CROWNED BY BLOOD

dding dress catching on brambles and roots. The pain of Marcus's rejection throbbed like an open wound, echoing in my bones, my blood. My wolf whimpered inside

through the trees, painting my shredded gown with silver. My hands trembled as I pressed them again

ia's. Barefoot, deliberate. I sat up, every instinct on alert. A sce

adows, a fi

her pale lavender robes shimmered in the moonlight. He

voice a melody, impossibly

aked, dragging myself backward. "You'

et calming. Her fingers brushed the blood from my mouth where I'd bitt

said finally. "Though

eal. Her hand, solid. This wasn'

rushing my matted hair from

le. My grandmother died duri

ect you. Just as I protected her. Our enemies believed I died in the

n my ribs flaring again. "Why

lood has awakened. And because your heart has

nroot, and something that shimmered with faint silver sparks. Pressing her hand to my chest, j

est dulled to a throb. The dizziness faded,

ou," I w

more than you should have. B

s slipping silently dow

into the folds of her robe, pulling out a polished mirr

own eyes, Luna.

reaked face, eyes glowing like twin flames in the moonlight. Not

itted, voice trembli

. "You are the last living descendant of the royal lin

head. "No. That's not... I'm

y is more powerful than any Alpha, any pack. When the royal bloodline was hunted to extinction, your parents sacrificed everyt

ocess it. "My

ne to live in hiding with your father, a warrior sworn to protect her.

"Why would Marcus, why woul

more than them. Even Marcus sensed it, even if he couldn't name it. That's why he rejected

truth was too big to h

.. a

Celeste confirmed. "And n

itches, heat rising from beneath the surface of my fle

appening?

ping back. "Your tr

ing from within. I screamed, the sound echoing through the forest, half-human, half-beast.

hif

lengthened, my back arched, and when I collapsed

Alpha, broader, more radiant. My fur shimmered under the moonligh

led with awe. "By the goddess... you

e trees trembled. Sparks lit the air around my paws. My claws carved grooves in th

, her voice steady. "B

's betrayal, Victoria's smile, the pack's laughter. I howled, l

e not just a wolf," she said. "You are the h

the chaos inside began to still. My breathing

n, with a final bre

leste's arms. She wrapped me in her cl

dn't stop it

trolled it. Your power is not your enemy, Luna.

her, exhausted. "

become what you were born

uth and possibility. But then Celeste's fac

s it?"

d, voice low. "Someone has been se

ense. "

nt. Older than Marcus. Older than most. He has wai

asked, he

y you but to protect you. He believes th

who i

e Alpha, the only one who ever matched your bloodline in str