Chapter 2 The Chosen Luna

The great hall had never felt so cold.

Ivy stood at the far edge of the marble floor, her hands clenched tightly in the folds of her plain gray dress, trying to steady the storm raging inside her chest. The towering stone pillars, carved with centuries of Alpha victories, seemed to loom closer, as if closing in on her. Hundreds of wolves filled the chamber warriors, nobles, elders, servants all murmuring in anticipation.

Today was supposed to be a celebration.

Today was supposed to be hope.

Her heart thudded painfully as the massive doors at the front of the hall swung open.

Trumpets blared.

And he entered.

Rowan Blackthorn.

The Alpha King.

Her mate.

He strode down the aisle with lethal grace, broad shoulders straight, dark hair brushing the collar of his ceremonial cloak. Power rolled off him in visible waves, heavy enough to make lower-ranked wolves bow their heads without thinking. His presence alone demanded submission.

Her bond flared violently.

Heat surged through Ivy's veins, her wolf waking, stretching, crying out to his. The invisible pull tightened, aching, desperate, sacred.

Mine.

The word echoed in her bones.

For a moment just a foolish, fragile moment she allowed herself to believe.

That maybe he had felt it too.

That maybe he would stop. Turn. Look at her the way her soul begged him to.

But Rowan's gaze never strayed from the golden dais ahead.

Never once did he look her way.

The murmurs in the hall shifted into eager whispers as another figure appeared beside him.

Gloria Jay

She was everything Ivy was not.

Tall. Graceful. Draped in liquid silver silk that clung to her perfect curves. Her pale blonde hair was braided with moonstones, her lips painted the soft rose of a future queen. Power shimmered faintly beneath her skin pure-blooded alpha lineage.

A true Luna.

The sight of her at Rowan's side drove a blade straight through Ivy's chest.

No.

Her breath caught painfully.

No, no, no

The elders rose as Rowan and Glory stepped onto the platform. Silence thundered across the hall.

Elder Corvin lifted his staff, his ancient eyes sharp. "Pack of Blackwood," he boomed, "we gather today to witness the announcement of our Alpha King's chosen mate and future Luna."

The words rang like a death sentence.

Ivy's legs trembled. The mating bond inside her pulsed wildly, confusion and panic flooding through it. Something was wrong. Horribly wrong.

Rowan turned to face the crowd.

And finally finally his gaze found her.

For a single heartbeat, the world stilled.

His eyes widened.

Shock. Recognition. Something dangerously close to regret.

Their bond flared, white-hot.

Her wolf surged forward, crying out to him, begging, pleading.

Then his jaw hardened.

The connection slammed shut.

Just like that.

"As Alpha King," Rowan announced, voice cold and resolute, "I present Gloria Jay as my chosen Luna."

The hall erupted into thunderous applause.

Cheers echoed off stone walls.

Gloria smiled serenely, placing her hand on Rowan's arm, claiming him publicly.

Ivy couldn't breathe.

It felt like her lungs had collapsed.

Chosen.

Not fated.

Chosen.

Her knees nearly buckled.

She stared at them, disbelief warring with devastation. The bond inside her throbbed painfully, confused, torn, as if it didn't understand how something so sacred could be denied.

Rowan raised his hand, silencing the hall once more.

"There will be a public mating ceremony at the next full moon," he continued. "All packs under Blackwood rule are commanded to attend."

Applause thundered again.

Cheers.

Celebration.

All of it blurred into meaningless noise.

Ivy swayed, gripping the edge of a pillar to stay upright.

The next full moon.

In three days.

Three days until he sealed himself to another woman.

Three days until the bond that tied their souls would become a living, screaming wound.

She barely registered the movement near her.

Not until two guards appeared at her sides.

"Ivy Hale," one said stiffly. "You are summoned before the council."

Her head snapped up.

Summoned?

Whispers rippled outward, eyes turning toward her. Confusion flickered across faces. Pity. Curiosity. Suspicion.

Why would an omega be summoned during a royal announcement?

Rowan stiffened.

His gaze locked onto hers, something dark flashing in his eyes.

Warning.

Fear.

Regret.

She couldn't tell.

The guards gently but firmly guided her forward.

Every step toward the dais felt like walking into her own execution.

The crowd parted, their stares heavy, pressing against her skin. She kept her eyes lowered, heart pounding so loudly she was sure everyone could hear it.

When she reached the base of the platform, Elder Corvin studied her intently.

"You are Ivy Hale," he said slowly. "An omega of no recorded lineage."

"Yes, Elder," she whispered.

A ripple of unease swept through the council.

Rowan's fists clenched at his sides.

"You were seen reacting strongly to the Alpha's presence," Elder Corvin continued. "Explain."

The hall fell into suffocating silence.

This was it.

The moment she had prayed would never come.

Her throat closed.

"I" Her voice shook. "I felt the mating pull."

Gasps burst through the crowd.

Gloria stiffened.

Rowan inhaled sharply.

Elder Corvin's eyes narrowed. "You claim the Alpha King is your mate?"

The words felt too big. Too impossible.

But they were the truth.

"Yes," Ivy said, lifting her chin despite the terror ripping through her. "He is."

Chaos exploded.

Outrage. Laughter. Fury.

An omega claiming the Alpha King?

Blasphemy.

Rowan stepped forward. "Enough."

The hall quieted instantly.

He descended the steps, stopping just in front of her.

Up close, his presence was overwhelming. Power, dominance, command it crushed her senses, made her wolf curl instinctively toward him.

His voice dropped low. "You are mistaken."

Her heart cracked.

"I'm not," she whispered. "You felt it too."

For a split second, his control wavered.

Then his expression hardened into something ruthless.

"There is no bond between us," he said coldly, loud enough for all to hear. "You are an omega. I am the Alpha King. Do not disgrace this hall with delusions."

Each word struck like a lash.

A sob burned in her throat, but she swallowed it down.

"I would never lie about this," she said hoarsely.

"You will not speak again," Rowan snapped.

Elder Corvin slammed his staff against the floor. "Enough. This matter will be addressed after the ceremony. Ivy Hale, you will remain under guard."

Guards seized her arms.

Panic surged.

"No please"

Rowan turned away.

Just like that.

He returned to Gloria's side, placing a possessive hand on her waist.

The message was clear.

He had made his choice.

And it was not her.

As she was dragged from the hall, the last thing Ivy saw was Gloria faint, triumphant smile.

And the last thing she felt was her bond screaming in agony.

By the time the chamber doors slammed shut behind her, Ivy was shaking from head to toe.

Her world had shattered in a single announcement.

Mate.

Rejection.

Humiliation.

All woven into a single, unbearable truth.

She slid down the cold stone wall, clutching her chest as sobs finally broke free.

Somewhere deep inside, her wolf stirred.

Not weak.

Not broken.

Angry.

And for the first time in her life, Ivy felt something dark begin to awaken.

Something ancient.

Something powerful.

Something that did not belong to an omega at all.