Astra's POV
Astra woke up with a start, her heart racing. She jumped to her feet, ready to fight, but her legs wobbled and she fell back onto the soft bed. Wait—bed?
The last thing she remembered was Lyra's face as she shot her with a dart. Her own sister had betrayed her. And Damon too.
"You're awake," a deep voice said.
Astra's head snapped up. Alaric stood in the doorway, his face hard as stone. The partner mark on her arm tingled at his presence.
"What happened?" Astra asked. "Where's Lyra? And Damon?"
"Gone." Alaric walked into the room. "They escaped during the attack."
"Attack?" Astra's head was foggy. "The Silver Claws..."
"Were a distraction," Alaric said, his voice tight with anger. "While everyone was fighting, Lyra and her friend took what they wanted and vanished."
"He's not her friend," Astra said, though now she wasn't sure. Had Damon been lying to her all along? "How long was I out?"
"Two days."
Astra's eyes widened. "Two days? What did they shoot me with?"
"Moon sleep poison. Only an Alpha's blood could wake you." Alaric held up his hand, showing a fresh cut across his palm. "I had to feed you my blood while you slept."
Astra felt sick. "You put your blood in my mouth while I was unconscious?"
"It was that or let you sleep forever." Alaric's eyes flashed with anger. "You're welcome."
Before Astra could answer, a bell rang somewhere in the castle.
"Get dressed," Alaric demanded, pointing to clothes laid out at the foot of the bed. "The pack is waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"For their Luna."
Twenty minutes later, Astra stood beside Alaric in the big hall. Hundreds of dogs stared at her with cold, suspicious eyes. The quiet was so heavy Astra could barely breathe.
"Brothers and sisters of the Northern Pack," Alaric's voice boomed through the hall. "The Moon Goddess has chosen. This is Astra, my mate and your Luna."
Not a single person clapped. Someone at the back booed.
"She is a rogue," a woman yelled. Her beautiful face was twisted with hate. "A nobody!"
"Silence, Selene," Alaric ordered. "The mate mark doesn't lie."
He grabbed Astra's arm and lifted it, showing everyone the crescent moon and stars that marked her as his. The mark glowed blue under his touch.
"I don't care what the mark says," Selene continued, stepping forward. Her long red hair swayed as she moved. "She doesn't belong here. She'll never be my Luna."
Many wolves nodded in agreement.
"The law is clear," Alaric said, his voice dangerous. "She is my mate, and therefore your Luna. Anyone who challenges this will answer to me."
The threat in his words made the room go quiet. Even Selene stepped back, though her eyes still burned with hate.
"This doesn't change our arrangement," Alaric said to Astra, his voice low so only she could hear. "Don't expect me to love you. This is job, nothing more."
Astra's cheeks burned with shame. Everyone was watching, and they all heard him reject her.
"Don't worry," she whispered back. "I'd rather kiss a snake than love someone like you."
Something flashed in Alaric's eyes—surprise, maybe even respect. But it was gone in an instant.
"Kael," Alaric called to a young man near the front. " Show Luna Astra to her rooms. "
A boy maybe a year or two younger than Astra stepped forward. He had friendly brown eyes and a kind smile.
"This way, Luna," Kael said, bending slightly.
As they left the hall, Astra felt everyone's eyes burning into her back. Whispers followed them down the hallway.
"...rogue trash..." "...probably killed someone..." "...can't believe she's our Luna..."
Astra held her head high, but inside, her heart was breaking. She had always dreamed of meeting her mate, of having a home. But this was a nightmare.
"Don't mind them," Kael said as they walked. "They're just scared of change."
"They hate me," Astra said.
"They don't know you yet." Kael's smile was warm. "I think you're going to surprise everyone."
Astra liked this boy. "Why are you being nice to me?"
Kael shrugged. "I know what it's like to be the outsider. I was born in another pack. My mom brought me here when I was little, after my dad died."
They reached a door at the end of a long hallway—far away from the main rooms of the house.
"These are your quarters," Kael said, opening the door. "The Alpha had them prepared specially."
The room was beautiful but lonely—tucked away in the farthest corner of the castle, as if Alaric wanted to hide her.
"Thank you, Kael," Astra said. "Will I see you tomorrow?"
"Of course, Luna. I'm assigned to be your guide." His eyes twinkled. "And friend, if you'll have me."
After Kael left, Astra explored her new cage. Though the room was nice, with a big bed and even a small living area, she knew it was still a cage. The windows were too small to climb through, and there would be guards outside her door.
A knock made her jump. Hoping it was Kael returning, she opened the door—and found herself face to face with Selene.
"What do you want?" Astra asked, quickly on guard.
Selene pushed past her into the room. "I want you to understand something, rogue. Alaric was mine before you showed up with your mate mark."
"Take him," Astra said. "I don't want him."
"Liar. I see how you look at him." Selene stepped closer. "But it doesn't matter. Alaric will never love you. His heart belongs to someone else."
"I don't care."
"You should." Selene smiled wickedly. "Because that someone is your sister."
Astra felt like she'd been hit. "What?"
"Lyra and Alaric have been lovers for years. Why do you think he hid her from the world? To protect her, yes, but also to keep her for himself." Selene watched Astra's face with evil joy. "The mate mark is just a trick of the Moon Goddess. It means nothing compared to real love."
"Get out," Astra whispered, her hands shaking.
"Gladly." Selene walked to the door but turned back. "Oh, and if you're thinking of running away, don't worry. Alaric has your smell now. He'll hunt you down like the animal you are."
When the door closed, Astra sank to the floor. Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Crying was for the weak, and she couldn't be weak. Not here, not now.
She looked at the mate mark on her arm. If what Selene said was true, then this mark was just another cruel joke the world had played on her.
Astra was so lost in her thoughts she almost didn't hear the soft tapping at her window. When she looked up, her heart stopped.
A small paper bird was tapping against the glass. Magic. Someone was using moon magic to send her a message.
With shaking hands, Astra opened the window and took the paper bird. It unfolded itself in her palm, showing a message written in blood: "The prophecy is in danger. Your sister plans to kill Alaric at the full moon and take his power. Only you can stop her. Meet me at the old oak tree at midnight. Come alone. —D " D. Damon. The friend who had betrayed her. Or had he?
Astra looked out the window at the rising moon. It would be full tomorrow night.
She had a choice to make: trust the boy who might have lied to her for years, or let her sister kill the mate she didn't want.
And time was running out.