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•Chapter 5•

Penulis: Deborah Myers
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-03-28 10:24:59

Ashley

Like an iron cage, the Mating Ceremony loomed over me, its grandeur only emphasizing my impending fate and doom.

The entire pack had gathered, elders and warriors alike, along with visiting wolves from other packs. The air buzzed with an anxious energy, a stark contrast to the suffocating dread rising in my chest like a wave.

Inside the dressing chamber where I waited to be called upon, I fastened the intricate waist chain around my ceremonial gown, the weight of my expensive cloak pressing on my shoulders. Outside, four high-ranking warriors stood guard. Four. As if I were a high-value prisoner rather than a former warrior stripped of my wolf and status.

Carina stormed in, her expression twisted with malice. Her gaze flickered over my attire, and jealousy darkened her eyes. She dressed so much like me that at first glance, it was hard to tell who the real Luna was.

"Do you feel proud of yourself?” she sneered, stepping closer. "Better not get too overconfident, because I'll make sure you remember who the real Luna is."

I’m pretty sure Carina has no idea that I’m just her substitute. Otherwise, she wouldn’t even bother targeting me. She’s too proud for that—she usually acted like I didn’t exist, even after I got together with Jace. But everything shifted the moment Jace showed signs of wanting to marry me.

With a vicious smirk, she yanked the scarf from my neck, revealing the bruised fingerprints Elder Joseph had left behind. A grotesque reminder of how close I had come to death.

“Hm. A damn shame,” she murmured, before releasing a small chuckle and spinning on her heel before strutting out. “He should have finished the job.”

Exhaling sharply, I turned to face the ceremonial altar. It was a breathtaking sight, adorned with flowers and gleaming gold. Yet all I saw was a stage set for my destruction.

Jace approached, his touch deceptively gentle as he led me toward the Moon Goddess statue at the front of the hall, which overlooked everyone. I knew better, though. His grip was firm, unyielding. The moment he marked me, I would be bound to him, stripped of any remaining freedom.

Yes. Part of this unifying ceremony was the fact that he was also going to mark me. To publicly lay claim to me.

“Oh, Jace . . . !" There Carina was, reaching for Jace from the line of seated guests. “Jace, help me . . .” She shakily stood to her feet, drawing everyone's attention, before pressing her hand to her forehead.

I had never found Carina's voice so sweet before. Her old trick again.

I watched Jace, waiting for him to abandon the ritual as he always had before because of Carina.

But this time was different.

He hesitated only briefly before giving a sharp nod to his right-hand. Lucas, ever obedient, carried Carina away as she cast Jace a tearful, disbelieving look. Like she couldn't believe her eyes.

My stomach twisted with disappointment. I need chaos—something that will let me escape to the border where Lucas promised to let me go.

The ceremony continued without hitches, and soon after, we reached the main crux of the event. The marking itself.

Jace’s breath was warm against my skin as he lowered his lips toward my neck. Coming closer and closer with every passing second.

A crazy plan was already forming in my head. An escape plan, or at best, a plan for the purpose of rebellion. I wasn't going to go gently.

“Wait!” A commanding voice cut through the tension. “I believe Miss Ashley has a better option—one that will truly help her grow.”

He was Alpha Henry, leader of a neighbouring pack. I had met him once during a joint operation. He was from Jace’s father’s generation, a seasoned Alpha whose reputation was built on blood and victory. If our old Alpha hadn’t died in battle, Jace wouldn’t have been forced to take over so soon.

I suspected this was the plot that was meant to unfold. The plan that Jace had told me about earlier.

Tension crackled in the air as the two alphas faced off. Henry, though much older, carried an air of dominance that came from years of hard-won experience. His gaze was sharp, his stance unshaken.

“Let her go, Jace.” His voice was firm, almost condescending. “I don’t want to hurt you. You are, after all, Luca and Elena’s son. We want the same thing.”

Jace’s jaw clenched. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His voice was low, steady, but the way he emphasized our and my left no doubt about his claim. “Ashley grew up in our pack. She has always been my mate.”

A murmur spread through the gathered wolves. They couldn’t hear the alphas’ hushed words, but the tension alone had them on edge. To them, this wasn’t just a ceremony anymore—it was a spectacle.

A fight for possession.

The moment the Alphas turned on each other, their dominant auras clashing in silent battle, I felt the shift in the air. I tensed up, my muscles locking in place.

Jace’s refusal to yield darkened Henry’s expression. His patience snapped.

Henry lunged first. Jace met his attack head-on, shifting mid-air, their massive wolf forms colliding with a thunderous crash.

The battle erupted in full force. Chaos spread, wolves scattering as the Alphas clashed, their raw power sending tremors through the ground.

No one was watching me.

Slipping into the shadows at the edge of the hall, I dashed toward the nearby forest, hoping to spot Lucas.

Then, the stench of blood and chaotic wolf aura hit me so powerfully that I was disoriented for a moment.

A rough hand clamped around my arm like a vise.

Rogues. How could it be rogues again?

I didn’t hesitate. Twisting my wrist, I drove my free fist upward, striking true. But the Rogue was stronger. His grip tightened before he staggered, barely hindered by my attack.

I fought, kicking, slicing, but I was outnumbered. My limbs were wrenched back, a rope binding my wrists. Then, with brutal efficiency, they lifted me over a broad shoulder.

No! Not again.

The sounds of the battle faded as they carried me outside toward the end of the forest.

Something felt off. They weren’t in a hurry, moving at a steady pace as if they had no fear of being caught by the wolves.

I forced myself to stay calm, to conserve my strength. But the creeping sense of dread gnawed at me, growing heavier with every second.

Then, they stopped.

I was thrown to the ground. The impact jarred my body, but I gritted my teeth and pushed myself up, my legs trembling beneath me.

Beta Lucas stood in front of me, rigid and imposing. A second figure stood a short distance away, his back turned to me—familiar, yet unrecognizable in this moment.

“Why didn’t you tell me the plan changed?” I demanded, keeping my voice steady despite the sickening weight in my chest. “I didn’t expect there’re rogues.”

A cold sneer cut through the air. “You’re too naive,” he scoffed. “"You think I wanted you dead? No—we wanted to strip you of your wolf. Someone as useful as you… did you really think we'd ever let you go?”

His words hit like a slap. My mind reeled, struggling to process them. So it was all part of a plan—to strip me of my wolf… Even the rogues had been nothing more than their pawns!

I glanced toward the figure ahead of me, my pulse hammering. And then, as if sensing my gaze, he turned.

Jace.

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  • The Stand-In Luna   •Chapter 1•

    Ashley The day everything changed for the worse started like any other morning. As the strongest warrior of the Moonlit Silver Pack, I led my team through the northwest border, with my muscles tense and my senses sharp. I was doing all of this not because I wanted to, but because even if Jace and I weren’t officially mates yet, I had already stepped into the role of Luna. Also because, deep down, I did it for him. Always for him. My team and I pushed through the woods, but in a flash, they were gone. So quickly that I didn't even notice when all I could sense around me was the quiet, eerie air of the forest. My heart pounded in my chest as I spun around, looking for them. But all I could find were more trees, grass and earth. No bodies. No faces. A tree branch crunched nearby, and I frantically turned to the source of the noise, ready to fight if the situation required it. But what I saw instead turned my blood ice cold. Five—no—six Rogues emerged from the trees, their grins

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28
  • The Stand-In Luna   •Chapter 2•

    Ashley I repeated my words without hesitation. "I want us to break up. Please. Reject me." My voice trembled, and sounded raw even to my own ears. The pain in my heart was pouring out of me like a flood.Jace's expression darkened. His jaw tightened, fingers twitching at his sides like he was holding himself from doing something dangerous. "No." His voice was low, a growl laced with finality. "Don’t even think about it." The Alpha Command slammed into me like invisible chains, locking my body in place. I couldn't even get a full breath out because of how heavy the words were. "I already told the elders about our mate bonding ceremony and have prepared to invite all the neighboring packs. Soon, you'll be the pack’s Luna. No one else can take that place." His voice left no room for argument. His grip on my wrists tightened, his warmth searing against my skin."I know I wasn’t enough before, I know I haven't always been here, where I belong," he murmured, almost desperate. "Bu

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28
  • The Stand-In Luna   •Chapter 3•

    Ashley The joy of Jace's earlier proposal felt like nothing but a cruel joke. "What about my arm?" My voice trembled, but I refused to back down. "This happened because I was trying to stop her from getting hurt.” Jace’s gaze flickered to the blood pooling at my feet. For a moment, he hesitated. Then, releasing Carina, he rushed to my side. His hands cradled my injured arm with a gentleness that made my chest tighten. "I’m . . . sorry, my dear." His voice softened, full of regret. "I’m just so used to worrying about Carina. I didn't mean to lash out at you." Carina shot me a glare of pure resentment before storming out. But Jace didn’t chase after her—he was waiting for my response. Once, his apology would have reassured me. But now, I was just tired. Tired of being an afterthought. Tired of always being overlooked and neglected. "I know you and Carina have nothing going on, but you needed to hear the things she said to me before you got here." I met his gaze, searching for an

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28
  • The Stand-In Luna   •Chapter 4•

    Ashley I couldn't get away from the door fast enough, before I was grabbed and dragged into the hall. With a single jab to my back, I was forced to my knees before the Elders, Jace and the prisoner. I tried to fight it off but I wasn’t strong enough. Elder Joseph was quick to speak. “Kill her. We can’t risk this getting out. Keeping her around at this point is more of a risk.” He got up from his seat and came over to me. His cold eyes watched me like a hawk, assessing my every move. I was completely helpless—my limbs bound, my mouth gagged. He knelt down and pressed his hands into my throat, with the clear intent of ending my life. Panic surged within me as I struggled for breath. My eyes started to roll back into my head and the edges of my vision started to darken. All I could think about was how Jace, who I had trusted, was watching while I was getting strangled to death. “I agree. She’s just an orphan. She’s already served her purpose,” another elder chimed. “Getting rid of

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28

Bab terbaru

  • The Stand-In Luna   •Chapter 5•

    AshleyLike an iron cage, the Mating Ceremony loomed over me, its grandeur only emphasizing my impending fate and doom. The entire pack had gathered, elders and warriors alike, along with visiting wolves from other packs. The air buzzed with an anxious energy, a stark contrast to the suffocating dread rising in my chest like a wave.Inside the dressing chamber where I waited to be called upon, I fastened the intricate waist chain around my ceremonial gown, the weight of my expensive cloak pressing on my shoulders. Outside, four high-ranking warriors stood guard. Four. As if I were a high-value prisoner rather than a former warrior stripped of my wolf and status.Carina stormed in, her expression twisted with malice. Her gaze flickered over my attire, and jealousy darkened her eyes. She dressed so much like me that at first glance, it was hard to tell who the real Luna was."Do you feel proud of yourself?” she sneered, stepping closer. "Better not get too overconfident, because I'll m

  • The Stand-In Luna   •Chapter 4•

    Ashley I couldn't get away from the door fast enough, before I was grabbed and dragged into the hall. With a single jab to my back, I was forced to my knees before the Elders, Jace and the prisoner. I tried to fight it off but I wasn’t strong enough. Elder Joseph was quick to speak. “Kill her. We can’t risk this getting out. Keeping her around at this point is more of a risk.” He got up from his seat and came over to me. His cold eyes watched me like a hawk, assessing my every move. I was completely helpless—my limbs bound, my mouth gagged. He knelt down and pressed his hands into my throat, with the clear intent of ending my life. Panic surged within me as I struggled for breath. My eyes started to roll back into my head and the edges of my vision started to darken. All I could think about was how Jace, who I had trusted, was watching while I was getting strangled to death. “I agree. She’s just an orphan. She’s already served her purpose,” another elder chimed. “Getting rid of

  • The Stand-In Luna   •Chapter 3•

    Ashley The joy of Jace's earlier proposal felt like nothing but a cruel joke. "What about my arm?" My voice trembled, but I refused to back down. "This happened because I was trying to stop her from getting hurt.” Jace’s gaze flickered to the blood pooling at my feet. For a moment, he hesitated. Then, releasing Carina, he rushed to my side. His hands cradled my injured arm with a gentleness that made my chest tighten. "I’m . . . sorry, my dear." His voice softened, full of regret. "I’m just so used to worrying about Carina. I didn't mean to lash out at you." Carina shot me a glare of pure resentment before storming out. But Jace didn’t chase after her—he was waiting for my response. Once, his apology would have reassured me. But now, I was just tired. Tired of being an afterthought. Tired of always being overlooked and neglected. "I know you and Carina have nothing going on, but you needed to hear the things she said to me before you got here." I met his gaze, searching for an

  • The Stand-In Luna   •Chapter 2•

    Ashley I repeated my words without hesitation. "I want us to break up. Please. Reject me." My voice trembled, and sounded raw even to my own ears. The pain in my heart was pouring out of me like a flood.Jace's expression darkened. His jaw tightened, fingers twitching at his sides like he was holding himself from doing something dangerous. "No." His voice was low, a growl laced with finality. "Don’t even think about it." The Alpha Command slammed into me like invisible chains, locking my body in place. I couldn't even get a full breath out because of how heavy the words were. "I already told the elders about our mate bonding ceremony and have prepared to invite all the neighboring packs. Soon, you'll be the pack’s Luna. No one else can take that place." His voice left no room for argument. His grip on my wrists tightened, his warmth searing against my skin."I know I wasn’t enough before, I know I haven't always been here, where I belong," he murmured, almost desperate. "Bu

  • The Stand-In Luna   •Chapter 1•

    Ashley The day everything changed for the worse started like any other morning. As the strongest warrior of the Moonlit Silver Pack, I led my team through the northwest border, with my muscles tense and my senses sharp. I was doing all of this not because I wanted to, but because even if Jace and I weren’t officially mates yet, I had already stepped into the role of Luna. Also because, deep down, I did it for him. Always for him. My team and I pushed through the woods, but in a flash, they were gone. So quickly that I didn't even notice when all I could sense around me was the quiet, eerie air of the forest. My heart pounded in my chest as I spun around, looking for them. But all I could find were more trees, grass and earth. No bodies. No faces. A tree branch crunched nearby, and I frantically turned to the source of the noise, ready to fight if the situation required it. But what I saw instead turned my blood ice cold. Five—no—six Rogues emerged from the trees, their grins

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