The air in Dairon carried a bite of late autumn, crisp and laced with the faint scent of pine and earth. Below, the distant hum of the city blended with the faint rustle of leaves as wolves patrolled the perimeter.

Lucian Hawthorne stood atop the rocky cliff overlooking Dairon with his hands clasped behind his back, broad shoulders squared as the wind ruffled his dark hair.

His sharp, amber eyes scanned the town below a place steeped in ancient whispers, where bloodlines of both man and beast had intertwined for centuries. Yet few knew the truth buried beneath Dairon’s soil.

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 Lycanthar..."

Lucian’s jaw tightened. That name had been carved into the heart of his pack’s legacy—until it vanished from history. But some memories lingered like shadows clinging to the bloodline, passed through instinct rather than words.

He’d inherited that secret with his title as Alpha, along with a responsibility that should’ve been shared by all packs.

The Crescent Moon Pack had been guardians once. Protectors of something beyond the realm of ordinary wolves. And Lucian had never stopped wondering why that duty had been stripped from them—or who had erased it.

“Lucian.”

The voice behind him pulled him from his thoughts. Deep and gravelly, it belonged to his Beta, Tobias, whose heavy footsteps crunched over frost-kissed grass as he approached.

“They’re waiting for you at the estate,” Tobias said as he stood with one of his arms hanging on a nearby tree.

“Sylvia’s family arrived an hour ago.” He added waiting for Lucian's response.

Lucian exhaled slowly, his breath clouding the air. "Sylvia..." Even the name stirred a weight in his chest, but not the kind most men might feel before a promised union.

Where others might find anticipation or desire, Lucian felt only a hollow ache.

“I have no intention of entertaining Sylvia tonight,” he replied without turning.

Tobias hesitated. “You know what’s at stake. The council...”

“I know.” Lucian’s tone was firm, though a muscle in his jaw twitched. “The council believes this marriage will secure stability between our packs. A political bond to keep the Black Lunar Pack from challenging my authority.”

“And to maintain our place at the head of the Northern Alliance,” Tobias added.

Lucian’s lips curled into a humorless smile. “Power disguised as unity.”

Still, duty was a chain no alpha could ignore, and Lucian bore its weight with every step he took back toward the forest, his strides swift and purposeful.

By the time he emerged onto the gravel driveway of the Crescent Moon estate, a sprawling manor of dark stone and towering spires, golden light poured from its windows, illuminating the gathered guests within.

Hidden beyond the city limits, the sprawling manor stood as a symbol of centuries-old power stone walls draped in ivy, arched windows glowing faintly against the dark.

The hum of conversation drifted through the air as Lucian stepped through the grand oak doors. His presence commanded instant attention. Eyes turned toward him, pack members, elders, and emissaries from neighboring clans, yet it was Sylvia’s gaze that burned the hottest.

Clad in a midnight-blue gown that clung to her slender figure, Sylvia Claw stood near the grand fireplace, her platinum-blonde hair cascading in soft waves over her shoulders.

Her emerald eyes locked onto Lucian with an intensity that sent a ripple of unease through him. Not because of her beauty, many admired her delicate features and icy poise, but because of the hunger that lurked beneath her gaze. A hunger that had nothing to do with love.

Her scent, a mix of wild jasmine and iron—curled through the air as she stepped beside him. Her silver-blonde hair fell in perfect waves over her shoulders, and her eyes gleamed gold beneath the moonlight.

“Lucian,” she purred, stepping forward as if the entire room had melted away. “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten our... special evening.”

“I was delayed,” Lucian replied, his tone measured.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” she said lightly, though a thread of steel ran beneath her words.

Lucian didn’t answer, his gaze fixed on the council and the guests chattering. Silence stretched between them, taut as a bowstring.

“Always so distant. You should learn to enjoy the company of your future mate.” She reached out, her fingers grazing the lapel of his coat with possessive familiarity.

Lucian resisted the urge to step back, though every fiber of his being recoiled from her touch.

“This arrangement is for the good of our packs Sylvia,” he said evenly. “Nothing more.”

“Oh, Lucian... I know duty binds you, but perhaps, in time, you'll see there can be more between us.” Sylvia said, her smile faltered, a flicker of something cold and dangerous flashing in her eyes before she masked it with a syrupy laugh.

Lucian said nothing. There was no future where he would ever love her. His heart, caged as it was by expectation, had long since accepted that it would beat alone. He had no interest in women, not to even mention Sylvia.

“It won’t change anything, you know,” Sylvia added with a wry chuckle.

“Our union is inevitable. The council has decided. Imagine what we could achieve together, the strength of the Black Lunar and Crescent Moon Packs combined. No one could challenge us.” Sylvia added in a tone thirsty for power.

Lucian’s jaw tightened. “Power doesn’t interest me, Sylvia. And neither does this marriage.”

Her smile thinned, though her eyes burned with something dangerously close to obsession.

“You say that now. But you’ll see, Lucian. I know what it means to be an Alpha’s mate, to stand beside a man destined to rule. I’ve waited long enough.”

“You’re chasing a title, not a bond.” His voice dropped to a growl as he turned to face her.

“And I won’t be forced into something I don’t want,” Lucian added, his voice firm and distant.

Sylvia’s gaze flashed, her nails digging slightly into his arm. “Don’t be so sure. The council won’t allow you to refuse. They need this alliance to maintain order—and to keep humans from questioning our control over Dairon.”

“You think I need you to lead my pack?” His voice was low, cold.

“Think again. I’ll play the council’s game for now, but don’t mistake compliance for surrender.”Lucian added, looking Sylvia straight in the eye.

“We’ll see, Lucian. We’ll see.”Sylvia said with a sly smile, cool and confident as if she already knew the outcome.

She turned and walked away, heels clicking softly against the marble floor. The faint rustle of her silk dress faded into the air leaving only the sound of glasses clinking and voices echoing.

Somewhere beyond the walls of this estate, beyond the politics of packs and councils, a different fate stirred in the shadows of Dairon. And though Lucian couldn’t yet see the threads weaving through his world, he could feel their pull, a faint tremor in his blood.

Something was coming.

And somehow, he knew it was tied to the legacy his ancestors had sworn to protect...the Lycanthar.

"Hey!" Beth started as she and Emily strolled towards the cafeteria during lunchtime.

"Hi... "Emily replied, not paying much attention.

"That table is empty; let's take a seat there before going to get our food," Beth said, pointing at a table situated in a corner of the cafeteria.

"We need to talk, Em. You've been acting strangely these past few days; the coach said you've been missing practice, too." Beth said, awaiting Emily's response, but all she heard was the noise of clattering cutleries and trays and the voices of students chattering at a distance.

"This is not the same friend I met in kindergarten who left a bag filled with worms in Anita, the bully's locker, just to protect me.

What's wrong, Emily Carter? What are you hiding from me?"Beth asked, leaning closer across the table and reaching out for Emily's hands.

Her voice was as calm as the silent ruffle of breeze, and her eyes were filled with warmth and concern; as they pierced into Emily's soul, the only thing she wished for was to really experience that peace of mind, the one she felt whenever she was with her best friend.

"Em... " Beth cried with a gentle squeeze on Emily's hands, separating her from her thoughts

"Talk to me... Please!" Beth pleaded, on edge but softly.

"Beth I....my...um... Actually...d...d...Dad... " Emily stuttered, not knowing where to start from. Was it from the strange concurrent nightmares that she always had ever since she was in a coma, or the strange beasts she saw in the school field the other day before passing out, or her illusions of strange human-like creatures and war? Or the fact that she was leaving Beth and moving far away

"Just calm down, okay? I'm not going to judge you, Em, and you know that. Get it out of you. Don't let that thing get to you and burn you," Beth added, her voice still calm and soothing.

Emily swallowed the lump forming in her throat, her pulse thudding in her ears. The cafeteria’s chatter seemed to fade into a distant hum, leaving only the warmth of Beth’s hands anchoring her in the moment.

“I don’t even know where to begin,” Emily whispered, her voice trembling. “It’s like… ever since that accident, everything’s different. I keep having these...these nightmares, but they feel so real. And not just that. I...I saw something, Beth. On the field the other day. Creatures that weren’t… human.”

Beth’s eyes widened, but she didn’t let go of Emily’s hands. Her grip remained firm, steady. “Creatures?” she echoed softly.

Emily nodded, her breath hitching. “I thought I was going crazy. And then, when I tried to focus on school, on practice… I couldn’t. It’s like my mind is stuck somewhere else. Like... like there’s something inside me that doesn’t belong.”

“Something inside you?” Beth tilted her head slightly, confusion and concern mixing in her gaze.

“I don’t know what it is. I just know...I feel different, Beth. Stronger sometimes, but also... like I don’t fit into my own skin anymore.” Emily’s voice cracked at the last word.

Beth squeezed her hands again, tighter this time. “Hey... look at me.” She said, fixing her eyes on Emily; Emily lifted her gaze reluctantly, meeting the unwavering warmth in Beth’s eyes.

“We’ll figure this out, okay? Together. You’re not alone in this, Em. Whatever’s happening, we’ll get through it. You hear me?”

A shaky breath escaped Emily’s lips, and she gave a small nod.

“There’s something else…” Emily hesitated, her fingers tightening around Beth’s. “Dad’s been transferred. He’s going to be the new director of a hospital in this town called Dairon. We’re moving there on Sunday”

Beth’s smile faltered, her eyes searching Emily’s face as if hoping she’d heard wrong. “You’re… moving?”

Emily nodded slowly. “Yeah. I didn’t know how to tell you. I didn’t want to leave everything behind...leave you behind. But it’s happening whether I want it to or not.”“Dairon…but today's Wednesday on such short notice?” Beth whispered, the word foreign on her tongue.

She blinked rapidly as if holding back tears. “That’s so far away, Em. We won’t even get to see each other every day anymore.”

“I know.” Emily’s voice cracked as her own tears threatened to fall. “But I swear, I’ll call you every day. We can still talk. We can still...”

Beth stood up from her chair and pulled her into a tight hug, cutting her off. Emily clung to her, the cafeteria fading into a blur around them.

“Just promise me one thing,” Beth murmured against her shoulder.

“Anything,” Emily whispered.

“Don’t shut me out. No matter how weird things get... don’t disappear on me, okay?”

“I won’t,” Emily vowed.

Beth pulled back, her smile wobbly but determined. “Good. Now, how about we get some food before the pizza’s gone? You know how fast it disappears when the football team’s around.”She said trying to hide the pain that was starting to build up inside her.

"Emily was all she had; she couldn't let her go just like that; how was she supposed to live without her?"Thoughts filled Beth's head.

Despite herself, Emily let out a faint laugh, the tight knot in her chest loosening ever so slightly. “Yeah... okay.”

As they stood up, Beth slung an arm around Emily’s shoulder, guiding her toward the food line. But even as they moved through the cafeteria’s bustle, a shadow of unease clung to Emily’s heart.

No matter how much she wanted to believe Beth’s words, a part of her couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever was inside her... wasn’t something anyone could fix.

A rush of nervousness and panic ran through her body as the thought of being in a new town occurred to her, a strange one at that, maybe this was a wrong choice after all, but it was too late.

She had to embrace it.