Morning came quietly over Silver Crest Pack, but the tension from the previous night had not disappeared.

If anything, it had grown.

Whispers spread quickly in a werewolf pack, and by sunrise almost everyone had heard the same shocking news.

The powerful Alpha of Nightfall Pack had found his mate.

And his mate...

Was the omega servant.

Lira.

Outside the packhouse, warriors trained as usual, but their focus was scattered. Every so often, someone would glance toward the packhouse windows, clearly distracted by the same question echoing through the pack.

How could an omega become a Luna?

Inside the kitchen, Lira tried to keep her hands steady as she chopped vegetables for the morning meal.

The dream from the night before still clung to her thoughts.

The Moon Goddess.

The strange warmth in her chest.

The words she could not forget.

You are the Luna the moon chose.

Lira shook her head slightly.

"No," she murmured quietly to herself. "That was just a dream."

It had to be.

Things like that didn't happen to girls like her, maybe she was just overwhelmed at the events of yesterday.

She was still trying to convince herself when the kitchen door suddenly opened.

Several omegas turned their heads.

Alpha Kael stepped inside.

The entire room froze.

Omegas rarely stood this close to an Alpha. The power in his aura filled the space instantly, making the air feel heavier.

Lira looked up slowly.

Her heart jumped the moment their eyes met.

The bond reacted immediately, warmth spreading through her chest again.

Kael walked toward her calmly.

"Good morning," he said.

Lira blinked.

No Alpha had ever greeted her like that before.

"Good... morning Al..pha," she replied quietly.

The other omegas stared openly now.

Kael glanced briefly around the room.

"I need to speak with her."

No one argued.

They quickly found excuses to leave the kitchen, some clearly eager to escape the overwhelming presence of the Nightfall Alpha.

Within seconds, Lira and Kael were alone.

She wiped her hands nervously on her apron.

"You shouldn't be here," she said softly.

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"Why not?"

"The omegas' quarters are not meant for Alphas."

Kael shrugged slightly.

"That seems like an unnecessary rule."

Lira couldn't help the small smile that slipped across her face.

But it faded quickly.

"Everyone is talking," she admitted.

"I know."

"They don't believe it."

Kael leaned casually against the wooden counter.

"It doesn't matter what they believe."

Lira looked down.

"It matters to me."

Kael studied her carefully.

"You're afraid."

Lira hesitated.

"Yes."

That answer surprised him.

Most wolves would have hidden their fear, especially in front of an Alpha.

But she had simply told the truth.

Kael respected that.

"You don't have to be," he said quietly.

Lira looked up again.

"You don't understand."

"Then explain."

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the counter.

"I've lived here my entire life," she said.

"I know what I am to them."

"An omega."

The word left her lips like something heavy.

"They won't accept me as your Luna."

Kael was silent for a moment.

Then he said something that made her heart skip.

"That is why you won't stay here."

Lira frowned slightly.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm taking you to Nightfall Pack."

The words hung in the air.

Lira's eyes widened.

"You can't just decide that."

"I can."

Her heart pounded.

"But this is my pack."

Kael shook his head.

"No."

His voice was firm.

"This is the place you were forced to survive."

The truth of those words hit harder than she expected.

Before she could respond-

The kitchen door burst open.

Clara stormed inside.

"I knew you'd come here!"

Her angry voice echoed across the room.

Kael turned slowly.

Clara glared at Lira.

"You're already trying to steal him away in private?"

Lira stepped back instinctively.

"That's not-"

Clara cut her off.

"You think one night changes your place here?"

Her eyes burned with anger.

"You're still an omega."

Kael straightened slightly.

The shift in his posture was subtle.

But the power in the room increased instantly.

"You're speaking to my mate," he said coldly.

Clara hesitated.

But her pride pushed her forward again.

"She is not leaving this pack."

Kael's silver eyes darkened.

"She already has."

Clara laughed bitterly.

"You think you can just take her?"

"I don't think."

His voice lowered.

"I know."

The tension between them filled the room.

But before Clara could say another word-

Lira suddenly gasped.

Both of them turned toward her.

She pressed a hand against her chest.

Something inside her had moved.

For the first time.

Not the warm pulse she had felt before.

Something deeper.

Stronger.

A faint voice whispered inside her mind.

Hello.

Lira froze.

Her eyes widened.

"What...?"

Kael stepped closer instantly.

"What is it?"

She looked up at him, her voice trembling.

"I... I heard something."

Clara rolled her eyes.

"Oh please."

But Lira wasn't listening to her anymore.

The voice spoke again.

Soft.

Gentle.

But clearly inside her mind.

You can hear me now.

Lira's breath caught.

"Who are you?" she whispered.

Kael's expression sharpened.

"Lira?"

The voice answered.

I am you, I am Arla.

A sudden warmth spread through her entire body.

Stronger than anything she had felt before.

Lira realized something impossible.

Her wolf.

After nineteen years of silence...

Her wolf had finally spoken.

And somewhere deep within the forests beyond Silver Crest territory...

Another Alpha lifted his head toward the wind.

His dark eyes narrowed as he sensed a strange surge of power awakening in the distance.

"Interesting," he murmured.

Because he had been searching for something very rare.

Something powerful.

And now...

It seemed it had finally begun to awaken.

The voice inside Lira's mind faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving her standing in the middle of the kitchen in stunned silence.

Her heart raced.

Her wolf.

After all these years of nothing...

She had finally heard her.

"Lira," Kael said carefully.

She blinked and looked up at him.

"Yes?"

His eyes searched her face.

"What did you hear?"

Lira hesitated.

The truth felt strange even to her.

"My wolf."

Kael's eyebrows rose slightly.

Clara scoffed loudly from the doorway.

"Oh, that's convenient."

Lira's shoulders tightened.

Clara crossed her arms, clearly enjoying the moment.

"The omega who couldn't shift for nineteen years suddenly has a wolf?"

She laughed coldly.

"Next you'll tell us you're some kind of special Luna."

The words stung more than Lira expected.

But Kael didn't laugh.

In fact, his expression had grown more serious.

"You said your wolf spoke to you?" he asked quietly.

Lira nodded.

"Yes."

"What did she say?"

"She just... greeted me."

The warmth inside her chest pulsed again.

As if the voice was still there.

Listening.

Clara shook her head impatiently.

"This is ridiculous."

Her gaze turned sharp.

"Father needs to hear about this nonsense."

She turned toward the door.

But Kael's voice stopped her.

"You will do no such thing. You won't breathe a word"

Clara spun back around.

"And why not?"

Kael stepped forward.

The shift in his aura filled the kitchen like thunder rolling through the mountains.

"Because my mate does not answer to you."

Clara's lips pressed into a thin line.

"You're making a mistake."

"Perhaps," Kael replied calmly.

"But it is mine to make."

For a moment, Clara looked ready to argue again.

But something in Kael's eyes made her pause.

Finally, she let out an irritated sigh and turned away.

"This isn't over."

The door slammed behind her as she left.

The room fell quiet again.

Lira exhaled slowly.

"I'm sorry," she murmured.

Kael frowned slightly.

"For what?"

"For causing trouble."

He stared at her for a moment.

Then he said something unexpected.

"You didn't cause anything."

Lira blinked.

"You're my mate," he continued.

"That alone will cause trouble wherever we go."

Despite the situation, Lira almost smiled.

Later that afternoon, Kael convinced Silver Crest's Alpha to allow Lira to walk with him through the forest.

The older Alpha had agreed reluctantly.

"The bond is clear," he admitted.

"But she remains part of this pack until she chooses otherwise."

Kael nodded.

"That choice will come soon."

Now they walked side by side beneath the tall trees surrounding the territory.

The forest air felt cooler than the packhouse.

More peaceful.

Lira inhaled deeply.

"I like it here," she said quietly.

Kael glanced at her.

"You come here often."

She looked surprised.

"How did you know?"

"You smell like the forest."

Her cheeks warmed slightly.

"I come here when the packhouse gets too loud."

Kael nodded.

"I understand that feeling."

For a while they walked in silence.

But the warmth inside Lira's chest continued growing.

Stronger.

Almost like something pushing against a door inside her.

Finally she spoke again.

"Alpha Kael."

"Yes?"

"What if they're right?"

He looked at her.

"About what?"

"What if I'm not meant to be your Luna?"

Kael stopped walking.

Lira took another step before realizing he had paused.

She turned back toward him.

His silver eyes studied her carefully.

"Do you believe the Moon Goddess makes mistakes?"

"No."

"Neither do I."

His voice carried quiet certainty.

"You are my mate."

"But I'm weak," she said softly.

Kael stepped closer.

"Then why did I feel power explode from you last night?"

Lira didn't have an answer.

Kael lifted his head slightly.

"Shift."

Her eyes widened.

"I can't."

"You can."

She shook her head.

"I've tried for years."

Kael's gaze softened.

"But now your wolf is awake."

The voice inside her mind spoke again.

He's right.

Lira froze.

Her wolf sounded stronger now.

More confident.

"What if I fail?" she whispered.

Kael stepped closer.

"Then we try again."

Something about his calm confidence steadied her nerves.

Lira closed her eyes.

She had seen wolves shift countless times.

But she had never done it herself.

She focused on the warmth inside her chest.

The strange power pulsing through her veins.

Come to me, she thought.

The warmth grew suddenly brighter.

Her wolf's voice whispered again.

Let me out...

Pain exploded through Lira's body.

She gasped.

Kael stepped forward instantly.

"Easy."

Her bones shifted.

Her muscles stretched.

Light erupted across her skin like liquid silver.

Then-

Silence.

Kael stared.

Because standing where Lira had been moments before...

Was not the small brown wolf most omegas possessed.

It was enormous.

Her fur shimmered silver beneath the sunlight.

Her eyes glowed bright green.

And faint patterns of moonlight seemed to ripple across her coat like living light.

Kael's breath caught in his throat.

His wolf surged forward instantly.

Not with aggression.

With awe.

She is...

Kael finished the thought quietly.

"Yes. Beautiful"

She was something rare.

Something ancient.

Something blessed.

Lira looked down at her paws in shock.

Is this... me?

Her voice echoed through the mind link.

Kael smiled faintly.

"Yes."

Lira lifted her head toward the sky.

The moonlight patterns across her fur shimmered again.

Deep within the forest...

The rival Alpha who had sensed her awakening watched from the shadows.

His dark eyes gleamed with hunger.

"So the prophecy is true," he murmured.

Because the wolf standing in that clearing...

Was not just a Luna.

She was the One.

And powerful wolves would soon begin hunting her.

For several seconds after Lira shifted, the forest remained completely still.

Even the wind seemed to pause.

Kael stood a few steps away from her, unable to look away.

His wolf had grown unusually quiet inside him, which almost never happened. Normally his wolf was restless, always pushing forward, always demanding control.

But now...

His wolf was simply watching.

Watching the silver wolf standing before them.

She's beautiful, his wolf murmured.

Kael didn't disagree.

Moonlight patterns rippled across Lira's fur like living light, glowing softly even though the sun still hung in the sky. Her bright green eyes shimmered with wonder as she looked down at her paws.

I... did it, she said through the mind link.

Her voice sounded amazed.

Kael felt the bond between them hum warmly.

"Yes," he said gently.

"You did."

Lira lifted her head slowly, looking around the clearing as if she were seeing the world for the first time.

Every sound seemed sharper.

Every scent stronger.

She could smell the pine trees, the earth beneath her paws, and Kael's scent beside her-strong, steady, comforting.

Then something else caught her attention.

A strange scent carried on the wind.

Her ears twitched.

Kael noticed instantly.

"What is it?"

Lira turned toward the deeper part of the forest.

Someone is watching us.

Kael's entire body went still.

His wolf surged forward immediately.

Where?

Lira focused on the scent again.

It was faint.

But definitely there.

Over there, she said.

She nodded toward the darker part of the forest.

Kael's gaze sharpened.

"Stay behind me."

Lira instinctively stepped closer to him.

The bond between them pulsed again, stronger than before.

Kael took a slow step forward.

"Come out."

His voice carried the unmistakable command of an Alpha.

The forest remained silent.

But Kael knew better.

Someone was there.

Watching.

Waiting.

After a few tense seconds, a low chuckle drifted through the trees.

"Well," a voice said.

"This is more interesting than I expected."

A tall man stepped out from the shadows.

He moved with calm confidence, his dark hair falling loosely across his forehead. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they landed on Lira.

Kael's wolf growled instantly.

Enemy.

Kael stepped forward protectively.

"You're far from your territory, Alpha."

The stranger smiled.

"Not that far."

Lira felt a cold shiver run through her fur.

Something about him felt dangerous.

Predatory.

The stranger tilted his head slightly, studying her.

"So it's true," he murmured.

Kael's voice hardened.

"What are you doing here, Alpha Darius?"

The man grinned.

"Just passing through."

But his eyes never left Lira.

"Though I must admit... I wasn't expecting to find something quite so ..... rare."

Kael's aura darkened.

"She is not yours to observe."

Darius raised his hands lightly.

"Relax, Kael."

He stepped a little closer.

"I'm simply curious."

His gaze swept over Lira again.

"Silver fur."

"Moonlight markings."

"Green eyes."

He chuckled quietly.

"The rumors didn't exaggerate."

Lira frowned slightly.

What rumors?

Kael's jaw tightened.

"You should leave."

Darius smirked.

"Oh, I will."

His eyes flicked toward Lira again.

"But first I want to congratulate you."

Kael didn't respond.

Darius smiled wider.

"You've found something very valuable."

The words made Lira uneasy.

Valuable?

She wasn't a treasure.

Darius turned toward the forest again.

"Enjoy your new pet, Kael."

Then he paused.

"One piece of advice."

He looked over his shoulder.

"Keep her hidden."

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

Darius's smile sharpened.

"Because once the other packs realize what she is..."

His gaze returned to Lira.

"...they'll come for her."

Then he disappeared back into the trees.

The forest fell silent again.

Lira slowly shifted back into human form.

Her legs wobbled slightly as the transformation finished.

Kael caught her arm instantly.

"Careful."

She steadied herself.

"Who was that?"

"Alpha Darius."

Lira frowned.

"He didn't seem friendly."

"He isn't."

Kael looked toward the forest where Darius had vanished.

"He's dangerous."

Lira wrapped her arms around herself.

"He said other packs would come for me."

Kael turned toward her.

"They won't touch you."

His voice was firm.

Certain.

Lira wanted to believe him.

But something deep inside her chest stirred again.

The warmth.

The power.

And a faint whisper from her wolf.

They're afraid of you.

Lira blinked.

Why?

Her wolf answered softly.

Because they know what you are.

Lira looked at Kael.

"What am I?"

Kael hesitated for the first time.

Then he said quietly,

"Something the world hasn't seen in centuries."

Lira's heart pounded again.

"Which is?"

Kael met her eyes.

"The Luna chosen directly by the moon."

Far above them, the moon appeared faintly in the pale blue sky.

And somewhere deep within Lira's soul...

The sleeping power of the Goddess stirred again.