Chapter 8

Damon leaned against his desk, running a hand through his hair as he looked out the windows of his room. The moonlight streamed in, casting shadows across the room, intensifying the haunted look in his eyes. Caleb, his beta and closest friend, stood by the door, waiting patiently for the Alpha King to speak.

Damon’s voice was a low murmur. “Caleb, I need you to find her.”

Caleb's brow furrowed in concern. “The woman in your dreams?”

Damon’s jaw tightened, and he nodded. “She’s not just in my dreams, Caleb. She’s… real. Every detail is vivid, like it happened yesterday. I need you to investigate that night. Find out who set it up, and where she went afterward.”

Caleb shifted, crossing his arms thoughtfully. “That night? The one where…” He paused, searching for the right words, but Damon cut him off.

“Yes, the night I was framed.” Damon’s voice was cold, tinged with barely concealed anger. “The one that left my reputation in pieces and took away any chance I had at choosing my own path. But somehow, she’s still there, in my dreams, like she’s calling out to me.”

Caleb nodded slowly. “You think someone orchestrated that night to trap you? To keep you from claiming power on your terms?”

Damon's eyes hardened. “That’s exactly what I think. There’s no other explanation for why I can’t remember her face or any detail of her life—except that night. I only remember her presence and…” His voice trailed off, his mind drifting to the faint memory of her warmth, her scent, her touch.

Caleb spoke with determination. “I’ll start digging. If someone’s trying to cover their tracks, I’ll find them.”

Damon gave him a firm nod. “I knew I could count on you, Caleb. I need to know everything—who she was, where she went, and why the hell she’s still haunting me.”

Caleb turned to leave, casting one last glance over his shoulder. “I’ll keep you updated, Alpha.”

As the door clicked shut, Damon leaned back against the cold glass, looking out into the night. His chest felt tight, his mind swirling with memories and shadows of a past he couldn’t fully grasp.

Each night, her image had grown sharper, more real. He could almost feel her warmth, hear the soft melody of her laugh, a sound that sent shivers down his spine, and yet, he couldn’t place her face. The dreams had intensified lately, and every time he awoke, it felt as though a part of him had been left behind, longing, reaching.

But there was one thing Damon was certain of—he didn’t want any mate chosen by the pack or by tradition. He didn’t want anyone but her.

****

Inside the grand stone hall of the Moon Claw pack, Alyssa paced in frustration, her boots echoing sharply on the polished floors. Her mother, Morganna, watched her with a mixture of irritation and pride. They were waiting for Alpha kael, Alyssa's father and the pack's leader. The torches on the walls flickered, casting shadows across their faces as Morganna finally broke the silence.

"How can your father even consider allowing Seraphine to lead?” Morganna seethed, her eyes flashing. “A girl who came from nothing, with no proper bloodline, no respect for tradition. It’s an insult to all we’ve built.”

Alyssa stopped pacing, her jaw clenched. “Mother, believe me, I’ve told him everything—how weak she is, how she doesn’t belong here. But he insists that she has some divine right just because of that moon mark. It’s absurd.”

At that moment, Alpha kael entered, his commanding presence filling the room. He cast a stern glance at his wife and daughter, clearly aware of the topic at hand. He folded his arms, his gaze cool and steady.

Morganna was the first to speak, her voice laced with barely concealed anger. “kael, how can you stand by while that girl prances around as if she’s some chosen one? She doesn’t have the strength or the experience Alyssa does. She has no right to the position of heir.”

Kael held up his hand, silencing her. “Enough, Morganna. I’ve heard this from you and Alyssa all week. The Moon Goddess made her choice; I won’t defy it without reason.”

Alyssa stepped forward, her voice brimming with indignation. “Father, I am the best choice for heir. I’ve trained my whole life for this! Seraphine doesn’t understand what it takes to lead, to fight, to protect our pack. She’s nothing but a mistake.”

Alpha kael’s face hardened. “Alyssa, you forget yourself. Seraphine may not have been born to this, but the Moon Goddess marked her. Whatever power or purpose lies within her, it’s something beyond us, and it’s my duty to respect it.”

Morganna’s eyes flashed with anger. “You’re willing to risk the entire pack for some ‘sign’?” She lowered her voice, her tone deadly. “She’s weak, kael, and you know it. If we’re attacked, do you truly think she’ll protect us?”

Kael held his gaze. “Morganna, Seraphine’s power is different, but it doesn’t mean it’s weak. And this is my decision as Alpha.”

Alyssa’s voice quivered with resentment. “Then you’re choosing her over your own family.”

Kael looked at Alyssa, his expression softening. “I’m choosing the pack’s future, Alyssa. You may not see it now, but the path of leadership is more than just strength—it’s trust, it’s unity. Seraphine has a spirit that resonates with the pack in a way that’s hard to ignore and also don't forget she is my daughter.”

Morganna took Alyssa’s hand, squeezing it tightly. “Then know this, kael: if you allow her to lead, you’re putting this entire pack at risk. Don’t be surprised when your precious choice leads us to ruin.”

Kael’s face showed a flash of hurt, but he remained resolute. “Then I hope, for all our sakes, that you’re wrong.” With that, he turned on his heel, leaving Morganna and Alyssa stewing in their resentment, the rift between them and Seraphine deepening.