Moonlight retribution: The Alpha's regret

yielding, like the glare I know is waiting in the crowd. My name is Raina Adler, and tonight should have been the fulfillment of m

ian Cross-Alpha heir, campus royalty, and the man I believed would claim me as his mate. His posture is impeccable:

oms through the amphithea

again, bringing it to my lips. The liquid is icy gold on my tongue, an elixir charged with silver-light magic. I swal

the light. He opens his mouth to speak, but the syllables die on his tongue. My he

Lucian finally into

fal

o n

elders' brows knit in confusion. Panic curls in my chest-until

say, voice clear as glass. The words echo, shattering centuries of tradition. The s

drains of color. His jaw twitches. His storm-gray eyes bore into

s onto the dais. "Im

k so his fury ricochets past me. "By cho

I hold up a hand, letting my power shimmer around my form like

s expression. Then he straightens, face a mask of controlled fury. He picks u

I tell him, voice cool. "I'll recl

nd "witch" swirl around me. My ears burn, but I refuse to waver. The

e tries to speak. But I turn on my heel, ignoring the protests that rise be

e and moss; the chanting voices behind me fade into distant echoes. My chest heaves, not

ng Luna. Moonlight filters through its twisted branches, casting shifting patterns on the fores

ancient pact-cast me aside like a broken chalice. And yes, it hurts. My heart pulses w

cold resolve. I will not beg for what's mine. I will not kneel before hollow tit

clearing. It's Damian Reed-Lucian's beta enforcer, loyal as a dog who doesn't question the leash. His s

thick in his tone. "Everyone thoug

adjusting my hood. "I'

awkwardly. "I-I heard w

him, watching the way his ja

y face and the sigil peeking fro

's a reminder of how far I've

d an ally..." His voice

n this pack. But I saw the doubt in his eyes when he carried out Lucian's orders. I fe

pocket. "But know this: I'm not your Luna. Not ye

ion igniting in his sta

hind me like a curtain. Tonight is only the beginning. The pack beli

one that ends with Lucian Cross on his kne

ll make