On the eve of her wedding, Lyana discovers the unthinkable: her fiancé betrays her with her own sister. Heartbroken, she leaves the pack, desperate for an escape. In a reckless act of revenge, she approaches Draven Nightshade, the most feared Alpha in the neighboring territories, known for his ferocity and thirst for power. Without realizing the consequences, she offers her life in exchange for an alliance that could ruin her former fiancé. But little did Lyana know that by selling herself to Draven, she was entering a much more dangerous world. The Alpha seems obsessed with her from their first meeting. Why do his eyes shine with a strange light every time he looks at her? Why does he claim that she is linked to an ancient prophecy concerning the future of all packs? As she tries to understand what he really wants from her, inexplicable events occur: savage attacks on the border, disturbing dreams of a pack that has been missing for centuries, and a strange power that awakens within her. Is Draven sincere in his desire to protect her, or is he using her as a weapon in an impending war? "Lyana, you are more than just a wolf. You are my moon, my destiny." Destiny? Prophecy? She is just a wolf rejected by her pack! So why does the most feared Alpha seem ready to destroy anyone who dares to take her away from him? And most importantly, what will happen when she discovers the truth about her own past? Caught in a spiral of secrets, passion and betrayal, Lyana must decide: flee this dangerous Alpha or embrace a destiny that could well doom all the packs... or save them.
Chapter 1 Chapitre 1
I still remember the scent of white lilies. Their sweet, sweet smell hung in the air, mixed with that of the damp earth after the morning rain. Flowers adorned every corner of the pack's main house, carefully prepared by the she-wolves for the ceremony. I was told that lilies symbolized purity and renewal. I should have rejoiced, but deep down, a strange melancholy enveloped me. That day, everything was supposed to be perfect. Yet there was this shadow, a dull feeling that something was going to collapse.
I had spent the morning smiling mechanically, responding to the congratulations of the members of the pack. Every look was loaded with expectations, as if my union with Darek would solve all the ills of the world. They saw him as an Alpha in the making, a charismatic leader capable of protecting and guiding. And I was the future Luna, the one who was to support him, complete him. This vision should have made me proud. But in my heart there was a void. A cold space that I couldn't fill, even when I convinced myself that I loved Darek.
At the end of the afternoon, I found myself alone in my room, looking at my white dress hanging near the window. The light from the setting sun played on the fabric, creating golden reflections that fascinated me. It was a beautiful dress, simple but elegant, hand-sewn by an elderly she-wolf who had spent weeks on this masterpiece. Looking at her, I wondered if this perfection was not a lie, a facade hiding invisible cracks.
A noise in the hallway pulled me from my thoughts. It was a lively conversation, followed by laughter. I would recognize this voice among a thousand: Darek . My heart jumped. Maybe he was coming to see me, finally. In recent days, he had been distant, claiming preparations or important business. I put it down to stress. After all, uniting two packs was no easy feat. But this distance had given way to an uncertainty, a doubt that gnawed at me.
I left my room, driven by an impulse that I did not understand. The laughter had faded away, going upstairs. My feet guided me almost in spite of myself, climbing the wooden stairs that creaked under my weight. Each step brought me closer to a truth I wasn't sure I wanted to know. As I arrived in front of Darek 's bedroom door, I heard a muffled whisper, followed by a burst of laughter. That laugh... It struck me like a blade. It was that of Aria, my sister.
I placed my hand on the handle, hesitating for a second before pushing the door open. What I saw in that moment broke something inside me. Darek stood near the bed, his bare torso illuminated by the last rays of the sun. His arms surrounded Aria, their faces close, their knowing looks. There was an intimacy in their closeness that I could not deny. Aria wore a smile I'd never seen on her, a mixture of triumph and passion. She gently caressed Darek 's face, and whispered something to him that I didn't hear. My breath caught.
- Darek ? I managed to say, my voice shaking.
They froze. Aria turned to me, her smile disappearing immediately. She looked surprised, but not guilty. No, in her eyes I only saw distrust, as if she was mocking my pain. Darek looked down, unable to meet my gaze. This silence, this suspended moment, lasted an eternity.
- Lyana , it's not... started Darek , but I cut it off.
- Not what I believe? I spat, feeling tears welling up. So, explain to me. Explain to me why you, my fiancé, are in the arms of my own sister on the eve of our wedding.
He didn't respond. Aria, on the other hand, spoke up, her voice sharp.
- Maybe because he doesn't really love you. Maybe because you and I know he deserves better.
His tone chilled me. How could she say that? How could she betray her own sister with such coldness? I looked for a hint of regret in his eyes, but there was nothing. Just pride, as if savoring her victory.
I didn't wait for a response from Darek . He had already said everything I needed to know through his silence. Without another word, I turned on my heel and left the room. My heart was beating so hard it felt like it was going to explode. Tears flowed freely down my cheeks as I walked down the stairs. Every glance I met in the hallway seemed accusatory, as if everyone knew, as if their complicity in this betrayal was suffocating me.
I went out into the open air, trying to escape this house which had become a tomb. The cold night wind hit me, but I didn't slow down. I needed to get away, to escape. Where, I didn't know yet. All I knew was that I couldn't stay here any longer. Not after what I had seen. Not after what they did to me.
As I passed by the stables, I picked up a horse, a black mare that I particularly liked. She seemed to sense my distress, for she did not resist when I hastily saddled her. Within minutes, I was on his back, galloping through the woods that bordered our territory. Each beat of his hooves against the ground resonated within me like an echo of my anger and my pain.
The trees passed around me, their dark silhouettes swaying in the light of the moon. I didn't know where I was going, but that didn't matter. All that mattered was getting away from this nightmare, putting as much distance between me and them as possible. My thoughts were swirling, a mix of happy memories and raw pain. How did we get here? When had Aria decided that I was no longer her sister, but an enemy? And Darek ...Did he ever really care about me?
After what seemed like hours, I slowed down. The mare was panting loudly, and I knew I couldn't push her any further. I stopped in a clearing, the silence of the night enveloping me. Dismounting, I dropped to my knees, hands in the cold earth. The tears began to flow again, but this time there was no one to see them. No one to judge my weakness.
- For what ? I whispered, my voice lost in the darkness. Why me?
The wind blew, cold and merciless, like a silent response. I let myself go, crying for everything I had never dared to show. The pain, the betrayal, the loneliness... everything poured into me like a devastating wave.
That's when I heard voices. Faint, almost indistinct, but close enough to catch my attention. I got up, wiping my tears quickly. As I approached discreetly, I saw a group of men around a campfire. Their appearance was not that of simple travelers. They wore worn but practical clothes, their faces marked by scars and a hardness I didn't recognize.
I hid behind a tree, listening. One of them spoke, his voice deep and hoarse.
- Draven Nightshade won't wait. He wants an answer, and he wants it now.
The name made me shiver. Draven Nightshade . An Alpha about whom the worst stories were told. He was said to rule his territory with an iron fist, ruthless towards his enemies and even his allies. Some claimed that he was cursed, that his thirst for power had no limits. But he was also feared, and for good reason: no pack had ever dared to challenge his authority without paying the price.
- Do you think he'll help us? asked another, younger man. We are nothing to him.
- If we have what he wants, he will listen, replied the first. And what he wants is chaos.
Chaos. This word resonated in me, like a dangerous but tempting promise. Maybe that was what I needed. No forgiveness, no reconciliation. Just an opportunity to destroy everything, like they had destroyed my life.
I stayed hidden, listening to every word, every detail about this Alpha who seemed to embody everything I both feared and desired. And for the first time since I left home, an idea came to me. A crazy, dangerous idea, but strangely liberating. If I couldn't get revenge alone, maybe an Alpha like Draven Nightshade could help me.
This is how, in the darkness of this clearing, my decision was sealed. My future no longer belonged to my pack, to Darek , or to Aria. I would build my future with my own hands, even if it meant burning everything that stood in my way.
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