Chapter 5

The Alliance Council's Grand Elders don't show up at a junior's coming-of-age ceremony for no reason.

My two older brothers had just captured three mines in the Northern Territories, securing the largest resource share in the alliance for the Silver Moon Pack. My father had been appointed Supreme Commander of the Northern Front. His reputation was at its zenith. A century of accumulated power had made the Silver Moon Pack second only to the Shadow Pack among the five great packs.

And right at this critical juncture, the Shadow Pack's heir had publicly issued three declarations demanding the dissolution of our betrothal.

The Shadow Pack Alpha couldn't sit still. Terrified that the Silver Moon Pack would turn hostile, he'd personally brought the Grand Elders to keep things under control.

In the corridor behind the rear hall, Damien was on my heels.

"Serena, don't make a scene in front of the Grand Elders."

"I already swore a blood oath in front of Faye. A wolf's blood oath can't be broken."

"If you step aside willingly, I give you my word — the Shadow Pack won't touch Silver Moon territory."

I stopped and turned to face him.

He'd been born with the strongest Alpha bloodline in the Shadow Pack. Everything he'd ever wanted had been handed to him.

He had no concept of what the title "Luna of the Shadow Pack" actually meant.

It wasn't a woman's claim to a man.

It was the anchor holding a century-old alliance between two packs together.

My expression must have been cold enough to cut, because Damien opened his mouth and nothing came out.

I pushed open the doors to the rear hall. The Shadow Pack Alpha was seated at the head of the table.

"Blackwood girl — what's got you running back here in such a rush?"

The core Elders of both packs filled every seat in the room.

I gave a proper junior's bow. Then I spoke.

"I'm sure the Elders have all heard — the bond Damien and Faye forged through shared hardship is truly moving."

"I wouldn't dream of standing in the way of someone's fated connection."

"Today, I ask everyone here to bear witness: Serena Blackwood voluntarily withdraws from the betrothal with Damien Thorne."

The words landed, and the rear hall went airless.

The news spread through the entire wolf alliance overnight.

The Silver Moon Alpha's daughter — at her own coming-of-age ceremony, before the core Elders of both packs — had voluntarily dissolved the betrothal with the Shadow Pack heir.

Damien's face went ashen on the spot. He swayed where he stood.

The Shadow Pack Alpha was livid. Right there, in front of every Elder, he unleashed his Alpha dominance and forced Damien to one knee.

"You ungrateful bastard!"

My father was waiting for me in the Silver Moon Pack's council chamber.

"Who gave you the nerve!"

"The foundation of a century-old alliance — and you tear it up on your own?"

"You're leaving for the Shadow Pack right now. You'll apologize to their Alpha in person. Tell him you're young and foolish."

"No."

"You think you're still a catch after calling off this betrothal? Which Alpha among the five packs would dare take you as their Luna now?"

"You might be surprised."

My father's finger nearly jabbed me between the eyes. "You've lost your mind!"

He slammed the doorframe hard enough to rattle the walls.

Before all this, I would never have dared. From childhood, the pack had molded me into the "proper Alpha's daughter" — composed, dignified, always putting the bigger picture first.

But where had that bigger picture gotten us?

The Silver Moon Pack was nowhere near as powerful as the Shadow Pack. Appeasement and concessions would only get us killed faster.