SHANNA

My breath caught.

For one impossible second, it felt as though the entire clearing disappeared, leaving only those silver eyes fixed on mine.

They weren't cold.

They weren't mocking.

They were... curious.

Then reality slammed back into me.

Moon Goddess!

What was I doing?

Dad's hand clamped around my elbow so tightly I nearly yelped.

"Lower your head, Shanna," he whispered, panic thick in his voice. "Do not look directly at the Kings."

I immediately dropped my gaze.

"Sorry."

His grip loosened, but only slightly.

Around us, every wolf remained kneeling. Even the children had gone silent. The only sound was the steady rhythm of boots against the stone path as the Three Kings made their way toward the Moon Altar.

I'd grown up hearing stories about them.

Every pup in every pack had.

King Kif, the Vampire King whose enemies vanished without leaving behind so much as a drop of blood.

King Conrad,the Lycan King who had conquered entire territories with nothing but his warriors and his own terrifying strength.

And King Mariteo...

The oldest of them all.

The King no one dared speak about for too long, as though saying his name too often might somehow summon him.

They were living legends.

The kind of rulers wolves like me weren't supposed to meet.

So what were they doing in Cord Moon Pack?

"Our deepest gratitude for honoring us with your presence, Your Majesties," Alpha Gregory said, bowing until his forehead nearly touched the ground.

A deep voice answered.

"You may rise."

The voice carried enough authority to silence even the wind and a shiver ran down my spine instantly.

Slowly, the crowd stood.

I kept my head lowered, refusing to make the same mistake twice.

Even Vanessa, Alpha Gregory's spoiled daughter, wasn't wearing her usual arrogant smile. She stood quietly beside her family, looking almost... nervous.

That alone told me just how powerful the Kings truly were.

My own world had always been painfully small hence I had never met them in person.

My family had made sure I knew how to defend myself. Dad insisted I train with the warriors from the time I could throw a proper punch. Killian made sure I never skipped a session.

"You'll never win every fight," he'd always say.

"But you'll never lose because you refused to fight."

Tonight was supposed to change everything.

Tonight I'd finally have my wolf.

Maybe even my mate.

The thought sent butterflies tumbling through my stomach.

The Chief Elder stepped toward the ancient altar, lifting his carved ceremonial staff high into the moonlight.

"As tradition demands," he announced, his aged voice carrying across the clearing, "every young wolf who reaches their eighteenth year this night shall awaken beneath the blessing of the Moon Goddess."

The ceremony began.

One by one, the newly eighteen-year-olds stepped onto the altar.

The first was Thomas, the blacksmith's son.

He knelt beneath the full moon.

For several long seconds...

Nothing happened.

Then his body jerked violently.

A cry tore from his throat.

His eyes flashed brilliant amber.

The scent of fresh wolf filled the air.

"I can feel him!" Thomas shouted, tears streaming down his face. "I have a wolf!"

The crowd erupted into cheers.

His parents rushed forward, crying just as hard as he was.

Another girl stepped up.

Her awakening was gentler.

She swayed as silver light surrounded her before smiling through her tears.

"I hear her..."

More applause.

And another.

Each successful awakening tightened the knot in my stomach.

Soon...

It would be my turn.

I rubbed my sweaty palms against my dress.

Why were my hands shaking so much?

What if nothing happens?

The terrifying thought slipped into my mind before I could stop it.

What if everyone is right?

What if I don't have a wolf?

I'd always been different.

Larger than every girl my age.

Slower to shift during training.

Unable to sense things other wolves claimed came naturally.

What if...

What if I'd been fooling myself all these years?

What if tonight proved I didn't belong?

"Shanna."

I didn't move.

I was too lost inside my own head.

"Shanna!"

Still nothing.

A familiar voice laughed.

"Move it, fatso."

Darius.

"Even the Moon Goddess is getting tired of waiting."

Snickers rippled through the crowd.

Heat flooded my face.

I looked up just as one of the Kings turned toward him.

"Is this," the King asked quietly, "how members of Cord Moon Pack treat one of their own?"

The question wasn't loud.

It didn't need to be.

The entire clearing froze.

Darius went deathly pale before dropping to one knee.

"N-No, Your Majesty."

"Then explain why it is that you deem it fit to bully a pack member"

"I... I was only trying to get her attention."

The King's gaze lingered on him for another long moment.

Darius didn't dare breathe.

Finally, the King looked away.

The tension eased, but only slightly.

No one laughed anymore.

Hundreds of eyes shifted toward me instead.

I felt every stare.

Every judgment.

Every whispered insult I'd endured over the years seemed to settle on my shoulders all at once.

My heart pounded so violently I thought everyone around me could hear it.

Then I felt warm arms wrap around me.

Mom.

"It's time, baby."

She kissed my forehead.

"No matter what happens tonight..."

She pulled back just enough to smile at me.

"...your father, Killian and I love you."

Dad rested a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"Nothing changes that."

Killian bumped my arm gently.

"And if anyone gives you trouble afterward..."

He cracked his knuckles with a grin.

"...I'll happily remind them why I'm the future Beta."

Despite everything, I laughed.

Just a little.

I drew in one long, shaky breath. What if everything goes wrong tonight? What would become of me?

Straightening my shoulders, I stepped away from my family.

Toward the ancient Moon Altar.

Toward my destiny.

And somehow...

I couldn't shake the strange feeling that the Three Kings were still watching my every step.

SHANNA

Every step toward the Moon Altar felt heavier than the last.

The chatter that had filled the sacred clearing moments ago had disappeared, leaving behind an eerie silence that wrapped around me like a second skin.

Hundreds of eyes followed my every move.

Some were curious.

Some were amused.

Most looked like they were waiting for me to embarrass myself.

Don't trip...

Don't fall...

Don't give them another reason to laugh.

I lifted my chin anyway.

Mom's voice echoed inside my head.

Lift your chin, baby girl. Never let them think they've broken you.

My hands trembled at my sides.

I quietly curled them into fists before anyone noticed.

"You've got this."

Killian's voice drifted toward me.

I glanced over my shoulder.

He grinned and punched his chest twice.

Our signal.

You're stronger than you think.

A smile tugged at my lips.

No matter how cruel the rest of the world was, I had them.

The best family the Moon Goddess could have given me and that was enough.

I turned back toward the altar.

The Chief Elder stood waiting beside the ancient stone, his silver robes swaying gently in the evening breeze.

"Step forward, child."

I obeyed.

The stone beneath my bare feet was surprisingly cold despite the warmth of the spring night.

Above me, the full moon hung impossibly large, bathing the clearing in soft silver light.

The Elder lifted his ceremonial staff toward the sky.

"Great Moon Goddess," he chanted, his voice echoing through the clearing, "we present before you Shanna, daughter of Beta Kelsie and Matilda of Cord Moon Pack. Bless her with the spirit destined to walk beside her."

Silence answered him.

A brilliant beam of silver light burst from the moon itself.

Gasps swept through the crowd.

The light surrounded me completely.

Warmth washed over my skin.

It felt like someone had wrapped me in the gentlest embrace imaginable.

The nervous pounding of my heart slowly faded.

The whispers disappeared.

The music...

The crowd...

Even the wind...

Everything melted away.

Darkness swallowed me whole.

...

When I opened my eyes again, I wasn't standing on the altar.

I stood in the middle of an endless silver forest.

Moonlight poured through towering crystal-like trees whose glowing leaves shimmered whenever the breeze touched them.

The air smelled fresh.

Peaceful.

Alive.

I slowly turned in a circle.

"This..."

I stared in amazement.

"This isn't the clearing."

"No."

A gentle voice answered behind me.

"It's home."

I spun around.

A white wolf stepped gracefully from between the glowing trees.

She was beautiful.

No...

Beautiful wasn't enough.

She was breathtaking.

Her fur gleamed like untouched snow beneath the moonlight.

Her blue eyes...

They were exactly like mine.

Emotion clogged my throat.

"My..."

I couldn't even finish the sentence.

She smiled.

"Hello, Shanna."

Tears instantly blurred my vision.

"You're real..."

She laughed softly.

"I've always been real."

Without thinking, I ran toward her.

She lowered herself just enough for me to throw my arms around her neck.

After eighteen years...

After wondering whether I would ever have a wolf...

She was finally here.

"I thought..." My voice cracked. "I thought maybe I wouldn't get one."

"I've been with you since your very first heartbeat."

A laugh escaped through my tears.

"I can't believe this."

"I promised I'd never leave you."

I leaned back enough to look into her eyes.

"Do you have a name?"

She lifted her head proudly.

"Lane."

"It's beautiful."

"So are you."

I blinked.

"What?"

"You've spent your whole life believing the lies people told you."

She gently rested her forehead against mine.

"But I see the truth."

Fresh tears slipped down my cheeks.

"They call me ugly."

"I don't."

"They call me fat."

"I call you strong."

"They laugh at me."

"They fear what they don't understand."

I frowned.

"What does that mean?"

Lane's smile slowly faded.

"There isn't much time."

Confusion replaced my happiness.

"What do you mean?"

She lowered her gaze.

"Our bond..."

She hesitated.

"...isn't complete."

My heart lurched.

"What?"

"I've awakened."

She looked back at me.

"But my strength hasn't."

"I don't understand."

"Neither do I."

She took a slow breath.

"It's like part of me is still asleep."

A knot formed in my stomach.

"Can it wake up?"

"I believe it can."

"When?"

"I don't know."

The joy I'd been drowning in moments earlier vanished.

"So..."

I swallowed hard.

"You're weak?"

She immediately shook her head.

"No."

"Then what?"

"I'm..."

Pain flickered across her eyes.

"Incomplete."

The word hurt far more than I expected.

"No..."

"I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for."

"If I were whole…."

"You are whole enough."

She smiled sadly.

"We'll figure it out together."

The forest suddenly shook.

The trees trembled.

Moonlight flickered violently.

Lane stepped backward.

"It's time."

"What?"

"You're waking up."

"No, wait!"

"I'll always be with you."

"I still have so many questions!"

"And we'll find every answer."

The silver forest dissolved around us.

Everything began fading into light.

"Lane!"

Her voice echoed one last time.

"Trust your heart... not your fears."

My eyes flew open.

I gasped.

The sacred clearing came rushing back into focus.

The Moon Altar.

The crowd.

The Elder.

My family.

Everyone was staring at me.

The Chief Elder smiled warmly.

"Did your wolf awaken, child?"

A smile spread across my face despite the lingering unease inside me.

"Yes."

Cheers erupted across the clearing.

Mom burst into tears.

Dad's proud smile nearly broke my heart.

Killian threw both fists into the air.

"I knew it!"

For the first time in my life...

I wasn't alone anymore.

I had my wolf.

I wasn't broken.

The Elder nodded approvingly.

"What is her name?"

"Lane."

"A beautiful name."

Then his expression grew serious.

"Release a portion of her aura."

I frowned.

"My aura?"

"Call to your wolf."

I closed my eyes.

Lane?

I'm here.

What do I do?

Just reach for me.

I focused on the warm bond connecting us.

A tiny pulse of energy escaped my body.

Tiny.

Barely noticeable.

The cheers stopped.

Silence settled over the clearing.

The Elder frowned.

Another Elder stepped closer.

"...That's all?"

Heat flooded my cheeks.

I tried again.

Nothing stronger came.

Whispers immediately spread through the crowd.

"That's pathetic."

"Her wolf is barely awake."

"I knew something was wrong with her."

"I guess even the Moon Goddess makes mistakes."

My stomach sank.

Lane had been right.

Something was terribly wrong.