But it was too late.
Her power burst wildly and uncontrollably lighting the whole place in crimson light. And then… everything went silent.
Red smoke wrapped around her feet, thick and heavy. Sera stood frozen in the center of the courtyard, chest heavy and eyes wide.
The air buzzed with power, her pulse wouldn't slow, they were all looking.
The music stopped as the dancers fled back in shock. Only the Alpha didn't move. Raven.
He stepped into the smoke as if it parted for him. Moonlight slid over his hair, his coat, his eyes… eyes that found hers and wouldn't look away.And for a moment, it felt as if she had set the world on fire.
Then his voice came low and controlled. "Enough."
The word echoed through the air like thunder and the torches lit up again one after another.People started to whisper.
Some were scared, some curious, wanting something to talk about.
Sera's legs shook. She wanted to run, to hide, but she couldn't move.Something inside her, the same thing that had burst out in red light was still there.
Still alive and buzzing under her skin.Raven reached her and grabbed her arm. His hand was warm, too warm.
Her skin burned where he touched her, his eyes moved to the soft light glowing on her collarbone.
The mark.
He moved closer, his breath warm in her ear. "You shouldn't have hidden that," he said quietly so only she could hear. Her throat went tight.
"I didn't…""You did," his voice was calm but sharp. "Now everyone knows what you are."She looked around.
Faces stared back. Eveline looked pale. Rowan seemed both amazed and shocked.
The rest of the pack whispered and shifted uneasily.The red light covered the stone walls, the silver masks, and the sky still shaking under the blood moon.
Eveline stepped closer, her robe brushing the ground. Her smile looked calm but her eyes didn't match.
"My Alpha," she said, bowing her head. "She needs to be restrained. That power…"
"Is mine to control," Raven said, cutting her off.
Everyone went still.
Even the wind stopped moving. Eveline froze.
"Yours?"He didn't look at her. His eyes stayed on Sera. "You heard me."He lifted his hand and touched her neck, his fingers tracing the edge of the mark still glowing faintly.
His touch was slow, almost careful but not soft. It felt like a claim.Sera flinched. "Don't…"
"Don't what?" His voice dropped low and dark. "Don't save a child again? Don't show them what you are? Or don't let me remind them who you belong to?"His words hit hard.
The crowd started to whisper, some scared, some curious.Raven turned to them, his voice cutting through the noise. "Duskfall, hear me," he said, cold and clear. "This woman is under my claim. Touch her, speak against her, or raise a hand…" his eyes moved over the crowd, slow and sharp. "…and you'll answer to me."
The whole place went quiet. And then whispers came back louder this time.
Someone gasped, someone gave a nervous laugh and few dropped to their knees. Sera's legs trembled.
Claimed.
He said it as if it meant nothing. As if she was his to take.Her chest tightened. "You can't just…"
He looks back at her, just enough to steal her breath. But his voice stayed calm. "I already did."
He ran his thumb over the mark. It burned hotter reacting to his touch as if it knew him. As if her body remembered something her mind couldn't.
Her breath broke. "Raven…"He moved closer, his lips brushed her ear. "Don't fight it," he whispered. "You'll only feed their hunger."
When he stepped back, she saw the crowd. Faces turned toward them, some afraid, some drawn in.
In the corner, Eveline stood stiff, her jaw tight, and her hands gripping her robe. Sera saw it then… jealousy, anger, something old and bitter hiding under her calm face.
Eveline bowed but her voice had a sharp edge. "The blood moon burns for prophecy, not for a servant girl. The Alpha shouldn't let weakness…"
"Enough!" Raven snapped, his voice cracked like glass. "You talk as if the moon speaks through you."
Eveline's smile stayed, but her words cut deeper. "It doesn't speak to me. It speaks the truth. And the truth, Alpha…" her eyes slid to Sera "...is dangerous."
A cold shiver ran down Sera's back. Raven's eyes went dark. "You forget your place."
She lowered her head but still spoke clearly. "And you forget yours."
The crowd stirred again, the air grew heavy. Too much heat, too many eyes, too much danger waiting to break loose.
Sera's hands trembled. The mark burned hotter. Her power pushed against her skin wanting out.
Then Raven stepped closer. He took her wrist, pulling near until she could feel the heat of his chest. His voice dropped low, meant for only her to hear.
"They'll come for you now," he said. "Every jealous eye. Every threat. Stay close to me."
She looked up at him, eyes wide. "Why? Because you said I'm yours?""Because you are," he said softly.
"The moon chose it. And I just spoke it."Something inside her broke loose. "I never wanted this."His jaw tightened. "Neither did I."
The air between them sparkled again. Her heart beat with his.
Their shadows touched on the stone floor, melting into one. Above them, the moon reached its peak.
Full, red, and beating like a wound in the sky.The crowd's whispers turned into chants. Words Sera didn't understand, words that made the air hum.
Eveline's lips moved soundlessly. Maybe it was prayers, maybe it was curses.Then the chant grew louder and sharper.
"Blood Moon Bride."It started from the back, then more voices joined. "Blood Moon Bride. Blood Moon Bride."
Sera froze.
Raven looked at the crowd but said nothing. His grip on her wrist only grew tighter. Eveline's face went pale, her voice shook.
"You've doomed her," she whispered.The torches burned higher, covering everything in red.
The chanting grew louder and the sky seemed to shake.Then the last bell struck midnight.
A shadow moved above the towers, a howl came from the forest. Another rival pack.The guards shifted as fear cut through the ceremony. Raven's head snapped up.
"To the walls!" He shouted.Pain shot through Sera's chest. The mark on her chest flared again, this time it was brighter and harsher. Her knees gave way and she grabbed her chest as the red glow across her body.
Raven turned to her, his face changing with shock, fear, and something else. "Seraphina.."
The wind roared like a scream then the candles went out and the red light covered everything.
And inside her, something broke loose. Then…There was darkness.