Chapter 1 The Blood Moon Law

The full moon loomed high over the Crimson Moon Pack’s territory, its silver glow illuminating the towering pines that enclosed the Alpha’s Keep. The air was thick with tension, the kind that made even the bravest wolves tread carefully. Kaela stood in the shadows of the great stone courtyard, her fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. The execution was about to begin. A young girl—no older than sixteen—knelt at the center of the pack’s gathering ground, her golden hair tangled, her face streaked with dirt and silent tears. Her name was Mira. She had shifted for the first time two nights ago, her cries of pain echoing through the village. She had done what came naturally, what every male in the pack was praised for. But for a girl, shifting was a crime punishable by death. Alpha Rovan stood before her, his presence commanding absolute silence. His golden eyes glowed with authority as he addressed the pack. “The law is clear.” His voice was calm, unwavering. “Women are not meant to shift. They are not built for it. They are weak, and their power is unnatural.” He paused, letting the words settle over the crowd. “Mira’s disobedience threatens the balance of our pack. If one is allowed to shift, others will follow. And that… we cannot allow.” A chorus of low growls rumbled from the gathered wolves. Some nodded in agreement, while others shifted uncomfortably, unable to meet the girl’s terrified gaze. Kaela’s stomach twisted in rage and helplessness. This has to stop. She had watched too many of her kind disappear—sisters, mothers, friends. Some were exiled, left to the mercy of the wilderness. Others, like Mira, were executed as a warning to the rest. And every time, Kaela had stood silent. Afraid. No more. Mira whimpered as two enforcers—brutal warriors trained to uphold the Alpha’s law—stepped forward. One of them was ulrich, The second in command, the beta. his face devoid of emotion as he raised a dagger, the moonlight gleaming off the silver blade. Kaela’s heartbeat pounded in her ears. Do something. Her breath came in quick, shallow gasps. She could feel the shift clawing at the edges of her control, her wolf form begging to break free. But if she did, she would share Mira’s fate. Her eyes darted to the crowd. Someone… anyone… stop this. Dane, the Alpha’s son, stood beside his father. His silver eyes flickered with something unreadable—hesitation? Guilt? But he said nothing. The blade hovered over Mira’s throat. Kaela’s body moved before her mind could stop it. “Enough!” Her voice rang out like a thunderclap. The entire pack turned toward her. A sea of faces—some shocked, some furious. Even Rovan looked momentarily surprised. Kaela forced herself to step forward, her heart hammering. “She’s just a girl,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. “She didn’t choose this. None of us do.” A heavy silence filled the air. Then, Rovan tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. “And yet,” he said, “the law remains.” He gave the smallest nod. Ulrichs dagger flashed. Mira’s body slumped to the ground. A choked cry escaped Kaela’s lips. Gasps rippled through the crowd, but no one moved. No one challenged what had just happened. The world blurred around her, rage and grief colliding inside her chest. Not again. Not ever again. As the wolves began to disperse, whispers followed her. “Foolish girl.” “She’ll be next.” “Did you see how she spoke to the Alpha?” Kaela barely heard them. Her vision tunneled, her hands shaking at her sides. She turned sharply and locked eyes with Dane. For the briefest moment, something passed between them—an understanding, a warning, a question. Then she turned and disappeared into the night. Because tonight had sealed her fate. She would never bow to their laws again. The rebellion had begun.