Moons forbidden claim

comes when predators gather in one place. As we approached the front door, I could smell unfamiliar scents layered be

plained, noting my hesitation. "

ad happened, and the idea of facing a room full of werew

about the silver wolf. My pack needs to see that you're real, that you're under my pr

un

ran's voice was matter of fact, but I caught the under

g my shoulders. "Okay. But I

self. The pack will sense your power they alr

an into a large living room where about fifteen people were gathered, all of them turning

all shared the same underlying intensity I'd noticed in Kieran and Elena. These

fear. Instead, something deep inside me stirred, rec

ding immediate attention. "I present Lyra Chen, daughter of th

led wolves, and I caught fragme

idge blo

hey were a

just like the

ely recognized the family resemblance to Kieran. Same dark hair, same amber

ing his hand. "Kieran's brother and

I felt a flash of something acceptance, maybe, or recognition of pack bonds

plied, surprised by how

as Reed, our head of security. Sarah Martinez, who handles our business int

felt the pack bonds strengthening. It was unlike anything I'd ever experi

e seemed please

p from the back of the room. "We know nothing about her beyond her bloodline. St

o drop several degrees, and I felt K

udgment, Rebecca?" His vo

ed, not backing down despite the obvious displeasure of her Alpha. "She shifted tonight for the first time, with no control and no underst

this wasn't just about me. This was about pack politics, ab

at me in shock. "I don't know anything about your world or your laws. I've been human for twenty-four y

e, clearly not expecti

e directly, "I'm a fast learner. An

Rebecca said

n warned, but s

, show us you're worthy of

laser focused on me, waiting to see how I would respond. Kieran was practically vi

challenge?"

y. "Combat. Shifted form. First to yi

u're a trained warrior, Rebecca. Lyra

t ready to lead us," R

d down now, I'd never have the pack's respect. But fighting a trained

my life afraid of what I was. Then I thought about the rage that had consumed m

," I said

een panic. "Lyra, you don't understand what you're agreeing to. Rebecca has b

his gaze steadily. "You said the pack nee

I could see the internal struggle playing out across his

. Elena will be present as healer. The challenge ends

ed with herself. "Agreed. The

to file outside, K

urgently. "I can handle Rebecca's i

er that? I can't hide behind your authority forever,

something shift in his expression. Pride, m

softly. "But please, be careful. I j

I rose on my toes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. The contact sent that familiar jolt o

" I whispered against his mou

e mate bond pulse between us like a living thing. When we

he said

ok silver in the artificial brightness. The pack had formed a rough circle, givin

workout clothes that showed off a physique that was all lean muscle and

ck out," she calle

ieran's borrowed sweater and kicking off

fune

a formal challenge for pack position, witnessed by Shadow Moon leadership. The rules are simple:

. She was grinning now, confiden

," she

eg

ler than Kieran's but built for speed and agility, with tawny fur and intelligent

strength that had come so naturally during the attack. For a terrifying mo

ebecca

the next I was silver and powerful and very, very angry. Rebecca's teeth had been aimed at my throat, but m

cca, though not as massive as Kieran had been. Everything felt different sharper, more inten

he'd expected an easy victory against an untrained opponent, but t

meet her, our bodies colliding with enough force to shake the ground. Her

accepted defeat gracefully and tried to e

, I got

mal, absolute, the fury of a creature that would not be dominated. Power flowed through

s, the moon-touched, the ones who sp

se powers were ver

ss the meadow. She rolled to her feet, shaking her head in confusion, an

edator who had just discove

ents changed around me fear mixed with awe, respect tinged with wariness. Even Kieran's

ed against her skull in a gesture of

rly as I could, my mental voice carrying

ately, exposing her throat in t

ation easier this time though no less exhausting. Elena was beside me instantly

d formally. "But the challenge was end

the night air. But through it all, I was acutely aware of Kieran's g

e reached me, his fingers gentle

was starting to feel the effects of two t

one of the benefits of our nature." He studie

eel after discovering I had power I'd never imagined, afte

"Like I'm finally becoming w

, back in human form and l

enge was inappropriate, and my concerns were unfo

ssion gracefully. "But your concerns weren'

peaking for the pack. "All of us

xcitedly about what they'd witnessed, Kiera

e tonight," h

I was in com

d. "I've seen silver wolves in the old texts, in the prophecies. They'

sked, though I wasn't sure

uestion seriously,

u. That kind of power comes with a price. And afraid

phone buzzed with an incoming message.

s it?"

the regional Alphas. Tomorrow night." Kieran's voic

kind o

hts. Trial by combat." Kieran's

he weight of destiny settl

f you

m, and there's nothing

to face. In less than fortyeight hours, my life had gone from predictably mundane t

e you don't lose," I said, trying

or the first time since I'd met him, I saw th

an to," he

I couldn't shake the feeling that this