The river that separated the two packs had always been a quiet reminder of the boundaries they lived by.

There was the Serrin River Pack, known for its strength and leadership along the western shore, and the Serin River Pack, its eastern counterpart, known for its tradition and wisdom. The two packs shared so much-practically identical in culture and practices-that even their own people sometimes struggled to tell them apart.

The ferry rocked gently on the water, its wooden frame creaking under the weight of its passengers. I huddled in the corner, clutching my small, embroidered bundle of belongings tightly to my chest.

I could feel the ferry swaying with each passing wave, but all I could focus on was the harsh reality that awaited me back home. I wasn't supposed to be here. I was supposed to be with him.

As the sun dipped lower, casting a fiery red hue over the waters, I watched the ripples spread like gold dust.

It was beautiful-so beautiful that I couldn't stop myself from pausing. But just as the last bit of sunlight gleamed off the waves, the quiet chatter of the men at the far end of the ferry cut through my reverie.

"Alpha still hasn't taken a mate? He's killing everyone with his indecisiveness," one of them laughed, shaking his head.

"No, no," another corrected, "Our alpha has an arranged mate. Rumor has it the wedding's soon."

A flicker of warmth bloomed in my chest, and my lips curled into a secret smile. It was me they were talking about, and they didn't even know.

It had been arranged when we were children, a promise made when we were barely old enough to understand its weight. Liam and I had grown up together, and as soon as I was old enough to wear lace and learn how to sew, it was decided I would be his mate.

He'd always been kind-too kind, really. He gave me flowers, his favorite bites of food, and the best of everything. He cared for me in ways that seemed far beyond friendship. And when he drank that cursed sweet soup, he handed it to me, telling me to drink first, always.

I drank it because it was for him. Because he was my Liam.

But when the world turned dark, and I woke to the healer's quiet whispers of "permanent damage," I didn't understand the depth of it. I was five. What did I know of forever?

The elders, in their guilt, promised that when I turned eighteen, Liam would make me his mate in the full, sacred way. He would claim me, mark me as his, and we would be united.

"Wait for me, Juliette. When you're eighteen, I will make you mine," he had promised, his hands gripping mine, his eyes filled with unspeakable affection.

I waited.

But when I was finally old enough-when I had waited long enough to finally say those words to him-I was met with nothing but coldness.

Two years ago, I ran to him, so eager to finally share my joy. I was ready.

"I can be your mate now, Liam. I'm ready."

He didn't smile. He didn't even look at me properly. His gaze was distant, almost disgusted.

"You've got it wrong, Juliette. You wait for eighteen years, not just a few," he sneered. His eyes flickered away as if I were a nuisance, not the promise he had made.

As the rich, influential guests entered, including his best friend Garrick, Liam barely spared me a glance.

"Liam, I envy you. Your betrothed is so quiet and refined, so well-matched."

I sat in the courtyard on a stone, trying to breathe through the pain that gripped my chest. I had loved him for so long. And yet, as the years went by, I wondered if I had been wrong. But it didn't matter. I wasn't angry. Not yet. There was still time.

So I would wait. Even if it took another eighteen years.

The ferry swayed violently against the rising tide, the scent of saltwater mingling with the damp earth beneath my feet. My heart hammered in my chest as I clutched my embroidered bundle, my fingers trembling with each shift of the boat.

As the boat drifted closer to shore, wedding music drifted through the air, full of joy and celebration. This is where I belong, I whispered to myself. This is where I belong.

The ferry bumped against the dock with a low groan, balloons soaring into the air . The scene before me was beautiful-too beautiful. But then, my gaze shifted to the far end of the ferry, where a bride sat hunched in sorrow, her face hidden behind a veil.

I approached her quietly, whispering, "Sister, why do you cry on such a joyous day?"

The bride wiped her eyes, but didn't respond. Her shoulders shook as she wept, her sobs muffled by the veil.

I reached into my bundle, pulling out a small doll. "Here," I said softly, offering it to her. "Take this. Don't cry anymore."

But instead of calming, the bride's sobs deepened. She looked up at me, her eyes wild with desperation. "I don't want to marry him!" she cried.

My breath caught. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice tight with confusion.

She gasped, struggling to speak through her tears. "I'm not his true mate. Alpha 's real mate ran away. The clan leader forced me to take her place."

My stomach dropped. "No... That's not true! Alpha is mine! He's always been mine!"

The bride blinked, her tears halting. Her gaze softened. "Then... you're the one he's meant to be with?"

I nodded, a fire igniting within me. "I've been promised to him since we were children. I'm going to find him. No one can take my place."

Her face broke into a bittersweet smile. "Go. You must go. Don't let anyone stand in your way."

Days later, the ferry finally reached the shore. And there, standing tall and proud, was Alpha -his scent thick in the air, rich with the power of his Alpha aura. My heart raced, beating in time with the rush of emotions that flooded me.

As I stepped off the ferry, my veil fluttered in the wind, and I saw him. Taller now, his muscles rippling beneath his clothes, his eyes locked on me. His gaze was fierce, and a growl rumbled low in his throat.

A growl rumbled in his throat, low and guttural.

"My Alpha!" I called out. But before he could speak, a voice shouted from behind us.

"Alpha! The outcasts are at the border! They're trying to cross into our territory!"

"Stay here," he ordered, his voice rough with authority. "Don't move. Go to the pack house. Lock the doors."

"But Alpha-" I protested, vailing under the vail.

His gaze softened just a moment, but the urgency was undeniable. "I'll return soon. I promise you that."

I watched him turn, his powerful strides taking him toward the pack's heart. The Alpha was needed. His pack needed him. And I... I was left standing at the edge of his world, powerless.

I whispered to the empty night, my voice carrying on the wind, "I'll wait for you, Liam. I'll always wait."

The hours stretched endlessly, the moon rising high in the sky, its silver light casting shadows across the land. Still no sign of him.

His Beta sent word that Alpha was still engaged in the fight. My heart clenched. The pack was under siege, and there was nothing I could do to help.

Alone in the small room, I stared at the firelight flickering and the chest of old clothes. My fingers traced the worn fabric-garments that had once been full of his strength, now faded, their seams frayed.

I had to do something. I couldn't be the helpless mate, waiting forever. He needed me. I would show him I was more than just a promise. I would be his Luna, in every sense of the word.

I took a needle and thread, beginning to mend his clothes. Each stitch was a vow to him-quiet, but powerful. I will stand beside you, Liam. Always.

The needle pressed through the fabric until the sky began to lighten, and I finally drifted into sleep, clutching the mended clothes.

In the haze between dreams and wakefulness, I felt him-sitting beside me, his gaze burning through the quiet darkness.

He moved quietly, tucking the blanket around my shoulders with care, brushing my hair gently, a touch that said more than words ever could.

I heard the creak of the door as he stepped out, his boots barely making a sound. His voice, commanding yet soft, reached me from the hallway.

"Grandmother arrives tomorrow. Remember her temper. Keep things smooth, for her sake."

I closed my eyes, feeling the ache of him already gone. My heart pounded. Every moment he was away, the pack was at risk. The rogue wolves-always circling, waiting for weakness.

I wanted him beside me, to not leave, even if just for a moment. But the pack needed him. He was Alpha.

The ferry swayed violently against the rising tide, the scent of saltwater mingling with the damp earth beneath my feet. My heart hammered in my chest as I clutched my embroidered bundle, my fingers trembling with each shift of the boat.

As the boat drifted closer to shore, wedding music drifted through the air, full of joy and celebration. This is where I belong, I whispered to myself. This is where I belong.

The ferry bumped against the dock with a low groan, balloons soaring into the air . The scene before me was beautiful-too beautiful. But then, my gaze shifted to the far end of the ferry, where a bride sat hunched in sorrow, her face hidden behind a veil.

I approached her quietly, whispering, "Sister, why do you cry on such a joyous day?"

The bride wiped her eyes, but didn't respond. Her shoulders shook as she wept, her sobs muffled by the veil.

I reached into my bundle, pulling out a small doll. "Here," I said softly, offering it to her. "Take this. Don't cry anymore."

But instead of calming, the bride's sobs deepened. She looked up at me, her eyes wild with desperation. "I don't want to marry him!" she cried.

My breath caught. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice tight with confusion.

She gasped, struggling to speak through her tears. "I'm not his true mate. Alpha 's real mate ran away. The clan leader forced me to take her place."

My stomach dropped. "No... That's not true! Alpha is mine! He's always been mine!"

The bride blinked, her tears halting. Her gaze softened. "Then... you're the one he's meant to be with?"

I nodded, a fire igniting within me. "I've been promised to him since we were children. I'm going to find him. No one can take my place."

Her face broke into a bittersweet smile. "Go. You must go. Don't let anyone stand in your way."

Days later, the ferry finally reached the shore. And there, standing tall and proud, was Alpha -his scent thick in the air, rich with the power of his Alpha aura. My heart raced, beating in time with the rush of emotions that flooded me.

As I stepped off the ferry, my veil fluttered in the wind, and I saw him. Taller now, his muscles rippling beneath his clothes, his eyes locked on me. His gaze was fierce, and a growl rumbled low in his throat.

A growl rumbled in his throat, low and guttural.

"My Alpha!" I called out. But before he could speak, a voice shouted from behind us.

"Alpha! The outcasts are at the border! They're trying to cross into our territory!"

"Stay here," he ordered, his voice rough with authority. "Don't move. Go to the pack house. Lock the doors."

"But Alpha-" I protested, vailing under the vail.

His gaze softened just a moment, but the urgency was undeniable. "I'll return soon. I promise you that."

I watched him turn, his powerful strides taking him toward the pack's heart. The Alpha was needed. His pack needed him. And I... I was left standing at the edge of his world, powerless.

I whispered to the empty night, my voice carrying on the wind, "I'll wait for you, Liam. I'll always wait."

The hours stretched endlessly, the moon rising high in the sky, its silver light casting shadows across the land. Still no sign of him.

His Beta sent word that Alpha was still engaged in the fight. My heart clenched. The pack was under siege, and there was nothing I could do to help.

Alone in the small room, I stared at the firelight flickering and the chest of old clothes. My fingers traced the worn fabric-garments that had once been full of his strength, now faded, their seams frayed.

I had to do something. I couldn't be the helpless mate, waiting forever. He needed me. I would show him I was more than just a promise. I would be his Luna, in every sense of the word.

I took a needle and thread, beginning to mend his clothes. Each stitch was a vow to him-quiet, but powerful. I will stand beside you, Liam. Always.

The needle pressed through the fabric until the sky began to lighten, and I finally drifted into sleep, clutching the mended clothes.

In the haze between dreams and wakefulness, I felt him-sitting beside me, his gaze burning through the quiet darkness.

He moved quietly, tucking the blanket around my shoulders with care, brushing my hair gently, a touch that said more than words ever could.

I heard the creak of the door as he stepped out, his boots barely making a sound. His voice, commanding yet soft, reached me from the hallway.

"Grandmother arrives tomorrow. Remember her temper. Keep things smooth, for her sake."

I closed my eyes, feeling the ache of him already gone. My heart pounded. Every moment he was away, the pack was at risk. The rogue wolves-always circling, waiting for weakness.

I wanted him beside me, to not leave, even if just for a moment. But the pack needed him. He was Alpha.