The Moon Chooses
They said the Moon only whispered once.
Every wolf waited their entire life for it.
Some spent decades praying to hear a name.
Others dreaded the silence.
Seren Ashwood belonged to neither.
She simply wished the Moon would forget she existed.
Snow drifted through the towering silver pines surrounding Ashwood Village, settling on rooftops and covering the earth like a white blanket. The entire village had gathered beneath the Moon Shrine, their faces lifted toward the glowing full moon that bathed the world in pale silver.
Tonight was the Night of Calling.
The oldest wolves stood closest to the altar, murmuring ancient prayers in a language so old few still understood it.
Seren stood at the back.
Always at the back.
She preferred it that way.
"You're hiding again."
Her best friend, Elian, nudged her shoulder.
"I call it surviving."
"You call everything surviving."
"It usually is."
He laughed.
"You know... maybe tonight your mate will finally appear."
Seren rolled her eyes.
"And maybe wolves will start laying eggs."
Before Elian could answer, silence swept through the crowd.
The High Priestess stepped onto the stone platform.
She raised both hands.
"The Moon listens."
Every wolf bowed.
"The Moon remembers."
Even the wind stopped.
"The Moon chooses."
One by one...
Names echoed through the valley.
"Cassian."
A young warrior gasped as his mate rushed into his arms.
"Liora."
Cheers erupted.
Another couple embraced, crying openly.
Hours passed.
Seren watched happiness bloom across dozens of faces.
Each whispered name stitched two lives together.
Then...
Nothing.
The priestess frowned.
Her silver eyes clouded.
The air suddenly became unbearably cold.
A strange pressure settled over everyone's shoulders.
The wolves began to whine.
Children clung to their parents.
The sacred fire burned blue.
The priestess staggered backward.
"No..."
The word barely escaped her lips.
"No... this cannot be."
She looked directly at Seren.
Every head turned.
Seren's stomach tightened.
"...Seren Ashwood."
The entire village stared.
The priestess's voice shook.
"The Moon has spoken."
She swallowed.
"Your mate is..."
Another pause.
Long enough to make Seren wish the earth would split open beneath her feet.
"...Kael Draven."
Silence.
Not ordinary silence.
The kind that suffocates.
Someone dropped a lantern.
It shattered against the frozen ground.
"No."
An elder whispered.
"It can't be."
"The Northern Alpha?"
"The future High Alpha?"
"The King's heir?"
Seren blinked.
"I think..."
She looked around.
"...you've mistaken me for someone important."
No one laughed.
The priestess slowly approached.
Her weathered hands trembled as she presented a sealed scroll bound with black wax.
"The Moon Summons."
Seren stared.
Only wolves chosen by destiny ever received one.
Only mates of ruling Alphas.
Only future Lunas.
"I don't want it."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
The priestess smiled sadly.
"Child..."
"You were never asked."
Three days later...
Seren stood at the edge of the Frozen Territories.
The Northern Kingdom rose before her like a fortress carved from ice itself.
Massive stone walls stretched toward snow-covered mountains.
Black banners bearing a silver wolf snapped in the wind.
Frosthold.
Home of Kale Draven.
The man fate insisted belonged to her.
Her horse snorted nervously.
"I know."
She patted its neck.
"I have a bad feeling too."
The gates groaned open.
A line of armored warriors emerged.
At their center stood a man dressed entirely in black fur and steel.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Dark hair dusted with snow.
His presence alone silenced the wind.
Golden wolf eyes met hers.
The bond struck like lightning.
It stole the air from her lungs.
Every instinct inside her screamed one word.
Mate.
Her wolf whimpered with joy.
His wolf...
Stayed completely silent.
Kael looked at her as though she were nothing more than another traveler seeking shelter from the cold.
No smile.
No warmth.
No recognition.
Then another woman stepped from behind him.
She slipped her hand naturally into his.
Beautiful.
Graceful.
Golden-haired.
Her blue eyes sparkled with affection as she looked up at him.
Kael's cold expression softened instantly.
He smiled.
Not at Seren.
At the woman beside him.
The woman who already owned his heart.
"Seren Ashwood?" Kael asked, his voice calm and unreadable.
She forced herself to nod.
"Yes."
He held her gaze for a long moment.
Then he spoke the words that would haunt her for years.
"I wish the Moon had chosen someone else."
End of Chapter
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