Chapter 1

Lyra's Maiden Moon ceremony had just ended.

Back in my room, I opened The Den — our pack's private forum.

A post was blowing up.

The title read:

Looking for a gift to completely destroy someone.

Budget: 200 bones.

For my so-called best friend's ceremony. Two days from now.

The comments flooded in — poison-laced daggers, plants that stank like death.

But the OP shot every single one down.

The reason? Not vicious enough.

Then the OP pinned their own reply.

"Thanks, everyone. Her mate offered to help.

We're going to humiliate her in front of the whole pack at her Ascension Ritual."

Someone in the comments immediately called it out.

"Her bonded mate is helping you go after her?

What exactly is going on between you two?"

The OP fired back with a row of eye-rolling wolf emojis.

"After every hunt, he gives me the heart — the first and finest cut. Not her."

"When it's time for ceremonial moonstones, I get first pick. Not her."

"His first embrace was mine.

Every single one of his seven full-moon rampages? Also me."

"He's delayed their Mating Bond three times.

For me. And that priceless Bonding Amber they have?

It doesn't carry their fur. It carries ours."

It felt like an invisible hand had reached into my chest and closed around my heart.

I zoomed in on the OP's profile picture.

Two hands. Clasped together.

And on one wrist — a Bonding Amber, glowing in the moonlight.

My heart dropped.

That amber.

Kyle and I had traveled to the Oracle's Grove together, six months ago, to get it made.

One of a kind.

…

I sat there, frozen, long enough for the moon to drift across my window.

Just an hour ago, the ceremony had barely ended.

Kyle was already holding a "blackout drunk" Lyra in his arms.

He frowned at me.

"Selene, she drank way too much Moon-daze wine.

I'll have the guards walk you home — I need to get her back to her den."

I'd barely had anything to drink.

The night air had already cleared my head.

I just nodded, like I always do,

and told him to ping me on the pack-link once she was home safe.

It's a half-hour walk, tops.

But every time I reached out to him through the link since then... nothing.

Just silence on the other end of the link.

And now, reading Lyra's post.

She was completely sober.

The whole thing had been an act.

Just then, my wrist crystal pinged.

A message from Kyle popped up.

My Moonlight Goddess

She's home safe lol

Omw back