A DANGEROUS CHOICE
The clearing was so quiet that even the wind moving through the trees could be heard.
Every wolf present felt the tension between the two powerful men standing in the center of the ceremony.
Kael Blackwood.
The future Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack.
And the Alpha King himself.
No one dared to speak.
Aria stood frozen where she was, her heart pounding painfully inside her chest.
The warmth of the mate bond between her and Kael had already begun to fracture from his earlier words.
She could still feel it… but it was weaker now.
Fragile.
Like glass about to break.
Kael’s grey eyes remained fixed on the Alpha King.
For a brief moment, uncertainty crossed his face.
The Alpha King’s warning had clearly surprised him.
But it didn’t last long.
Kael straightened his posture.
“With respect, Alpha King,” he said firmly, “this is a personal matter between me and my mate.”
His voice remained calm, but there was steel behind his words.
“The Moon Goddess may have chosen her, but I am not obligated to accept a bond that weakens my future as Alpha.”
A wave of murmurs spread quietly through the crowd.
Some wolves nodded slightly.
Others looked uncomfortable.
The Alpha King watched Kael in silence for a moment.
His golden eyes were unreadable.
Then his gaze shifted briefly toward Aria again.
She looked small compared to the powerful wolves around her.
Nervous.
Confused.
And clearly hurt.
A faint crease appeared between the Alpha King’s brows.
Meanwhile, Kael continued speaking.
“A Luna must be strong,” he said. “She must stand beside her Alpha and support the pack.”
His eyes returned to Aria.
Cold.
Judging.
“But she…” he paused briefly.
“…has no wolf.”
Those words sent another ripple through the crowd.
Some wolves lowered their heads.
Others stared openly now.
Aria felt their gazes like sharp needles against her skin.
Her hands trembled slightly.
She hated being the center of attention.
Especially like this.
Kael took another step forward.
The mate bond still tugged weakly inside him, urging him toward her.
But his pride fought against it.
His wolf was restless.
Conflicted.
Yet Kael forced himself to ignore it.
“I cannot accept a Luna who cannot even shift,” he said clearly.
Lila’s hopeful smile slowly returned.
Several of her friends nodded in quiet agreement.
Aria felt the warmth in her chest crack further.
The bond was fading.
Breaking.
Her eyes lowered to the ground as shame washed over her.
The Alpha King noticed.
His expression darkened slightly.
For the first time since arriving, something dangerous flickered within his golden gaze.
Kael inhaled slowly.
Then he spoke again.
Louder this time.
So every wolf could hear him.
“I, Kael Blackwood, future Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack…”
Aria’s heart sank.
She already knew what he was about to say.
Her chest tightened painfully.
The bond trembled weakly between them.
“I reject—”
Before the final words could leave his mouth—
A sudden, powerful pressure exploded through the clearing.
The ground itself seemed to vibrate under the force of it.
Several wolves gasped.
Others instinctively stepped back.
The Alpha King had moved.
In the blink of an eye, he was standing directly beside Aria.
His tall figure towered protectively next to her.
Golden eyes blazing under the moonlight.
The power rolling off him was overwhelming.
Even Kael’s voice stopped mid-sentence.
The Alpha King’s deep voice filled the clearing.
Cold.
Dangerous.
“And if you reject her…”
His gaze locked onto Kael with quiet fury.
“…you will be rejecting something far more valuable than you realize.”
The crowd stared in stunned silence.
Because the Alpha King had just stepped between a wolf and his mate bond.
Something no one in living memory had ever dared to do.
Kael’s brows furrowed.
“What do you mean?”
For a moment, the Alpha King said nothing.
His eyes slowly lowered toward Aria beside him.
Then he spoke again.
Calmly.
Quietly.
But loud enough for everyone to hear.
“I mean…”
His golden gaze returned to Kael.
“…that the girl you are about to reject…”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“…belongs to me.”