The Omega's Redemption
Ameiry Savar
Blurb:
Rejected by three mates and branded as a wolfless omega, Lyra has spent her entire life being unwanted. When her fourth mate, Alpha Darius, rejects her and sends rogues to kill her, she barely escapes with her life.
Her only refuge is the infamous Blackmoon Pack, where she meets Alpha Kael—the ruthless Alpha feared by all and the man she believes murdered her parents.
But Kael is also her fourth mate.
As war threatens Blackmoon and hidden truths about her past begin to surface, Lyra discovers that she was never wolfless at all.
Can she learn to trust the man she once hated, or will her painful past destroy her chance at happiness?
From a rejected omega to a powerful Luna, Lyra must finally discover her true worth.
Disclaimer!
Chapter 1
I ran.
My lungs burned with every ragged breath.
Branches lashed against my arms while my bare feet sank into the damp forest floor. Every muscle in my body screamed in exhaustion, but I couldn’t stop.
I couldn’t.
Because if I did...
I would die.
My heart lurched in terror as a deafening howl echoed behind me.
No!
They were getting closer.
I forced my aching legs to move even faster, fleeing from the creatures I had barely managed to escape. Tears blurred my vision until the forest became nothing more than a haze of shadows.
I couldn’t believe this was happening.
Of all people...
Why me?
All my life, I had only wanted one thing—to live as a normal member of my pack.
But I was never normal.
I was the useless one.
An omega.
A wolfless.
That was why I spent my entire life trying not to draw anyone’s attention. I stayed quiet. I obeyed. I endured.
Yet none of it mattered.
Another howl ripped through the night.
I flinched and glanced over my shoulder.
My heart nearly stopped.
Three rogues were chasing me.
Their crimson eyes glowed with murderous hunger. Thick strands of saliva dripped from their jaws as if they couldn’t wait to sink their fangs into my flesh.
Pure terror consumed me.
I ran again.
Faster.
Harder.
I pushed my body beyond its limits, desperate to put more distance between us.
But I had been running for hours.
My legs felt like they were about to give out beneath me.
I wasn’t like other werewolves.
I was wolfless.
Although my wounds healed unnaturally fast—a gift I never understood—I had never once been able to shift into a wolf.
That alone had made me an outcast my entire life.
And it was also the reason...
I had already been rejected four times.
Fresh tears welled in my eyes.
I had agreed to leave.
I had accepted his rejection.
Wasn’t that enough?
Why did he still want me dead?
A violent shiver ran through me as the memory flooded back.
“Mate.”
My heart skipped a beat the moment my instincts recognized him.
Alpha Darius.
Out of everyone in the world...
He was my fourth-chance mate.
My fourth mate.
For a brief moment, hope bloomed inside me.
Maybe...
Maybe this time would be different.
Maybe he wouldn’t reject me.
But I was wrong.
“I, Darius Stoneheart, Alpha of Bloodfang Pack, reject you, Lyra Green, as my fated mate!”
The words struck like knives.
I begged him.
I pleaded.
I swallowed every shred of pride I had left.
But nothing I said could change his mind.
“I will never have a weak Luna like you!” he spat. “I need someone worthy of standing beside me—not a useless omega!”
Every word shattered what little remained of my heart.
I made one mistake.
“I’ll gladly leave,” I replied quietly.
But somehow...
Those words only angered him.
He thought I was defying him.
Mocking him.
So the moment I turned my back...
He summoned rogues to hunt me down.
He wanted me dead.
A savage growl yanked me back to reality.
I turned just in time to see one of the rogues leap toward me.
Its razor-sharp claws slashed across my back.
Agony exploded through my body.
I screamed as I crashed face-first onto the ground.
The air was knocked from my lungs.
I struggled to move, but my body refused to obey.
Warm blood quickly soaked the back of my white dress.
No...
This can’t be happening.
Moon Goddess...
Please.
The three rogues slowly circled me.
Their hungry growls echoed through the forest as they closed in.
Fresh tears streamed down my cheeks.
Was this really it?
Was this how my life would end?
I dug my fingers into the dirt and forced myself to crawl away.
Their snapping jaws nearly reached me with every desperate movement.
I refused to give up.
Not yet.
All my life, I had been nothing more than an outcast.
Someone who obeyed everyone.
Someone who endured every insult without fighting back.
But my body had already reached its limit.
Hours of running had drained every ounce of strength I had left.
My back throbbed from the deep gash.
The constant blood loss made my vision spin.
I wanted to live.
I wanted...
To survive.
Then...
The entire atmosphere suddenly changed.
An overwhelming pressure descended upon the forest.
Even breathing became difficult.
Through my fading consciousness, I saw the silhouette of a man standing in the distance.
A familiar feeling stirred inside me.
The same feeling that had started all of this.
A mate.
My mate.
The rogues froze.
Their terrifying confidence vanished in an instant.
They whimpered as an overwhelming aura engulfed the forest.
Their ears flattened.
Their tails tucked between their legs.
One by one...
They backed away.
The figure slowly stepped forward.
My vision had become too blurry to make out his face.
He knelt beside me.
“You’re safe now,” a deep, husky voice murmured.
A faint smile touched my lips.
Am I?
The darkness swallowed me whole.
Chapter 2
Slowly, I opened my eyes.
The first thing I saw was the massive crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling above me. The bed beneath me was unbelievably soft, and even the blanket covering my body felt luxurious.
Where am I?
The last thing I remembered before losing consciousness was a man...
Wait.
I shot upright the moment his face flashed through my mind.
As if on cue, I saw a figure standing by the door.
A man stood there with absolute authority, his broad shoulders straight and his posture commanding. His golden eyes were fixed on me, watching my every move.
A chill ran down my spine.
The pressure radiating from him was overwhelming.
He was an Alpha.
Not just any Alpha.
He was Alpha Kael of the Blackmoon Pack.
The ruthless Alpha whose very name made entire packs tremble.
The most feared Alpha alive.
And I was one of those who feared him.
No...
It wasn’t just fear.
I despised him.
Ignoring the pain coursing through my body, I forced myself to stand. My feet protested immediately, and my knees buckled beneath me.
I would have crashed to the floor if a pair of strong arms hadn’t caught me.
My eyes widened.
Alpha Kael.
I quickly shoved him away and struggled to steady myself.
“W-Where am I?” I asked warily. “What do you want from me?”
His perfectly sculpted brows furrowed.
Confusion flickered across his handsome face.
“You’re in my pack house,” he answered calmly. “You were badly injured.”
“I know that. But... why did you bring me here?”
His frown deepened.
“I’m sorry, but...” He tilted his head slightly. “Did you forget? I saved you.”
Now I was the one who looked confused.
Of course I hadn’t forgotten.
If it weren’t for him...
I would already be dead.
“I know.”
He stared at me for a second.
“So...” One corner of his lips lifted. “No thank you?”
I almost laughed.
It was hard to believe this was the same ruthless Alpha everyone feared.
He was speaking to me as though I weren’t some weak, worthless creature.
Slowly, I shook my head.
If I didn’t know who he was...
I might have fallen for this gentle act.
But I knew Alpha Kael.
Or at least...
I thought I did.
I tried to stand again.
“Wait.” He stepped forward. “Where are you going? You still need to recover. You’re too weak.”
I shook my head.
“I can’t stay here.”
“Why not?”
His voice remained calm.
“Don’t worry. You’re under my protection now. No one will hurt you.”
I stared at him in disbelief.
“And why should I believe you?”
I folded my arms.
“Everyone fears you.”
He studied me silently for a moment, as if trying to figure out whether I was serious.
Then...
He smiled.
Running a hand through his dark hair, he slipped the other into his pocket.
“They should.”
My eyes narrowed.
“You kill people without hesitation.”
“Yes.”
I blinked.
“...You’re not even going to deny it?”
“Why would I?”
His expression remained unchanged.
“I only kill when my pack is threatened.”
He met my gaze without wavering.
“Is that wrong?”
I froze.
He had a point.
Any Alpha worthy of leading a pack would do the same.
“W-Well...”
I looked away.
“I should leave now. Thank you... for saving me.”
I attempted to stand once more.
Just like before, my knees gave out beneath me.
Alpha Kael immediately caught me by both arms and carefully lowered me back onto the bed.
The moment our skin touched...
My heart suddenly raced.
Why?
Why did being this close to him feel so...
Different?
“No.”
His voice turned firm.
“You’re not leaving.”
I frowned.
“Why not?”
He looked straight into my eyes.
“Because...”
His deep voice softened.
“You’re my mate.”
He paused.
“Have you forgotten that too?”
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
I could only stare at him as his words slowly sank in.
Then it hit me.
The strange feeling.
The warmth.
The reason my fear had begun disappearing the moment I woke up.
It was the mate bond.
That’s why my hatred...
My fear...
Everything I had felt toward him...
Had begun melting away.
I shook my head over and over.
“No...”
A tear rolled down my cheek.
“No!”
His brows knitted together in concern.
He reached for my arm again, but I pushed him away.
Last night’s memories came flooding back.
The rejection.
The humiliation.
The pain.
The desperate escape.
The rogues hunting me down.
I had nearly died because my fourth mate had rejected me.
And now...
Out of everyone in this world...
My next mate was Alpha Kael.
“What’s wrong?” he asked gently.
My vision blurred with tears.
Looking into his golden eyes, I whispered,
“Just...”
My voice cracked.
“Just do it.”
I forced the words out.
“Reject me now.”
“I’ll leave.”
“I promise I’ll disappear quietly.”
“Please...”
I lowered my head.
“I just want to live in peace.”
“Please...”
His expression filled with even more confusion.
Without saying a word, he cupped my cheek.
His thumb gently brushed away the tears rolling down my face.
I froze.
For the first time in my life...
Someone touched me with kindness.
Warmth spread through my chest.
His eyes held nothing but affection as they looked at me.
It wasn’t pity.
It wasn’t disgust.
It wasn’t disappointment.
It was...
Genuine.
Soft.
And so different from the eyes that had looked down on me my entire life.
For the first time...
I felt loved.
“W-What...?” I whispered.
His smile was gentle.
“I won’t reject you, Lyra.”
His voice was steady.
“You are my fate.”
“I don’t know what happened to you.”
“I don’t know why those rogues were chasing you.”
“But from this moment on...”
He intertwined our fingers.
“You are no longer alone.”
“I will always stand by your side.”
“My mate.”
My heart pounded wildly against my ribs.
More tears spilled from my eyes.
So...
This was what it felt like.
To be accepted.
To be cherished.
To be loved.
After four painful rejections...
I had finally found him.
I had finally found the fated mate who accepted me with all his heart.
But...
How could I ever accept him...
When he was the Alpha responsible for my parents’ deaths?Slowly, I opened my eyes.
The first thing I saw was the massive crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling above me. The bed beneath me was unbelievably soft, and even the blanket covering my body felt luxurious.
Where am I?
The last thing I remembered before losing consciousness was a man...
Wait.
I shot upright the moment his face flashed through my mind.
As if on cue, I saw a figure standing by the door.
A man stood there with absolute authority, his broad shoulders straight and his posture commanding. His golden eyes were fixed on me, watching my every move.
A chill ran down my spine.
The pressure radiating from him was overwhelming.
He was an Alpha.
Not just any Alpha.
He was Alpha Kael of the Blackmoon Pack.
The ruthless Alpha whose very name made entire packs tremble.
The most feared Alpha alive.
And I was one of those who feared him.
No...
It wasn’t just fear.
I despised him.
Ignoring the pain coursing through my body, I forced myself to stand. My feet protested immediately, and my knees buckled beneath me.
I would have crashed to the floor if a pair of strong arms hadn’t caught me.
My eyes widened.
Alpha Kael.
I quickly shoved him away and struggled to steady myself.
“W-Where am I?” I asked warily. “What do you want from me?”
His perfectly sculpted brows furrowed.
Confusion flickered across his handsome face.
“You’re in my pack house,” he answered calmly. “You were badly injured.”
“I know that. But... why did you bring me here?”
His frown deepened.
“I’m sorry, but...” He tilted his head slightly. “Did you forget? I saved you.”
Now I was the one who looked confused.
Of course I hadn’t forgotten.
If it weren’t for him...
I would already be dead.
“I know.”
He stared at me for a second.
“So...” One corner of his lips lifted. “No thank you?”
I almost laughed.
It was hard to believe this was the same ruthless Alpha everyone feared.
He was speaking to me as though I weren’t some weak, worthless creature.
Slowly, I shook my head.
If I didn’t know who he was...
I might have fallen for this gentle act.
But I knew Alpha Kael.
Or at least...
I thought I did.
I tried to stand again.
“Wait.” He stepped forward. “Where are you going? You still need to recover. You’re too weak.”
I shook my head.
“I can’t stay here.”
“Why not?”
His voice remained calm.
“Don’t worry. You’re under my protection now. No one will hurt you.”
I stared at him in disbelief.
“And why should I believe you?”
I folded my arms.
“Everyone fears you.”
He studied me silently for a moment, as if trying to figure out whether I was serious.
Then...
He smiled.
Running a hand through his dark hair, he slipped the other into his pocket.
“They should.”
My eyes narrowed.
“You kill people without hesitation.”
“Yes.”
I blinked.
“...You’re not even going to deny it?”
“Why would I?”
His expression remained unchanged.
“I only kill when my pack is threatened.”
He met my gaze without wavering.
“Is that wrong?”
I froze.
He had a point.
Any Alpha worthy of leading a pack would do the same.
“W-Well...”
I looked away.
“I should leave now. Thank you... for saving me.”
I attempted to stand once more.
Just like before, my knees gave out beneath me.
Alpha Kael immediately caught me by both arms and carefully lowered me back onto the bed.
The moment our skin touched...
My heart suddenly raced.
Why?
Why did being this close to him feel so...
Different?
“No.”
His voice turned firm.
“You’re not leaving.”
I frowned.
“Why not?”
He looked straight into my eyes.
“Because...”
His deep voice softened.
“You’re my mate.”
He paused.
“Have you forgotten that too?”
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
I could only stare at him as his words slowly sank in.
Then it hit me.
The strange feeling.
The warmth.
The reason my fear had begun disappearing the moment I woke up.
It was the mate bond.
That’s why my hatred...
My fear...
Everything I had felt toward him...
Had begun melting away.
I shook my head over and over.
“No...”
A tear rolled down my cheek.
“No!”
His brows knitted together in concern.
He reached for my arm again, but I pushed him away.
Last night’s memories came flooding back.
The rejection.
The humiliation.
The pain.
The desperate escape.
The rogues hunting me down.
I had nearly died because my fourth mate had rejected me.
And now...
Out of everyone in this world...
My next mate was Alpha Kael.
“What’s wrong?” he asked gently.
My vision blurred with tears.
Looking into his golden eyes, I whispered,
“Just...”
My voice cracked.
“Just do it.”
I forced the words out.
“Reject me now.”
“I’ll leave.”
“I promise I’ll disappear quietly.”
“Please...”
I lowered my head.
“I just want to live in peace.”
“Please...”
His expression filled with even more confusion.
Without saying a word, he cupped my cheek.
His thumb gently brushed away the tears rolling down my face.
I froze.
For the first time in my life...
Someone touched me with kindness.
Warmth spread through my chest.
His eyes held nothing but affection as they looked at me.
It wasn’t pity.
It wasn’t disgust.
It wasn’t disappointment.
It was...
Genuine.
Soft.
And so different from the eyes that had looked down on me my entire life.
For the first time...
I felt loved.
“W-What...?” I whispered.
His smile was gentle.
“I won’t reject you, Lyra.”
His voice was steady.
“You are my fate.”
“I don’t know what happened to you.”
“I don’t know why those rogues were chasing you.”
“But from this moment on...”
He intertwined our fingers.
“You are no longer alone.”
“I will always stand by your side.”
“My mate.”
My heart pounded wildly against my ribs.
More tears spilled from my eyes.
So...
This was what it felt like.
To be accepted.
To be cherished.
To be loved.
After four painful rejections...
I had finally found him.
I had finally found the fated mate who accepted me with all his heart.
But...
How could I ever accept him...
When he was the Alpha responsible for my parents’ deaths?
Chapter 3
I would never forget that day.
It was him.
I knew those eyes.
Those golden eyes that had haunted my nightmares for years.
I was certain Alpha Kael was the one who had killed my parents.
Yet now...
I didn’t even know what I was supposed to feel anymore.
In a single moment, the hatred I had carried for years began to disappear.
It was replaced by confusion...
And admiration.
I wanted to accept him.
My body longed for him.
My heart gravitated toward him.
But I couldn’t.
Not when he was the reason I had been left all alone.
Yet the mate bond made resisting him almost impossible.
Whenever he was near...
It felt as though my body had a mind of its own.
No matter how hard I tried to pull away...
I found myself drawn to him instead.
Days had already passed since I arrived at the Blackmoon Pack.
And everything I thought I knew about this place...
Had been wrong.
Or perhaps...
I was simply struggling to adjust.
For the first time in my life, my days were peaceful.
No one barked orders at me.
No one yelled at me.
No one insulted me or made me feel worthless.
It felt...
Strange.
So strange that it almost made me anxious.
As though something terrible was waiting to happen.
I sat beside the large window of the room Alpha Kael had given me.
Outside, children laughed as they chased one another through the streets.
Women gathered together, chatting happily.
Warriors trained tirelessly in the courtyard, pushing themselves to become stronger.
Everything looked...
Normal.
Too normal.
This was Blackmoon Pack.
The most feared pack in the entire region.
They were supposed to be monsters.
Yet not a single person here looked miserable.
If anything...
They looked content.
Happy.
It was undeniable proof that their Alpha cared deeply for his people.
A soft knock on my door pulled me from my thoughts.
Before I could answer, the door slowly opened.
A young woman, around my age, stepped inside carrying a breakfast tray.
She wore a simple blouse and a long skirt. A white bandage was wrapped around her forehead, and her dark hair was tied into a neat bun.
She greeted me with a warm smile.
“Good morning, Miss. I’m here to bring you your breakfast.”
She carefully placed the tray on the small table beside me.
The delicious aroma instantly made my stomach growl.
Crispy bacon.
Fried rice.
A perfectly cooked egg.
Fresh fruit.
And beside them...
A steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee.
The rich scent alone made me even hungrier.
I shifted uncomfortably.
I wasn’t used to anyone serving me.
“T-Thank you,” I said quietly.
“But... why? I can do this myself.”
She smiled.
“Alpha Kael instructed us to serve you the same way we serve him.”
She giggled softly.
“So you don’t have to feel embarrassed.”
I lowered my gaze.
I didn’t deserve this.
Their kindness.
Their respect.
“I’m Maya, by the way.”
I nodded.
“I’m Lyra.”
“I know.”
Her smile never faded.
“Now eat before it gets cold.”
Heat crept onto my face.
Of course, she knew.
By now, the entire Blackmoon Pack probably knew who I was.
Their Alpha had finally found his mate.
And that mate...
Was a wolfless omega.
The weakest werewolf alive.
“Go ahead, Miss.”
I forced a smile.
“How can I eat alone? There’s enough food here.”
I looked at her hopefully.
“You should eat with me.”
She blinked in surprise.
“Me?”
She quickly shook her head.
“No, Miss. Don’t worry about me. I’ve already eaten.”
I sighed.
“I’m an omega too.”
I looked at her gently.
“I know exactly what your job is.”
Maya scratched the back of her head awkwardly.
“Well...”
She laughed sheepishly.
“Okay.”
“But I’ll just keep you company.”
I didn’t push her any further.
Despite my embarrassment, I finally began eating.
“I know you’ve probably heard a lot of things since you arrived,” Maya said after a moment.
“But you don’t have to listen to the rumors.”
Her smile was sincere.
“You deserve to be here.”
“We’re all happy that you’re finally part of our pack.”
Her words sounded genuine.
Yet...
My mind refused to believe them.
The thought that someone could accept me exactly as I was...
Felt wrong.
“...Yeah.”
That was all I managed to say.
Maya sighed.
“I’m sorry.”
I stopped chewing.
“For what?”
She looked at me sympathetically.
“Your previous pack...”
She shook her head.
“You don’t have to go through that ever again.”
A gentle smile spread across her face.
“Especially once you become our Luna.”
I immediately looked away.
I knew she was only trying to comfort me.
But somehow...
Her words felt like mockery.
“Luna?”
I let out a bitter laugh.
“Please.”
“You don’t have to pretend.”
“I know it won’t be long before all of you throw me out, too.”
“You’re all just acting.”
“I don’t need your pity!”
Maya blinked.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
The moment the words left my mouth...
Reality hit me.
What had I just said?
I immediately dropped my fork and stood.
“I-I’m sorry.”
I couldn’t even look at her.
“You can leave now.”
Without waiting for her response, I hurried into the bathroom.
The moment I closed the door...
The tears I had been holding back finally fell.
Why...
Why does everything always happen to me?
After several minutes, I heard the bedroom door quietly close.
Only then did I step outside.
My breakfast was still untouched on the table.
I was alone again.
This...
Was what I deserved.
Lyra...
I froze.
Someone had called my name.
The voice sounded distant...
Yet impossibly close.
I quickly looked around the room.
No one.
I was completely alone.
Then who—
Lyra...
Help me.
My heartbeat quickened.
I rushed toward the window and searched outside.
Nothing.
No one was looking up at me.
Everything appeared perfectly normal.
Just as I turned toward the door—
It opened.
I instinctively stepped back.
Alpha Kael walked inside.
“Lyra?”
Concern filled his golden eyes.
“Are you alright?”
“I...”
I glanced around the room again.
How was I supposed to explain this?
He slowly approached me.
“What’s wrong?”
His voice was gentle.
He rested a comforting hand on my arm, rubbing it softly.
I quickly pulled away and shook my head.
I was about to make another excuse when the voice returned.
I’m here.
I’m your wolf.
I gasped.
“D-Did you hear that?”
Alpha Kael frowned.
“Hear what?”
“The voice.”
I stared at him.
“It said...”
“What did it say?”
I swallowed hard.
“I-It said...”
I could barely believe the words myself.
“...that she’s my wolf.”
Alpha Kael froze.
He stared at me without blinking.
“Are you certain?”
Slowly...
I nodded.
“Yes.”
“But...”
My voice trembled.
“I’m wolfless.”
“So how is that even possible?”
Without hesitation, he gently took my hand.
A warm smile spread across his face.
“Maybe...”
“You only believed you were wolfless.”
He squeezed my hand reassuringly.
“If you listen to that voice...”
His golden eyes softened.
“You may finally find your wolf.”
I stared into his eyes.
Maybe...
I shouldn’t trust him.
But for the first time in years...
Hope bloomed inside my heart.
Bloodfang Pack
“What did you just say?!”
Darius’s furious roar shook the entire throne room.
“She’s still alive?!”
The rogues who had hunted Lyra immediately dropped to their knees.
Already back in their human forms, they kept their heads lowered, trembling in fear.
“Y-Yes, Alpha,” one of them answered weakly.
Darius growled.
In the blink of an eye, he rose from his throne and seized the rogue by the throat.
“Didn’t I order you to drag her back here?”
His grip tightened.
“So I could kill her with my own hands?”
The unfortunate rogue never had the chance to answer.
With one brutal twist—
His neck snapped.
His lifeless body collapsed onto the floor.
Darius looked at the remaining rogues.
“Where is she?”
The survivors exchanged terrified glances.
None of them wanted to share the same fate.
But remaining silent would only guarantee their deaths.
“S-She’s...”
One rogue swallowed nervously.
“She’s at Blackmoon Pack.”
Darius froze.
“What?”
His eyes widened.
“Blackmoon Pack?”
“Y-Yes, Alpha!”
“Their Alpha saved her!”
Darius clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
His jaw locked.
His teeth ground together.
“So...”
A dangerous smile spread across his face.
“She actually thinks she’s safe just because she’s hiding in Blackmoon Pack?”
His crimson eyes flashed with murderous intent.
“She’s wrong.”
“I’ll hunt her down...”
“And drag her back here myself.”
“No one...”
His aura exploded throughout the throne room.
“...disrespects me and lives to tell the tale.”
Chapter 4
I couldn’t forget the voice I heard.
It was my wolf.
She was calling for my help.
But when I tried to speak to her again, she no longer answered.
Now, I was confused.
I didn’t know if I had truly heard her, or if my desperate need to be accepted had finally made my mind play tricks on me. Maybe my sanity had cracked after everything I had been through.
But it felt real.
Too real.
I turned toward the door when it opened.
It was Alpha Kael.
I immediately rolled my eyes and looked back out the window.
He really wouldn’t leave me alone.
“What do you want?” I asked flatly.
“Come on. You need to eat,” Alpha Kael said, completely ignoring my tone.
I sighed and glanced at him from the bed.
He was already walking toward the table near the window, carrying a tray in his hands. He placed it down carefully before looking at me.
His golden eyes were glowing with warmth.
I hated it.
Because it felt genuine.
“You don’t have to bring me that,” I said. “I can serve myself.”
“I know.” His voice was calm. “But you don’t have to do that anymore, Lyra. Come on. Get up.”
I shook my head.
Still, I had no choice but to leave the bed and walk toward the table.
I stared at the food in front of me while Kael sat across from me.
“Tell me…” I lifted my gaze to him. “Why are you doing this?”
“What do you mean?”
“This.”
I glanced at the food he had brought, then looked at him again.
“Being so… kind.”
My voice softened despite myself.
“It doesn’t feel like you.”
He smirked.
“How would you know it isn’t me? You only know me because of rumors.”
I stilled.
For a moment, I couldn’t answer.
Part of him was right.
But the bigger part of me knew him from years ago.
I opened my mouth to tell him that.
To tell him he was a murderer.
A monster.
But something seemed to block my throat, and the words refused to come out.
Frustrated, I picked up my utensils and started eating instead.
I heard him chuckle.
It only made my blood boil.
“What’s funny?”
“Sorry.” His smile widened. “I just can’t believe my mate is this grumpy.”
His golden eyes softened.
“And yet… you still make my heart skip.”
I froze.
“You’re cute when you’re angry.”
My lips parted in shock.
I didn’t expect him to say that.
I quickly lowered my gaze to my plate.
No one had ever called me cute before.
All my life, people looked at me with disgust, as if I carried some disease they had to avoid.
But Kael…
He looked at me as if he admired me.
“I won’t stop, Lyra,” he said gently. “Not until you believe you are worthy of being loved.”
My grip tightened around the spoon.
I didn’t want to believe him.
After all the cruel words I had heard throughout my life, kindness was harder to believe than hatred.
At least hatred was familiar.
I tried to ignore the way his words affected me.
But because of this damn mate bond…
Everything felt different with him.
“Anyway,” Kael continued, “about the voice you heard. I consulted an elder who knows more about this. She’ll come here later.”
I looked at him again.
“What do you mean?”
My voice lowered.
“You… believe me?”
He smiled.
And I hated to admit it, but he looked even more handsome when he smiled.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
He leaned back slightly.
“If it truly is your wolf, there’s a strong possibility that she has been sealed.”
I blinked.
Excitement flickered inside me at the thought that I might really have a wolf.
“D-Do I really have one?”
Kael reached for my hand.
His eyes held nothing but certainty.
“You do, Lyra.”
His thumb brushed lightly over my knuckles.
“I believe it because I felt her too.”
“My wolf felt her.”
Tears burned in my eyes.
After all these years of being an outcast…
Maybe this time, I could finally belong.
Not long after, the elder Kael mentioned arrived.
Her name was Elder Agnes, one of the oldest wolves in Blackmoon Pack. Her long silver hair flowed down her back, and wrinkles lined her wise face.
The moment she saw me, she blinked.
Then she reached for my hand and studied my palm.
“You…”
Her voice was quiet.
“I sense a strong power within you.”
I looked at her in confusion.
Then I glanced at Kael, who was watching me with pride in his eyes.
“What?”
I shook my head.
“But… I’m wolfless.”
Elder Agnes smiled faintly.
“You are not, child.”
She placed her hand over my chest.
“Your wolf is here.”
“Waiting for you to set her free.”
My heart suddenly pounded harder.
So it was true.
It was all true.
“But why?”
My voice trembled.
“How can I help my wolf? How can I free her?”
Elder Agnes sighed.
She removed her hand from my chest and slowly shook her head.
“I’m sorry. I cannot help you with that.”
Her expression turned solemn.
“My power is not strong enough.”
My hope dimmed at once.
So nothing would change after all.
She still couldn’t help me.
“But I know someone who can.”
I immediately looked up.
“A powerful witch.”
My heart sparked with life again.
“But?” I asked.
Elder Agnes looked at Kael.
“She lives in the Dead Forest.”
Kael’s expression darkened.
“And you know how dangerous it is to go there, Alpha.”
His jaw clenched.
“Yes…”
“But if she can help me free my wolf, then I have to go there,” I insisted.
Elder Agnes shook her head.
“You do not understand, Miss.”
Her voice turned grave.
“The Dead Forest is not what you think it is.”
She paused.
“It is death itself.”
“I don’t care.”
My voice grew firmer.
“I will go there if I must.”
“All my life, I thought I was alone.”
“I was abused because I failed to shift when I turned eighteen.”
“And now that I know I do have a wolf?”
My eyes burned with determination.
“Now that I know she’s there, waiting for me to help her?”
“I will do everything to free her.”
Kael took a deep breath.
Then he straightened.
“Fine.”
His voice was final.
“Then we’ll go.”
I stared at him in shock.
“What?”
I shook my head quickly.
“You don’t have to. I can go—”
“I know the Dead Forest, Lyra.”
His golden eyes sharpened.
“I know how dangerous it is.”
“And if you go there alone…”
His voice lowered.
“I know there’s a chance you might not come back.”
He stepped closer.
“I can’t lose you.”
“I’m going with you.”
“And that’s not something you can argue with me about.”
I went still.
For a moment, my knees almost weakened.
Did he just use his Alpha authority on me?
I said nothing.
I only bit my lip and looked away.
Elder Agnes sighed softly.
“Then if the two of you truly intend to go there, allow me to bless you.”
She raised her hands.
“May the Moon Goddess guide your journey.”
Not long after, Kael and I left for the Dead Forest.
I was still uneasy around him.
But there was nothing I could do.
The forest was different.
It lived up to its name.
It felt dark.
Dead.
The moment we stepped inside, the world around us suddenly dimmed.
It was as if night had fallen, even though the sun had been shining moments ago.
The thick leaves and twisting branches of the towering trees blocked the sky above us, but it wasn’t only that.
The entire place carried a heavy aura.
A suffocating one.
My breathing suddenly became heavier.
“Are you okay?” Kael asked.
I glanced at him.
His eyes were fixed ahead.
His expression was serious, every muscle in his body alert.
I also noticed how tightly he gripped the sword strapped to his waist.
“I’m fine,” I answered.
Then I looked away.
“You know… you shouldn’t have come.”
“I can handle this.”
“I told you, I won’t let you come here alone.”
“But you have your pack,” I argued. “What will they say?”
“You left because of someone wolfless like me.”
“Then let them talk.”
His answer came without hesitation.
“I don’t care.”
“My pack can survive a day without me.”
“My beta is there. I told him to handle everything while I’m gone.”
I exhaled sharply.
Arguing with him was impossible.
Didn’t he hear the whispers in his own pack?
Yes, they didn’t abuse me the way my old pack did.
But many of his people still didn’t want me.
Because I was weak.
Because I was wolfless.
I was about to answer when I saw a small house in the distance.
Kael stopped walking too and immediately stretched an arm in front of me.
“Is that…?”
“I’m not sure.”
His grip tightened around his sword.
“But we need to be careful.”
“Witches are not something we can simply ignore.”
“They have magic.”
I knew that.
I had heard countless stories about witches.
But I had never encountered one before.
“Follow me,” Kael said.
His voice was low and firm.
“Don’t move away from me.”
I nodded.
We began walking toward the small house.
It was made of wood, surrounded by a yard full of medicinal herbs and strange plants. Chickens wandered nearby, along with a few other animals.
At first glance, it looked like an ordinary family home.
But something felt wrong.
We stopped when the door suddenly creaked.
Before we could even reach the house, it slowly opened on its own.
Kael immediately drew his sword and pointed it toward the doorway.
I held my breath, my eyes fixed on the door.
A few seconds later…
A woman stepped outside.
My lips parted in awe.
She was breathtakingly beautiful.
Her hair was long and white, falling over her shoulders like moonlight.
Stone jewels adorned her neck, wrists, and fingers.
I had expected someone old and withered.
But the woman standing before us looked like a queen.
She smiled.
“We meet again, little wolf.”
Her eyes settled on me.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
Chapter 5
I stared at the woman in front of me in disbelief.
She had stepped out of her house completely now, facing us with a calm smile.
I gently pushed Kael’s sword aside.
He clearly didn’t want to lower it, but I gave him a look.
Slowly, he listened.
I stepped forward.
“You know me?” I asked.
The woman smiled.
“Of course. I know you well.”
My grip tightened around the strap of my bag.
For some reason, breathing suddenly became harder.
The woman before me was breathtakingly beautiful, but her presence was heavy.
Too heavy.
“And I know why you’re here,” she continued. “In fact, I knew you would eventually come.”
I swallowed.
“Why?”
Her smile faded slightly.
“Because I was the one who did that to you.”
My lips parted.
For a moment, all I could hear was the pounding of my own heart.
All my life, I had been bullied.
Rejected.
Humiliated.
And it was all because of her?
“You!”
I tried to rush toward her, but my body suddenly froze.
I couldn’t move.
I tried to take a step, but an invisible force held me in place.
“W-What’s happening?!” I demanded.
Kael instantly became alert.
He looked at me, then drew his sword again and pointed it straight at the woman.
“Let her go!” Kael ordered.
The woman only laughed.
With a flick of her fingers, Kael’s sword flew from his hand and disappeared somewhere across the room.
He tried to charge at her, but then he froze too.
“L-Let us go!” I snapped. “What are you doing?!”
“I will,” she said calmly, “if both of you promise to calm down.”
I stared at her.
How was I supposed to calm down after finding out she was the reason my life had been miserable?
I could feel Kael’s fury too.
If I was already struggling to control myself, how much more him?
I exhaled sharply.
We didn’t come here to fight.
I needed answers.
“Fine,” I said through gritted teeth. “We’ll calm down.”
“What? Lyra—”
“Please, Alpha.”
I looked at him.
“We came here for my wolf. Not for violence.”
Kael’s jaw tightened.
Hesitation flashed across his face, but after a few seconds, he nodded.
“Fine.”
His eyes hardened as he looked at the woman.
“But the moment you try anything…”
His voice lowered dangerously.
“I won’t hesitate.”
The woman laughed softly.
“You don’t have to worry, Alpha. I have no intention of hurting your beloved mate.”
She knew.
Of course she did.
She was a witch.
A moment later, I could finally breathe freely again.
My body was mine once more.
Kael and I stood properly.
I looked at her.
“Now. Tell me.”
“We should go inside first.”
I didn’t want to follow her, but she had already turned around and walked back into the house.
As if we had any choice.
Kael entered first.
I followed closely behind him.
And just as I expected…
I was left speechless by what I saw inside.
It felt like I had stepped into another dimension.
From the outside, the house had looked small.
No.
It was small.
A simple wooden cabin.
But her living room?
It looked like a palace.
Elegant.
Bright.
Beautiful.
Nothing like the dark, creepy witch houses people always talked about.
Here, everything seemed to glow.
“Sit down,” she said.
Kael and I walked toward the long sofa in the middle of the room.
We sat side by side on the soft cushions while she sat across from us.
“So,” she began lightly, “would you like tea? Juice—”
“We’re not here for your drinks,” Kael cut her off.
The woman laughed.
“Straight to the point, Alpha.”
She leaned back gracefully.
“Well… fine. I’ll give you what you came for.”
I took a deep breath.
The tension between them was suffocating.
Even I was afraid of asking the questions burning inside me.
“For starters, I’m Daisy,” she said.
Then she turned to me.
“Anyway… about your wolf.”
She smiled faintly.
“I’m sorry about that.”
She said it so casually that I didn’t know whether to laugh or scream.
Sorry?
That was all?
My whole life had been ruined.
I had been bullied until I believed I deserved it.
I had accepted that I was useless.
And here she was—the reason behind my misery—smiling in front of me.
“Sorry?” I asked bitterly. “Is that all you can say?”
“Yes.”
Her face remained calm.
“But don’t worry. I had my reasons.”
“Then tell me.”
Her smile slowly disappeared.
The playful expression on her face faded, replaced by something heavier.
Sadness.
And guilt.
Why would she feel guilty?
“This may be hard for you to hear,” Daisy said softly. “But you need to know the truth, little wolf.”
She held my gaze.
“I never wanted to do it to you.”
“I knew how difficult your life would become if I hid your wolf from you.”
“But your parents wanted me to do it.”
The world seemed to stop.
“W-What?”
She looked straight into my eyes.
And in that moment, I felt the weight of the truth she had been carrying.
“Your parents were afraid of you, Lyra.”
She called me by my name.
“Afraid?”
My voice cracked.
“But why?”
“I was just a child!”
“What could I have possibly done to them?”
“You were never an ordinary child, Lyra.”
Her voice grew gentler.
“You were different.”
“Special.”
“Even as a child, your wolf was already awake.”
“And your powers…”
She paused.
“You have powers, Lyra.”
“That is not normal for a werewolf.”
My lips parted.
Slowly, I looked down at my hands.
“I…”
My voice trembled.
“I have powers?”
“Yes.”
Daisy nodded.
“You cannot feel them because I sealed them away along with your wolf.”
“Your parents were terrified of your power.”
“Especially your mother.”
Tears filled my eyes.
My hands trembled uncontrollably.
They only stopped when Kael suddenly reached for me and covered my hand with his.
For a moment, I felt calm.
Then I stood abruptly and glared at him.
“And you…”
My voice shook with anger.
“You killed them.”
“I never even got the chance to hear the truth from them!”
Kael blinked.
Confusion crossed his face.
Then, after a few seconds, he narrowed his eyes as if remembering something.
“Actually…”
His expression darkened.
“I think I remember now.”
My mouth fell open.
“You’re not even denying it?!”
Kael sat straighter.
“I remember being here in the Dead Forest years ago,” he said.
“I was hunting rogues at the time.”
“While I was on that mission, I found a child.”
His gaze moved to me.
“I helped her.”
“I returned her to her parents.”
“But then…”
His jaw tightened.
“They attacked me.”
My breath caught.
“I realized they weren’t saving the child.”
“They were trying to silence me.”
His voice became colder.
“I had no choice but to defend myself.”
More tears fell from my eyes.
I couldn’t believe it.
Even my own parents despised me.
They wanted me gone.
But why?
Just because of a power I didn’t even understand?
Shouldn’t they have helped me understand it instead of trying to kill me?
I had longed for them for so many years.
Only to find out that they were the first reason my life became hell.
Daisy suddenly stood.
She approached me and touched my arm.
I froze.
My entire body went rigid.
Even my tears stopped falling.
It felt as if time had stopped only for me, because I could still see them moving.
Kael rose to his feet and angrily stepped toward me, but Daisy only raised a hand to calm him.
“It’s time for you to reclaim what you lost,” she said.
Then she pressed her finger against my chest.
In a single heartbeat, the world around me went silent.
It felt as if I had fallen into nothing.
And when I opened my eyes again…
All I saw was darkness.
Then, at the very end of that darkness, something slowly appeared.
A bright, shining silver wolf.
My eyes immediately filled with tears when I saw her.
She was beautiful.
Lyra…
My breath caught.
You… are you…?
The wolf slowly nodded.
Then she bowed her head, as if showing me respect.
You can call me Lily.
Tears spilled down my cheeks.
I raised my hand to touch her head.
She lowered herself so I could reach her.
The moment my fingers brushed her fur, my heart trembled.
I felt her.
Her soft fur.
Her warmth.
Her presence.
I couldn’t hold myself back anymore.
I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tightly.
For years…
I had been longing for her.
And now she was here.
For the first time in my life…
I finally felt whole.
This time…
Nothing would ever tear us apart again.
Chapter 6
Even now, I still couldn’t believe it.
I had a wolf.
Her name was Lily.
She was a beautiful, powerful silver wolf.
All my life, I thought I had been alone. I thought there was no hope left for me.
But I was wrong.
The only painful part was knowing that my own parents were the reason all of this had happened to me.
That was when I finally realized something.
Memories from my past returned to me—fragments of the time I had spent with them.
My mother never looked at me with love.
But why?
I never asked to be born this way.
Out of everyone, she should have been the first person to understand me.
The first person to accept me.
But then…
Things happened.
“Do you want to shift now?”
I stopped walking at Kael’s question.
We were already on our way back to Blackmoon Pack.
“Shift?” I asked. “Into my wolf?”
Kael nodded.
“Yes.”
Can I? Lily asked inside my mind.
A smile tugged at my lips.
I could feel her excitement.
“Sure.”
I took off the bag I was carrying and handed it to Kael.
Since this would be my first time shifting, I struggled a little.
“Just close your eyes,” Kael instructed. “Let your wolf take over. Feel her.”
I listened.
I closed my eyes.
A moment later, something strange moved through my body.
I felt myself changing.
At first, I whimpered from the discomfort.
But as seconds passed, the pain faded.
When I opened my eyes again…
I saw the world through Lily’s eyes.
My wolf howled.
Then she ran.
She ran like a child finally set free.
She ran as if there were no tomorrow.
I didn’t even know where Kael was anymore.
I didn’t care.
We just ran.
I could feel the overwhelming joy pouring from my wolf.
So I let her.
Because her happiness was mine too.
Tears almost filled my eyes from the sheer joy of it.
I never thought I would experience this while I was still alive.
And it was all because of him.
Kael.
Do you like him already?
I froze at Lily’s question inside my mind.
What? I asked.
Alpha Kael. Our mate. You should let him claim you now.
I almost laughed.
Shut up!
Lily giggled inside my head.
And my heart felt so full it almost hurt.
But the happiness didn’t last long.
Suddenly, Lily became alert.
She stopped running and looked around.
What’s wrong? I asked.
Someone is coming.
Maybe it’s Kael?
No.
Her voice darkened.
This is different.
I went silent and tried to sense it too.
She was right.
Someone was nearing our location.
Their aura felt different.
It was definitely not Kael.
“Lyra!”
My wolf turned sharply at the sound of Kael’s voice.
He was running toward us, breathless and visibly worried.
“Shift back now,” he commanded.
Even though I didn’t want to, I obeyed.
He immediately handed me my clothes and waited as I quickly dressed.
“What’s happening?” I asked. “We sensed someone out there.”
Kael nodded.
His face was tense with worry.
“It’s Bloodfang Pack.”
“They’re waiting just outside the Dead Forest.”
My lips parted in shock.
What did he want from me now?
Wasn’t it enough that I was already gone from his pack?
Did he truly want me dead that badly?
Fear wrapped around me like a cold hand.
I stepped back and shook my head.
“N-No…”
My voice trembled.
“Why are they here?”
Kael looked at me with concern.
“I’m not sure yet.”
Then his voice softened.
“But don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“No one will hurt you.”
He promised.
But his words did nothing to lessen the fear crawling beneath my skin.
I said nothing after that and quietly followed him out of the forest.
Before we even reached the entrance, I already saw several men waiting for us.
I knew they sensed us too.
Instinctively, I moved closer to Kael.
Then I saw Darius.
He was still mounted on his horse, staring at us intently.
Danger burned in his eyes.
The moment our gazes finally met, I felt like a frightened puppy hiding behind Kael.
Darius dismounted and walked toward us.
“Well,” Darius said coldly, “it’s good that you finally decided to come out.”
Kael only stared at him.
“What do you want, Alpha Darius?”
His voice was calm but dangerous.
“Couldn’t you send a formal invitation if you wanted to meet?”
Darius chuckled.
“I did.”
His eyes narrowed.
“But you’ve been gone for a week already.”
He glanced at me.
“And someone told me you were here.”
I blinked.
A week?
“What does he mean, Kael?” I asked.
Kael sighed.
“Every hour we stay in the Dead Forest is equal to one day in the real world.”
I stared at him in disbelief.
I thought we had only been gone for a day.
But in reality…
An entire week had passed.
It was as if we had entered another dimension the moment we stepped into the Dead Forest.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked.
“Because I knew you wouldn’t allow me to come with you.”
His golden eyes met mine.
“And I couldn’t let you go there alone.”
My heart skipped.
I didn’t know why, but slowly…
The heaviness I felt toward him was beginning to fade.
“Enough with your nonsense!” Darius suddenly snapped.
His gaze locked on me.
“Lyra was originally my mate.”
His voice turned commanding.
“Give her back to me.”
I blinked.
Did I hear him correctly?
Alpha Darius wanted me back?
“What?” I asked in disbelief.
Kael stepped forward.
“Lyra is my mate now.”
His voice dropped.
“So don’t even dream of taking her back.”
Darius growled.
“Don’t you dare challenge me, Kael.”
His eyes flashed.
“The other packs may fear you, but I don’t.”
Kael smiled.
“Good.”
His smile was sharp and cold.
“Because fear won’t change anything.”
“You can never have her back.”
“You already wanted her dead.”
His eyes hardened.
“So why do you want her now?”
For a moment, Darius’s rough expression faltered.
But he quickly recovered.
“Because she is still mine no matter what!”
His roar echoed around us.
“She belongs to my pack!”
Kael’s voice turned colder.
“Or maybe you just can’t accept that Lyra finally found someone who truly accepts her.”
“You—”
“Enough!”
My scream cut through the air.
Everyone stepped back.
Even Kael’s knees weakened slightly.
Darius looked at me in shock.
“What…”
His eyes widened.
“What was that?”
I glared at him.
“You.”
My voice shook, but I didn’t back down.
“I will never go back to you, Alpha Darius.”
“If you think everything will be that easy, then you are wrong.”
“And I know exactly why you want me back.”
I clenched my fists.
“You just want another chance to kill me.”
Darius’s hands curled into fists.
I could see from his face that he had so many things he wanted to say.
But something was stopping him.
Was it…
Me?
“You and your men will stay here and let us leave, Alpha Darius,” I said firmly.
My voice carried a force I didn’t understand.
“You will let me go.”
Then I grabbed Kael’s arm and pulled him away.
Strangely, Darius and his men didn’t move.
They remained rooted in place while I walked away.
But something inside me felt wrong.
My heart was beating too fast.
My breathing had become heavy.
Something inside me wanted to get out.
And I didn’t know how to stop it.
“Lyra! Stop!”
Kael’s voice snapped me back to reality.
Only then did I realize how tightly I was gripping his arm.
He was grimacing, clearly in pain.
I quickly released him and stepped back.
“I-I’m sorry.”
He shook out his arm.
“It’s okay.”
Even though I had hurt him, concern still filled his eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
I turned away from him and pressed a hand against my chest.
I inhaled deeply, forcing myself to calm down.
What just happened to me?
“Lyra,” Kael called again.
I faced him and slowly shook my head.
“I…”
My voice trembled.
“I don’t know.”
“I felt strange.”
“Like…”
I swallowed.
“I don’t even know how to explain it.”
Kael stared at me.
At first, he looked confused.
Then understanding slowly crossed his face.
He stepped closer and cupped my cheek.
“Maybe it’s your power.”
His thumb brushed gently against my skin.
“Your wolf.”
I swallowed.
“I don’t know.”
I looked down.
“She’s quiet.”
Kael placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
“You’re still adjusting.”
“You don’t have to understand everything right away, Lyra.”
His voice softened.
“Don’t worry.”
“I’m with you through all of it.”
“You’ll be okay.”
His words slowly calmed me.
I gave him a small smile and nodded.
“O-Okay.”
Kael smiled back.
“And I’m proud of you.”
My eyes widened slightly.
“You did well earlier.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
Because yes…
For the first time in my life, I had felt powerful.
Darius couldn’t even look at me.
And somehow…
That made me believe that maybe I wasn’t weak after all.
Chapter 7
I still couldn’t believe I had faced Alpha Darius earlier.
The werewolf I feared the most.
Not only had I stood against him…
I had somehow managed to make him stop.
I didn’t even understand how.
But because of it, I suddenly felt powerful.
After that confrontation, Kael and I hurried back to Blackmoon Pack.
I had a strong feeling that Alpha Darius had done something terrible.
And I was right.
My heart sank the moment we arrived.
The pack still stood.
Of course it did.
Blackmoon Pack was massive, and it had the strongest warriors in the entire eastern region.
But even that strength couldn’t hide the damage left behind by the attack.
“What happened here?” I whispered.
It seems Darius has already been here, Lily said inside my mind. I can sense his presence.
My fists clenched.
When I looked at Kael, his face was unreadable.
Calm.
Too calm.
But through our mate bond, I could feel his fury.
We entered the pack house.
Warriors immediately rushed to meet us.
“Alpha! You’re back!” one of them greeted.
I remembered his name was Jack.
“Report,” Kael said.
That was all.
He kept walking toward the main hall.
“We were attacked, Alpha,” Jack said. “By Bloodfang Pack! They wanted your mate back!”
Kael suddenly stopped walking.
For a moment, the pressure of his aura made my heart tremble.
He looked like he was about to murder someone.
Jack immediately stepped back and lowered his head.
But Kael didn’t say anything.
He simply continued walking.
When we reached the hall, the council was already gathered.
Several influential members of the pack were there.
Kael’s beta, Alfred, was there too.
And strangely…
He was sitting in Kael’s chair.
“Alpha Kael.”
Alfred immediately stood and moved to bow, but an older man raised his hand.
Mr. Ford.
One of the council members.
His influence in the pack was strong because of his wealth.
“You don’t have to bow to a man who wasn’t present.”
I froze.
Was he talking about Kael?
When I glanced at Kael, his expression remained calm.
He stared at Mr. Ford.
Then he turned to Alfred.
“Well, he’s right, Alfred.”
His voice was too casual.
Too controlled.
“Now, tell me what happened to my pack.”
His golden eyes sharpened.
“Report to me.”
Mr. Ford raised his hand again.
“I suppose you can’t read the room, Alpha.”
He smirked.
“Or should I still call you Alpha if you’re about to be replaced?”
“What?”
I stepped forward before I could stop myself.
“You can’t do that!”
“Alpha Kael is your Alpha. You can’t change that.”
I knew I shouldn’t interfere in their affairs.
But I couldn’t just stand there and watch them bully my mate.
“We can,” Mr. Ford insisted.
“Especially when he was out flirting with his useless mate!”
Kael growled.
When I turned to him, his eyes were already blazing with rage.
Before I could stop him, his hand was wrapped around Mr. Ford’s throat.
“You may insult me,” Kael roared.
“But don’t you dare speak ill of my mate!”
Everyone stepped back.
He was moving on pure killing instinct.
“Alpha! Calm down!” Alfred said quickly. “Mr. Ford was only trying to ask questions!”
Kael tilted his head.
His grip tightened around Mr. Ford’s neck.
The old man choked, struggling for air.
“I didn’t hear any questions.”
Panic surged through me.
Mr. Ford’s face was turning pale.
If we didn’t stop Kael now, he would definitely kill him.
“K-Kael, please!”
My voice cracked.
“Stop!”
As if my voice pulled him back to himself, Kael’s expression changed.
His grip loosened slightly.
Alfred quickly removed Kael’s hand from Mr. Ford’s throat.
“T-This!”
Mr. Ford coughed harshly, glaring once he recovered.
“This is exactly why he is no longer fit to lead us!”
His voice shook with anger.
“He should protect us, not kill us!”
He pointed at Kael.
“I demand that Beta Alfred challenge Alpha Kael for the title!”
My mouth fell open.
Instead of backing down after nearly dying, Mr. Ford seemed determined to make everything worse.
Kael slowly turned to Alfred.
“And what do you say about this, Alfred?”
Alfred’s expression shifted.
Determination hardened his face.
“I’m sorry, Alpha.”
His voice was low.
“But you’ve been gone for too long.”
“If challenging you is necessary for the good of Blackmoon Pack…”
He lifted his chin.
“Then I will do it.”
Kael suddenly laughed.
“Wow.”
His laugh was cold, but there was something wounded beneath it.
“Even you, Alfred?”
He stared at his beta.
“I didn’t expect my most trusted man to betray me like this.”
“That’s not what this is, Alpha.”
Kael’s brows drew together.
“Then tell me what it is.”
His voice sharpened.
“Go on.”
He looked around the hall.
“Do you all really think I left for fun?”
“That I forgot my own pack just because I found my mate?”
His aura pressed down on everyone in the room.
“Have all of you forgotten what I’ve done for this pack?”
“For every single one of you?”
One by one, they looked away.
Their expressions made it clear that his words had struck them like a slap of truth.
I clenched my fists.
I knew why this was happening.
It was because of me.
Kael was a strong Alpha.
A leader feared not only by his own pack, but by every pack around him.
And now they were afraid.
Because they believed I would become a useless Luna.
Show them, Lyra, Lily whispered inside my mind.
Show them your power.
I stepped forward.
“I’m sorry.”
My voice echoed through the hall.
“I’m sorry if you think I’m making your Alpha weak.”
“Lyra,” Kael said softly, trying to stop me.
I looked at him and smiled.
“It’s okay.”
Then I faced the council again.
Especially Mr. Ford.
“I am not asking any of you to accept me right away.”
My voice grew steadier.
“But I assure you…”
“I will never make your Alpha weak.”
I lifted my chin.
“I will become his strength.”
And right in front of them…
I began to shift.
In a single heartbeat, Lily’s large, magnificent form emerged.
Her silver fur glowed brightly in the room, almost like moonlight had come alive.
Then she threw her head back and howled.
A powerful, commanding sound filled the hall.
Everyone gasped.
I saw both fear and awe on their faces.
“T-The silver wolf,” someone whispered.
“It’s real!”
“I thought it was only a myth,” another said.
I smiled inside.
Then I turned to Kael.
He simply stood there, looking at me with pride in his eyes.
I was no longer the same weak Lyra.
This time…
I would make sure no one ever saw me as weak again.
Chapter 8
Everyone stood frozen, staring at me in complete disbelief and awe.
My confidence grew stronger.
Lily stood proudly before them, her massive silver body radiating authority.
“I-It’s real! The Silver Wolf!” someone shouted.
“How is this possible?! The Silver Wolf is only a myth!” another exclaimed.
Mr. Ford shook his head repeatedly.
“T-This can’t be happening! How can she be the Silver Wolf? She’s just an omega!” he argued desperately.
Kael let out a low growl.
“Are you blind?” he asked coldly. “Or can you simply not see the enormous wolf standing right in front of you?”
Mr. Ford remained speechless.
He could only stare at me, his face drained of color.
“If she’s truly the Silver Wolf…”
One of the elders slowly stood.
“Then she is the Wolf Queen we’ve been waiting for.”
His voice trembled with excitement.
“The one destined to unite all werewolf packs!”
My breath caught.
The Wolf Queen?
Someone like me?
Stop saying that, Lyra, Lily scolded inside my mind.
You are not a nobody.
You are powerful.
Kael stepped forward once more.
“I know I left the pack,” he began.
“But I only left to help my mate.”
His gaze swept across everyone in the hall.
“Any one of you would have done the same.”
“My mate suffered her entire life.”
“When we learned there was a way to free her wolf, we did what had to be done.”
He paused.
“I’ve sacrificed my life for this pack countless times.”
“And I always will.”
“Not because it’s simply my duty…”
His voice softened.
“But because I genuinely want to.”
“I will never abandon this pack, even now that I’ve found my mate.”
“You have my word.”
“I will continue fulfilling my responsibilities as your Alpha... alongside the fated mate of your future Luna.”
His eyes found mine.
They were filled with nothing but love.
My vision blurred.
Slowly, I shifted back into my human form.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
Kael stepped closer and gently cupped my cheek.
“You’re my mate.”
His thumb brushed softly across my skin.
“I will always choose you...”
He smiled.
“And then I’ll choose my pack.”
Before I could answer, someone suddenly rushed forward and dropped to his knees.
“Forgive me, Alpha!”
His forehead nearly touched the floor.
“I don’t deserve your mercy!”
“Please... punish me as you see fit!”
It was Alfred.
He knelt before us, his head lowered in shame.
Kael simply looked at him without expression.
Then he waved his hand dismissively.
“It’s alright.”
“I know you only wanted what was best for Blackmoon Pack.”
His voice remained calm.
“But you disappointed me, Alfred.”
“You’re my Beta.”
“You should have known where your loyalty belonged.”
Alfred lowered his head even further.
“I swear on my life, Alpha.”
His voice trembled.
“I will never make the same mistake again.”
After that day...
Everything changed inside Blackmoon Pack.
Before, I constantly heard whispers.
I felt judgmental eyes following me wherever I went.
Now...
Those same eyes were filled with respect.
Even admiration.
It felt strange.
But I couldn’t stop smiling.
For the first time in my life...
I finally felt accepted.
Maybe it was only because they had learned who—or what—I really was.
But at least...
I finally had people I could call my own.
Later that afternoon, I decided to visit the pack library.
The Silver Wolf was famous in legends, yet I still knew almost nothing about what I truly was.
Or what I was capable of.
Deep in the farthest corner of the library, hidden among rows of dusty, ancient books, I found what I had been searching for.
I carefully pulled the old book from the shelf and carried it to a long wooden table.
As I flipped through the brittle pages, one chapter immediately caught my attention.
The Silver Wolf.
I began reading.
The Silver Wolf appears only once every century... or sometimes even longer.
They are born only when the werewolf race faces a future that requires a true ruler.
Because of the Silver Wolf’s overwhelming power, even the strongest Alpha must bow before them.
For this reason, the Silver Wolf is destined to become the Wolf Queen...
The one who will unite every werewolf pack beneath a single banner.
I stared silently at the page.
So...
I really was that powerful.
Maybe...
That was why my parents had feared me.
But...
Why?
Instead of protecting me...
Why did they choose to hurt me?
How could parents do something like that to their own child?
The pain in my chest returned.
Instead of helping me understand my gift...
They tried to erase it.
Before I could continue reading, the entire library suddenly shook violently.
The shelves rattled.
Books crashed onto the floor.
Lily snarled inside my mind.
Danger.
At the same time, a powerful wave of emotions rushed through our mate bond.
Kael.
He was worried.
And shocked.
I immediately stood and rushed out of the library.
The moment I stepped outside, chaos greeted me.
People were running in every direction.
Parents clutched their children tightly as they hurried toward the pack house for shelter.
Panic filled the air.
I was about to follow them when I saw Alfred.
“Luna!”
He ran straight toward me.
“Alfred!”
I grabbed his arm.
“What happened?”
“Where’s Kael?”
“The Alpha is at the front border of our territory.”
His breathing was uneven.
“He ordered me to escort you to the underground shelter.”
“Please, Luna. Come with me.”
I froze.
Then I shook my head.
“What?”
“No.”
“But, Luna…”
His expression became desperate.
“Alpha Darius has launched another attack.”
“It’ll be much safer if you—”
“I said no.”
The words left my mouth with unexpected authority.
“I will not leave my mate alone.”
I looked him straight in the eyes.
“Take me to the Alpha.”
Alfred hesitated.
For a long moment, he simply stared at me.
Then...
He lowered his head.
“Yes, Luna.”
He bowed respectfully.
“Please follow me.”
I clenched my fists.
I refused to run anymore.
I refused to hide.
Not this time.
This time...
I would face them.
And I would make sure...
This would be the last time Alpha Darius ever threatened the people I loved.
Chapter 9
Alfred escorted me to the entrance of Blackmoon Pack.
The warriors were already gathered there, preparing for battle. Some tightened the straps of their armor, others sharpened their weapons, while many had already shifted into their wolf forms, ready to defend the pack with their lives.
Kael looked genuinely surprised when he saw me standing beside Alfred.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded, turning sharply to his Beta. “Didn’t I tell you to evacuate her?”
Alfred immediately lowered his head.
Before he could answer, I stepped forward.
“Don’t blame him, Kael,” I said. “I insisted on staying.”
Kael blinked and looked at me.
“What?”
His brows knitted together.
“Can’t you see how dangerous this is? It’s not just Bloodfang attacking us anymore.”
I refused to back down.
I walked up to him and gently held his arm.
“I can help you, Kael.”
I looked him straight in the eyes.
“You know I can.”
My voice grew firmer.
“And besides... I’m done running.”
“I won’t give Darius the satisfaction of watching me hide again.”
“This time... I’ll face him.”
Kael stared at me silently.
For a long moment, hesitation lingered in his eyes.
Then...
He sighed.
“Fine.”
His voice softened.
“But you stay behind me.”
“Promise me.”
“Okay?”
Even though I wanted to argue, I nodded.
“Okay.”
Together, we walked toward the border of Blackmoon Pack.
Waiting outside was Alpha Darius.
Behind him stood not only Bloodfang warriors, but also the armies of three other allied packs.
Behind us, Blackmoon’s warriors assembled in perfect formation.
The tension in the air was suffocating.
Kael stepped forward.
“Alpha Darius.”
A faint smile crossed his face.
“To what pleasure do I owe this visit?”
His eyes drifted toward the other Alphas.
“And you even brought some friends.”
He chuckled.
“You should’ve warned me earlier.”
“I would’ve prepared drinks for everyone.”
Darius narrowed his eyes.
Then he looked directly at me.
The moment our gazes met, fear instinctively crept into my heart.
But this time...
I refused to hide.
I lifted my chin and stood proudly beside Kael.
“I’ll say this one last time,” Darius growled.
“Give Lyra back to me.”
“And this ends here.”
Kael laughed.
“Why would I hand over our Luna?”
He wrapped an arm around my waist.
“My mate.”
“She means nothing to you anymore.”
Darius clenched his jaw so hard the muscles twitched.
“Are you really trying to challenge me?”
He spread his arms toward the armies behind him.
“Look around.”
“I have three other packs standing with me.”
“Even if Blackmoon is the strongest pack...”
His lips curled.
“You still can’t defeat all four of us.”
I clenched my fists.
Before Kael could answer, I stepped forward.
“Why?”
I looked directly into Darius’s eyes.
“Why do you want me back?”
His gaze hardened.
“Because you’re my mate.”
I laughed.
A cold, bitter laugh.
“My mate?”
“You rejected me because I was weak.”
“Because I was wolfless.”
“You even sent rogues to kill me.”
“And now...”
I shook my head.
“You suddenly want me back?”
Darius snarled.
“You don’t need to know my reasons, Lyra.”
“You’re coming back to Bloodfang.”
“You’re mine!”
Kael growled beside me.
“Then you’ll have to go through me first.”
The battlefield exploded.
Warriors charged from both sides.
The clash of steel echoed through the valley.
Some shifted into wolves.
Others fought with swords and axes.
The ground trembled beneath countless paws.
Kael leaped into the air.
In midair, his body transformed into his massive black wolf.
I couldn’t help staring.
His fur was darker than midnight, yet it shimmered beautifully beneath the sunlight.
He was magnificent.
Beside me, Lily howled excitedly.
She couldn’t wait to fight alongside our mate.
I smiled.
But the smile disappeared the moment I saw Darius transform as well.
The battle between the Alphas had begun.
I fought using the sword Kael had given me, cutting down enemy warriors one after another.
Every few seconds, my eyes searched for him.
Then...
My heart stopped.
Four Alphas were attacking Kael at once.
“No!”
I screamed.
Help him! Lily shouted inside my mind.
Without hesitation, I kicked away the warrior I had just wounded.
Then I shifted.
Silver light exploded around me.
Lily burst forward like a bolt of lightning.
She slammed into the Alpha biting Kael’s hind leg, throwing him across the battlefield.
The other three Alphas immediately backed away.
Lily snarled.
The overwhelming pressure of the Silver Wolf swept across the battlefield.
All four Alphas instinctively retreated.
Their fangs remained bared.
Their tails tucked tightly beneath them.
Their ears flattened against their heads.
They couldn’t hide their fear.
“No!”
Darius roared.
“Attack her!”
None of the Alphas moved.
Darius snarled in frustration.
Then he charged at me himself.
Lily didn’t retreat.
She met him head-on.
Within seconds, my wolf’s jaws locked around Darius’s neck.
With one powerful throw...
She hurled him across the battlefield.
He crashed into the ground.
His wolf disappeared, forcing him back into his human form.
I shifted back as well.
“Kael!”
I rushed to him.
He was lying on the ground, covered in blood.
Thankfully...
He was still conscious.
Even someone as powerful as Kael couldn’t fight four Alphas alone without paying the price.
“Are you okay?”
I knelt beside him.
“You’re bleeding!”
Kael smiled weakly.
“I’ll heal.”
His hand reached for mine.
“I’ll be fine.”
“You!”
Darius’s furious voice echoed behind us.
“You little whore!”
“How did you become this powerful?!”
I slowly stood.
Darius was trying to get back on his feet, but the deep wounds on his shoulder and side made every movement agonizing.
I narrowed my eyes.
Then I walked toward him.
With every step I took...
Every wolf nearby dropped to one knee.
Even those from the allied packs.
I stopped directly in front of Darius.
He remained kneeling, desperately trying to resist the pressure surrounding him.
“You see, Darius...”
My voice echoed across the battlefield.
“I was never weak.”
I looked down at him.
“But because of people like you...”
“I spent my entire life believing I was.”
“I believed I was nothing.”
“A useless omega.”
A sad smile crossed my face.
“And yet...”
“Who would’ve thought?”
“I wasn’t.”
My eyes hardened.
“From this day forward...”
“I will never allow anyone to manipulate me again.”
“Nor will I allow any omega to live as a slave.”
I slowly looked around.
Only then did I realize...
Everyone...
Every single wolf...
Was kneeling before me.
“I...”
My voice carried effortlessly across the battlefield.
“Lyra.”
“Luna of Blackmoon Pack.”
“I promise that from this day onward...”
“No wolf will ever be mistreated again.”
“And if I discover that another wolf suffers under the rule of any pack...”
My silver eyes gleamed.
“I will conquer your territory...”
“And bring every one of you to your knees.”
“No wolf deserves to suffer simply because they exist.”
Darius laughed bitterly.
“You really think we’ll fear you?”
His eyes burned with hatred.
“Just because you’re the Silver Wolf?”
“You’re still nothing!”
“A useless—”
His words never finished.
A flash of steel cut through the air.
His head rolled across the battlefield.
His body collapsed moments later.
I stumbled back in shock.
“K-Kael...”
Standing behind Darius’s lifeless body was Kael.
Blood dripped from the sword in his hand.
He merely smirked.
Then...
He walked toward me.
To my complete surprise...
He dropped to one knee.
“I, Alpha Kael of Blackmoon Pack...”
He bowed his head.
“Pledge my loyalty to the one true Queen.”
He looked up at me proudly.
“Lyra.”
“The Silver Wolf.”
My mouth fell open.
“W-What?”
Kael smiled.
“You deserve to be our Queen, Lyra.”
“It is your destiny.”
Before I could respond, the remaining three Alphas approached us.
One after another...
They knelt.
Each of them lowered their heads before me.
Then they swore their loyalty.
Their trust.
Their allegiance.
I could only stare in stunned silence.
Me...
The omega everyone once despised.
The girl who had been abused for being weak.
Now stood before the mightiest Alphas of the eastern region...
As they knelt before me.
Acknowledging me...
As their Wolf Queen.
Chapter 10
For the first time in my life...
All I felt was peace.
Everything was so calm that it almost felt unfamiliar.
I stood on the balcony, overlooking the entire Blackmoon Pack.
Children laughed as they chased one another through the streets.
The warriors sparred in the training grounds, their weapons clashing in rhythmic harmony.
Merchants greeted their customers with warm smiles, while families gathered outside their homes, enjoying the quiet afternoon.
Everyone was simply living their lives.
Everyone looked...
Happy.
A smile slowly found its way to my lips.
So this...
This was what peace felt like.
This was what it felt like to finally be accepted.
To finally have a place where I belonged.
At last...
I was home.
Are you happy now, Lyra? Lily asked softly inside my mind.
Ever since I awakened her, I had shifted almost every day.
Sometimes Kael would accompany us on long runs through the forest.
Other times, Lily and I wandered beneath the moonlight alone, enjoying the freedom we had both longed for.
“Of course,” I whispered.
“I am.”
Lily let out a contented hum.
It’s your Luna Ascension today.
I hope you’re ready.
I swallowed.
Right.
Today was the day.
I would officially be crowned as the Luna of Blackmoon Pack.
At the same time...
The leaders of every werewolf pack would recognize me as the Wolf Queen.
Honestly...
I never dreamed of holding a title like that.
Being Luna alone already felt overwhelming.
Becoming the Wolf Queen?
That responsibility was far greater than anything I had ever imagined.
But whether I was ready or not...
Duty had already chosen me.
Delegations from every pack had begun arriving since dawn.
Even Alphas from distant territories had traveled for days just to witness the ceremony.
It made my stomach twist with nervousness.
Only a few weeks ago...
I had been nothing more than a forgotten omega.
A girl no one looked at.
A girl everyone despised.
But today...
Every eye would be on me.
Watching every step I took.
Every word I spoke.
Not because they hated me.
Although I knew some still envied me.
Most of them looked at me with something I had never received before.
Admiration.
Respect.
Hope.
The palace doors behind me slowly opened.
“Lyra.”
I turned around.
Kael stood there, dressed in formal black ceremonial attire embroidered with silver threads that shimmered beneath the morning sunlight. A silver cloak rested across his broad shoulders, making him look every bit the powerful Alpha he was.
For a brief moment...
I forgot how to breathe.
He smiled the moment our eyes met.
“There you are.”
His golden eyes softened.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
I smiled back.
“I just wanted a moment alone.”
Kael walked toward me until he stood beside me on the balcony.
For a while...
Neither of us spoke.
We simply watched our people below.
“They’re waiting for their Luna,” he finally said.
I laughed nervously.
“That’s exactly what scares me.”
He looked at me with amusement.
“The Lyra who stood against four Alphas is nervous about walking into a ceremony?”
I pouted.
“That’s different.”
“I almost died several times before that.”
“This...”
I looked toward the enormous ceremonial grounds where thousands of wolves were already gathering.
“...this feels much scarier.”
Kael chuckled.
“You’ll do fine.”
He gently reached for my hand, intertwining our fingers.
“Do you know why they’re all here?”
I shook my head.
“They’re not here because you’re the Silver Wolf.”
His thumb slowly traced circles over the back of my hand.
“They’re here because you gave them hope.”
His words made my chest tighten.
“You reminded every wolf that strength isn’t determined by rank.”
“Not by blood.”
“And certainly not by how others see you.”
His gaze met mine.
“You taught them that even the weakest wolf can become the strongest if they refuse to give up.”
I stared at him silently.
My eyes stung.
“You really believe that?” I whispered.
Kael smiled.
“I don’t believe it.”
He leaned closer and gently kissed my forehead.
“I know it.”
A warm breeze swept across the balcony.
Far below us, the sound of ceremonial horns echoed throughout Blackmoon Pack.
The crowd erupted into cheers.
One of the royal guards stepped onto the balcony and bowed deeply.
“My Alpha.”
“My Luna.”
He smiled respectfully.
“The council is ready.”
“The Alphas have gathered.”
“It’s time.”
I took a slow, steady breath.
Then I looked at Kael.
He offered me his hand.
“Ready, my Queen?”
I looked at the thousands waiting below.
Then back at the man who had never once let go of my hand.
A smile slowly spread across my face.
This time...
I wasn’t walking toward my fate alone.
“I’m ready.”
Together, we stepped toward the grand doors.
Toward our future.
Toward the destiny the Moon Goddess had prepared for us all along.
The End.
07/04/2026
