EMBRACING THE FORSAKEN LUNA

“This can’t be happening,” I murmured, more to myself than to anyone else, as I stood in the middle of the grand hall. The heavy wooden doors had just slammed shut behind me, their echo lingering in the air like the finality of my fate. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat like a countdown to something inevitable, something I couldn’t yet grasp. My hands clenched at my sides, fingers digging into my palms, trying to ground myself in the moment. "Seraphina." His voice was low, almost a growl, but not from anger—at least not the kind I had grown accustomed to. No, this was different. There was something deeper, something more primal and terrifying, laced into his tone. I turned slowly, forcing myself to meet his eyes. Alpha Marcus Blackwood stood before me, every inch of him exuding the power and authority that had made him one of the most respected—and feared—leaders in our world. His eyes, normally a calm, stormy gray, were hard and unyielding now, like shards of ice cutting t

With a renewed sense of determination, I slipped the note into my desk drawer, hiding it under a stack of old letters. I would figure this out, no matter what it took. And I wasn’t going to let anyone scare me into silence.The night dragged on, each hour ticking by with agonizing slowness. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, theories, and fears, but no matter how much I turned it over, I couldn’t make sense of it. Who would want to keep me out of the investigation? And why?The more I thought about it, the more frustrated I became. The note was a clear threat, but it also felt like a challenge. As if someone was daring me to keep digging, to uncover the truth. And I wasn’t one to back down from a challenge.By the time the first light of dawn began to creep through the curtains, I had made up my mind. I was going to confront Marcus. I needed to know more about this prophecy, about why he had rejected me as Luna. Maybe there was something in the pack’s history that could shed light

As I stood there, watching Mara work to save the wolf’s life, I made a silent vow. I was going to find out who was behind this. I was going to put an end to these attacks, no matter what it took.But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were only just beginning to unravel a much larger, darker web of secrets.As I watched Mara’s hands move with frantic precision, a cold realization settled over me—I was no longer just a rejected Luna struggling to find my place in the pack. I was at the center of something far more dangerous, something that threatened not only me but everyone I cared about.“Lysa,” I whispered, turning to my best friend, who had been standing silently beside me. “We need to dig deeper into that book.There has to be more we’re missing. More about the curse, about the prophecy—something that can help us stop this.”Lysa nodded, her eyes filled with determination. “I’ll start searching through the library tonight. We can’t afford to waste any more time.”I g

Without a word, we followed the warrior out of the room, Rowan close behind us. As we rushed through the hallways of the packhouse, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were walking into a trap. But there was no time for second-guessing.When we reached the courtyard, my worst fears were confirmed. Lying in the center of the clearing was Rowan, his body crumpled and covered in blood. The sight of it made my breath catch in my throat.“No!” I screamed, rushing forward to kneel beside him. “What happened? Who did this?”But before anyone could answer, Rowan’s hand shot out, grabbing my wrist with a strength that belied his injuries. His eyes were wide, wild with pain and fear.“Alaric…” he rasped, his voice barely a whisper. “He’s coming… He knows…”His grip tightened, and I could see the desperation in his eyes. “You have to stop him… or we’re all… doomed.”With that, his hand fell limp, and his eyes closed as he slipped into unconsciousness. My heart pounded in my chest as I looked ar

The air in the packhouse was charged with tension as I paced back and forth, trying to piece together the fragments of information we had gathered. Rowan's disappearance had shaken everyone, especially after the trail of blood that led to nowhere. It was a stark reminder that the enemy was not only outside our walls but possibly within them as well.Gideon entered the room, his usual stoic expression hardened by worry. “Sera, we need to talk,” he said, his voice low and urgent.I stopped pacing and faced him, bracing myself for whatever news he had. “What is it?”“We've uncovered more information about Alaric Draven,” he began, walking over to the large map of our territory that hung on the wall. “It’s worse than we thought. He’s not just after revenge—he’s planning to dominate Silverwood, and he’s willing to use any means necessary.”I felt a cold knot form in my stomach. “Dominate? How?”Gideon’s expression was grim as he pointed to the outskirts of our territory on the map. “His