Chapter 3
The Sacred Moon Grove stood silent and ancient around me, silver light filtering through the canopy of trees that had witnessed countless ceremonies over the centuries. I sat on the smooth stone at the center, my fingers absently stroking my moonstone pendant as I watched the full moon climb higher in the night sky.
Midnight had come and gone. One hour passed. Then two.
*He's not coming,* Selene growled within me, her anger a low, constant rumble beneath my pain.
"He'll be here," I whispered, though the conviction in my voice had faded with each passing hour. The rejection ceremony was sacred—even Marcus wouldn't dare disrespect the Moon Goddess by avoiding it completely.
Would he?
By the third hour, as the moon began its slow descent from its zenith, I finally accepted the truth. He wasn't coming. He had deliberately left me waiting alone in the Sacred Grove, a final humiliation to add to his betrayal.
Selene's growl deepened, reverberating through my chest. *This disrespect cannot stand. We deserve better than this.*
I rose from the stone, my legs stiff from sitting so long in the cool night air. The ceremonial white dress I'd worn for the rejection fluttered around my ankles, now seeming like a mockery of my naivety.
"You're right," I said aloud, my voice stronger than I expected. "This ends now."
I waited until dawn, watching as the first golden rays of sunlight pierced through the trees, dissolving the moon's silver glow. The symbolism wasn't lost on me—one cycle ending, another beginning.
*We go to him,* Selene decided, her voice iron in my mind. *No more waiting. No more hoping. We confront this betrayal directly.*
I nodded, my resolve hardening with the rising sun. "The Morrison Pack House. Today."
Before leaving the Sacred Grove, I reached out through a different bond—one I rarely used while with Marcus.
*Liam?*
The response was immediate, warm with loyalty and concern. *Alpha Victoria. Are you well? Your absence has been noted.*
*I need a scout to meet me at the eastern border. Discreetly.*
*Of course. I'll send Kira. She's our best.*
I felt a rush of gratitude for my Beta's unquestioning support. The Sterling Moon Pack had always operated in the shadows, our true strength hidden from the werewolf world. Perhaps it was time for that to change.
Kira met me at the border as promised, her lean wolf form materializing from the underbrush with barely a sound. Her eyes widened when she saw my ceremonial white dress, now rumpled from the night spent waiting, but she asked no questions.
"We're going to the Morrison Pack House," I told her as we began our journey. "I need to speak with Marcus Bennett."
The trek was long but purposeful, each step fueled by the indignation that had replaced my initial heartbreak. Selene's energy surged through me, lending me strength I hadn't felt in years—the true strength of an Alpha no longer hiding her nature.
By the time the imposing structure of the Morrison Pack House came into view, the sun was high overhead. Guards at the perimeter straightened as we approached, their eyes wary.
"I'm here to see Beta Marcus Bennett," I announced, my voice steady.
The guards exchanged glances. "We'll need to escort you," one said finally.
I nodded, following them through the grand entrance. The Morrison Pack House was ostentatious, all polished stone and imposing archways—a physical manifestation of Rachel's hunger for power and status.
I expected to be led to Marcus's quarters or perhaps a formal meeting room. Instead, our path wound deeper into the heart of the building, up a sweeping staircase, and toward a set of ornate double doors I recognized immediately.
The Alpha chambers.
The air around those doors crackled with Rachel's potent Alpha aura, an intentional display of dominance meant to intimidate visitors before they even entered.
The guard knocked once, then pushed the doors open without waiting for a response.
"Victoria Sterling to see you, Alpha," he announced.
Rachel stood by a massive window, sunlight silhouetting her imposing figure. Beside her, Marcus looked smaller somehow, diminished in her shadow.
As I stepped into the room, the doors closed behind me with an ominous click. Rachel's Alpha aura surged forward, pressing against me like a physical force.
But this time, I didn't shrink back. This time, Selene's growl wasn't just in my mind—it rumbled audibly in my throat, surprising both Rachel and Marcus with its depth and power.
The game had changed, and they had no idea what they were truly facing.
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