Azura's POV
"Breathe in and hold tight."
The handmaiden's foot pressed against my back as she pulled the corset laces with enough force to squeeze every living breath out of me.
I gripped the bedpost so hard my knuckles turned white, my face flushing red as I endured the torture of dressing for a ceremony I didn't even want to attend.
When she finally finished, I sat down in front of the mirror, gasping for air. Two younger servants began working on my hair, their hands gentle as they brushed and twisted.
The door opened, and Genevieve walked in carrying a white dress draped over her arms. It looked like a wedding gown.
Yeah. I'm getting married to the beast.
She laid it carefully on the bed and came to stand behind me, smiling warmly at my reflection.
"You look breathtaking, my child," she said softly, wiping a bit of sweat from my forehead.
I stared at myself in the mirror. "Is all this really necessary? Can't I just wear the white dress alone?"
The three servants exchanged glances through the mirror.
Genevieve laughed. "No, child. Wearing the dress alone would leave you practically naked."
I sighed. I just hoped I wouldn't end up ripping this one as I did with the others.
****
When they finally finished, I stood in front of the mirror and stared at a girl I didn't recognize.
The dress was pure white, so bright it seemed to glow in the candlelight. Heavy silk fell all the way to the floor, pooling around my feet like a cloud. Tiny silver threads had been sewn along the neckline and sleeves, shimmering with every breath I took. The tight waist made me stand tall and straight.
For the first time in my life, I didn't feel weak.
I felt powerful.
My hair had been brushed until it was as smooth as water, falling down my back in long black waves. The single white streak at the front stood out clearly now, like a splash of moonlight against the dark.
Instead of hiding it, the handmaidens had used a small silver clip shaped like a crescent moon to pin it back. It framed my face perfectly, making my silver-gray eyes look brighter.
I reached out and touched the soft fabric, my heart thumping hard in my chest.
I looked like a Luna.
I looked like someone who belonged in a palace.
"You're so beautiful, my lady," the eldest handmaiden said with a warm smile. "I bet the Alpha will lose his mind once he sees you."
I smiled at her, but inside, I doubted it.
That would only happen if the Alpha even noticed me. Isadora would be there, and she'd make me invisible. Like always.
But I didn't care. Honestly, I wish he'd go against his father and just choose her already.
I turned back and saw Genevieve standing there with tears in her eyes.
"Are you okay?" I asked, worry creeping into my voice.
She nodded, her smile soft and trembling. "I always wanted a daughter. And you're exactly what I wanted."
My throat tightened. I didn't know what to say.
"Don't mind me," she said quickly, wiping her tears. "It's time. Are you ready?"
Am I ready?
No. I'm not.
But I nodded anyway. "Yes."
"You don't have to be nervous," Genevieve said gently, "You're only attending. Nothing more."
I nodded, though my chest still felt tight.
Only attending.
That's what I kept telling myself.
Everyone would be expecting Isadora to be chosen.
And me? Not a chance.
Genevieve stepped back and smiled. "Come. I'll keep you near me."
****
She didn't take me into the crowd.
Instead, she led me around the outer path, closer to the stone pillars that surrounded the ceremonial grounds. From there, I could see everything without being too visible myself.
"Stay here, okay?" she said softly.
I nodded.
The night air was thick with anticipation.
The ceremonial grounds glowed under the full moon. White stone reflected silver light. Torches burned low, their flames steady and respectful. The pack had gathered in rows, arranged by rank. High-ranking wolves stood closest to the stage. Omegas stayed farther back.
I stayed in the shadows.
At the front stood the stage.
The Alpha's chair sat at the center, carved stone, ancient, heavy with authority. Beside it was another chair, just as beautiful, just as powerful.
Empty.
The Luna's chair.
My stomach twisted.
The Elders stood near the altar, their long robes brushing the stone floor. Among them was Arthur, the former Alpha. He stood tall, his expression hard and unreadable.
And then there was Isadora.
She stood near the front, dressed in gold and cream. Her auburn hair was styled perfectly. Her emerald eyes were bright with confidence. She looked exactly like someone who expected to be chosen.
The drums sounded.
Once.
Twice.
Silence fell over the pack like a held breath.
"The Lunar Ceremony begins," the head Elder announced, his voice carrying easily through the night. "On this sacred night, under the full moon, we call upon the spirits of our ancestors and the blessing of the Moon Mother herself."
A low chant rose from the Elders. The air felt heavier, charged, like the moonlight itself was pressing down on us.
I swallowed hard.
Then he stepped forward.
Rhydor.
The Alpha took his place near the stone chair, tall and commanding. He was dressed in dark ceremonial clothing marked with silver symbols of leadership.
His long brown hair fell loose down his back, catching the moonlight. His amber eyes scanned the crowd once, sharp, unreadable.
They lingered on Isadora.
Of course they did.
Why would he even spare me a glance?
"The Alpha shall now choose the woman who will stand as his Luna," the Elder said.
A murmur rippled through the pack. Excitement. Certainty.
Isadora lifted her chin, her smile confident.
Rhydor stood, his expression unreadable, and began to move.
He stepped down from the stage and started walking.
Straight toward Isadora.
My heart slowed, almost relieved.
Of course.
This was how it was meant to go.
But then…
He didn't stop.
He walked past her.
Gasps filled the air. Whispers exploded like wildfire. Isadora's hand was already reaching out, her fingers twitching as if she could already feel his touch. When he stepped past her without a look, her hand stayed frozen in the air, her face turning a sickly shade of white.
My breath caught.
He was walking toward the shadows.
Toward me.
Every step he took felt like a blow to my chest. I tried to move, tried to step back, but my feet wouldn't obey. Genevieve tried to calm me down, with her hand rubbing mine.
No, no please turn back.
But Rhydor stopped in front of me.
So close I could see the gold flecks in his amber eyes. So close I could feel the heat of his presence, heavy and overwhelming.
The world felt very small.
Very quiet.
He reached out.
The entire pack stared as the Alpha extended his hand toward a rankless girl standing in the shadows.
Toward me.
"Azura Moryn."
My name echoed across the ceremonial grounds.
"I choose you as my true Luna."
The silence was shattered.
Whispers turned into shouts. Confusion erupted. I saw shock on every face. Disbelief. Anger.
And standing in the crowd, her face pale and twisted with fury, was Isadora.
Rhydor's hand stayed extended.
Waiting.
But his eyes met mine, and something in them told me he wasn't backing down.
"Take my hand, Azura," he said quietly, his voice firm.
My hand trembled as I slowly reached out. My heart was thumping so hard I thought it might burst through my ribs.
The second my fingers brushed against his, I didn't just feel a spark, I felt a jolt of electricity that raced all the way up my arm and straight to my heart. It was hot and powerful, making my breath hitch in my throat.
I looked up at him, gasping, and I saw his amber eyes flare. He felt it too.
The silence of the pack was deafening. It was as if the whole world had stopped breathing. I looked past him for a split second and saw Isadora; her face was pale and twisted with a rage so deep it looked like a mask.
Rhydor didn't let go. Even when we both know that he was against this too.