His Hybrid Luna

Val's POV

"Valkyrie... I need you to be honest with me."

Luna Dowager's voice was soft, deceptively gentle, but the fire in her emerald eyes burned with unyielding ferocity. Those eyes, which once felt like a sanctuary shielding me from the icy whispers of the pack, now turned into daggers of scrutiny.

"Yes, Luna?" I forced a smile, but it faltered under her intense gaze. She often called me her adopted daughter, yet the truth hung heavy between us. I was an orphan. A tool. A debt she intended to collect.

"Have you... felt it yet?" she asked, her tone calm, though the steel beneath it was unmistakable.

"Felt what, Luna?"

"Your wolf, Valkyrie."

The words struck like a lash, tearing through my fragile defenses. My wolf-the missing half of me I had prayed for, screamed for, begged the Moon Goddess to awaken-remained silent.

"I... I don't know, Luna," I admitted, my throat tight with shame.

Her expression hardened, the warmth in her gaze shattering like glass. "What do you mean, you don't know?"

I lowered my head, the weight of her disdain pressing heavily on my chest. "I still... can't feel it."

"Good heavens. Worthless thing!" she hissed, her disgust palpable.

Before I could muster a response, she snapped her fingers. Beta Tasya appeared from the shadows, her smirk as sharp as a blade.

"Tasya," Luna said, her voice cold and commanding. "Did you hear the Alpha last night?"

Beta Tasya's eyes gleamed with a cruel satisfaction. "Yes, Luna. His screams were louder than ever. The madness is worsening."

"And the doctor?"

"He suspects a curse," Tasya replied, her tone devoid of empathy.

Luna turned her glare back to me, her gaze as heavy as a boulder. "Do you know why I've tolerated you for so long, Val?"

My heart sank. I knew. Deep down, I always knew.

"To help the Alpha," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Her hand struck me with a ferocity that snapped my head to the side. "You fool!" she spat. "Do you not understand? Your wolf's blood is supposed to be the cure for his madness! And now, here you stand-wolfless, useless!"

Tears stung my eyes, but I bit them back, refusing to crumble. "I'm sorry, Luna..."

Her scorn only deepened. "Sorry won't fix him! The prophecy foretold your role in this pack-yet you've failed us at every turn."

"I'll try harder," I choked out. "Perhaps after tonight... my wolf will awaken."

Her laughter was bitter and sharp. "You turned eighteen today, and you're still nothing. I raised you, saved you from that cursed village, and this is how you repay me? Do not disappoint me again."

"Yes, Luna..."

"Do anything-anything-at the mating ceremony to awaken your wolf," she ordered, her voice thunderous as she stormed out, leaving me hollow and trembling.

Her words thundered through me as she stormed out, leaving me hollow and trembling. Moments later, Beta Tasya stepped in, her laughter low and cruel. "Oh, you poor little thing," she mocked, her tone dripping with malice.

I wiped my tears, forcing defiance to the surface like a fragile ember fighting against the wind. "Mind your own business, Beta," I bit out.

She took a step closer, her presence towering over me like a shadow. "But it is my business," she hissed. "Today's the day Ragnor and I will be mated. You should come-it'll be your last taste of humiliation."

Her words stabbed like daggers. Memories of a simpler time-Ragnor, Tasya, and I as inseparable children-flashed through my mind, only to be crushed beneath the weight of her venom.

"You know your place, Orphan," she sneered, her voice a whip cracking in the silence. "You're nothing. Just a healer for the Alpha. A tool."

"I've never tried to be more," I retorted, though my voice wavered, betraying me.

Her sharp laughter cut deeper than any blade. "No? Then why cling to him? Admit it, Val-you want him to choose you."

"I would never-"

"Silence!" she barked, her tone sharp and merciless. "You disgust me. And tonight, when Ragnor marks me as his, you'll finally understand just how pathetic you are."

She slammed the door as she left, her words echoing in the emptiness she left behind. I sat there, humiliation burning in my chest. Why was this happening to me? All I wanted was a normal life-peace, simplicity, just to be me. That should have been enough.

"Oh, Moon Goddess," I whispered, the words breaking into a sob that didn't last long enough to soothe me.

The ceremonial bell rang, its chime signaling the start of the mating ritual. I had no time for despair. I needed to be there-plain, unseen, and unchanged. This wasn't a night for me to stand out, but perhaps being among my peers might awaken something in me, might finally bring forth my wolf.

"Val!"

Nancy's voice called out from the hallway, breaking through my spiraling thoughts. I turned to wave at her, plastering on a smile I didn't feel.

"Are you okay?" she asked, concern flickering in her eyes.

I shrugged, not trusting my voice to convey anything but hopelessness. "I'm fine... just tired. Let's head to the ballroom."

Nancy sighed, her expression sharp with exasperation. "Not like this!"

Before I could protest, she strode to my wardrobe, rummaging through it with the determination of someone on a mission.

"What are you doing?" I asked, baffled by her sudden fervor.

She turned to me with a triumphant smile, holding up the pale pink dress she'd bought me last week for my birthday. "This! It's perfect for you tonight."

I shook my head, backing away. "No, Nancy. I can't. I don't want to cause a scene."

Her glare stopped me in my tracks. "Enough! You're not going like this. Trust me, Val."

"But-"

"No buts!" she snapped, her tone firm but warm. "Let me do this for you."

And just like that, I found myself in the pink dress, my hair neatly braided under Nancy's expert hands. She was relentless, but for the first time all evening, I didn't feel entirely invisible.

Nancy smiled, her work done. "Now, you're ready."

Her confidence lifted a corner of my heart, and though doubt lingered, I nodded. "Thank you, Nans."

"Always," she said with a wink, linking her arm through mine as we headed to the ballroom.

***

After a quick makeover with Nancy, we finally made it to the ballroom.

The room was bathed in golden light, shimmering with elegance and heavy with anticipation. Unease settled over me like a second skin. I lingered in the shadows-unseen, unwanted, yet unable to tear my eyes away.

Then I saw him.

Ragnor stood at the center of the ballroom, radiating strength and authority. His piercing gaze swept over the crowd, dark and unreadable, commanding attention without effort.

He was our Alpha.

"Alpha Ragnor is stunning!" Nancy whispered, her voice filled with awe.

I couldn't disagree. He was out of my league-a dream I dared not entertain.

"Go to him, Val!" Nancy nudged me forward, and before I could stop her, I stumbled into the open.

Ragnor's eyes landed on me, and my breath caught.

"Valkyrie," he said, his voice low and magnetic.

"Alpha," I murmured, my heart racing as an inexplicable pull tightened around us.

A faint red thread seemed to shimmer between us-a bond I couldn't comprehend.

But then, his expression darkened, and his voice hardened. "No. This cannot be."

I blinked, confused and hurt. "What do you mean?"

"You cannot be my mate," he growled, the rejection in his tone cutting deeper than any blade.

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to us.

"Alpha... the Moon Goddess chose us," I whispered, pleading for understanding.

"No!" he snarled, his voice filled with anger. "You are not my mate!"

His next words shattered what little hope I had left.

"I, Ragnor Howard, Alpha of the Blue Fire Pack, reject Valkyrie as my mate."

The weight of his rejection crushed me, leaving me standing alone in the center of the ballroom, broken and humiliated.