The morning sun had barely risen when another scream tore through the pack grounds, shattering the fragile calm that lingered after the prior deaths. Members of the pack gathered in the courtyard, their faces pale and drawn as they stared at the lifeless bodies of two more pack members. The sight was gruesome—signs of a struggle etched on their faces, and the unmistakable scent of blood tainting the crisp morning air.
A solemn hush fell over the pack as the elders and council members arrived, their expressions grim. The deaths had shaken the pack to its core, and now with more lives lost, the weight of the tragedy bore down on everyone.
Inside the council chamber, Alpha Kaelan stood before the elders, his posture rigid as he struggled to contain his frustration.
“It is clear now,” one elder said, his voice trembling. “This pack is cursed.”
Kaelan’s jaw tightened. “Cursed? What nonsense is this? Explain yourselves.”
Another council member stepped forward, his brow furrowed. “Alpha, the deaths, the Moon Goddess’s silence—it cannot be a coincidence. Either you are cursed, or your mate is.”
Kaelan’s eyes narrowed, his voice dropping dangerously low. “You made me send Mira away. You told me to choose someone powerful, someone who would strengthen the pack. I did as you asked, and now you dare call me or my mate cursed?”
The room fell silent, the weight of Kaelan’s words hanging heavily.
Finally, an elder who had remained quiet until now spoke up. “Perhaps that is why the Moon Goddess is angry with us.”
Kaelan turned sharply toward the man, confusion etched on his face. “Angry? What do you mean?”
The elder straightened, his tone measured. “Alpha, if the Moon Goddess truly chose Mira for you and remained silent after you replaced her with another, it could only mean one thing—Liana was never meant to be your mate.”
The council exchanged uneasy glances, murmurs spreading through the room. Kaelan’s brow furrowed deeply, his mind racing.
“That doesn’t make sense,” Kaelan said, his voice faltering slightly. “I heard the Moon Goddess’s voice. She told me to choose the mate before me, and when I looked, Liana was there.”
The elder shook his head slowly. “The Moon Goddess’s messages are often layered in meaning. It is possible you misunderstood her words. If Liana was not meant for you, then Mira remains your true mate, and this discord may be her way of correcting the imbalance.”
The statement sent a ripple of unease through the room. Kaelan ran a hand through his hair, his frustration mounting. “You’re saying we have to find Mira?”
“Yes,” the elder replied firmly. “If we do not, the Moon Goddess’s anger may destroy us all.”