Chapter 1

The air was filled with something I did not quite recognize, but it left an unsettling feeling in my heart.

Something was definitely wrong?

And I was sure of this, because my instinct told me so, not just because of the urgent gathering the alpha had called for which I had to attend to represent my parents.

I stood among the elders of the pack, feeling the tension in the air as we all gathered in the heart of the forest. 

The full moon illuminated the center, casting a silver glow on the towering trees and the moss-covered rocks that surrounded us. I could hear the rustling of leaves as the wind whispered through the branches above, while the earthy scent of the forest filled my nostrils.

Our Alpha, a tall and imposing figure with a thick mane of salt-and-pepper hair, finally stepped forward, his intense gaze sweeping over the crowd. 

His voice was deep and commanding as he began to speak. “Thank you all so much for gathering here at such short notice. I have called us out to discuss something very urgent and as well important.

Every day we keep getting more threats, and our enemies keep getting stronger, stronger than us. As much as we love a peaceful existence, we can’t deny that there are others out there who want to dominate our land.

And we can’t face them all on our own. So, I have made the decision, a hard one, to form an alliance with one of the strongest packs in the territory. The Crescent pack”

Everywhere grew silent and I almost gasped. The Crescent Pack? The all mighty crescent pack? Who does not know about the strongest pack in the kingdom?

An alliance with them has to be one of the best things ever.

Well done Alpha Killian.

Super smart move.

But the crescent pack had been our enemies for years now. Why this sudden unity?

He peered at our faces and continued

“The time has come for us to make a choice, my pack. As you know, we face a greater threat, one that can only be defeated through unity." The Alpha paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in.

Some of the pack members shifted uncomfortably, glancing at each other as they tried to gauge the reactions of their fellow wolves. I could feel their anxiety, and I shared it. It was never easy to unite with a rival pack, especially when so much bad blood lay between us.

An elderly warrior, his golden hair streaked with mud from a recent training session, raised his hand. "But Alpha, can we trust the other pack? They've been our enemies for generations. How can we be sure they won't betray us?"

The Alpha nodded, acknowledging the concern. "I understand your fears, but we must look beyond the past if we are to secure our future. We have received assurances from their Alpha, and we have agreed upon a way to solidify our alliance."

A murmur ran through the crowd as the pack members exchanged curious glances. The Alpha raised his hand, silencing the whispers. "To strengthen our alliance, we have decided to arrange a marriage between a member of our pack and a member of theirs."

My heart skipped a beat, and I could feel the shock ripple through the crowd. 

“I am to choose a suitable lady from the pack who will marry the Alpha’s only son. This marriage alliance will strengthen the unity and practically make us one”

Shit.

They had to choose?

Who would be chosen and how could we accept such sacrifice?

An elder, her eyes wise and her face lined with the weight of countless moons, stepped forward. "Alpha, we trust your judgment, but we must know who will be chosen for this alliance. This is no small sacrifice."

The Alpha looked out at the crowd, his eyes settling on me for a few seconds and my heartbeat raced.

“As I do not have a daughter, we must choose someone who is suitable for a future Alpha. Someone who can rule side by side to strengthen two packs. Someone who is strong-willed and kind hearted at the same time and can handle any sort of pressure”

The crowd broke into murmurs and I could hear whispers of my name which had me groaning.

Dear Lord please let this not be happening.

The Alpha turned to me with his face set

"Samantha, as one of our bravest and most loyal warriors, you have been chosen to represent our pack in this marriage."

My breath caught in my throat, and the world seemed to fall away. My mind raced with questions and fears, but I knew I couldn't let the pack down. I swallowed hard and nodded, accepting my fate. "I will do what is necessary for the pack, Alpha."

There was no way I could actually deny an order from the alpha. He says we do. Luckily, we have a very nice leader and he would never make us do unnecessary things.

But this was too much. 

As much as I wanted to protest, I bit my tongue hard.

An elder, Nairobi turned to me with a grin, “Congratulations Samantha. This is such an honor for you. To become the future Luna of Crescent? Your good heart has finally rewarded you”

I forced out a smile, “Thank you” 

An honor?

I get why they would think that and indeed it is an honor.

The Alpha nodded solemnly, and the pack members began to speak in hushed tones, discussing the life-changing decision that had just been made. I stood there, my heart pounding in my chest, trying to come to terms with the reality that my life was about to change forever.

“You are one of the rare ones Sam. I hope you understand why you are perfect for this.”

He peered into my face and I nodded carefully not to give out my emotions.

“Then it's settled. I will meet with the Alpha to finalize everything. The wedding ceremony will take place in exactly two weeks’ time.”

Two weeks? My eyes widened at that.

How was I supposed to marry someone I barely knew?

How was I supposed to marry someone else when my heart already belongs to another who ruined me?