When the Moon No Longer Answers the Wolf

The High Council of Wolves, the Hall of Sanctity.

Aurora Vance, the Council’s only female Enforcer, strode into the hall in a suit of silver battle armor and knelt before the High Alpha. "High Alpha, the Shadowfang King is hunting countless twisted creatures. He intends to absorb their endless pain and hatred to unleash the Crimson Curse—"

"A war is coming, and if he succeeds, the Council… will be annihilated!"

The High Alpha’s expression was grim. "Is there any way to stop him?"

"Only one."

Aurora lifted her head, her gaze unwavering. "Someone must sacrifice themselves, sever all emotional ties, and complete the Moon Goddess Ritual. It is the only way to save our people."

Before the High Alpha could speak, she bowed her head. "I will be that person!"

Her voice echoed in the vast, empty hall.

The High Alpha frowned deeply. "Aurora, your parents, the Alphas of the Silvermoon pack, were lost in the great war five hundred years ago. You are the last of the Silvermoon bloodline. I cannot let you do this."

"Besides, Kaelen Blackwood would never agree."

At the mention of Kaelen, Aurora’s fists clenched.

Kaelen Blackwood, a descendant of the ancient Dire Wolves, was an Alpha of the oldest bloodline and her parents’ closest friend.

When her parents and their entire pack were slaughtered in the war, leaving her a newborn orphan, Kaelen had brought her back to his own lands to raise her. He told her to call him Uncle.

But after centuries of growing up by his side, Aurora’s feelings for him had long ago blossomed into a desperate, all-consuming love.

The thought only strengthened her resolve. "It is precisely because I have no family left that I am the most suitable person to complete the ritual."

"As for Alpha Kaelen… he has always put the greater good first. For the sake of all wolves, he will not object."

After a long silence, the High Alpha sighed. "If your mind is made up, then I grant you permission."

"In seven days, I will open the path for you at Blackrock Summit. Go and prepare."

"Yes."

Aurora nodded, her heart heavy with purpose.

She left the Hall of Sanctity and returned to Blackwood Manor.

Just as she was removing her silver armor, Kaelen returned.

The man, clad in black robes, had a cold, imposing face that could make anyone tremble with a single glance.

He smelled the faint scent of blood in the air and stopped at her door, his brow furrowed in displeasure. "Haven't I told you not to bring blood-soaked armor back to the manor? Seraphina dislikes the smell."

Looking at his cold expression, Aurora’s shattered heart felt strangely calm.

She lowered her gaze and said softly, "I'm sorry, Kaelen. It won't happen again."

Her unusual compliance made him frown even deeper, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

But before he could say more, a woman approached from behind, calling his name in a voice as sweet as honey. "Kaelen."

Aurora looked up to see Seraphina, the Alpha female of the Serpentvine pack and Kaelen’s fiancée, also dressed in black.

She wrapped her arm around Kaelen’s possessively. "A day here is like a year in the human world. We've been traveling for a year, and I'm so tired. I want to rest."

Kaelen gave her a rare, devastatingly gentle smile. "Alright. We'll go to my chambers."

The two of them turned and left, as if Aurora wasn't even there.

Aurora watched their backs, the sight of his smile stabbing her heart like a poisoned dagger.

That smile used to belong only to her.

Kaelen was a cold man; few in the entire Council dared to even speak to him.

But for the five hundred years they had been together, he had been endlessly gentle with Aurora. Only with her would he ever truly smile.

He remembered everything she liked. Her bedroom always had a fresh bouquet of irises, and the kitchen was always stocked with the frosted cakes she loved.

When she insisted on becoming an Enforcer, he forged her armor with his own hands, trained with her, prepared healing herbs for her, and used his Alpha power to mend her wounds.

But all of that ended a century ago, the day she confessed her love for him.

For the first time ever, Kaelen had roared at her. "Aurora, do you have any idea what you're saying?"

"I am twelve hundred years older than you! I am your Uncle!"

Aurora had stubbornly shaken her head. "We are not of the same pack, nor do we share blood. What does it matter?"

"If you don't love me, why were you so good to me?"

After that, Kaelen had ignored her completely, showing her with his actions that he did not, and would not, love her.

But Aurora hadn't given up.

Not until ten days ago, when Kaelen brought Seraphina to the manor and announced their union, a move to solidify the alliance between their two packs. He demanded that Aurora address her as the future lady of the manor.

Aurora refused.

That night, she felt Kaelen's mating heat ignite within her own body.

Three hundred years ago, Aurora had been gravely injured while hunting down rogue wolves.

As Kaelen healed her, a thread of their life essences had accidentally intertwined, merging within each other.

From that day on, their senses were linked. Their hearts were connected. They felt what the other felt.

When she was hurt, he was the first to know.

And when Kaelen’s mating heat had erupted that night, no one knew better than Aurora what he was doing with Seraphina.

In that moment, Aurora’s heart finally died.