The Eclipse Moon would rise tonight, its rare light casting an ethereal glow over the Crescent Fang territory. There was an unspoken tension in the air, a weight that settled heavily over the pack like a storm about to break. Selene felt it most keenly in her chest-a tightness she couldn't explain.
The village came into view through the trees, the clustered cabins lit by flickering lanterns. Smoke curled from chimneys, mingling with the scent of roasted meat and the ever-present pine. Selene paused at the edge of the clearing, her sharp eyes scanning the busy scene. Wolves in human form moved with purpose, preparing for the sacred gathering that marked the Eclipse Moon.
Her feet refused to move. The whisper of unease she'd felt all day had grown louder, tugging at her resolve like a shadow she couldn't shake. She looked down at her hands, scarred from years of work in the forest, and clenched them into fists. Tonight would change everything-that much, she was sure of.
A low growl startled her from her thoughts. "Selene," a deep voice called from the shadows, rough and familiar.
She turned to see Nyssa leaning against a tree, her leather armor dusted with dirt from training. Her friend's hair was tied back in a messy braid, strands of auburn falling loose to frame her sharp features.
"You've been hiding out here all day," Nyssa said, her piercing green eyes narrowing. "Don't tell me you're avoiding the ceremony."
Selene forced a smile. "I'm not hiding. I was gathering herbs for Elder Ithara."
Nyssa stepped closer, folding her arms across her chest. "You're always gathering herbs, Lina. But tonight is important. The whole pack's been buzzing about the ceremony since dawn."
Selene avoided her friend's gaze. "I know it's important. That's why I-"
"Stop," Nyssa interrupted. "You're terrible at lying. What's really going on?"
The honesty in her friend's tone made Selene hesitate. She sighed and looked toward the horizon, where the first hints of the moon's golden light had begun to creep into the sky. "Something feels... wrong, Nyssa. I can't explain it. The Eclipse Moon, this ceremony-it's like the forest knows something we don't."
Nyssa softened, placing a hand on Selene's shoulder. "The Eclipse Moon is sacred, sure. But it's nothing to fear. Raiden wouldn't let anything happen to the pack."
At the mention of the Alpha, Selene's stomach twisted. Raiden. The man who had haunted her thoughts for weeks. Fierce and stoic, he commanded respect with every glance, every word. He had always seemed untouchable, distant, yet she couldn't deny the pull she felt whenever he was near.
Nyssa smirked knowingly. "Ah, so that's what's got you on edge. You think this is about him, don't you?"
Selene glared at her friend. "Don't be ridiculous."
"Sure," Nyssa said with a grin. "But don't think I haven't noticed the way you go quiet when he's around. You're not the only one who feels it, you know. Half the pack thinks something big is going to happen tonight. Maybe you're part of it."
Selene shook her head, ignoring the heat rising to her cheeks. "You're impossible."
"And you're late," Nyssa shot back, grabbing Selene's arm and dragging her toward the village.
The crowd in the center of the clearing parted as they approached, wolves nodding respectfully to Nyssa, their fiercest warrior. Selene tried to ignore the curious glances sent her way. The tension in the air was even thicker here, the chatter subdued as everyone awaited the moon's rise.
At the front of the gathering stood Alpha Raiden, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the fading sunlight. He was speaking with Elder Ithara, his dark hair tied back to reveal sharp, chiseled features. Even from a distance, his presence was magnetic, his every movement commanding attention.
Raiden's gaze shifted, and for a fleeting moment, his eyes locked on Selene. She froze, her pulse quickening. There was something unreadable in his expression-a mix of recognition and... something deeper.
Nyssa nudged her. "You're staring."
Selene blinked, looking away quickly. "I wasn't."
"Sure," Nyssa said with a chuckle. "Come on, the ceremony's starting."
Elder Ithara stepped forward, her long robes trailing in the dirt. The ancient seer carried an air of wisdom and mystery, her voice resonating with quiet authority. "Tonight, under the light of the Eclipse Moon, we honor the bond between the pack and the Moon Goddess. But this night brings more than tradition. It brings change."
The crowd murmured, the weight of her words sinking in.
Elder Ithara raised her hand for silence. "The Goddess has chosen this night to reveal the Luna destined to lead beside our Alpha. A union of strength and spirit that will shape the future of the Crescent Fang Pack."
Selene's heart stopped. Whispers rippled through the crowd, wolves exchanging curious glances.
Raiden stepped forward, his presence silencing even the boldest murmurs. "The Luna's identity will be revealed tonight," he said, his voice steady but charged with emotion. "The bond will decide. All I ask is that you trust the Goddess's will."
Selene's legs felt like they might give out beneath her. She turned to Nyssa, panic flickering in her eyes. "I can't do this. I have to leave."
"You're not going anywhere," Nyssa hissed, gripping her arm tightly. "You need to see this through."
The crowd shifted, creating a wide circle around Raiden and Ithara. The Eclipse Moon was now fully visible, its golden light washing over the clearing with an almost otherworldly glow. Ithara began to chant, her words in a language older than any Selene had heard before.
A strange warmth spread through Selene's chest. She stumbled back, her hand flying to her heart. It was like a tether pulling her forward, an invisible force tying her to the Alpha standing in the circle's center.
Raiden's head turned sharply, his gaze snapping to hers. The connection between them crackled like lightning, undeniable and overwhelming.
"She is the one," Ithara declared, her voice ringing out over the hushed crowd. "Selene, the healer, is the Luna chosen by the Moon Goddess."
Selene's breath caught. The world seemed to tilt, the weight of Ithara's words crashing down on her like a wave. She looked around at the faces staring at her-some in awe, others in disbelief.
Raiden took a step toward her, his expression unreadable. "Selene," he said, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine. "Come forward."
Her legs refused to move, rooted to the spot by fear and uncertainty. This couldn't be happening. She wasn't meant for this. She wasn't meant for him.
But the pull of the bond was stronger than her doubts. Slowly, she stepped into the circle, her eyes meeting Raiden's as the crowd fell silent. The Eclipse Moon bathed them in its golden glow, sealing a destiny neither of them could escape.
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