THE LUNA WITHOUT A WOLF

The last place I saw before leaving the Nightfall Pack was the training ground, that one place where I wished I could fit in. After watching other wolves my age, or even younger than me, train every week, but unfortunately, I couldn't be part of them.

A group of young wolves sparred in the center. Dust rose beneath their feet as their claws scraped against the earth, while other wolves stood by the side watching them, their voices echoing through the cold morning air. My chest tightened as we slowly neared the pack gate.

The Nightfall Pack used to be my favorite place, with lots of fond memories, before everyone found out that I had no wolf. Then came the whispers and mocking whenever I passed by a group of people.

Tears rolled down my eyes as childhood memories with my friends flooded my mind-playing hide and seek, running around the pack's courtyard, sharing each other's food in the dining hall as our parents scolded us for playing with our food. But when they all found out that I was wolfless, I was treated like an outcast, like I wasn't supposed to be part of the pack family.

Looking back at the pack that held so many memories, both good and bad, leaving seemed like a good idea, but thoughts about the new pack filled my head.

"What if nobody accepts me? What if they eventually find out that I don't have a wolf? What if I grow old without a wolf or a mate? What if I get treated as an outcast too?" I thought as I sighed loudly.

"Phina."

My mom's gentle voice pulled me out of my thoughts as she softly wiped tears from my face.

"Come on, sweetheart."

I climbed into the back of the vehicle as more tears rolled down my face. As the vehicle rolled away from the pack's boundary, I looked back one last time. No matter how cruel the pack had become, a part of me still felt like I was abandoning home.

"Things will be different at the Greycrest Pack. There are a lot of nice people over there," my dad tried to assure me after he noticed me looking back at the Nightfall Pack.

"People always say that," I replied as I stared out of the window.

"Because it's true," Mom said quickly, reaching for my hand. "You'll finally get a fresh start, no more whispers, no more judgment."

"And you will get to make new friends instead of hiding in your room all day," Dad said as he chuckled slightly.

I smiled, but I still didn't feel better because the only friend I truly needed right now was miles away.

Liam was the only person who stood by me when everyone else laughed and mocked me for being an outcast. He never hesitated to fight or confront anybody who tried to bully me physically. He was like the brother I never had.

My chest ached at the thought of not seeing him again.

As the drive continued in silence, thick forests stretched endlessly around us. The deeper we traveled into the Greycrest Pack, the more nervous I became. There was a heavy feeling sitting in my stomach. Something about this move might totally change my life, either positively or negatively.

Hours later, the car slowed down before an enormous iron gate marked with a silver crescent moon. The Greycrest Pack was nothing like I had expected.

Passing through the gates, the Greycrest Pack was huge, like a massive castle with people buzzing around. Massive stone buildings stood proudly beneath the mountains. People moved through the streets confidently, laughing and talking among themselves. Guards patrolled every corner with sharp eyes. The pack looked powerful, alive, and united.

"Wow," I whispered.

"Beautiful, isn't it? I knew you were going to like it better here." Mom smiled proudly, like we'd made the best decision.

As we looked around in awe, I noticed a tall man dressed in black approaching us with an easy smile. His brown hair moved slightly in the wind, and confidence radiated from him naturally as he strode toward us.

"Welcome to the Greycrest Pack," he said smoothly as he got closer.

Dad immediately straightened and shook hands with the man.

"Beta Silas, thank you for receiving us personally."

I lowered my gaze quickly.

Beta Silas smiled warmly at my parents before his gaze shifted toward me. For a brief second, his expression changed. It was subtle, almost invisible, but I noticed it.

"You must be Seraphina," he said.

"Yes," I replied quietly.

"I've heard about your family. I hope Greycrest Pack becomes a better home for you."

I looked at my parents confusedly, but the look on their faces was normal, like there was nothing wrong with having a daughter with no wolf.

"If he has heard about me, then the whole pack would already know that I have no wolf," I thought as a familiar feeling of fear crept up within me.

Beta Silas offered to show us around the pack personally. As we walked through the pack grounds, everyone minded their business and greeted the Beta with smiles on their faces. I found myself slowly relaxing.

He pointed out different places like the Alpha's office, the infirmary, the library, the pack hall, and the lake behind the pack house.

"That building over there is where young wolves train every morning," Beta Silas explained as we walked past the training center.

My gaze instantly shifted toward the training center. The sounds of fighting echoed faintly from inside, and a familiar ache twisted in my chest.

Beta Silas noticed me staring.

"You like watching people train?" he asked with a calm smile, but something about his smile made me feel uneasy.

"Yeah, I tend to watch a lot," I replied, looking away.

"The pack is impressive," my dad said, changing the topic.

Beta Silas nodded politely, but I caught the brief flicker in his eyes.

By the time we reached our new residence, the sun had begun to set. The house looked bigger than our previous house in the Nightfall Pack, but it still looked cozy. Soft golden light glowed from the ceilings, and the scent of cedar filled the air.

Mom smiled brightly.

"It feels cozy."

"Yeah," I silently admitted.

For the first time that day, I almost believed that things could get better.

Almost.

After we settled into the new house, my parents went to see the pack's Alpha, so I was alone in the house. But I couldn't sleep due to the unfamiliar surroundings, so I quietly slipped outside.

Cold night air brushed against my skin as I wandered through the silent paths of the pack. Without realizing it, my feet carried me toward the training grounds. The arena was almost empty now.

A few wolves remained, sparring under the moonlight. I stopped outside the gate, watching them silently. My chest tightened with envy.

As I turned to leave, I noticed that all the wolves in the arena suddenly straightened. The noise died down instantly. A powerful scent filled the air.

I looked up.

A tall, broad figure packed with muscles hidden beneath the sweatshirt he wore stood there. Under the moonlight, his dark hair framed a face so breathtaking, with lush, kissable lips. Damn... his legs and hands looked so toned and hard.

He walked calmly toward the training ground, his presence commanding respect. The wolves lowered their heads slightly as he passed.

For some reason, his scent felt... strange.

Not bad, just unusual.

Different from the other wolves.

He began addressing the wolves, his deep voice steady and confident.

"Strength means nothing without control," he said. "A reckless wolf is more dangerous to his own pack than an enemy."

As he spoke, his eyes suddenly lifted, straight toward me.

I froze.

For a second, the world around us seemed to disappear. His gaze locked onto mine, and I found myself staring into a pair of mesmerizing hazel eyes. An unfamiliar tension spread through my chest.

Then one of the wolves called for his attention, breaking the moment.

I immediately looked away.

Why was my heart racing?

After dismissing the wolves, he walked toward the gate.

My pulse quickened.

"You must be new here?" he asked casually.

"Yeah."

He leaned slightly against the gate.

"Most new members avoid the training center. It can be quite intimidating."

"Not intimidating," I said quietly.

Painful.

But I didn't say the last word aloud.

"I'm Alpha Ronan. What's your name?" he asked.

"Seraphina," I replied.

"Hmm... you have a beautiful name."

"Thank you," I responded.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he stepped closer.

The second he did, something impossible happened.

His wolf whimpered.

My eyes widened.

Ronan froze too. Shock flashed across his face. An Alpha wolf never reacted with fear.

He stepped back abruptly, staring at me intensely now. The air around us suddenly felt colder.

A sharp voice exploded inside my mind, a voice I had never heard before.

"He carries the blood of our enemies."

My wolf?

I stumbled back in horror.

Impossible.

After twenty years of silence, my wolf had finally spoken, and it recognized him.

Ronan's expression darkened as I stared at him in confusion.

"Seraphina," he said slowly. "What exactly are you?"

Rolling from one side of my bed to the other, I sighed loudly in frustration.

Sleep refused to come. Tonight's events kept replaying in my head.

"Was that really my wolf?"

I stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above me, my chest tightening as I remembered the voice that spoke to me.

"He carries the blood of our enemies."

"Enemies?"

"Why did my wolf act that way?"

"But the Alpha didn't seem dangerous."

I rubbed my temple as I sat up slowly. "Maybe I should ask Mom tomorrow. She will probably know a thing or two."

I had mixed feelings. Part of me was happy to finally have a wolf, while the other part of me felt terrified.

"Why did it recognize the Alpha as an enemy?"

"If it was truly my wolf, why did it stay silent for twenty years?"

Something felt weird. I had this heavy feeling that made me uneasy.

"I miss Liam," I murmured to myself.

If he were here, he would know what to say. Maybe he would tell me I wasn't losing my mind.

I eventually drifted off to sleep.

***

Morning sunlight seeped through the curtains. The surroundings looked so unfamiliar.

For a moment, I forgot where I was... until I remembered. The unfamiliar room, the new pack, and the Alpha.

I sighed and climbed out of bed. The smell of pancakes drifted upstairs.

After taking a long shower, I slipped into faded blue jeans, a pink sweatshirt, and my pink converse.

After hesitating, I applied my lip combo, a little mascara, and blush to my cheeks to make them look rosy.

"First impressions matter," I thought to myself as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

"Maybe looking confident would make me feel confident," even though, deep down, I was so nervous about meeting new people from the pack.

When I walked downstairs, Mom was already setting pancakes on the table.

"Morning, darling," she greeted with a smile.

Dad glanced up from his cup of hot tea.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Not really," I answered, sitting at the table as Mom served me some pancakes.

Mom frowned slightly.

"Still nervous about meeting the new pack members?"

I opened my mouth to tell them about the voice I heard in my head... but I stopped.

Maybe now is not the best time. We just moved here."

"Yeah," I lied.

Dad exchanged a quick glance with Mom.

"Beta Silas will show you around after breakfast and will take you to where you will be receiving lectures with other people," Dad said.

I nodded quietly.

"And later tonight," Mom added carefully as she sat down to eat, "the Alpha wants to introduce us to the pack."

My fork froze halfway to my mouth.

The pack.

Hundreds of wolves. Watching me. Judging me.

What if they discover I'm wolfless? I mean, I might have a wolf now, but I'm still not having a good feeling about this.

A wave of anxiety ran through me, and suddenly my appetite disappeared.

"You will be fine, hun," Mom said reassuringly.

After breakfast, I followed Beta Silas. The morning air was cool as we walked through the enormous pack grounds that were still almost covered in fog.

People bowed respectfully as he passed.

Some glanced curiously at me. Others whispered to themselves.

"This place is bigger than Nightfall Pack," I admitted softly.

Beta Silas chuckled.

"You will get used to it."

I hoped he was right.

Soon, we arrived at a large building.

"This is where young wolves receive lessons," he explained.

The moment I stepped into the classroom, the teacher stopped teaching. Dozens of eyes turned toward me.

Heat rushed to my face as I gripped my bag tightly.

Great.

I want to leave already.

"You must be the new girl?" the teacher asked warmly.

"Yes." I forced a smile.

"Why don't you introduce yourself?"

My heart raced. All pairs of eyes remained fixed on me.

"My name is Seraphina. It's nice meeting y'all," I said softly.

A few people whispered.

"She looks pretty."

"She sounds nervous."

While others turned back to their books.

I quickly sat down beside a blonde girl. She smiled brightly as she introduced herself.

"I'm Evelyn."

"Hiiii, Evelyn," I greeted nervously because I didn't know how to reply to her.

"Relax," she laughed softly. "They stare at everyone new."

I managed a small smile.

During the lesson, some people still kept staring at me, which made me a bit uncomfortable, but Evelyn assured me that it was normal, which made me feel at ease.

When the teacher asked a question, nobody answered, so I raised my hand and answered the question.

The teacher blinked in surprise. Murmurs spread throughout the class, and Evelyn stared at me in surprise.

"Okay now... I definitely want to be your friend," she said.

I smiled genuinely for the first time that day, but that moment didn't last long.

The classroom door suddenly opened. A brunette girl with sharp makeup walked in.

The atmosphere immediately changed. Even the teacher looked nervous.

"That's Amara. She's the Beta's daughter. She's... not really nice," Evelyn explained.

Amara's eyes landed on me. She smirked.

And for some reason, chills ran down my spine.

Then the voice returned.

"Danger," it said.

My eyes widened. The voice sounded clearer this time. I quickly looked around, but nobody else seemed to hear it.

After class, Evelyn walked beside me.

"You are very lucky," she said excitedly.

"Why?"

"You arrived during the Selection Ceremony month."

I frowned.

"What selection? Selection ceremony for what?" I asked.

"It's when the Alpha King's son chooses elite warriors to train beside him before the enthronement ceremony, where he eventually becomes the Alpha King," she explained.

"What is he like?"

"Alpha Ronan?" Evelyn grinned. Then her expression softened.

"He's insanely attractive."

I rolled my eyes slightly.

"You sound obsessed."

"Every girl in the kingdom is obsessed. You will be obsessed when you see him too," she admitted.

Then her face fell.

"But people say he's cold."

As we kept talking, Evelyn started talking proudly about her wolf and how she had been training her wolf every week to become stronger.

"Our wolves shifted together for the first time under the full moon when we were eighteen. I felt really happy to finally meet my wolf. It has grey fur, and it's so pretty," she said happily.

"But others have found their mates, and I still haven't found mine yet," she sighed sadly.

A familiar ache settled in my chest as she talked proudly about her wolf.

She looked at me curiously.

"What about your wolf? Tell me about it?" she innocently asked as she stared at me.

My body stiffened. I forced out a nervous laugh.

"I... I don't really like talking about it."

Thankfully, she didn't push further.

By the time I had returned home, I was so exhausted. Mom helped me prepare for the introduction later that evening.

"You will be fine," she assured softly while fixing the sleeve of my shirt.

I forced a smile.

I wished I believed her.

When night came, my parents and I went to the pack hall.

The hall was filled with music and food. Hundreds of wolves stood in the room, and conversations flowed between them.

When we entered, some people kept staring at us. My heartbeat quickened. I suddenly felt small in the room.

But the second the Alpha King and his family entered, the attention turned to them, and the room fell silent as everyone lowered their heads.

Beside the Alpha family, Amara stood, smiling smugly.

A bad feeling settled in my stomach.

"Tonight, we welcome a family from the Nightfall Pack," the Alpha announced loudly.

"Let's welcome and accept them into our pack, show them around, and help them in any way you can."

Polite applause echoed through the room.

We walked to the stage and bowed respectfully to our new pack family. As we turned to leave, Amara stepped forward.

"Wait."

The entire hall fell silent.

Her gaze remained on me.

Then she laughed mockingly.

At first, nobody understood, until she spoke.

"She doesn't have a wolf."

Silence crashed through the room.

My blood ran cold.

"What?" someone whispered.

"No way..."

"She's not one of us."

"She's wolfless?"

Murmurs filled the hall. People began staring at me differently, like I didn't belong there.

With disgust.

Shock.

Pity.

Mom immediately stepped in front of me.

"Seraphina, look at me. You don't have to look at anyone else. Just look at me. Do you want to go somewhere else?"

But I was too shocked to answer.

"Amara, what is the meaning of this?" the Alpha King asked.

"I'm serious. I can't sense a wolf from her at all," Amara answered as she smiled strangely.

Then Mom softly grabbed my hand and led me out of the pack hall.

As I was leaving, I looked at Alpha Ronan, and I saw him looking at me with pity.

RONAN'S POV

As I lay on my bed, thoughts of the past forty-eight hours kept replaying in my head. Everything about Seraphina kept confusing me.

So she doesn't have a wolf? Then why did my wolf act that way when she was close to me that night?

But the moment I first saw her that night at the training center, something inside me shifted. My wolf had stirred restlessly in excitement.

"Our mate," it purred.

Thinking about it now, I don't think it's possible. There's no way the future Alpha King will be paired with a wolfless girl. But when I stared into her eyes, I felt it-that indescribable feeling of excitement.

Seraphina's piercing green eyes had pulled me in so deeply that for a second, the entire world around us disappeared. She was breathtaking in an effortless way, an ethereal beauty with thick raven hair and flawless caramel skin, which made her look so captivating.

I found myself staring at her longer than I should have until one of the warriors cleared his throat loudly because he wanted to ask a question. I snapped out of my thoughts, annoyance flashing through me. But what confused me the most was my wolf's reaction when I got closer to her that night.

An alpha wolf would never react that way to a wolf, much less a wolfless girl.

I sat up abruptly, running a frustrated hand through my hair.

"What exactly are you, Seraphina?" I muttered under my breath.

I let out a heavy sigh as another troubling thought settled in.

If she was truly my mate, would the pack accept her? Would they accept a wolfless girl as their Luna?

Considering the way they all acted last night when they found out that she doesn't have a wolf, accepting her should be the last thing I should be worried about. Instead, I should be more worried about how she will constantly get mocked and bullied. Any mistake she makes is going to be used against her mercilessly.

And deep down, the thought angered me more than it should. My jaw tightened as Amara's smug face flashed through my mind. Why did she have to expose Seraphina in front of everyone?

I groaned tiredly as I forced myself out of bed.

"I can't keep stressing over this. Maybe I should talk to Mom about it after breakfast," I muttered to myself.

The selection ceremony is only a few days away, and I already have enough responsibilities weighing on my shoulders. I have to ask for advice so it doesn't affect my alpha duties.

***

Father sat at the head of the table, going through the pack's report, and Mom sipped calmly from her cup of tea while the servants served us breakfast.

The smell of freshly baked bread filled the room. I wasn't having any appetite, but I knew I needed to eat if I wanted to function well that day.

Mother glanced up first.

"You look exhausted, Ronan."

"I barely slept," I admitted.

Father lowered the paper slightly, studying me carefully.

"Is something bothering you?"

I hesitated. Talking to Father about Seraphina might be dangerous. If he found out that she's my mate, he would not only persuade me to reject her because she's wolfless, but rumors would also spread throughout the kingdom and Seraphina would not only be a subject of mockery, she could also be a target for political games.

"Not really," I said as I continued eating.

After breakfast, Father left to attend to some important pack matters. Then I turned to Mom.

"I really need your advice, Mom," I said, dropping my fork onto the plate.

"What is wrong, dear?" she asked, looking concerned.

I hesitated before asking,

"What should I do if the Moon Goddess chooses someone unsuitable to become the next Luna Queen?"

"You've found your mate?" she asked excitedly.

"That's not the question I asked, Mom."

"What do you mean by unsuitable? Is she weak, or is it that she doesn't know how to fight?"

"Not any of that. The thing is... she doesn't have a wolf."

Mom reached across the table gently and held my hands.

"The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes."

I wanted to believe that. I truly did.

But then she continued, "But not having a wolf as a Luna Queen is not possible. Her weakness will constantly be used against her. She won't be strong enough to take over the Luna duties. She lacks the power of a wolf, so she will find a lot of things difficult, and she might not survive it. So I would advise you to reject her so that the Moon Goddess can select another mate for both of you before it's too late."

The mere thought of rejecting her shattered my heart, and my wolf howled in protest.

***

The training grounds were louder than usual today. Young wolves sparred aggressively while the warriors trained upcoming wolves.

Normally, training helped me clear my mind, but today was different. The young wolves walked on eggshells, noticing my irritation.

"Alpha Ronan," one of the warriors called out after successfully dodging my distracted attacks.

"What is it?" I said as I dropped the wooden sword to the ground and took a gulp of water.

"You look distracted today. Why don't you take a rest?" he spoke carefully, trying not to anger me.

"I'm fine."

Murmurs spread quietly among the trainees as they all bowed their heads.

"RONAN!"

Father roared, his voice echoing through the pack grounds.

I turned to see him standing near the gates with a blank expression.

"Meet me in my office," he ordered before walking away.

Great.

I dismissed the wolves before heading to his office reluctantly. The second I stepped inside, Father's cold voice filled the room.

"You were distracted today. That kind of carelessness gets people killed."

He paced around his office restlessly.

"I'm sorry," I said as I lowered my head in shame.

"A future alpha cannot afford to be weak. You must always be alert, cold-hearted, undefeatable, and strong."

I clenched my jaw silently. I've heard this countless times.

Why do I have to be cold-hearted like him? I want to be a respected yet carefree alpha. I don't have to act cold toward everyone just because I'm an alpha. Sometimes it feels really exhausting pretending to be emotionless all the time.

Father stopped walking immediately.

"I saw you discussing something with your mom this morning at the dining table after I left. What did you talk about?"

My heart skipped.

"Nothing important," I answered.

Before he could press further, the Beta entered the office.

"Alpha, the council elders have arrived," he said.

Relief flooded through me instantly as Father dismissed me with a wave.

I decided to go to my favorite place to clear my head, so I headed straight to the pack lake, which was luckily close to Seraphina's house. My wolf danced in excitement.

I knew I needed a quiet space to think and clear my mind, but I also knew that seeing Seraphina might make my restless wolf calm.

Maybe it's not just my wolf that wants to see her though, but it's mainly because of my wolf.

***

The lake glistened beautifully beneath the sun.

And her skin glowed beneath the rays of the sun.

My mate.

Seraphina sat quietly by the water and absentmindedly tossed tiny stones into the lake.

For a moment, I simply stood there watching her.

She looked peaceful as the wind played softly with her beautiful dark hair.

I stared for so long that my feet started to hurt, then I noticed a hand wrapped around mine.

I looked up, annoyance flashing through me as I saw the person who made my mate sad.

Amara.

She pressed herself closer instantly, her perfume almost suffocating.

"Ronan," she said sweetly. "I've been looking for you everywhere."

"It's Alpha Ronan," I said as I gently removed her hand from mine and created some distance between us.

"What do you want, Amara?" I asked through gritted teeth.

Her smile faltered briefly before returning.

"You've been avoiding me."

Because you annoy me.

"I've been busy," I answered as I looked over to where Seraphina was seated. She was still preoccupied with her thoughts.

She leaned closer again.

"You know the pack already expects us to be together since we both don't have mates."

I stared at her coldly. She rejected her mate when she found out that he was the omega's son.

"He's below my level," she had said.

And since then, she had been obviously throwing herself at me.

She slowly pulled her hand away from mine when she noticed my cold gaze.

Before she could speak again, a movement near the lake caught my attention.

Seraphina had turned around, and she saw us.

For a second, our eyes locked.

My wolf whimpered painfully inside me.

Not excited.

Not possessive.

Afraid.

An alpha wolf should never react this way toward his mate.

As I struggled to process my thoughts, Seraphina stood up to leave.

Panic rose in my chest.

I tried calling her.

"Seraph..." but suddenly Amara grabbed my face and smashed her lips against mine.

My entire body froze.

Shock exploded through me as my eyes widened.

Seraphina stood still in shock, watching us. The small smile she had moments ago disappeared instantly.

I quickly pushed Amara away.

Before I could run to meet Seraphina, she turned and walked away.

My wolf let out a sad howl inside me.

And for the first time in my life...

I felt scared and heartbroken.