Chapter 1 - The Broken Wolf the Alpha Finally Saw
Everyone in the Silver Crest Pack knew Lyra Blackwood would never be chosen.
Especially Lyra.
At twenty-two, she had spent most of her life hearing the same whispers.
Broken.
Weak.
Defective.
Lyra could not shift properly.
Whenever she tried, the transformation became an agonizing nightmare—bones beginning to change before stopping halfway, her wolf trapped somewhere between two forms.
In a pack where strength meant everything, Lyra had learned to survive by becoming invisible.
So on the night of Silver Crest’s sacred mating ceremony, she stood behind an old oak tree carrying ceremonial herbs instead of wearing jewels.
She wasn't there to be chosen.
She was there to serve.
“Lyra.”
Her aunt Marin caught her wrist.
“Stop hiding.”
Lyra glanced toward the seven beautiful women standing inside the ancient stone circle.
“I shouldn't even be here.”
“You're unmated and of age. Pack law requires your attendance.”
Lyra gave a bitter smile.
“They don't want me as a candidate.”
Her fingers touched the silver crescent pendant around her neck—the only thing she had left from her mother, Elena, who had died protecting her during a rogue attack when Lyra was seven.
“They want me to pour the wine.”
Before Marin could answer, the entire clearing fell silent.
Alpha Nathaniel Thorne had arrived.
Thirty-five years old.
Nearly a decade as Alpha.
And still unmated.
Women from powerful families had been presented to him year after year.
He had rejected every one.
Tonight, however, everyone believed that would change.
Because Kira was waiting.
Beautiful.
Powerful.
A flawless fighter with a perfect wolf and prestigious bloodline.
Everything Lyra was not.
Kira approached while Lyra filled the ceremonial goblets.
“Try not to embarrass yourself tonight,” she whispered.
Lyra kept pouring.
“I’m only doing my job.”
Kira smiled cruelly.
“Exactly. Remember your place.”
She walked away.
Lyra swallowed the familiar pain.
Then the presentations began.
One by one, seven women offered themselves to Nathaniel.
He remained expressionless.
Until Kira.
“My Alpha,” she said confidently, presenting her goblet, “my strength will become your strength. My loyalty will never waver.”
Nathaniel drank.
For the first time all evening…
He smiled.
Lyra’s heart sank for reasons she refused to examine.
It was over.
Kira would become Luna.
Lyra began slipping toward the trees.
Then—
“ALPHA!”
Two border warriors burst into the ceremony carrying a bloodied third man.
“The Black Claw Pack crossed the eastern boundary!”
Nathaniel was standing before anyone else moved.
“How many?”
“At least twenty. More behind them.”
The injured warrior struggled for breath.
“They killed Thomas.”
Chaos exploded.
Children screamed.
Warriors shifted.
Nathaniel’s voice thundered above them all.
“Warriors with me! Council, move the children and elders to the ceremonial cave!”
Lyra stood frozen.
She couldn't fight.
Couldn't shift.
Couldn't protect anyone.
Then Aunt Marin grabbed her.
“Go to the healing den.”
Lyra blinked.
“What?”
“You know herbs. You know wounds.”
Marin pushed her toward the path.
“Tonight, that's your strength.”
Within minutes, Lyra was grinding yarrow and preparing poultices while wounded warriors poured into the healing den.
Blood covered her hands.
Outside, wolves howled and fought.
But Lyra kept working.
Fifteen poultices.
Then twenty.
When word came that Black Claw fighters were circling toward the settlement, every noncombatant was ordered into the ceremonial cave.
Healer Tessa shoved the finished medicines into Lyra's hands.
“Take these.”
“I can stay.”
“You'll be needed there more.”
So Lyra ran.
Alone.
Through a forest crawling with enemies.
Halfway to the cave, she heard movement.
A massive shifted wolf appeared through the trees.
Black fur.
Enemy scent.
Lyra dropped behind a fallen log.
The Black Claw scout stopped.
Sniffed.
Turned toward her.
Lyra covered her mouth.
Her heart pounded so violently she thought he would hear it.
Then Nathaniel's Alpha howl ripped through the night.
The enemy turned toward the sound.
And disappeared.
Lyra ran.
She reached the cave shaking but alive.
Then she went straight back to work.
For hours, she cleaned wounds.
Stopped bleeding.
Comforted frightened children.
Helped exhausted elders.
She never noticed the blood drying across her dress.
She never noticed her hands beginning to shake.
She certainly didn't notice when Alpha Nathaniel Thorne entered the cave after leading Silver Crest to victory.
But Nathaniel noticed her.
Near dawn, Lyra finally collapsed against a stone wall.
Then someone sat beside her.
She opened her eyes.
Alpha Nathaniel Thorne.
“Alpha!”
She tried to stand.
“Stay.”
She obeyed instantly.
Nathaniel studied her.
“You're the one who can't shift properly.”
Shame burned across her face.
“Yes, Alpha.”
Then he surprised her.
“Healer Tessa says you treated more wounded tonight than almost anyone.”
Lyra stared at her hands.
“I only did what needed to be done.”
“What is your name?”
Her heart skipped.
“Lyra Blackwood.”
Something changed in his expression.
“Elena Blackwood's daughter.”
“You knew my mother?”
“She saved my sister's life.”
Nathaniel's gaze dropped to Lyra's crescent pendant.
“She was brave.”
Lyra fought sudden tears.
Nathaniel stood.
“You should sleep.”
Then he walked away.
Lyra watched him disappear through the cavern.
The Alpha had remembered her mother.
More shocking still…
He had finally seen her.
She closed her eyes.
Only for a minute.
But exhaustion swallowed her.
Lyra woke to warmth.
Movement.
A powerful heartbeat beneath her cheek.
Her eyes fluttered open.
And she nearly screamed.
Nathaniel was carrying her.
In his arms.
Out of the cave.
In broad daylight.
In front of the entire Silver Crest Pack.
“Alpha?”
Nathaniel looked down.
“You're awake.”
“Put me down!”
Several wolves turned toward them.
Lyra wanted the earth to swallow her.
“I can walk!”
“You treated wounded wolves all night.”
His arms tightened slightly.
“Let someone take care of you for once.”
Lyra looked around.
Everyone was staring.
And then she saw Kira.
The beautiful warrior stood motionless among the returning pack members.
Her face had gone white.
“Alpha,” Lyra whispered desperately. “People are watching.”
Nathaniel's mouth curved into the faintest smile.
“I decide what is appropriate in my pack, Lyra Blackwood.”
He knew her name.
Worse—
He carried her all the way to her cabin.
Before leaving, Nathaniel gave her one final command.
“Rest.”
Lyra nodded.
Then he added something that made her heart stop.
“The mating ceremony resumes tonight.”
She forced herself to ask:
“Have you made your choice?”
Nathaniel looked directly into her eyes.
“I hadn't.”
He stepped closer.
“But I have now.”
Then he walked away.
Lyra remained frozen outside her cabin.
Because the Alpha had spent years rejecting beautiful, powerful women.
Kira was waiting for him.
The council expected a strong-blooded Luna.
And Lyra Blackwood couldn't even complete a shift.
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So there was absolutely no reason Nathaniel's final words should have terrified her.
Unless the woman Alpha Nathaniel Thorne had finally chosen wasn't one of the seven candidates at all.
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