Chapter 3

The cheers for Alyssa began to fade as the Alpha descended from the podium, his face impassive, betraying no emotion. As he neared Seraphine, his eyes flicked toward her—just for a moment, cold and devoid of warmth. To him, she was nothing more than a stranger.

The Alpha’s mind wandered back to the day Seraphine was born, the same day her mother had died. He remembered standing outside the room, hearing his beloved take her last breath. When Seraphine, the crying newborn, was placed in his arms, he had felt nothing but emptiness.

“This child,” he had thought bitterly, “took her life.”

Since that moment, he had distanced himself from Seraphine, unable to love the daughter who had brought him so much pain. Over the years, his indifference only deepened, and now, as he passed her, he felt nothing.

He turned away from her without a word, his focus once again on Alyssa, the pack’s favored daughter. As he returned to his seat, the pack’s anticipation shifted to the elder who stepped forward, his voice thick with history as he recited the prophecy: A chosen one, blessed by the Moon Goddess, will lead the pack into a new era.

The elder’s chant filled the hall, calling upon the Moon Goddess to reveal the leader. The air thickened with magic, and all eyes turned to Alyssa. She stood tall, basking in the attention, her confidence unshaken.

Pack members whispered among themselves.

“She’s the chosen one,” a wolf murmured.

“The Moon Goddess will bless her tonight,” another added.

Seraphine stood at the edge of the room, hearing every word. The admiration for Alyssa swirled around her, drowning out any hope she might have felt. Alyssa had always been the pack’s golden child, while Seraphine had lived in the shadows. Now, it seemed the prophecy would confirm what everyone already believed.

Suddenly, as the elder’s chant intensified, Alyssa’s body began to shift. Her wolf form emerged—massive, shimmering in silver and midnight blue, with eyes glowing a brilliant gold. The crowd gasped, awe spreading through the room.

“It’s the ancient warrior wolf,” one elder whispered in reverence. “The Moon Goddess’s chosen.”

Alyssa’s wolf stood triumphant, exuding power. The Alpha, finally showing emotion, declared her the chosen one. The pack erupted in cheers, howling their approval. But amid the celebration, Seraphine stood in the shadows, unnoticed, her heart heavy with disappointment.

“She actually thought she had a chance,” someone sneered, their voice carrying through the room.

Laughter rippled through the hall, cruel and mocking.

“She’s nothing compared to Alyssa,” another wolf scoffed.

Seraphine’s face remained neutral, though each word struck her like a blow. She had grown used to the jeers, the constant reminder that she was nothing to her pack. She took a deep breath, willing herself to remain composed. But just as she prepared to slip away into the background, something extraordinary happened.

The moonlight outside intensified, flooding the hall with an ethereal silver glow. The torches flickered, then extinguished entirely, leaving the moon as the sole source of light. The room fell into stunned silence.

“What’s happening?” a pack member whispered, nervousness creeping into their voice.

The light grew brighter, pulsing with life. To everyone’s shock, it began to gather—not around Alyssa, but around Seraphine.

Seraphine felt the warmth of the light wrapping around her, powerful and ancient. The crowd gasped, their excitement turning to disbelief.

“She’s glowing,” someone muttered, their voice trembling.

Alyssa, in her majestic wolf form, blinked in confusion, stepping back in uncertainty. The Alpha, rising to his feet, stared at Seraphine in shock. “This can’t be…” he murmured.

The elder who had led the ritual stammered, “The prophecy... was it incomplete?”

Seraphine stood still, the moonlight enveloping her like a mantle. She felt a deep connection to something beyond herself, as if the Moon Goddess had reached down to touch her. The pack stared, unable to comprehend what was unfolding.

“Is she the real chosen one?” a voice whispered in disbelief.

Alyssa bared her teeth, growling in frustration. But Seraphine didn’t react. She stood tall, serene, the light of the moon casting her in an otherworldly glow. The pack, once so certain of Alyssa’s destiny, now watched Seraphine in awe.

The Alpha, his voice uncertain for the first time, commanded, “Everyone, remain calm!”

But the pack’s confusion deepened. They had witnessed something undeniable—Seraphine, the girl they had dismissed and mocked, was glowing with the blessing of the Moon Goddess.

In that moment, as the light of the moon pulsed around her, Seraphine knew that no matter what anyone had believed, the Moon Goddess had made her choice. And the pack’s world would never be the same again.