After Daniel introduced everyone to his mate, Mia, I headed upstairs to change into something more comfortable for the festival—and honestly, something cute enough for my meeting with the Moon Goddess later tonight.
Now that I thought about it…
I hadn't been to a real festival in years.
So I kept it simple.
Dark jeans, a black crop top, my favorite leather jacket, and high-top sneakers. I tied my platinum hair into a high ponytail, checked myself twice in the mirror, then headed downstairs to meet everyone.
Daniel and Mia were waiting near the entrance.
"Where is everyone else?" I asked while grabbing my jacket.
"Well," Mia answered softly, "Alpha Matthew went to check on Luna Sophia. She's about to give birth to the future Alpha."
"And everyone else ditched you because they thought you'd take forever picking an outfit," Daniel added with a laugh. "If only they actually knew you."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Easy, Daniel," I warned calmly. "Remember, I know more about you than your parents and your mate combined."
His laughter died instantly.
Daniel knew better than anyone that I could expose every secret he'd ever hidden from his parents.
"Come on, Yu!" he yelped while running after me. "You promised to take my secrets to the grave!"
I stopped walking and looked over my shoulder slowly.
"I know," I said with a dangerous smile. "But don't tempt me."
Mia burst out laughing while Daniel looked genuinely terrified.
The three of us headed toward the festival together.
And honestly?
It was amazing.
Lanterns glowed across the mountain village while music echoed through the trees. Wolves danced around massive bonfires while children ran through the streets with sweets and glowing ribbons.
For the first time in years…
I felt free.
No hiding.
No pretending.
Just peace.
Then the screaming started.
One scream came from near the Ferris wheel.
Another erupted near the docks.
Then chaos exploded everywhere.
"DAMON!" I mind-linked instantly. "What's happening?"
"Yui," Beta Damon answered sharply, "rogues are attacking across the festival grounds! Get somewhere safe!"
I nearly growled aloud.
"You seriously think I'm going to sit back while some rogue mongrels destroy the family I just found?" I snapped through the link. "Are you out of your damn mind?"
Then I let Serenity take over.
She'd been craving battle all night.
The fighting was brutal.
Most of Matthew's warriors were newly trained and completely unprepared for a coordinated attack. Half of them panicked while the other half fought recklessly without formation.
New recruits always irritated me.
Too much confidence.
Not enough discipline.
They needed real generals.
Real warriors.
Through the chaos, I sensed Matthew struggling.
Serenity bolted toward him instantly.
My heart nearly shattered when I saw little Princess Valissa fighting beside her father, desperately protecting her pregnant mother.
Three rogues had Matthew cornered.
Without hesitation, Serenity lunged directly into the middle of them.
And then—
Everything stopped.
The air itself trembled.
Silver light flooded the battlefield.
The Moon Goddess appeared.
Every wolf froze instantly.
Her presence alone felt powerful enough to shake the mountains themselves.
"Disgraceful creatures," she said coldly, her voice echoing across the land. "How dare you spill blood upon the sacred grounds of my birth?"
The rogues trembled violently before her.
"You abandoned the path I created for your kind," she continued, pain flickering behind her glowing eyes. "If you choose to follow that man, then you shall do so without the blessings I gave you."
With a single wave of her hand—
Every rogue vanished.
Gone.
Just like that.
Silence consumed the battlefield.
Then every wolf dropped to their knees before her.
The Goddess turned toward them gently.
"Rise, my children," she said softly. "I have come to speak with my true-blood daughter."
Her eyes landed on me.
"Yui."
I immediately bowed my head.
"Mother."
The Moon Goddess smiled warmly and pulled me into an embrace.
"Oh, my precious child," she whispered. "You should never bow before me. You are my equal… and perhaps my greatest creation."
Tears nearly filled my eyes hearing those words.
As we walked through the destroyed festival grounds, flowers bloomed beneath her feet while wounded wolves healed simply from her presence.
"Mother," I asked quietly, "why did you bring me here?"
Her expression saddened slightly.
"My child… after your graduation, you must leave home."
The words hit me harder than any attack ever could.
"You cannot remain with your parents," she continued gently. "You must journey south to my brother's bloodline. My nephew, Jonathan, will be waiting for you there. You will stay under his protection until you reach the age of twenty-one."
My chest tightened painfully.
Four years.
Four years away from my parents.
"Why?" I whispered brokenly. "Why can't I return home while learning to lead my clan?"
The Goddess sighed softly.
"Because your earthly parents have already accepted this fate."
I froze.
"The night you were born," she explained, "I came to your mother in her dreams. I warned her this day would come."
I could barely breathe.
"I also promised your parents another child," she continued. "A future Alpha blessed with the strength of my father, Great Alpha James. He will protect your homeland until the proper time comes."
"But by then…" My voice cracked. "By the time he becomes Alpha, I'll already be mated. I won't have time with my family anymore."
The Goddess gently cupped my face.
"My little white princess… your mate will return you to your family when the time is right."
Her expression darkened suddenly.
"But if you return too early… disaster will fall upon your clan."
A cold fear settled into my chest.
"That man who hunted me long ago now hunts my descendants," she whispered painfully. "The daughters and sons born from my bloodline are no longer safe."
Silver tears shimmered in her eyes.
"And I will not allow my children to suffer the same fate I once endured."