Chapter 1 The Moon Ceremony

The moon hung heavy in the sky like a silver eye watching the world, casting pale light across the Blackwood Forest. The clearing was alive with energy—wolves and humans milling about, voices hushed in reverence. Tonight was the Moon Ceremony, the ancient rite where fated mates were revealed. It was a night of promise, of connection, of destiny. Selene Blackwood stood at the edge of the gathering, her arms crossed over her chest as she tried to disappear into the shadows of the trees. She wore the ceremonial white dress, but unlike the other she-wolves with their curled hair and sparkling eyes, Selene’s long black hair fell loose down her back, and her eyes—stormy gray—were guarded. She had no illusions about what tonight would bring. At nineteen, most wolves had already found their mates. But Selene hadn’t. Some whispered it was because she was only half-wolf, the child of a runaway human and a disgraced omega who’d died when Selene was only five. Others claimed the Moon Goddess had simply forgotten her. She clenched her jaw. She didn’t care what they thought. At least, that’s what she told herself. “Still brooding in the shadows, mutt?” came a snide voice. Selene turned slowly. Lena Hartley, daughter of the Blackwood Beta, stood before her with two other girls trailing like loyal pups. Lena was everything Selene wasn’t—golden-haired, graceful, adored. And cruel. Selene didn’t flinch. “Still sniffing around for attention?” Lena’s eyes narrowed. “You think anyone would want you? The Moon Goddess wouldn’t tie anyone to someone like you. No Alpha would ever accept a half-breed runt.” Selene didn’t reply. She didn’t need to. The insult was old, worn thin from overuse. But that didn’t mean it didn’t sting. Before more venom could be spewed, a hush fell over the clearing. The Elders stepped onto the stone dais in the center, their white robes fluttering. The lead Elder raised his hand, and the murmuring crowd silenced. “The time has come,” his voice rang out, deep and powerful. “Let the Moon Goddess guide us. Let fates be revealed.” A chill raced down Selene’s spine. The ceremony had begun. One by one, the young wolves stepped forward. A touch of the Elder’s hand to their forehead, a whisper to the Moon. The air shimmered with magic, glowing threads of fate unraveling and binding mates together in breathtaking moments. Selene watched, heart pounding. Her name would be called soon. She felt it. “Selene Blackwood,” the Elder finally intoned. The world seemed to slow. Her feet felt like stone as she stepped forward, up onto the dais. Whispers buzzed like insects behind her, some hopeful, others mocking. The Elder met her eyes. “Do you accept the Moon’s will?” “I do,” she said quietly. He placed his hand on her forehead, and Selene felt a jolt—like cold fire rushing through her veins. Her heart thundered. Something ancient stirred inside her. Her wolf, quiet for so long, howled. A name formed in her mind. Kael Thorn. Her breath caught. The Kael Thorn? The Alpha of the Nightshade Pack? Ruthless, powerful, a man who’d taken control of his pack after a bloody uprising. He was a legend wrapped in shadow, and her mate? Gasps echoed through the clearing. The energy shifted as if the forest itself was stunned. A low growl rippled through the crowd. And then he appeared. Kael stepped into the clearing like a storm. Tall, dark-haired, eyes like molten silver. Power radiated off him in waves. His gaze locked on Selene, and in that moment, everything else fell away. Selene’s chest ached. The bond thrummed between them, undeniable. But Kael’s expression didn’t soften. His jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened. “No,” he said, voice cold as steel. “I reject this.” Silence fell like a blow. Selene stared at him, numb. “What?” Kael stepped closer, and though he didn’t shout, his words carried. “I reject Selene Blackwood as my mate.” Her heart shattered. The bond, so newly formed, recoiled. Pain lanced through her chest, white-hot and cruel. Her knees buckled, but she stayed standing, pride the only thing holding her up. The crowd erupted in whispers, some shocked, others gleeful. Kael turned without another word and vanished into the trees, his pack following him like shadows. Selene stood frozen. The Elder reached for her shoulder, but she pulled away and stepped down from the dais. Eyes burned into her from every side—pity, disdain, amusement. She walked past them all, her steps slow but steady, like she wasn’t dying inside. As she reached the edge of the forest, a voice stopped her. “You see?” Lena sneered. “Even the Moon Goddess made a mistake.” Selene didn’t turn around. “Maybe. But you’ll never be brave enough to stand where I stood tonight.” She disappeared into the trees, the cold night wrapping around her like a shroud. And somewhere deep in the forest, something ancient stirred within her blood. Something the Alpha didn’t expect. Something no one did.