The night the blood moon rose above Silver Fang territory was supposed to be the happiest night of my life.

Tonight, I, Zyra Blackthorn, was meant to become Luna.

Instead, I became the humiliation.

As I stepped forward to receive my Alpha’s ceremonial kiss, he laughed.

At first, I thought I heard him wrong.

But then the crowd began laughing too.

Confused, I stared at him.

His voice cut through the night like a blade.

“I will never make you my mate.”

Gasps rippled through the pack.

Before I could even react, a girl behind me shoved me forward.

I crashed to my knees in the dirt.

Pain shot through my skin as my knees scraped against the ground, warm blood sliding down my legs.

The laughter grew louder.

Something inside me snapped.

The earth beneath my hands cracked.

My fangs slid out.

My eyes burned bright red.

I shut my eyes quickly and forced myself to breathe.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

I stood slowly, lifting my head.

“My pleasure,” I said coldly. “You just lost something you will never touch again once you realize.”

“Excuse me. Pardon me, let me through.”

A deep unfamiliar voice spoke from the crowd.

A tall man stepped forward, someone I had never seen before.

He stopped in front of me.

“Hi,” he said calmly. “I’m Lucien Shadowfang.”

His eyes studied me carefully.

“Hi,” I replied quietly. “I’m Zyra Blackthorn… and I have to go.”

I turned immediately and walked away before anyone could see the tears threatening to fall.

But one thought kept circling my mind.

Who is Lucien Shadowfang?

I ran into the forest.

Once the pack was far behind me, my body shifted.

Bones cracked.

Fur burst across my skin.

My wolf ran deep into the dark forest until no one could hear me.

Then I howled.

The sound echoed through the mountains as the blood moon watched above.

Later, as the red moon slowly began to set, I lay beneath the trees and cried.

I remembered how happy I had been earlier.

How excited.

How proud.

Then his laughter.

The crowd joining him.

The girl pushing me.

My knees bleeding in the dirt.

Rage burned inside my chest.

I wanted revenge.

Not the kind that breaks bones.

The kind that makes them feel the same pain I felt tonight.

I looked up at the blood moon.

“I want to know who Lucien Shadowfang is,” I whispered.

Suddenly my vision blurred.

A vision appeared in my mind.

Lucien Shadowfang stood before the Alpha who rejected me.

His hand gripped the Alpha’s throat.

The Alpha screamed.

“Mercy!”

The vision vanished.

I gasped.

But what shocked me most…

Was not the violence.

It was that Lucien suddenly turned his head.

And looked straight at me.

My vision snapped shut.

I stood quickly, heart racing.

I needed to see more.

I sat cross-legged on the forest floor.

“In… out… in… out…”

Deep breath.

Deep breath.

As I focused, something moved in the bushes.

A white cat stepped out.

The small creature walked toward me calmly, completely unafraid.

“Well hello there,” I laughed softly.

“You’re a brave little thing.”

I knelt and gently pet the cat.

“You are such a cutie.”

I kissed the top of its head and placed it back on the ground.

“Meow.”

The cat walked away.

For some reason, I followed it.

The small animal led me through the trees until suddenly—

A glowing portal appeared.

My heart pounded.

But I stepped through.

The world twisted.

Suddenly I stood back in the ceremony clearing.

The same place where I had been rejected.

A voice echoed around me.

“This is where it begins.”

My eyes burned bright red.

Humiliation.

Anger.

Power.

Then suddenly the world snapped again.

I was back in the forest.

The white cat sat beside me, completely unharmed.

Confused, I looked around.

Then I noticed something strange.

I lifted my hand and focused on a nearby tree branch.

It moved.

My eyes widened.

Joy exploded inside my chest.

I spun around laughing.

“I’m a witch… werewolf!”

I danced in the moonlight.

“Oh this is going to be good.”

Suddenly a black hole opened beneath my feet.

I gasped as the ground vanished and I fell through the darkness.

The white cat fell with me.

Before I could scream, strong arms caught me.

I looked up.

Lucien Shadowfang held me effortlessly.

My face burned red.

Questions raced through my mind.

His golden eyes studied me with quiet intensity.

He said my name slowly.

“Zyra Blackthorn.”

My heart skipped.

“I’ve been looking for you,” he continued softly. “When I finally saw you tonight… I couldn’t resist coming.”

His thumb brushed lightly across my hand.

“No one will ever humiliate you again.”

My eyes filled with tears, but none fell.

My face remained warm as I stared at him.

Then he lifted my hand and kissed it gently.

The world shifted again.

The black hole swirled around us.

He began fading back into the darkness.

“Let no one know I’m your mate, gorgeous,” he murmured.

“As a gift… I leave you the kitten. Your guide until I return.”

His voice faded like distant thunder.

Then he was gone.

The darkness vanished.

I was back in the forest.

The white kitten sat beside me calmly.

I slowly sat down again, crossing my legs.

I looked up at the blood moon glowing above the trees.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“Humiliation led me to my mate.”

A small smile touched my lips.

“I just can’t tell anyone yet.”

I gently stroked the kitten’s head.

“Until we meet again, Lucien Shadowfang…”

My heart fluttered.

“I think I already love him.”

I stood up and picked up the kitten.

“I’m naming you Sponge,” I said softly. “Because you’re so soft.”

“Meow.”

Sponge seemed to approve.

I began walking toward home. It was far from the forest, but somehow that no longer worried me.

Something inside me felt… different.

I lifted slightly from the ground.

My eyes widened.

I was floating.

A laugh escaped my lips as the wind rushed around me and I sped through the night sky, holding Sponge close to my chest.

The moonlight guided me all the way home.

When I reached the gate of my house, someone was already standing there.

A woman dressed in a flowing white robe.

Silver hair fell down her back like moonlight.

Her eyes were calm and powerful.

“And you are?” I asked carefully.

The woman smiled.

“I am Seraphina Moonveil,” she said gently.

“Your white witch… and werewolf teacher.”

My heart skipped.

“I’m here to prepare you for your destiny.”

She studied me for a moment before continuing.

“To become the mate of King Lucien Shadowfang.”

My face turned bright red.

“The king?” I whispered.

I suddenly felt overwhelmed with excitement.

Without thinking, I ran forward and hugged her.

“I’m so excited!”

Then I quickly stepped back, embarrassed.

“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have hugged you without permission.”

Seraphina chuckled softly.

“Vespera Thorn,” she said warmly, “it is perfectly fine to hug.”

Her voice was gentle and comforting.

Relief washed over me.

I smiled brightly.

“Thank you.”

I looked up at the moon again.

Tonight had started with humiliation.

But now…

It was becoming the most important night of my life.

“Vespera Thorn, your first class starts now,” Seraphina Moonveil said gently.

“Are you ready? Today is day one of learning to control your power.”

I blinked in surprise.

“My mate… the king… he knows?”

Seraphina smiled knowingly.

“Oh yes. King Lucien knows. He knows you need help.”

She studied me carefully before adding softly,

“He deeply loves you and is willing to do anything for you.”

My face turned red again.

“Okay,” I said nervously. “What do I do?”

“Float,” Seraphina said calmly. “And lift the kitten. What is his name?”

“Sponge,” I said proudly.

Seraphina Moonveil smiled.

“Alright, Vespera Thorn. Float into the air and gently lift Sponge with your power. Then move forward with Sponge floating beside you.”

I focused.

Slowly, my feet lifted off the ground.

I floated a few inches above the earth.

Excited, I looked down at Sponge.

But Sponge wasn’t floating.

He was still sitting on the ground, staring at me.

I sighed and slowly lowered myself back down.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “Can I try tomorrow morning? Maybe after I rest I’ll be able to do it.”

Seraphina nodded kindly.

“A try is better than nothing,” she said. “We will continue tomorrow morning.”

She turned to leave.

Within minutes, I fell asleep.

As I slept, I drifted into a dream.

I, Zyra Blackthorn, was dancing beneath the moon with my mate.

Lucien held my hand as we spun slowly in the silver light.

Sponge walked happily beside us.

I was smiling.

My mate was smiling.

For a moment, everything felt perfect.

Then the dream twisted.

The Alpha’s angry face suddenly appeared.

“You will always be rejected,” he snarled.

“No! That’s not true!” I cried. “Please stop!”

He laughed cruelly.

Then he grabbed my purse.

“Hey! Come back! Don’t take my things!”

“I take whatever I want,” he said with a mocking grin.

He ran.

I chased him through the forest.

Suddenly he shifted into a wolf and sprinted forward at incredible speed.

I tried to follow, shifting into my wolf as well.

But he was too fast.

I stopped chasing him.

My body shifted back to human as tears filled my eyes.

“Please… bring my purse back,” I whispered.

My eyes burned red with anger and pain.

Suddenly I felt something soft against my face.

“Meow.”

Sponge was licking my cheek.

My eyes opened.

Morning sunlight filled the room.

Tears still rested in the corners of my eyes.

“What a nightmare,” I whispered.

I wiped my face and gently kissed Sponge on the head.

“Good morning.”

Sunlight shone brightly through the window.

“A new day,” I said softly. Then I smiled.

“An exciting day it will be. I can feel it.”

I woke up early.

After showering, brushing my teeth, and eating breakfast, I felt ready for my training.

Today was the first real day.

Suddenly a vision flashed in my mind.

I saw my mate’s face.

Lucien Shadowfang.

He blew me a kiss and gave me a playful wink.

I blinked quickly, my cheeks instantly turning red.

A knock sounded at the door.

I walked over and opened it.

“Good morning, Seraphina Moonveil. Would you like some breakfast?” I asked politely.

“Good morning,” she replied warmly. “Thank you, but I already ate before coming.”

She stepped forward slightly.

“Now, let us begin your first class.”

“Yes,” I said excitedly.

“Sponge, come here,” I called softly.

The little kitten trotted over to me.

I closed my eyes.

Deep breath in.

Deep breath out.

I focused on the feeling inside me.

Slowly, my feet lifted off the ground.

I began to float.

My body trembled slightly, but it felt… good.

I opened my eyes.

Excitement rushed through me.

Sponge was floating beside me.

“I’m doing it!” I said happily.

But suddenly I felt a warm drop run down my nose.

Blood.

At the same moment my emotions shifted.

Lightning cracked across the sky.

Dark clouds rolled in and rain began to fall suddenly.

Sponge simply looked at me and let out a small “Meow,” still floating calmly beside me.

I looked toward Seraphina Moonveil.

She was smiling.

“Wow,” she said calmly. “You are exactly how I imagined.”

I blinked in surprise.

“But do not worry,” she continued. “Your power will soon be under control.”

“I’m sorry, Seraphina Moonveil,” I said quickly. “I got angry.”

“It’s alright, Zyra,” she replied gently.

“Close your eyes again. Think of something that makes you happy.”

I did.

Lucien’s face appeared in my mind again.

Seeing him made my heart feel light.

“Zyra, open your eyes,” Seraphina said softly.

I opened them.

I was still floating.

Sponge floated peacefully beside me.

The storm had disappeared.

The sun shone brightly again.

“This is wonderful news,” Seraphina said. “Whatever made you happy, keep that image in your mind.”

She then crossed her arms.

“Now try to lift me.”

“Lift you?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said calmly. “Go ahead.”

I focused on her.

Nothing happened.

I tried again.

Still nothing.

I sighed and looked down at Sponge.

“Sponge,” I said softly, “go inside and rest. I love you.”

I kissed his tiny head.

The kitten meowed and walked inside the house.

I turned back toward Seraphina and tried again.

Still nothing moved.

Seraphina nodded thoughtfully.

“That’s alright, Zyra Blackthorn.”

She reached into her robe and handed me a small wand.

“Keep this with you.”

“We will continue your training tonight.”

“I must go to the village and gather some supplies.”

She looked at me with interest.

“You should also go into the village.”

“Do me a favor while you’re there,” she added.

“If you can, try reading the minds of the people who pass by.”

“And if you cannot, do not worry.”

“Thank you,” I said. “I’ll go to the village and do my work.”

“Goodbye.”

“Goodbye,” Seraphina Moonveil said kindly.