The palace, majestic as it was, felt like a cage to Aria. The golden chandeliers, the marble floors, the endless corridors—they all reminded her that she had been torn from the only life she had ever known. Yet, despite her longing for simplicity, something inside her was beginning to awaken.
Lucien was relentless in his efforts to make her feel safe and worthy. Each morning started with training—not only physical, but mental. He taught her to harness the power of her wolf, to sense danger, and to wield authority.
"You're stronger than you think," he said one morning, helping her steady her stance during a sparring session. "But strength is more than muscle. It's will, courage, and heart."
Aria tried to believe him. She had no choice.
But the palace wasn't just filled with lessons and luxury—it was filled with whispers.
Isolde, the icy advisor, visited often, her sharp gaze flicking over Aria with thinly veiled judgment. "A Luna must be prepared for politics," she said one day, her tone cold as winter. "You'll face rivals who seek to undermine you."
Aria nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat.
Rivals like Selena Voss.
Far from the safety of the palace, Selena paced restlessly through the Bloodfang Pack's halls. She was furious—no, humiliated—that Aria had not only survived rejection but had been swept away by the Lycan King himself.
"The King's madness will be his downfall," Selena sneered to Caleb, who stood beside her, his expression dark.
Caleb ran a hand through his hair. "She's not just some omega anymore. Whatever Lucien sees in her… it's powerful."
Selena smirked. "Then we'll find a way to strip her of it."
Back at the palace, Aria's thoughts were plagued by memories—her pack, her rejection, the searing pain of severed bonds. The loneliness crept in at night when even Lucien's arms couldn't shield her from the ghosts of her past.
One evening, Lucien found her standing alone on the balcony, staring out into the endless forest.
"You're thinking about them," he said quietly.
She didn't answer, but he understood.
"I won't let them hurt you," he promised, stepping closer. His hand brushed hers. "Not anymore."
Aria turned to face him, the moonlight catching the silver crescent mark on her wrist—a mark she now knew was tied to a prophecy older than any pack.
"Tell me about my bloodline," she whispered. "Why do I feel like I'm carrying a secret that could change everything?"
Lucien's eyes darkened. "Because you do. Your ancestors were guardians of the first bond between wolf and moon. That blood flows through you. It makes you special… and a target."
Her pulse quickened.
"Targets?" she asked.
Lucien nodded. "Many want to control or destroy what you represent. But as your King, I will protect you—no matter the cost."
Aria swallowed hard, the weight of destiny settling on her shoulders.
The palace doors creaked open suddenly, and Isolde appeared with urgent news.
"Your Majesty, scouts report unusual movements near the southern border. Possible pack insurgents testing our defenses."
Lucien's jaw tightened. "Prepare the guards. We can't afford weakness."
Aria's heart hammered in her chest. Danger was closer than she realized.
Lucien's gaze met hers, fierce and unwavering. "You're not just a Luna in name. Soon, you'll prove it."
That night, as shadows deepened around the palace, Aria lay awake. Fear mingled with newfound determination. The road ahead would be treacherous, filled with enemies who wished to see her fall.
But she wasn't the same girl who had been rejected under the cruel gaze of her pack.
She was the Lycan King's Luna.
And she would fight for her place—no matter the darkness.