"Lila, are you sneaking out again?" a soft voice whispered from the small cabin.
Lila froze at the doorway, her hand gripping the old wooden frame. "Go back to sleep, Rina. I won't be long."
Her younger sister rubbed her eyes and sat up on the bed. "If they catch you…"
"They won't," Lila cut in quickly, pulling the hood of her old cloak over her silver hair. "Just don't tell anyone."
Rina sighed. "You always say that."
Lila slipped out before her sister could argue more. The night air in Ember Hollow was cool, and the forest that stretched behind their cabin felt like the only place where she could breathe. The Crescent Shadow Pack had rules. Rules that didn't favor girls like her, the daughter of a disgraced Omega. People whispered when she walked past. They smirked, shook their heads, or turned away as if her presence dirtied the air.
But in the forest, no one whispered. No one judged. Here, she could train.
She reached the clearing she had chosen months ago. A circle of stones, grass worn down from her secret practice. Lila tossed her cloak aside and took a deep breath. Her fists came up, and she began to move.
she began punching, kicking and dodging.
She had watched the warriors train from afar and she had memorized their steps, and practiced until her muscles ached. She wasn't allowed near the training grounds, but no one could stop her from copying in secret.
Her breath came fast as she landed a sharp kick against the tree she used as her opponent, bark chipped off. She wiped sweat from her brow and whispered to herself, "One day, they'll see I'm not weak. One day."
"Training alone again?"
Lila spun, her heart jumping into her throat. Damon leaned against a tree at the edge of the clearing, arms folded, his mouth curved in a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Don't sneak up on me like that," she muttered, grabbing her cloak.
He pushed off the tree and walked closer. "You're wasting your time. No matter how strong you think you are, the Alpha will never let you stand with the warriors."
"I don't need his permission."
Damon's grin widened, though it still looked fake, sharp. "Brave words from someone who hides in the forest like a thief."
Lila narrowed her eyes. "Why are you even here?"
"Because," he said smoothly, "I like to know what everyone is doing. Secrets have a way of spreading." He tilted his head, studying her. "Careful, Lila. You wouldn't want the Alpha to hear of this."
She bit back a reply. Damon always acted friendly in public, but alone, his words cut. She couldn't trust him.
Before she could say more, a howl rose in the distance. It wasn't just any howl, it was the alpha's.
Damon's expression shifted, more serious now. "Looks like the pack is being summoned."
Lila's stomach tightened. She pulled on her cloak and hurried back toward the village, leaving Damon's false smile behind.
***
The village lights glowed against the trees as she stepped into the heart of Ember Hollow. The pack was already gathering, men and women moving quickly toward the center. The Great Clearing was where Alpha Kael ruled, and when he called, no one ignored him.
Lila kept her hood low, not wanting eyes on her. But even then, she heard the whispers.
"That's her. The Omega's daughter." one of the villagers said.
"Why is she even here?" Another whispered.
"She shouldn't show her face."
She clenched her fists inside her cloak. She wanted to scream at them, to tell them she was stronger than they thought. Instead, she kept walking.
Near the front, Alpha Kael stood tall on the raised platform. His dark hair was cut short, his jaw sharp, his eyes cold as ice. Even from a distance, his presence pressed down on the pack. Warriors lined behind him, silent and disciplined.
Kael lifted his hand, and the voices of the crowd died instantly.
"Tomorrow," he said, his voice hard and commanding, "the Moon will reveal our mates."
Gasps rippled through the pack.
Lila's chest tightened. The mate ceremony, it was tomorrow.
Kael continued, "No one will question the bond the Moon grants and no one will refuse it. Those who dare to stand against it will answer to me." His gaze swept over the crowd like a blade, daring anyone to challenge him.
Lila shifted uneasily. His voice carried power, but also something colder, like he was warning them rather than blessing the event.
At her side, two women whispered.
"Imagine if the Moon gave him a mate he doesn't want."
"He would reject her on the spot. You know he would."
Lila's throat felt dry. She didn't know why, but her chest ached hearing those words.
Kael lowered his hand. "Go. Prepare yourselves. Tomorrow, destiny speaks."
The pack began to break apart, some with excitement, others with nervous chatter. Lila turned to leave, but she froze as Kael's eyes swept over the crowd and landed on her.
For just a second.
Her breath caught. His gaze was sharp and unreadable, but it was there, he saw her. Then, just as quickly, he looked away.
Damon appeared again at her side, smirking. "Careful, Lila. The Alpha noticed you."
She pulled her hood tighter. "Don't start."
But her heart beat faster. She didn't know why, but she felt something strange stir inside her chest. Like the Moon was whispering to her.
She shook her head and walked faster, ignoring Damon's chuckle behind her.
***
Later that night, she returned to her small cabin. Rina sat at the table, her eyes wide. "I heard it's tomorrow," she whispered.
"Yes." Lila sat down, her fingers trembling slightly. "The mate ceremony."
"Do you think the Moon will choose for you?" Rina asked carefully.
Lila gave a small laugh, though it didn't sound real. "For me? No. I'm the last person anyone would expect to have a mate. Not someone like me."
Her sister frowned. "But the Moon doesn't care about whispers, right?"
Lila hesitated. She wanted to believe that, she really did. But she remembered the cold way Kael had looked at the pack, the way he had looked at her. Something told her tomorrow would change everything.
Before she could answer, a horn sounded outside. It was Loud and sharp, echoing through Ember Hollow.
Lila jumped to her feet. Rina gasped.
"That's the pack horn," Lila said. Her chest tightened. "They're calling us again."
The sound carried a message everyone understood. This wasn't for tomorrow. It was for now.
Rina's voice shook. "What's happening?"
Lila pulled her cloak around her and opened the door. Torches were already lighting the paths as pack members rushed past, their faces filled with confusion.
"The Great Clearing," someone shouted. "The Alpha has called us again!"
Lila's heart hammered. She grabbed Rina's hand. "Come on."
Together, they ran into the night, following the stream of pack members toward the clearing. The air felt heavy, charged, like something big was about to happen.
When they reached the Great Clearing, the warriors were already lined up. Alpha Kael stood on the platform again, his presence even sharper than before. Damon slipped into the crowd near the front, glancing back at her with that same sly smile.
Kael's voice rang out, clear and cold.
"The Moon has spoken sooner than expected," he said. His gaze swept over them, cutting through the crowd like a blade. "The mate ceremony be
gins now."
Gasps, Shouts and shock rippled through the pack.
Lila froze, her stomach twisting hard.
It was happening tonight.