Morning sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of Bloomfield Woods, touching every leaf with golden warmth.
The valley below stirred with life as the pack began to wake. Wolves returned from night patrols, their sleek fur shimmering before they shifted back into human form.
The familiar rhythm of morning filled the air—footsteps, laughter, and the comforting hum of home.
At the heart of it all stood Alpha Kol Harper, tall and broad-shouldered, the kind of man whose presence alone steadied those around him.
He moved through his people not with the cold authority of command but with the calm confidence of a protector.
His voice carried the weight of leadership, yet his eyes softened whenever they found Serena Plies, his Luna and fated mate.
Serena's laughter rippled through the clearing as she knelt to tie a small ribbon in a pup's hair.
Her kindness was effortless, the kind that made others want to be near her.
She carried a quiet strength and grace that made even the most restless wolves still their tempers. To the pack, she was light after a storm.
But even in light, shadows whisper.
Among the chatter, a pair of young wolves muttered to each other about Serena's bloodline and how her ancestors were said to be cursed by moonfire.
The words were hushed, but Serena heard them. She pretended not to, forcing a small smile as she rose to her feet.
Kol caught the flicker of pain in her eyes and brushed his hand against hers.
"Let them talk," he murmured. "They don't know what I know."
Her expression softened. "Sometimes I think the curse rumor will never fade."
"It won't matter," Kol said with quiet conviction. "As long as I lead this pack, you will always stand beside me.
The moon chose you for me, Serena. That's all that matters."
The warmth of his words settled between them, but far off in the woods, a set of unseen eyes watched the moment unfold.
Night fell fast, cloaking Bloomfield Park in silver light.
The pack gathered for the "Moon Ceremony," their most sacred tradition.
Bonfires roared, drums echoed, and the scent of roasted venison filled the air. It was a celebration of loyalty, unity, and the eternal bond between Alpha and Luna.
Kol led the ritual run beneath the moon, his wolf a majestic silver-gray blur weaving through the forest alongside Serena's snow-white one.
They moved as one, their paws kicking up moonlit dust that shimmered like stardust.
When they returned, breathless and glowing, the pack erupted into howls of reverence.
Later, at the edge of the clearing, Kol and Serena stood apart from the others, gazing up at the full moon's light rippling across the lake.
"Sometimes," Serena whispered, "I wonder if the moon regrets choosing me."
Kol turned to her, his hand cupping her cheek. "The moon never regrets, Serena. Only men do. And I would choose you again in every life."
Her eyes glistened. She leaned into his touch, letting his warmth chase away her doubts. For a brief moment, everything felt unshakable—two souls, one bond, one destiny.
But not far behind them, "Aria Wolfwood" stood among the gathered wolves, her amber eyes shadowed with something darker than jealousy.
She had been part of Kol's pack since her first shift, a warrior known for her strength and loyalty.
For years, she had fought beside him and dreamed beside him, convinced that one day she would stand where Serena stood.
Now, as she watched them laugh together beneath the moonlight, her chest tightened. Every smile they shared, every glance between them, felt like salt on an open wound.
"She doesn't deserve him," she muttered under her breath.
No one heard her, not yet. But the seed had been planted, and envy has a way of growing in silence.
The night carried on with feasting and song.
Aria tried to blend in, her laughter hollow, her eyes following Kol wherever he went.
When he raised a cup and toasted, "To Serena," his voice filled with emotion, "my Luna, whose light guides this pack." The words hit Aria like a blade.
The crowd cheered, but she could barely hear them over the pounding in her ears.
Her fingers clenched around her goblet until the metal bent, spilling wine down her wrist. She forced a smile, hoping no one saw the tremor in her hand.
Inside her, something shifted. What had once been admiration curdled into resentment.
Aria told herself she wanted what was best for Bloomfield Pack, that Serena's cursed blood would bring ruin, but deep down, she knew her hatred came from love denied.
Across the clearing, Serena caught Aria's gaze and smiled warmly, unaware of the storm behind those amber eyes. Aria smiled back. It was convincing. Too convincing.
When the fires began to fade, Serena excused herself for air. She stepped into the cool night, the forest humming softly with nocturnal life.
The moon hung low, glowing faintly through thin clouds. For a moment, she let herself breathe.
Then came the chill.
A gust of wind swept through the trees, cold enough to raise the hair on her arms.
The forest, moments ago alive, seemed to hold its breath. In the shadows, she thought she saw movement, something large slipping between the trees, the faint glint of eyes catching moonlight.
"Kol?" she called softly. No answer.
She took a cautious step forward, her pulse quickening. The woods were silent again, but the unease wouldn't fade.
Kol appeared a moment later, worry etched across his face. "You shouldn't wander off alone," he said, drawing her close.
"I thought I saw something," she murmured, her gaze still on the treeline.
"Just the night playing tricks," he said, though his tone lacked conviction. He looked toward the forest one last time, sensing something he couldn't name.
Above them, the clouds drifted across the moon, swallowing its light. The celebration behind them continued in muffled laughter and song, but for Kol and Serena, the night suddenly felt colder.
As they turned back toward the packhouse, Aria stood in the distance, half-hidden by the trees. Her expression was unreadable: part sorrow, part fury, part something far more dangerous.
She watched the Alpha's arm slip around his Luna's waist, the gesture both tender and possessive, and whispered to the wind, "Let's see how long fate keeps her by your side."
The wind carried her words into the dark. Somewhere, a wolf howled—a lonely, mournful sound that echoed through the valley.
And though the pack slept peacefully that night, the moon watched from behind its veil of clouds, knowing peace in Bloomfield would not last for long.