Chapter 1 Luna's Ring

YELENA

"Yay! Congratulations to the Luna of our pack!"

Nyra's scream nearly burst my eardrums. Trust her. If there were an award for loudest best friend in the whole Blue Moon pack, she'd win it with no competition.

On a normal day, I'd be screaming right beside her, probably bouncing like a crazy pup, but instead, I turned around, my cheeks heating up as I lifted my hand into the air. The diamond glinted under the fairy lights, catching the eyes of everyone around us. The ring. His ring.

Alpha Tristan's ring.

My heart still stumbled every time I thought about it, marrying him felt too big, too unreal. This was the man every she-wolf in our pack and outside our pack drooled over.

He was strong, untouchable, carved like the moon goddess herself put too much effort into one man. And somehow, out of all the she-wolves batting their lashes and wagging their tails, he picked me.

Okay... maybe "picked me" was a stretch. Maybe it had something to do with the little marriage contract our parents signed.

But he agreed, didn't he? He could've said no. And from the way his gaze lingered on me when I visited the packhouse to tend to his father, I knew... I knew he liked me too. Even if he didn't say it out loud. Yet.

"I'm so happy for you, baby! Do you realize what this means? I get to be best friends with the Luna of Blue Moon! Do you know how huge this is? Like, huuuge!"

Nyra squealed, hugging me so tightly I thought she might break a rib. Her curls smacked me in the face, and I started laughing, trying to wiggle out of her death grip.

"You're going to break my waist!" I yelled between laughs, smacking her arm playfully.

She finally let me go, grinning like she'd just won the lottery.

"Thank you, Nyra," I said, more serious now, my hand finding hers. "Really. If not for you pushing me, I might never have accepted. I thought he was too far above me, but... look where we are."

Nyra rolled her eyes dramatically, the way only she could. "Oh, please. You're gorgeous. Smart. Funny. And you've got that sweet-girl charm that makes old people throw blessings at you. You were always going to win him. The rest of those she-wolves didn't stand a chance."

I laughed, shaking my head. Nyra always made it sound easy.

Before I could say more, someone blocked our path.

"Luna," Daniel, the Beta, bowed his head slightly. His voice carried that edge of respect, but there was no smile on his face.

Heat rushed to my cheeks. Luna. I wasn't used to the title yet, and hearing it from someone like Daniel made it slam into my chest like a drumbeat.

"Alpha needs your attention," he said flatly.

The blush vanished. His tone wasn't casual. It was clipped. Serious.

"What happened?" Nyra asked before I could. Her brows arched, her hand tightening on mine.

"You'll need to see for yourself," Daniel replied, avoiding her sharp gaze.

My stomach twisted. "Okay... let's go." I gathered my gown and hurried after him, Nyra right on my heels, muttering curses under her breath.

By the time we reached the packhouse lounge, I spotted Tristan slumped on a couch, his tall frame bent unnaturally, his usually sharp eyes glassy and unfocused.

"Tristan!" I rushed forward, scooping him up with strength I didn't usually need to use. His body was heavy against mine, his heat sinking through the layers of my gown.

"Help me, Daniel!" My voice snapped sharper than I intended, but he immediately joined me, his arm sliding under Tristan's.

Alpha Tristan's hand clamped around my neck for balance, his head drooping close to mine. He muttered something low, words too broken to make sense.

We half-dragged him to his car. Not just any car. His black, glossy beast of a Bentley.

Behind us, Nyra's voice cut through the tense silence. "Oh, so our Alpha's drunk on his wedding day? Guess marriage is that exciting." Her voice dripped like venom, but I couldn't even look back at her.

My parents appeared before us, their faces lined with worry.

"What's wrong with him?" my mother asked, her eyes darting to Tristan's half-lidded gaze.

I swallowed hard. How was I supposed to say, "Our almighty Alpha got wasted"? It felt wrong. Weak and embarrassing.

"He's fine," I lied smoothly, shooting Daniel a warning glare when he opened his mouth. "He just drank more than enough."

They exchanged a glance, then sighed, relief softening their expressions.

"That's enough of the party. Go home with your husband. Take care of him," a deep, familiar voice said.

Mr. Grey Crossword, Tristan's father, walked toward us, tall and commanding even with age weighing on his shoulders. Beside him, Mrs. Grey moved gracefully, her eyes kind as always.

She kissed my cheek softly. "I'm so happy, Yelena. My son married well. I trust you'll take good care of him."

My cheeks heated again. Goddess, if my blush got any pinker, someone might mistake me for a strawberry.

"I'm honored as his Luna," I said shyly. "I'll do my best for him and the pack."

Mrs Grey pulled me into a hug, firm and approving, while my parents followed, their pride glowing in their eyes.

"You've already done well," Mr Grey reassured me gently.

"Thank you for staying by my daughter's side," my mother whispered to Nyra, hugging her.

Nyra chuckled and hugged her back, then threw me a mischievous grin over my mom's shoulder.

Before I could roll my eyes, a groan cut through the air.

We all turned. Tristan was on his feet now, swaying dangerously, his eyes bleary.

"Has the party ended?" he slurred, even though the music still thundered outside.

"As big as you are... you're drunk?!" his father's voice thundered.

But Mrs. Grey held him back gently. "Leave him, Grey. He's happy. Let him be. He doesn't drink often."

I almost laughed at her calmness if Nyra hadn't given me one of those I told you so glares.

Then it happened.

Tristan's body lurched forward, his stomach twisting before he vomited.

Right in my direction.

"Lena!" Nyra yanked me out of the way just in time, saving my gown from destruction.

My eyes went wide. His parents cringed. Everyone around us groaned.

"Ewww!"

"Eww!"

"Such a shameless Alpha!" Mr. Grey roared, his voice vibrating with fury as Daniel quickly shoved Tristan back into the car.

I stood frozen, torn between embarrassment, worry, and a strange stab of fear. This wasn't like him. At all.

Nyra's hand landed on my shoulder. Her tone was softer than usual, but still edged. "Lena... that wasn't just drinking. Look at him. Something's off."

I bit my lip, climbing into the car after Tristan. He slumped against the seat, his breathing uneven, his hand twitching slightly.

My heart raced. Something cold settled deep in my chest.

Nyra slid into the front beside Daniel, her usual sarcastic smirk gone now. She kept glancing back at me through the mirror.

The party was over. The music, the laughter, the congratulations... all of it.

I am Luna now. But instead of joy, my new title came with the sound of Tristan groaning beside me, his knuckles white as if gripping an invisible enemy.

Something was wrong with my Alpha.