Chapter 1: The beginning

Aria’s POV

Being the daughter of Alpha Lysander of the Silver Moon Pack should’ve been an honor. Should’ve. Instead, it’s a never-ending cycle of punishment, lectures, and my mother sighing like she regrets ever giving birth to me.

And to be honest? I get it.

I’m reckless, stubborn, and apparently ‘unfit for a lady of noble blood.’ At least, that’s what my father says every time I get into trouble, which, to be fair, is often.

Like today, for example.

“Aria!” My mother’s voice echoes through the halls. “What did you do this time?”

I groan and roll over in bed, stuffing a pillow over my head. “Mother, why do you always assume I did something?”

There’s a pause. Then, in a very dry tone, she says, “Experience.”

Okay, fair point.

Before I can defend myself, my bedroom door swings open. My mother, the Luna, walks in, her long hair pulled into a regal braid, her piercing eyes scanning me like a disappointed queen.

She crosses her arms. “Well?”

I sit up and blink at her. “Could you be more specific? Because, honestly, there’s a long list of things I could be in trouble for.”

She sighs. “Your father is furious.”

“What else is new?” I mutter under my breath.

She ignores that and continues, “You nearly got yourself killed last night.”

I perk up. “Ohhh, so it’s about that.”

Her eyebrow twitches.

Look, in my defense, I did technically do something heroic. Last night, an intruder breached our territory, a rogue, wild and foaming at the mouth, clearly out of his mind. He attacked one of our border guards, and before I even thought about it, I blasted him with my power.

It was…well, kind of awesome.

The guy was thrown ten feet back, unconscious. I mean, he was going to kill someone, so I had no choice. But instead of being impressed, my father nearly had a heart attack.

“What were you thinking?” he had roared last night.

And honestly? I had no answer.

I wasn’t thinking. I just…reacted.

Mother sits on the edge of my bed, rubbing her temples. “Your father is convinced you’re going to get yourself killed before your hundred birthday.”

I shrug. “I mean, he’s not wrong.”

She glares.

I cough. “I mean, he’s totally wrong! I was fine. Barely even got a scratch.”

Her expression softens slightly. “I was proud of you, you know.”

I blink. “Wait. What?”

She gives me a small, secret smile. “You protected your pack, Aria. You were brave. But…” She sighs. “You know I can’t say that in front of your father.”

I groan. “Of course not. That would ruin his whole ‘Aria is a disaster’ narrative.”

Mother chuckles but quickly schools her face back to neutrality. “Just…try not to make it worse today, alright?”

I grin. “Define ‘worse.’”

She narrows her eyes.

I hop off my bed, stretching. “Relax, Mother. I’m just going to go see Father.”

She freezes. “For what?”

“To tell him I want to be the next Alpha.”

Everywhere went silence, that you can hear a pin if it drops on the floor.

Mother stares at me like I just declared I was running away to become a rogue.

“…Aria.” Her voice is seductively calm. “Have you lost your mind?”

I grin. “Nope! Just finally using it.”

And with that, I skip out of my room, leaving my poor mother behind to mentally prepare for the chaos that’s about to unfold.

  Walking into my father’s office always feels like walking into enemy territory. The air is thick with authority, the walls lined with ancient books, war maps, and weapons that have seen way too much blood.

Alpha Lysander sits behind his massive wooden desk, his glassy eyes narrowing the second he sees me.

“What now?” he grumbles.

I plop down in the chair across from him, propping my feet up on his desk. “So. I’ve decided I’m going to be the next Alpha.”

He was silent for few seconds.

He grips his pen so hard it snaps in half.

I blink. “Wow. Didn’t even take you a full ten seconds to break something. Impressive.”

His eye twitches.

“Aria.” His voice is dangerously low. “Do you have a death wish?”

“Not today, no.” I grin. “But thanks for asking.”

He rubs his temples, muttering something about his blood pressure.

“I’m serious, Father,” I say, leaning forward. “I don’t want to be some Alpha’s Luna. I want to be the Alpha.”

He finally looks at me, his gaze sharp as a blade. “You know that’s not how it works.”

“Yeah, yeah, tradition and all that crap,” I wave my hand. “But who says I can’t be the first female Alpha of Silver Moon?”

He glares. “Our pack has never…”

“Well, maybe it’s time we change that.”

His jaw clenches. “You have no idea what it takes to lead, Aria.”

I smirk. “Neither do half the power-hungry idiots you force me to train with, but you’re fine letting them have a shot.”

A vein pops in his forehead. “Aria.”

“Yes, dearest Father?”

His eye twitches harder. “Get. Out.”

I salute. “Aye, aye, Alpha.”

As I stand to leave, I catch a glimpse of Mother peeking from the doorway, covering her mouth to hide a laugh.

Well. At least someone is entertained.