The wooden sword slipped from my hands and landed on the ground with a loud thud.

"You dropped your guard again."

Ryan stood a few feet away from me with a grin on his face. His dark hair was damp with sweat after another morning of training. Even after sparring with me for almost an hour, he still looked like he could fight ten more battles without getting tired.

I bent down to pick up my sword and frowned at him. "You don't have to smile every time you beat me."

"I do when you make it this easy."

"Oh, you're impossible."

He laughed, and I couldn't stop myself from laughing too. It had always been like this between us. We argued, trained, and laughed together almost every day. Ever since we were children, Ryan had been the person who filled most of my memories.

"Come on," he said, tossing me a water bottle. "Take a break before you fall over."

I caught it with both hands. "I'm not that weak."

"No," he replied, his smile softening. "You're one of the strongest girls in the pack."

My cheeks warmed. Ryan rarely gave compliments, so whenever he did, I remembered every word.

We sat beneath the old oak tree beside the training field. It has become our favorite place over the years. As children, we climbed its branches and pretended we were brave warriors protecting the pack. Now we sat beneath the same tree, talking about the future instead.

Ryan leaned his sword against the trunk and looked toward the large pack house standing on the hill.

"My father says I need to train harder," he said quietly. "One day this pack will be mine."

I turned to him and smiled. "And when that day comes, you'll be the best Alpha Silver Moon has ever had."

He chuckled. "You really believe that?"

"I've never believed in anything more."

For a moment, he didn't say anything. He simply looked at me, and I wondered what was going through his mind. Then he reached over and lightly tapped my forehead with one finger.

"You've always believed in me, Aurora."

"That's because you've always believed in yourself."

His smile returned, but this time it didn't quite reach his eyes. I didn't understand why.

At the time, I didn't know that dreams could change or that people could change with them.

The training field slowly filled with young wolves. Some came to practice with wooden swords, while others shifted into their wolf forms and raced across the open ground.

"Ryan!"

A deep voice echoed across the field.

We both turned to see Beta Marcus walking toward us. He was Ryan's father's most trusted adviser. His face was always serious, and I had never seen him smile.

"There you are," Marcus said. "The Alpha is waiting for you."

Ryan stood up. "I'll be there in a minute."

Marcus's eyes landed on me. He gave me a short nod before looking back at Ryan.

"Don't be late. There are important matters to discuss."

Ryan frowned. "What kind of matters?"

"The future of this pack."

Marcus lowered his voice, but I could still hear every word.

"You'll become Alpha sooner than you think. It's time you start thinking like one."

Ryan glanced at me before asking, "What do you mean?"

Marcus folded his arms.

"A strong Alpha needs more than strength. He needs powerful allies. Every decision you make should help the pack grow stronger."

Ryan stayed quiet.

Marcus continued, "Even choosing a Luna isn't about love. Your mate should bring influence, loyal warriors, and strong bloodlines. Never forget that."

Something about his words made my smile disappear.

I looked down at the grass, pretending I hadn't heard him.

Ryan rubbed the back of his neck. "I'll think about it."

"You'd better."

Marcus turned around and walked away without another word.

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.

Finally, Ryan let out a long sigh.

"He worries too much."

I forced a small smile. "He's only trying to help you."

Ryan picked up his sword and shook his head. "Maybe. But I don't want everyone planning my life for me."

His answer made my heart feel lighter again. That was the Ryan I knew. The boy who climbed trees with me.

The boy who sneaked meat pies from the kitchen and blamed the guards.

The boy who once promised we'd always have each other's backs. I believed that boy was still there.

I just didn't notice that the weight of becoming Alpha was already changing him, one day at a time.

"Come on," Ryan said, nudging my shoulder. "Race you to the river."

Before I could answer, he took off running.

"Ryan!" I laughed. "That's cheating!"

I chased after him, the sound of our laughter echoing through the pack. From a distance, Beta Marcus watched us with a troubled look.

Then he muttered under his breath, "An Alpha can't let his heart choose for him.”

Ryan reached the river long before I did.

By the time I caught up, he was already skipping stones across the water. The smooth rocks bounced three, then four times before sinking beneath the surface.

"I win," he said with a proud smile.

"You started before I was ready."

"I call that strategy."

I rolled my eyes and picked up a small stone. "Watch and learn." I threw it with all my strength.

The stone flew straight into the river and disappeared with one loud splash.

Ryan burst into laughter. "That wasn't a skip. You almost scared the fish to death."

"Oh, be quiet."

I picked up another stone and threw it at him instead. It landed near his feet, making him jump back.

"Hey!"

"You deserved that."

For a few minutes, nothing else mattered. We laughed like we always had, teasing each other until the afternoon sun began to sink behind the mountains.

As we walked back toward the pack, Ryan suddenly slowed down.

"Aurora."

I looked at him.

"Hmm?"

"What if..." He hesitated before speaking again. "What if one day I become Alpha, and things aren't as simple as they are now?"

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

He let out a quiet breath.

"My father says leading a pack means making difficult choices. He says there will be times when I have to put everyone else before myself."

I smiled at him. "That's what makes a great Alpha."

"But what if those choices hurt the people I care about?"

I stopped walking.

Ryan rarely sounded uncertain. Seeing that look on his face made my heart ache.

I stepped closer and gently squeezed his hand. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together. You won't have to carry everything alone."

He stared at our joined hands for a moment before giving me a small smile.

"I hope you're right."

"I know I am."

His smile returned, but there was something different about it this time. It looked forced, as if a part of him was already carrying a burden he didn't know how to share.

By the time we reached the pack house, the evening meal had already begun. The courtyard buzzed with laughter as wolves gathered around long wooden tables. Children ran between the benches while elders exchanged stories by the fire.

The moment Ryan appeared, everyone greeted him with respect.

"Our future Alpha!"

"Ryan, come sit with us!"

He greeted them with a polite nod, but before he could join anyone, Alpha Victor's voice cut through the crowd.

"Ryan. My office. Now."

Ryan looked at me.

"I'll find you later."

"I'll be waiting."

He disappeared into the pack house while I headed toward my family's table.

I had barely taken my seat when my mother leaned closer, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Did you hear the news?"

I blinked.

"What news?"

"The elders have finally chosen the date."

"The date for what?"

She smiled so brightly that my own heart began to race.

"The Moon Ceremony."

For a second, the world around me faded.

The Moon Ceremony.

The sacred night when the Moon Goddess revealed destined mates before the entire pack.

My fingers tightened around the wooden cup in my hands as my wolf stirred excitedly inside me.

She already knew what I had only recently discovered.

Ryan was my fated mate.

A warm smile spread across my face.

In just a few days, I wouldn't simply be the girl who loved the future Alpha.

I would become his Luna.

I had no idea that the same ceremony I had dreamed about my entire life was about to become the worst day of my life.

________________

The smell of fresh flowers filled my room before I even opened my eyes.

I stretched slowly and smiled. Today wasn't just another day. It was the day I had dreamed about since I was a little girl. My wolf had been restless all night, pacing happily inside me as if she already knew what was coming.

A soft knock came from the door before it opened.

"There you are," my mother said, carrying a folded white dress in her arms. "I was beginning to think you'd sleep through the biggest day of your life."

I laughed and sat up. "As if I could ever do that."

She walked over and laid the dress carefully on my bed. The silver threads woven into the fabric caught the morning light, making it sparkle. I had never owned anything so beautiful.

"You made this?" I asked, running my fingers over the soft cloth.

She nodded, her eyes warm with pride. "Every stitch. I wanted my daughter to look like the Luna everyone already believes she is."

I looked at the dress again, my heart beating faster.

"What if Ryan can't take his eyes off you?" my mother teased.

I covered my face with both hands and laughed. "Mom!"

She chuckled and gently pulled my hands away. "Oh, don't act shy now. Everyone in the Silver Moon Pack knows how that boy looks at you."

I lowered my gaze, trying to hide the smile growing on my face.

"We've known each other forever," I said quietly. "He's probably just as nervous as I am."

"I hope so," my mother replied as she brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Today isn't only important for you. It's the beginning of a new chapter for both of you."

She paused for a moment before speaking again.

"Your father and I couldn't be happier. We know you'll make a wonderful Luna, Aurora. You've always had a kind heart, and this pack will need that one day."

Her words made my chest feel warm.

For so many years, I had imagined this moment. Now it was finally here, and everything felt exactly the way it was supposed to. Or at least, that's what I believed.

After getting dressed, I stood in front of the mirror while my mother worked on my hair. She brushed it slowly, humming an old song she used to sing when I was a child. Every now and then, she stepped back to admire her work before making another small adjustment.

"You keep smiling," she said, catching my eyes in the mirror. "If you smile any wider, your cheeks might start hurting."

I laughed softly. "Can you blame me? I've waited for this day for years."

"I know you have." She placed a silver hairpin above my ear and smiled. "You've loved Ryan since you were old enough to know the difference between boys and girls."

"Oh, Mom."

"What?" she asked, pretending to look innocent. "Did you think I never noticed the way you followed him around? Every time he went training, there you were. Every time he got into trouble, somehow you were standing beside him."

"That's because he was always getting into trouble," I replied with a grin.

My mother laughed, shaking her head.

"You even defended him when he broke Mr. Owen's fence."

I folded my arms. "That wasn't completely his fault."

She raised an eyebrow.

"It wasn't."

"He climbed over the fence."

"The ball landed there first."

"He chased the ball."

"He didn't mean to break it."

She couldn't hold back her laughter anymore.

"You've always found a way to excuse that boy."

The room filled with laughter until another knock sounded at the door. "Come in," my mother called.

The door swung open, and my best friend Lily rushed inside without waiting for permission. She stopped in the middle of the room, placed both hands over her mouth, and stared at me with wide eyes.

"Aurora" she whispered dramatically. "You're going to make every girl in this pack jealous."

I rolled my eyes.

"Don't start."

"I'm serious." Lily walked around me once before nodding with satisfaction. "Ryan is going to forget how to speak when he sees you."

"I hope he still remembers how to say, 'I accept you as my mate,'" I teased.

Lily laughed so hard she had to hold onto the bed. "Oh, he will. If he doesn't, I'll push him toward you myself."

Even my mother laughed at that.

Lily reached for my hands, giving them an excited squeeze.

"Can you believe it? Tonight, you'll stand beside Ryan in front of the whole pack. By tomorrow, everyone will be calling you Luna Aurora."

The title sounded strange, yet wonderful.

I had imagined hearing those words countless times, but hearing someone else say them made everything feel real.

"I don't care about the title," I admitted, my voice softer now. "I just want to be with him. That's all I've ever wanted."

Lily's smile softened.

"I know. That's why everyone says the Moon Goddess chose well. You don't want Ryan because he'll become Alpha. You love him because he's Ryan."

Before I could answer, the distant sound of ceremonial drums echoed through the village.

The celebration had begun.

The sound of the drums grew louder with every passing second. Their steady rhythm echoed through the Silver Moon Pack, calling every wolf to the ceremonial grounds. My heart beat in time with them, and my wolf stirred excitedly inside me.

Lily hurried to the window and peeked outside. "They're gathering already. If we don't leave now, we'll end up at the back of the crowd, and I refuse to miss the look on Ryan's face when he sees you."

My mother smiled as she picked up the small silver necklace that had belonged to my grandmother. She fastened it around my neck with gentle hands before stepping in front of me.

"This has been passed down through the women in our family for generations," she said softly. "Your grandmother wore it on the day she became Luna, and I wore it on the day I accepted your father as my mate. Now it belongs to you."

I touched the cool pendant resting against my chest.

"I'll take good care of it."

"I know you will." She cupped my face and looked into my eyes. "No matter what happens in life, never forget who you are. A title can make someone important, but kindness is what makes people remember them."

I wrapped my arms around her without saying a word. She hugged me tightly, and for a brief moment, I wished time would stand still.

When we finally stepped outside, the entire village was alive with excitement. Lanterns hung from every tree, glowing softly as evening settled over the pack. Wolves dressed in their finest clothes walked toward the ceremonial grounds, laughing and talking among themselves.

As we made our way through the crowd, familiar faces stopped to greet us.

"There she is!"

"Our future Luna looks beautiful."

"Ryan is a lucky Alpha."

An elderly woman smiled as she squeezed my hand.

"We've watched you and Ryan grow up together. The Moon Goddess has blessed this pack."

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

"Thank you."

Lily leaned closer and whispered with a grin, "See? I told you everyone already thinks of you as Luna."

I laughed quietly, though my hands had started to tremble.

"I've never been this nervous."

"That's because today changes everything."

We reached the entrance to the ceremonial grounds, where hundreds of pack members had already gathered in a wide circle around the sacred stone altar. The elders stood near the front in long ceremonial robes, while warriors lined the outer edge to keep order.

At the center of it all stood Ryan.

He looked every bit the future Alpha everyone admired. Dressed in black ceremonial robes embroidered with silver, he stood tall with his shoulders straight and his chin lifted. The firelight danced across his face as he spoke quietly with Beta Marcus and Alpha Victor.

For a moment, he looked in my direction.

Our eyes met across the crowd.

My heart skipped a beat.

I smiled, expecting him to smile back.

Instead, Ryan's expression remained unreadable. He held my gaze for only a second before looking away and turning back to Beta Marcus, who whispered something into his ear.

A strange feeling settled in my chest.

It lasted only a moment, and I quickly pushed it aside.

He's nervous, I told myself. This ceremony is as important to him as it is to me.

The Head Elder raised his staff, and silence fell over the crowd.

"The Moon Ceremony shall now begin."

The sacred flames around the altar burst higher into the night sky as every eye turned toward Ryan.

Then the elder looked at me and smiled warmly.

"Aurora," he called. "Step forward and stand before your fated mate."

Taking a deep breath, I walked toward Ryan with a hopeful smile, certain that in a few moments, I would become his Luna.

I didn't notice the way Beta Marcus tightened his jaw.

Or the way Ryan slowly clenched his fists as if he had already made a decision that would change both our lives forever.

________________

The moment I stepped onto the sacred stone, every sound around me seemed to fade.

Hundreds of wolves stood in a wide circle, watching us with smiles on their faces. The firelight danced across their excited expressions, and I could hear quiet whispers drifting through the crowd.

They weren't whispering because they doubted us. They were whispering because everyone believed they were about to witness the beginning of a love story that had started years ago.

I stopped a few steps away from Ryan and lifted my eyes to meet his.

He looked as handsome as ever in his ceremonial robes, but something was different. His face was calm, almost too calm, and the warmth I usually found in his eyes was missing.

Instead, he stood as still as the stone beneath our feet, his jaw tight as if he were carrying a weight no one else could see.

The Head Elder smiled kindly at both of us before raising his wooden staff.

"Tonight, we stand beneath the blessing of the Moon Goddess," he announced, his voice carrying across the silent grounds. "She has chosen two souls and woven their destinies together. May this sacred bond bring peace, strength, and prosperity to the Silver Moon Pack."

The crowd answered with cheerful applause.

My wolf stirred happily inside me, filling my chest with warmth. I couldn't stop smiling. Every dream I had carried since childhood had led to this moment.

The elder turned to Ryan first.

"Future Alpha Ryan, do you accept the mate chosen for you by the Moon Goddess? Do you accept Aurora as your Luna, your partner, and the mother of your future heirs?"

A deep silence settled over the ceremonial grounds.

I looked at Ryan, waiting for the answer I had imagined hearing a thousand times.

Instead of speaking, he lowered his eyes for a brief moment.

When he looked up again, I noticed him glance toward Beta Marcus. Marcus gave the smallest nod, almost too quick for anyone else to notice.

A strange feeling crept into my chest.

Ryan took one slow step forward.

Relief washed over me.

He's going to accept me, I thought. But then he stopped, he didn't reach for my hand or smiled.

Instead, he looked directly at the Head Elder.

"Before I answer," Ryan said, his voice steady enough for everyone to hear, "there's something I need this pack to understand."

The smiles around us slowly disappeared.

Even the Head Elder frowned.

"What is it, Ryan?" he asked gently. "This is a sacred ceremony. Speak carefully."

Ryan nodded once.

"I intend to.".His words sent an uneasy chill through me.

I searched his face, hoping he would look at me, hoping he would give me some sign that everything was still all right.

But he never did.

He kept his eyes fixed ahead, as though I wasn't standing only a few feet away. My fingers curled tightly against my dress, and for the first time that evening, my heart began to pound for a reason that had nothing to do with excitement.

Somewhere deep inside me, my wolf whimpered. She sensed something I still refused to believe.

Something was terribly wrong.

The silence stretched so long that it became painful.

I forced a small smile, hoping Ryan was only nervous. He had never liked standing in front of crowds, even though everyone expected him to lead one day. Maybe he was simply searching for the right words.

The Head Elder cleared his throat gently.

"Ryan," he said, his voice calm but firm, "the Moon Goddess has revealed your fated mate. There is nothing to fear. Speak from your heart."

Ryan finally turned toward me.

For one brief second, I thought I saw regret in his eyes. My heart leaped with hope, but it disappeared as quickly as it had come. His expression hardened, and the distance between us suddenly felt impossible to cross.

He took a slow breath before speaking.

"I respect the Moon Goddess," he began. "I respect our traditions, and I respect every wolf standing here tonight."

The crowd nodded quietly.

"But being Alpha is more than following my heart."

A murmur spread through the gathering.

Ryan continued without hesitation.

"An Alpha must make decisions that protect the future of his pack. He cannot allow his emotions to stand in the way of what is best for his people."

I frowned, unable to understand where he was going.

The Head Elder's smile slowly faded.

"Ryan," he warned, "choose your next words carefully."

Ryan didn't even look at him. "I have."

He turned to face the crowd instead of me.

"The Silver Moon Pack needs strong alliances. It needs powerful bloodlines. It needs a Luna who can stand beside its Alpha and bring honor, influence, and strength to our future."

Every word felt like a stone pressing against my chest.

I whispered his name before I could stop myself.

"Ryan..."

He heard me.

I knew he did.

But he didn't answer.

Instead, he spoke the words that shattered my world.

"Aurora is kind," he said evenly. "She is loyal, and she has been a good friend to me."

A few wolves smiled, thinking he was about to praise me. Then his voice turned cold.

"But kindness is not enough." The smile vanished from my face.

"A future Luna must come from a bloodline that strengthens this pack. She must bring powerful allies and secure our position among the strongest packs in the kingdom."

My breathing became uneven. "What are you saying?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ryan finally looked me in the eyes. There was no warmth left in them.

"I'm saying that you cannot give this pack what it needs."

The crowd fell completely silent. I stared at him, unable to believe what I had just heard.

"Ryan..." My voice trembled. "This isn't funny."

"It isn't a joke."

"You... you're my mate."

"I know."

"The Moon Goddess chose us."

"I know that too."

Tears blurred my vision as I took one step closer to him.

"Then why are you talking like this? If you're angry about something, we can talk about it. We always do. Please... just tell me what's wrong."

For the first time that night, pain flickered across Ryan's face.

It lasted only a heartbeat before he buried it beneath a mask of determination.

"There is nothing wrong, Aurora."

He drew in a slow breath.

"I've simply made my choice.” My heart pounded so hard that I could hear nothing else.

The sacred flames around the altar flickered wildly as if even they could sense something was terribly wrong. I stared at Ryan, waiting for him to laugh and tell everyone this was a misunderstanding. He had to be testing me. There was no other explanation.

I reached for his hand with trembling fingers.

"Ryan, please," I whispered. "You're scaring me. If this is because of the pressure of becoming Alpha, we can face it together. We've always faced everything together."

He looked down at my hand resting against his sleeve.

Slowly, without saying a word, he pulled away.

That single movement hurt more than any blade ever could.

He turned toward the Head Elder, his voice clear and steady.

"Before the Moon Goddess and every member of the Silver Moon Pack" He paused, taking one slow breath. "I, Ryan, future Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, reject Aurora as my fated mate."

A sharp gasp swept through the crowd.

The Head Elder's staff slipped from his hand and struck the stone floor with a loud crack.

"Ryan!" the old man shouted. "Do you understand what you're saying? You are rejecting the Moon Goddess's sacred bond!"

"I understand perfectly."

"No." The elder shook his head, his face pale with disbelief. "Think carefully. Once these words are spoken, they cannot be taken back."

"I don't wish to take them back.".The world around me seemed to tilt.

My legs suddenly felt too weak to hold me, but I forced myself to remain standing.

"You don't mean that," I said, my voice breaking. "Ryan, look at me. Please look at me."

He did.

For a brief moment, I saw the boy who used to race me to the river and laugh when I lost. Then that boy disappeared behind the future Alpha determined to chase power at any cost.

"I do mean it." His next words cut even deeper.

"Aurora is not fit to be my Luna. She comes from an ordinary bloodline with no political influence. If I am to lead this pack, I must choose a mate who can strengthen our future, not weaken it."

The whispers exploded through the crowd.

"I can't believe he rejected her."

"So the rumors were true."

"She isn't worthy of becoming Luna after all."

Every word struck like another blow.

My mother pushed through the crowd, tears already streaming down her face.

"Ryan!" she cried. "You grew up with my daughter. You know the kind of person she is. Don't do this to her."

My father stepped beside her, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"You owe her more than this."

Ryan lowered his head for a moment.

"I'm sorry."

Those two words held no comfort.

Then he raised his hand toward the front of the crowd.

A young woman dressed in a deep blue ceremonial gown stepped forward with quiet confidence. She carried herself like someone who had expected this moment all along.

"I have already chosen the woman who will stand beside me," Ryan announced. "She is Vanessa, daughter of Alpha Dominic of the Crimson Fang Pack. Our union will unite two powerful bloodlines and secure a stronger future for the Silver Moon Pack."

Vanessa smiled as she slipped her arm through Ryan's.

"I am honored to stand beside my future Alpha," she said sweetly.

At that instant, a sharp pain ripped through my chest.

I cried out and stumbled backward as if an invisible hand had struck me.

My wolf howled in agony inside me. The sacred mate bond was breaking.

Tears poured down my face, but I could no longer tell whether they came from my heart or from my wolf's unbearable pain.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

They simply watched as the girl who had walked into the ceremony dreaming of becoming Luna stood there with her world falling apart.

I couldn't bear another second.

Turning away from the altar, I pushed through the crowd. Some wolves stepped aside in silence, while others leaned toward each other, whispering behind their hands.

"She really thought she'd become Luna."

"What a disgrace."

"I'd never show my face here again."

Their voices followed me like shadows.

Blinded by tears, I ran into the darkness beyond the ceremonial grounds, leaving behind the only home I had ever known, unaware that the night ahead would change my destiny forever.

________________