The dawn came far too soon.
Ariana barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, Ethan's voice echoed — cold, final, merciless. She tried to tell herself it had been a nightmare, that when she woke, the mark would still be glowing on her neck. But as morning light crept through her curtains, she touched her skin and found only emptiness.
The bond was gone.And in its place — a new fate awaited her.
Outside, the BloodMoon Pack stirred. Wolves hurried through the courtyard carrying baskets of flowers, white silk, and golden ribbons. Yet there was no joy in the air. This was no celebration. This was a message — a warning carved in ceremony and power.
Her mother fastened the last clasp of the white gown. It was heavy, suffocating, and far too beautiful for what it represented.
"You don't have to do this," her mother whispered, fingers trembling. "We can talk to the Alpha. Maybe he'll—"
Ariana shook her head. "You know he won't. No one questions Damon Black."
Tears welled in her mother's eyes. "He's not a kind man, Ariana. He's lost too much. He doesn't love — he commands."
"I don't need his love," Ariana lied softly. "I just need to survive."
Her mother pulled her close, voice breaking. "Then survive, my child. And don't let them see you break."
The door creaked open. Beta Hale stood there, stern and silent. "They're waiting," he said.
Ariana drew one last breath. The scent of lavender and rain filled her lungs — the last familiar comfort she'd ever have.
The BloodMoon Hall was vast and ancient, its stone pillars etched with runes older than the pack itself. Torches burned blue fire, their glow flickering like restless souls. At the far end of the hall stood Damon Black.
He was taller than Ethan, broader, and far more dangerous. His aura filled the room — cold, commanding, and unyielding. Silver eyes locked onto her the moment she entered. The murmurs around the hall faded into silence.
"She looks terrified.""Wouldn't you be?""Damon's Luna... poor thing won't last a week."
Ariana ignored them. Every step echoed against the marble floor until she stood before him. Damon's face revealed nothing.
"You may approach," he said, voice deep and resonant — a command, not an invitation.
She stepped closer, her pulse racing.
Damon's Beta, Marcus, stepped forward and began the ancient Binding Rite. "By the will of the Moon Goddess, the Alpha claims his Luna. Their fates entwined, their blood united."
Ariana barely heard him. She could feel Damon's gaze like fire on her skin. When Marcus handed him the ceremonial dagger, her breath caught.
The ritual required one drop of blood from each — to seal the bond before the Moon.
Without hesitation, Damon pricked his palm. A drop of crimson fell into the silver bowl between them. Then he handed the blade to her.
It was colder than she expected. The sharp kiss of steel bit into her palm, and her blood joined his. Marcus lifted the bowl toward the moonlit skylight.
"The Moon bears witness."
A pulse of silver light filled the hall. The bond was sealed.
Ariana Hale was now Luna of the BloodMoon Pack.
Polite applause followed — distant, mechanical, insincere. The pack bowed their heads, but their eyes whispered pity.
"Welcome, Luna," Damon said quietly.
She met his gaze. "You didn't give me a choice."
"Neither did fate."
By the time the feast ended, the hall was empty. Ariana stood alone on the balcony outside her new chambers, her gown heavy with roses and smoke. The moon rose high again — cold, indifferent.
Behind her, the door opened. Footsteps. She didn't turn.
"I didn't expect laughter," she said softly. "Most weddings have it."
Damon's voice was smooth as stone. "Most brides aren't replacements."
A bitter laugh escaped her. "So that's what I am. A replacement for your dead mate."
He didn't deny it. "You wanted to survive. So do I."
Ariana turned, fire flashing through her pain. "You could've chosen anyone, Alpha. Why me?"
"Because the Moon chose you. And because your father's loyalty was... uncertain. A Luna from the Hale bloodline ensures it remains."
"So this is about power."
"This is about control."
The words hit harder than any rejection.
"You'll find I don't submit easily," she said, chin lifting.
Damon took a slow step forward, closing the space between them until his shadow swallowed hers. His voice dropped to a warning. "Don't mistake my patience for kindness, Luna. The last person who defied me no longer breathes."
Her heart thudded painfully, but she didn't step back. "Then you'll have to kill me too."
Something flickered behind his eyes — surprise, then interest.
"Maybe I misjudged you," he murmured. "Perhaps you're not as weak as your former mate claimed."
"Don't speak his name."
He tilted his head. "Ethan?"
Her breath caught. "Stop."
Damon's lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. "He'll regret rejecting you. Not because he lost you — but because soon, he'll envy me."
Ariana's wolf stirred deep inside her, restless, whispering danger. "What do you mean?"
Damon's gaze hardened. "You'll understand soon enough. The Moon doesn't make mistakes — even when it feels like punishment."
A chill rippled down her spine. There was something in his tone — something she couldn't name.
When he finally turned and left, the door closing behind him with a soft click, Ariana's knees gave out. She sank into a chair, her chest tight, her pulse racing.
Outside, the storm gathered again. The wind howled, carrying the scent of rain — and something else.
Blood.
Ariana shot to her feet and rushed to the balcony.
Below, in the moonlit courtyard, two wolves tore into each other — one black and massive, one golden and bleeding. The sound of snarls and snapping jaws echoed through the night.
Her breath hitched. The golden wolf — she knew that scent.
Ethan.
And the black one... Damon.
For a long, paralyzing moment, she could only stare as blood splattered across the stones, the full moon shining like an omen above them.
Two brothers.One destiny.And a Luna caught in between — bound by blood, torn by fate.