because there was anything wrong with admiring the Alpha King. Nearly every young woman in the Silver Moon Alliance admired him.

t disappointment. Reality always crushed fragile hopes before they could become anything at all. Pierce Sencio was out of her depth. He was the Alpha King, a nam

, but by position, by status, by the unspoken laws that dominated their world. Araceli knew this as surely

the room was quiet save for the faint sounds that floated through the house. But sleep still refus

r attention without appearing to try, the ease with which he earned their respect, and the quiet confidence that ran through every word he spoke. But mo

round herself, as though it might help silence the restl

casting a pale light on the sleeping pack lands. She looked at it for a bit and another thought rested f

rce would eventually choose as his Luna. She imagined someone beautiful, strong, and confident, someon

nd focused on the things that actually mattered. None of it mattered. Tomorrow her own future would begin, and perhaps for the first time in her life, that future

rations spilling forth all across the territory. Music flowed out onto the village streets, a lively soundtrack to the budding celebrations. The market stalls were

s bewitched. The Moon Blessing always did that. It gave back to wolves the sense of destiny, love, fate, and the ties that bound them, bringing the pack together in

, fate, unbreakable relationships, were all things she had obser

e fa

itchen, sharp enough to disrupt her thoughts. Araceli a

, ma

d. "The council asked for more supplie

them rig

have done

that apologizing was easier than arguing. It always was. Offering an explanation would only in

p in the basket before exiting the kitchen. She quickened her steps, wantin

torage buildings and then slowly climbed to the high fields where Silver Moon soldiers practiced. Cool morning air pressed against her sk

f metal against metal."Do this! Do that!" Across the fields, the voices of the teachers called, ordering, correcting.

ields never quiet. For wolves, power was everything. It garnered you respect, secured

training grounds without drawing attention to herself. Before she could get much farther, the crowd suddenly erupted into cheers. T

nd the center of the fi

once again. This time, however, h

overshadowed the training fields. When he spoke every wolf listened, when he moved every wolf stared. The spa

ed to face the assembled soldiers. "Just one second

at reached out to those standing at the farthest reaches of the a

ntly, their attention fixed entirely

rtest on

, he attacked one of

a quick angle. Seconds later the captain was disarmed and the crowd broke into applause. Pierce smiled

out discipline

so many of the wolves admired him. It was not merely because he was powerful. Most of the Alphas were strong. Pierce was another breed. There was about him a subtle air of power, a kind of qu

omething reassuring about that, something undeniably admirable. A gr

ou see

incred

he took out three

rebellion in a single n

aceli easily believed them. She was looking at Pierce now. The Alpha King strode with a quiet confidence that felt organic. Like it was made for this. Like he was mad

iculous she shook her head dismissing the thought almost as soon as it was made. The basket in her hands suddenly appeared much heavier, the weight pressing harder against her arms.

rs patrolled the roads in orderly rotations, their presence a stabilising influence on the swelling throng. Merchants cried out from market stands, eager to entice in buyers. There was an air of celebrati

ered and last-minute preparations were made. It was hard work, her shoulders hurt, her feet were sore, but it gave her something to do and she was glad of the distr

ary silence which welcomed her at the end of her chores. But she knew at once that she was not alone. A group of girls her age were sitting near the common room

staircase without slowing, her focus fixed on reaching her roo

ai

er seat near the fire. The girl looked nervous, her hands twi

peak with her, and the possibility surprised her. Then the girl offe

cou

d, and Araceli already knew t

t is

rupted before she could even finish the question. The others practically doubled ov

will y

she'l

she'l

y to se

p looked at her expectantly, clear

maybe, just this once, someone wanted true discussion instead of a quick entertainment at her expense. The truth of it ached more th

, closed the bedroom door behind her, locked it, and sat silently on the side of the bed. The familiar area felt oddly different, smaller than usual,

about her like a heavy blanket. She remained there for several minutes, her thoughts wandering through question

orr

learn whether there truly was someone in the world meant for her. The thought filled her with equal parts hope and terror, stirring emotio

and walked over to the little window and gazed out over the hamlet spread below, gorgeous under the dying sunlight. The streets were already alight with lanterns, the warm glow moving over th

belonged, where she was wanted, where someone would choose her freely. Not because they felt sorry for her, and not because they had to, but because they really wanted her around. The notion nestled warm

en as locals hurried about their morning. Pierce Sencio walked with them. He was tough to miss, even from this distance. As he passed, a number of villager

d her. Their eyes locked for the briefest of seconds, a heartbeat at most, but the moment appeared to hold still unexpectedly. Then someone spoke to him

ted. She felt something unusual in her chest, something unfamiliar and impossible to describe. It was not

ion. It would be full by tomorrow nite. Long before either of them knew it, everything had been set in action and t