CHAPTER 3

ILANA.

The Blood Moon Festival came five days too early. On the third evening, the moon bathed its eerie, crimson glow over the Nightshade Pack. This was an event rarely experienced and considered by the pack to be a sign from the Moon Goddess, hastening the fate of two destined mates. The pack was in an uproar of joyful frenzy. The whole of the pack square hummed with excitement, as though even the air vibrated in anticipation.

I faltered at the door to Rana's small cabin and brushed off invisible lint from the pale blue dress that Rana had lent me for tonight. "Rana, are you sure about this?" I asked, trying to keep the nerves from edging my voice.

My cousin, my best friend, rolled her eyes as she tugged my arm. "Absolutely! Come on, Ilana, don't be such a stick in the mud. The Moon Goddess might have something special planned for you tonight. You'll never know if you stay cooped up in here."

"Me? Special? You know that's impossible," I muttered, laughing lightly. I was human, after all-a mere speck compared to the werewolves that filled the pack. Being picked out by the Moon Goddess was the stuff of fantasy. Yet, I let Rana drag me along, my reluctance melting in the warmth of my cousin's enthusiasm.

As we reached the pack square, I was taken aback. The place had been transformed into a vibrant celebration: twinkling fairy lights hung from trees, glowing in colors of deep crimson and silver. Booths full of food and drinks lined the edges, their aromas-spicy, savory, sweet-blending together in harmony. Children darted around, the sound of their laughter spilling from their lips, while the older crowd swayed to the beat of an upbeat tune played by a live band on a makeshift stage. The square vibrated with the pulsating spirit of rejoicing.

"This is amazing," I whispered, my earlier hesitation now filled with wonder.

Rana grinned, taking my hand and pulling me towards the center of the square. "Told you! Now come on, let's dance!"

We two began to twirl and sway to the music, our movements guided by a carefree rhythm. I don't think I'd ever been so carefree or as happy in my entire life. The air around us was filled with chuckles and applause as couples swung to the beat of the song in time. For a moment, I felt as if I belonged and found the missing piece that always tried to fit in, yet it had the wrong puzzle. This was the correct puzzle.

Then, as the moon reached its apex and bathed the square in its crimson light, everything changed.

The air stilled, thick with charged energy, and sent the hairs on my arms standing on end. A hush fell over the crowd and was then punctuated by the occasional gasp as wolves began finding their mates. The sound of joyful howls erupted one by one, echoing into the night like a symphony of fate.

I froze midspin, my breath catching in my throat. Gooseflesh prickled my skin as an odd warmth unfolded in my chest. I felt like I had an invisible string tied around my waist, yanking me forward. I spun instinctively, my eyes scouring the crowd.

"What's wrong?" Rana asked, alarm tinging her voice.

"I…" I trailed off, my gaze locking onto a pair of piercing silver eyes across the square. The man they belonged to stood tall, his broad shoulders and commanding presence making him impossible to ignore. His jet-black hair gleamed under the moonlight, and the intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down my spine.

Rana followed my line of sight, her jaw dropping. "No way," she breathed. "Ilana, do you feel it? The bond?"

My feet moved of their own accord, drawing me closer to the man. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the pull I felt. "I think so," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the distant howls.

Rana clutched at my arm, arresting my progress. Her voice was barely a whisper, shaking in a mix of awe and disbelief. "Ilana… that's Alpha Lysander."

The name hit me like a ton of bricks. I stood still, wide-eyed, snapping to Rana. "What?"

Rana nodded, a slow gesture, her face caught between amazement and apprehension. "The Alpha. That's him. And it seems he's your mate."

---

I froze, my heart pounding as my mind struggled to comprehend what my senses and Rana was telling me. Alpha Lysander. My mate.

The most powerful, feared, and ruthless Alpha in existence. The Moon Goddess had paired me—a mere human—with him.

It could not be, and yet it had to be-For an instant, a spasm of incredulous unbelief shook me. Yet, the mate bond pulsed, insistent, denying doubt, and thus it pulled me after itself, urging me forward in some unseen way. I stepped out, my legs faltering, then another.

Across the square, Lysander mirrored my movements. His piercing silver eyes locked onto mine, their intensity making me feel exposed. The air between us crackled, heavy with a charged energy that sent shivers down my spine.

When we met in the middle, it felt as though the world had stopped. Around us, the crowd went silent, a hushed reverence falling over the festival. All eyes were on us.

My breath hitched. I'd heard so many stories about him: Alpha Lysander Nightshade, leader of the largest and most fearsome pack. And now, before me, he stood, his eyes ablaze.

He was the first to break the silence, his voice low and husky. "You're human."

It wasn't a question, but she nodded. "Yes."

His jaw clenching, for an instant, something flickered within his eyes, maybe a flash of pain or the weight of regret. Yet it was gone too fast to quite place.

"What's your name?" he asked without inflection, like words pained him to push out.

"Ilana Woods," I replied back softly, my voice low and shaking.

He stared at me, his gaze raking over me as if committing me to memory. His hands, large and powerful, curled into fists at his sides. The tension in his posture was palpable, like a tightly coiled spring.

For one brief, fleeting moment, I allowed myself to hope. But then his features hardened, and the warmth in his eyes turned cold.

Lysander took a small step back, his broad shoulders stiffening. His next words came out clipped and harsh, each syllable hitting me like a blow.

"I, Lysander Nightshade, hereby reject you, Ilana Woods, from being my destined mate."

The words slammed into me, and an unbearable pain erupted in my chest. I doubled over in pain as the ma

te bond itself was ripped apart, leaving behind a gaping, bleeding wound.