RISE, LUNA OF ASHES

LENT C

od paralyzed in the center of the ceremonial ring. Surrounding her were the wolves of the pack, their massive, silver-furred forms shifting un

is. It had been a revelation of starlight and instinct, a promise written in the ancient laws of their kind, but he had offered her nothing in return. He had not spoken a single word to her; there was no sof

ot from

't he say

t a mi

er tears. She did not flinch when the Elders exchanged heavy, worried glances, nor did she falter when the ceremonial drums fell into an abrupt, suffocating quiet, and she certainly did not look away when J

e an abandoned relic at the foot of the stone altar, where the white-hot glow of the Moonlight still burned with an intense, judging bri

IN THE CO

f the hearth fire that cast long, dancing shadows across the heavy stone walls. Alpha Rex stood before the semi-circle of Elders with his arms folded tightly across his

ith gleaming, analytical eyes until Elder Mave, the oldest among them, with her silver hair braided i

and in doing so, you have insulted th

f the room like an arctic draft, "and where there is no claim, there i

he unmistakable edge of sharpened steel, "as the bond was witnessed by every single Alpha-blooded wolf

ed to accept her hand," Rex growled, his gaze hardening as Elder

Rylo argued softly, "and we all witnessed the sacred light that envelope

features as he uttered a single, calculated falsehood: "And yet, despite

the world split wide open, and his inner wolf had lunged forward against its restraints like a wild beast that had been caged for a lifetime, but he had

e was J

t comprehend what such a rejection does to the delicate balance of our pack’s power, or to the sacred strength of our bloodlines? A Luna is not merely a c

to me," Rex snarled, the threat in his

ut she is not the Goddess

dropping into a dangerous, gravelly growl tha

ring into the young Alpha's soul. "Are you entirely certain this is not merely your pride speaking, Alpha, or perhaps a hidden fear? You are the most powerful leader this

I do not love Gina," he muttered, his voice devoid of its previous anger, sounding only cold and final, "I barely know her name, whereas I grew up alongside Jessica, I

just denied," Mave whispered, her partin

ON YBE S

he folds of her woolen cloak as she stared up at the vast, uncaring sky. She did not cry, for tears felt far too fragile, too soft for the violent, agonizing he

leeding inside her soul, while her inner wolf remained completely silent, cur

select me from across the borders, why pull me into his world, if the only purpose was to

a wished to avoid above all others. Jessica stepped out onto the landing, moving with the effortless, triumphant grace of someone who had already cl

the dark," Jessica said, her voice dripping with a s

te the storm raging inside her. "You have what you wanted, Jes

friendly warning, because you need to understand that Rex belongs to me, and he always has, even if he seems a little confused by whatever trick of the light ha

ca's smug face, "and no matter how much you try to deny it to yourself, you fe

before she quickly recovered herself, her sweet, toxic smile returning to her lips as she stood up to leave. "Pe

GHT OF

spiritual bond had been felt by all and the divine light had been witnessed, the Alpha’s refusal to cla

in the lower levels of the castle, where she sat staring into a dying hearth fire, feeling entirely numb as she tried t

he high stone window, the silent wolf within her finally stirr

u

ly packed her few belongings into her satchel, slipping out of the quiet chamber before the council could summon her back for further interrogation, before the s

that marked the edge of the pack's territory, a sudden, blinding wave of spiritual pain ripped through her entire being. It was not a physical wound, but rather a