Victoria
The won approached in what seed like formation, led by a regal-looking redhead whose graceful movents spoke of decades of pack politics.
"Alpha Leo," she greeted with practiced charm before turning her erald gaze to . "And this must be your... unexpected Luna."
"Luna Regina of the Silver Lake Pack," Leo introduced. "My mate, Victoria Moretti from Howlthorne Pack."
Regina’s smile was calculating as she extended her hand. "Such a pleasure. We were all quite surprised when Leo announced his mating. He’s been... resistant to commitnt for so long."
I shook her hand firmly, eting her gaze. "Sotis the right connection changes everything."
"Hmm, connection," echoed a willowy blonde beside Regina. "Is that what they call it these days?"
"Luna Cassandra," Leo introduced, warning evident in his tone. "Mountain Ridge Pack."
Cassandra’s smile. "Forgive my directness, but we’re all curious. How does a half-human with no awakened wolf captivate one of the most powerful Alphas in the region? It’s quite the fairy tale."
My cheeks burned, but before I could respond, another voice cut in—warm and genuine.
"Perhaps because she offers sothing beyond the typical ambitions we see in pack politics."
A dark-haired woman with kind eyes stepped forward, giving Cassandra a pointed look before turning to . "Luna Elena of Western Woods Pack. Pay Cassandra no mind—she’s still bitter that Alpha Leonard rejected her daughter last spring."
Luna Cassandra’s face flushed with anger as nervous titters spread through the group.
"Victoria," Leo interrupted, his expression unreadable, "would you honor with another dance?"
Grateful for the rescue, I took his hand, allowing him to lead back to the dance floor. As we moved away, I heard Elena scolding the others.
"I’m sorry about that," Leo murmured as he pulled close for a slow dance. "Pack politics can be brutal."
"Is it true?" I asked. "About Cassandra’s daughter?"
A wry smile touched his lips. "She tried to orchestrate a mating between us for years. I wasn’t interested."
"And now they think I sohow tricked you into choosing instead." The irony wasn’t lost on —if they only knew our arrangent had begun as a business transaction.
"Let them think what they want," Leo replied, his arms tightening possessively around my waist. "What matters is what’s between us."
As we danced, I noticed a commotion near the refreshnt tables. A tall, handso man was speaking animatedly with Elder Maxwell, repeatedly glancing in our direction.
"Who’s that?" I asked.
Leo’s expression darkened. "Gamma Carson. Ambitious, intelligent, and dangerous in his own way."
"Dangerous how?"
"He believes in purity of bloodlines above all else. He’s been vocal about his... concerns regarding your position as Luna."
As if sensing our attention, Carson looked directly at us, his gaze cold and calculating. He raised his glass in a mock salute before turning back to his conversation.
"Don’t worry about him," Leo assured , though I detected concern in his voice. "I won’t let anyone harm you."
The music changed to sothing more energetic, and other couples filled the dance floor. Leo guided through the crowd, keeping close as we navigated the increasingly rowdy celebration.
"The hunt will begin at midnight," he explained. "After the ceremonial howl, the warriors will depart to track the marked prey. It’s an honor bestowed only on our strongest fighters."
"Will you participate?" I asked.
"As Alpha, I lead the primary hunting party. It’s tradition." His eyes searched mine. "Will you be alright for those few hours without ?"
Before I could answer, a deep voice interrupted us. "Alpha Leo, forgive the intrusion."
We turned to find Carson standing before us, his posture respectful despite the challenge in his eyes. "I wanted to personally welco our new Luna to her first Hunt Festival."
Leo’s arm tightened around my waist. "Carson."
"Luna Victoria," Carson continued, ignoring Leo’s warning tone. "Your presence has certainly... enlivened our traditional gathering. I wonder, though, how you’ll participate in the ceremonial howl without an awakened wolf?"
The question hung in the air like a challenge. Several nearby dancers had slowed to listen.
"The ceremonial howl honors all pack mbers," Leo replied coldly. "Including those whose wolves are yet to awaken."
"Of course," Carson agreed smoothly. "I ant no disrespect. I simply worry that our Luna might feel... excluded from such a aningful ritual."
His concern was clearly feigned, designed to highlight my difference—my weakness—before the pack.
"Your concern is noted," I replied before Leo could intervene, "but unnecessary. I may not howl with my wolf tonight, but I stand proudly with my pack." I held Carson’s gaze steadily. "As Luna, I represent sothing beyond re physical strength. Or hadn’t you realized that?"
A flash of surprise crossed Carson’s features before he masked it with a polite smile. "Indeed. Your... perspective will certainly bring change to Shadow Pack."
"Change can strengthen," Leo stated firmly. "Or hadn’t you realized that, Carson?"
The subtle threat in Leo’s voice wasn’t lost on Carson, who bowed slightly. "Of course, Alpha. I look forward to witnessing this... evolution." With another calculated glance at , he retreated back through the crowd.
"I don’t think I made a friend there," I muttered.
"Carson isn’t looking for friends," Leo replied grimly. "He’s looking for weaknesses to exploit." His expression softened as he looked at . "But you handled him perfectly."
As the night progressed, I found myself alternating between monts of confidence and waves of anxiety. For each welcoming pack mber, there seed to be another waiting to test , to question my worthiness through subtle barbs disguised as innocent questions.
During a brief mont alone while Leo conferred with Beta Tiny about the hunt preparations, I found myself approached by Elena, the kind Alpha’s mate who had defended earlier.
"You’re holding up remarkably well," she comnted, offering a glass of water. "First festivals can be overwhelming, even for born wolves."
"Thank you," I said gratefully, both for the water and her earlier intervention. "It’s... a lot to take in."
"The politics or the prejudice?" she asked knowingly.
"Both. I didn’t expect quite so much..."
"Resistance?" Elena supplied. "Unfortunately, change always faces opposition, especially in wolf society. We tend to be creatures of tradition."
"Did you face this when you beca Luna?" I asked.
A sad smile touched her lips. "Different challenges. I was pure-blooded but from a smaller, less prestigious pack. The criticism was about status rather than species." She glanced around before continuing in a lower voice. "But at least my wolf was awakened. May I ask...?"
"Why mine isn’t?" I finished for her. "My mother was human. The doctors believe my wolf spirit is there but dormant. They’re not sure if or when she’ll awaken."
Elena nodded thoughtfully. "Mixed heritage can complicate things, but it doesn’t an your wolf won’t erge. Sotis they wait for the right mont—a mont of great need or emotion."
Before she could elaborate, Leo returned to my side, his hand automatically finding mine. "The midnight howl approaches," he inford . "We should take our positions."
Elena squeezed my arm encouragingly before rejoining her own mate. As Leo guided back toward the platform, I felt the collective attention of the pack converge on us once more.
"What happens during the ceremonial howl?" I whispered.
"I’ll begin the call," Leo explained. "The pack joins in order of rank. It’s a reaffirmation of our bonds and hierarchy."
"And I just... stand there?" The thought of being silent while everyone else participated made my stomach twist.
Leo’s expression softened. "You stand beside , head held high, heart open to our traditions. That’s more than enough."
As we took our places on the platform, the pack gathered in a great circle around us. The torches were dimd, leaving only moonlight illuminating the gathering. The silence that fell was profound, expectant.
I stood silently at Leo’s side, feeling simultaneously part of this mont and painfully separate from it. My missing wolf had never felt more obvious than in this sacred ritual where I couldn’t fully participate.
Then, sothing I didn’t expect happened. The howls around seed to echo inside my bones, and a strange warmth blood in my chest—pressure building until it felt like my skin might split. My senses flared sharp and bright; for a heartbeat, I swore I could feel every wolf in the clearing—their emotions, their pulse of energy, the invisible threads binding them together.
And then, just as suddenly, it was gone. My body... whatever was happening to it... slipped away. The shift didn’t co. I had failed.
"Victoria," Leo’s voice was low and raw, as if the word scraped out of him. "Your wolf..."
He must have felt it—that flicker of my wolf’s presence—because I closed my eyes, trying to reach her again. I pushed inward, searching the silence in my mind, willing her to answer. Nothing. Just an empty, aching quiet.
Leo’s arms ca around , solid and unyielding. His breath was warm against my hair as he murmured, "There will be another chance."
I didn’t know if he was reassuring or himself, but I let him guide away from the circle.
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