kael stepped forward, his presence immediately quieting the whispers again.

"Enough," he said.

The command rolled through the hall with unmistakable authority.

The wolves fell silent instantly.

Kael's gaze softened slightly as he looked down at Lira.

"Are you hurt?"

The question seemed to surprise her.

"N-no."

She shook her head quickly.

"I'm fine."

But her voice carried uncertainty.

Kael could feel it.

The confusion.

The fear.

And something else beneath it.

Something that reminded him of a storm waiting beneath calm waters.

He extended his hand toward her.

"Come."

Lira hesitated.

Dozens of eyes still watched her.

But something about Kael's voice felt... steady.

Safe.

Slowly, she stepped forward.

The moment her hand touched his-

A sharp spark of warmth shot through her entire body.

Lira gasped softly.

Kael felt it too.

The bond reacting.

Stronger than before.

His wolf rumbled with satisfaction.

Mine.

Across the hall, Clara watched the scene unfold with growing anger.

That omega should not have been standing there.

Should not have been touching an Alpha.

And she certainly should not have been causing mysterious power surges in the middle of the gathering.

Something about this felt wrong.

Dangerous.

Clara narrowed her eyes.

"This isn't over," she muttered quietly.

Later that night, after the gathering finally ended, the packhouse grew quiet again.

Most of the visiting wolves had returned to their temporary lodges for the night.

Kael had been offered a guest chamber inside the Silver Crest packhouse.

But sleep didn't come easily.

His wolf remained restless.

She is different.

Kael leaned against the window, staring out at the moonlit forest.

"I noticed."

That strange burst of energy earlier...

He had felt it clearly.

And it hadn't been the energy of an omega.

It had been something far older.

Far stronger.

A knock sounded at his door.

"Enter."

Roran stepped inside.

"You're thinking about it too," his Beta said immediately.

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"You mean the mysterious wave of power that knocked every wolf in the hall silent?"

Roran nodded.

"Exactly that."

Kael turned back to the window.

"She doesn't know."

Roran frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"She was just as surprised as everyone else."

Roran crossed his arms.

"You think she's hiding something?"

Kael shook his head.

"No."

His voice grew quieter.

"I think she's been sealed."

Roran's eyebrows rose.

"That sounds like prophecy talk."

Kael didn't respond.

But deep down...

That was exactly what it felt like.

In another part of the packhouse, Lira lay awake in the small room she shared with two other omegas.

But tonight she couldn't sleep.

Her mind replayed the events of the evening over and over again.

The moment Kael looked at her.

The way her chest had warmed when he called her his mate.

And that strange pulse of energy that had escaped her body.

"What's wrong with me?" she whispered into the darkness.

Eventually, exhaustion pulled her into sleep.

But the moment her eyes closed...

The dream began.

Lira stood in the forest.

The same place she often visited at night.

But something was different.

The moon above her shone brighter than she had ever seen before.

Silver light bathed the trees, making the entire forest glow.

"Hello, child."

The voice was soft.

Gentle.

But powerful enough to make the air vibrate.

Lira turned slowly.

A woman stood behind her.

Her hair shimmered like moonlight, and her eyes held a quiet wisdom that felt ancient.

"Who... are you?" Lira asked.

The woman smiled softly.

"You have called to me many times without realizing it."

Lira frowned.

"I have?"

"Yes."

The woman stepped closer.

"I am the one who has always watched over you."

Something inside Lira stirred again.

That same warmth.

"You mean..."

"Selene....," the woman finished gently.

Lira's breath caught.

The Moon Goddess smiled.

"You have grown well, little one."

"I don't understand," Lira said quietly.

The goddess reached out and placed a glowing hand over Lira's chest.

Immediately, warmth flooded through her body.

"For many years, your power has slept."

"Power?"

"Yes."

"To protect you."

Lira's heart pounded.

"From what?"

"From those who would seek to control it."

The goddess looked toward the sky.

"But the time for sleeping is ending."

Lira shook her head slowly.

"I'm just an omega."

The Moon Goddess chuckled softly.

"No."

Her eyes sparkled.

"You are something far rarer."

The goddess leaned closer.

"You are the Luna the moon chose."

Lira's chest tightened.

"But... I don't even have a wolf."

"Not yet," the goddess said.

"But she is there."

Sleeping.

Waiting.

"And when she awakens..."

The forest trembled slightly as silver light pulsed across the ground.

"...the world of wolves will change forever."

Lira's eyes widened.

"What do I do?"

The goddess smiled gently.

"For now?"

She glanced toward the distant mountains.

"Trust the Alpha fate has chosen for you."

The dream began fading.

The silver light slowly dissolving into darkness.

And just before Lira woke-

The Moon Goddess whispered one final sentence.

"Your power is beginning to remember who you are."

Lira jolted awake in her bed.

Her heart raced as she looked around the dark room.

The dream felt too real to ignore.

She placed a hand over her chest.

The warmth was still there.

Faint.

But alive.

And miles away in his chamber...

Alpha Kael suddenly woke as well.

His wolf stirred again.

Stronger this time.

Because somewhere inside his mate...

Something powerful had begun to awaken.