Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Three days left. Only three.
Each second felt heavier than the last, ticking down to the moment everything I knew would be gone, swallowed by fate and sealed by the Alpha King himself. I paced outside my family’s quarters, inhaling deeply, trying to steady the wild, anxious beat of my heart. The evening air hung cool and heavy over the Shadow Pack‘ s lands, whispering secrets of the life I’d soon leave behind.
My father’s words echoed in my head,
“The Alpha King wants a strong Luna by his side.” I never thought–never even
dreamed–that he would choose someone
from our pack. Let alone me. Yet here I was, staring at a destiny I wasn’t sure I wanted but couldn’t refuse. Leaving Shadow Pack to join the Moonlight Pack meant an alliance my family had always yearned for, but to me, it felt like stepping
70% 23:32
1/6
Chapter 13
into a void. Terrifying. And… curiously intriguing.
“Malinda,” my father‘ s deep voice. called from inside, firm and steady.
“Come in.”
I took one last breath, clutching onto my fraying nerves, and entered with as much poise as I could muster. My steps were steady, but a betraying tremble danced in my fingers. My father, the powerful Beta of the Shadow Pack, stood tall by the table, his stern face softening just slightly as he looked at me. My mother sat beside him, her delicate features pulled into a complex mix of pride and worry. The kind of worry only a mother can feel.
“Father.” My voice barely carried. Even saying that felt surreal. “I… I still can‘ t believe this is happening. How did you….. I mean, the Alpha King? He agreed to… marry me?”
His eyes softened as he motioned for me to sit. “We didn’t force him, Malinda.” His
70% 23:32
2/6
Chapter 13
tone was calm but firm. “The Alpha King knows the power that runs through our bloodline. He respects it, even if others don‘ t.”
Mother leaned forward, her gaze gentle but intense. “Your father and I would never send you if we didn’t believe it was for the best, for you and for Shadow Pack.”
“But…” Words choked in my throat. “He’s ruthless, and… so powerful. Why would he want a Luna from Shadow
Pack?”
My father reached across the table, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. His warmth seeped through me, easing the storm raging inside. “Our pack is one of the strongest under his rule, Malinda. An alliance with the Moonlight Pack strengthens his reign. But more than that, he wanted someone with lycan blood—a Luna who could match him in strength.”
And he chose me?
70% 23:32
3/6
11:32
723
Chapter 13
I struggled to grasp that. The Alpha King, the most formidable ruler, wanted me as his Luna? My heart raced, both in fear and in something I couldn’t yet name. There was a flicker of hope, an impossible hope, that someone like him could help me find balance with the power I barely
understood.
“But the Alpha King… he s…” I trailed off, looking to my mother, searching her face for answers. I knew the stories.
Everyone did.
“A tyrant?” my father finished for me, his voice resigned but understanding. “Yes, I’ve heard it all too. But remember, Malinda, he is more than just the rumors. He’s a protector of his people, and his methods, though harsh, are effective. His strength… it could be the key to controlling your own.”
Mother placed a gentle hand over mine, and her touch filled me with a familiar
comfort. “We want you to be safe,
70% 23:32
4/6
Chapter 13
Malinda. Your bloodline… it’s volatile,
and you’ve had to manage that alone. The Alpha King has the strength to help you find peace with it.”
I lowered my gaze, fighting the lump rising in my throat. “I know,” I whispered, holding her hand tightly. “But… what if he doesn’t want me?” The fear tumbled out of me, surprising even myself. I was strong, yes, but a man like him?
Father’s voice softened, pride and. conviction threaded through it. “Then he’s a fool, and he’ll lose something precious. You‘ re not just any pack member, Malinda. You‘ re our daughter, and you are stronger than you know.”
Silence enveloped us, thick with unspoken worries and dreams, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I finally looked up, glancing at my mother, then my father. My heart swirled with a chaotic mix of fear, wonder, and anticipation, each feeling sharpening with the reality I’d soon face.
@70% 23:32
5/6
Chapter 13
In three days, my life would change forever.
70% 23:32
