Chapter 10

~Ryan~

The blessing was bullshit. A show. A well-rehearsed, well-polished formality. Nothing more.

Zaphyr stood before us, as imposing as ever, his voice thick with authority as he spoke the sacred words.

"May the Moon watch over you both, may your union strengthen the pack, and may your bond remain unshaken."

I bowed my head. Because I had to. Because that was the way things were done. Tradition pressed down on me like a weight I couldn’t shake.

Crystal was smiling. Beaming. Had been all damn night. Fingertips grazing my arm, a subtle, constant reminder—mine mine mine. As if she needed to tell them. As if I didn’t already know what this was.

The pack watched, murmuring, pleased. Everything neat. Everything as expected. The Alpha’s stepdaughter bound to me. Ties tightened. Alliances secured.

Done.

Or at least, it should have been.

But something—someone—was pulling at me.

Ellie.

She hadn’t said much. But when she had, her voice had shaken.

Not in fear. Not in sadness.

Rage.

Thick and hot and undeniable.

It filled the space between us, heavy like an oncoming storm, and no one wanted to acknowledge it. No one dared.

And the way she looked at me—

Wide-eyed. Stunned. Betrayed.

Like I had taken a blade and driven it straight between her ribs. Like I had twisted it, then watched her bleed.

It unsettled me.

It shouldn’t have.

I knew she’d be upset. Of course she’d be upset. I had prepared for it. She was young, reckless, too emotional for her own good.

But still—

I couldn’t shake the feeling.

That pull. That need to understand.

Why the fuck was she affecting me like this?

There was only one way to find out.

She had to come with me.

Time moved too fast. Last words. Last goodbyes. Warriors mounting up. Horses waiting.

I scanned the crowd.

Ellie wasn’t there.

Frown.

I had expected a fight, sure. Maybe a glare. A final stand, a few last bitter words.

But she hadn’t even shown up?

"Crystal."

She turned quickly, eyes lighting up, expecting something else entirely.

"Call Ellie."

Pause. Expression faltering.

"Why?"

"I want everyone present."

Lie.

She hesitated, fingers twitching. I waited. Eventually, she nodded and turned away, her posture stiff, movements sharp.

The air was already heavy, but it thickened when I spoke.

"There’s one last thing."

Silence.

Stillness.

Every head turned toward me.

Waiting.

Watching.

"I will be taking Ellie with me."

The reaction was instant.

Sharp. Immediate.

The crowd shifted. A ripple of something moved through them, like the air had cracked open.

Beside me, Crystal stiffened. I felt it. Saw the way her hands curled into her dress. How her chest rose with a sharp inhale.

Zaphyr’s head snapped up.

"What?"

Not from Ellie.

From Zaphyr.

Actual shock flickered across his face.

Crystal’s reaction was just as telling. Her smile was gone. The practiced calm was slipping.

"Ryan, be reasonable." Zaphyr’s voice was steady, but there was an edge to it. "Ellie has never been outside this pack. This is unnecessary."

Unnecessary.

Not wrong.

Not unacceptable.

Just… unnecessary.

Like that was his only problem with it.

Crystal stepped closer, careful, slow. Her fingers brushed against my wrist, but this time, it wasn’t a claim. It was a warning.

"You're taking me, Ryan," she murmured. "Not her. There’s no reason—"

"My decision is final."

Crystal inhaled sharply.

Zaphyr’s jaw tensed.

And Ellie?

Ellie hadn’t moved.

Hadn’t spoken.

She stood there, frozen, eyes locked onto mine.

Not angry. Not yelling.

Just—

Shocked.

Horrified.

Like she couldn’t even comprehend what I had just done.

I met her gaze. Held it.

I wasn’t changing my mind.

Not for Crystal.

Not for Zaphyr.

Not for anyone.

And Ellie?

She was coming with me.

Whether she wanted to or not.

~Ellie~

I barely felt my legs move as they led me to the horse.

I barely registered the hands guiding me up, the weight of the reins in my fingers, the warmth of the creature beneath me.

Everything felt wrong.

Like my body wasn’t mine.

Like I had been ripped from one nightmare and thrown into another before I could even wake up.

Ryan rode ahead, his posture unbothered, unaffected, untouched.

Crystal was beside him, her face carefully composed, but her eyes…

They flickered to me too often.

Not with concern. Not with pity.

With something else. Something sharp.

Something dangerous.

And me?

I just sat there.

Hands shaking.

Mind numb.

As my home disappeared behind me.

The ride was long.

Long enough for my body to ache.

Long enough for the numbness to settle in deep.

Long enough for the truth to hit me like a slow-burning poison.

I was gone.

I had left.

Or rather—

I had been taken.

By the time we reached the Star Raiders' pack, the sky had begun to darken, the last light of day stretching across the land in deep oranges and purples.

Then—

The gates opened.

And we stepped through.

And they bowed.

On either side of the path, in doorways, along the streets. Men, women, warriors, elders.

Bowing.

Not to me.

To him.

To their Alpha.

And to Crystal.

Their soon-to-be Luna.

My throat tightened.

I forced myself to focus on the castle in the distance—massive, looming, ancient. It sat at the heart of everything, carved from stone so dark it looked like it had been born from the night itself.

The air was thick.

With reverence.

With expectation.

With a power I did not belong to.

We rode all the way to the castle doors before Ryan finally dismounted.

Crystal followed, slow and graceful, like she had done this a thousand times.

I hesitated.

Just a second too long.

Then Ryan turned, stepping closer, his gaze settling on me.

"Get down."

The words were even. Not a command, not exactly, but not something I could ignore either.

I swallowed hard, my hands shaking as I swung one leg over and slid down.

The moment my boots hit the stone ground, my knees almost buckled.

And then—

Ryan’s hand was on my arm, steadying me.

Not kind.

Just… efficient.

Like he didn’t want me collapsing in front of everyone.

"This is Trevor."

I blinked.

Looked up.

A man stood beside him now, tall, broad, with sharp, intelligent eyes and an expression I couldn’t quite read.

"My Beta," Ryan continued.

Trevor dipped his head slightly.

And then, just as I was preparing for him to turn to Crystal, for him to acknowledge his Alpha’s chosen mate—

He looked at me.

And smiled.

"Welcome, my future Luna."

The world lurched.

Crystal stiffened.

Ryan said nothing.

And all I could do was stare.