"You don't belong here, Liliah. You didn't. The words went straight through me like a blade. I kept my head down even as the cool training yard stone pressed against my knees. It didn't matter that my body ached from hours of drilling and that I could feel the critical stares piercing my back. I knew that they were right. I didn't belong, and I wasn't intended to be here. For the Silver Ridge Pack to succeed, strength was crucial. All wolves, regardless of rank, were expected to train, fight, and prove themselves worthy of the pack's protection. I, Liliah Monroe, the weakest link in the chain, came next. Everyone murmured about it when they thought I wasn't listening. "Get up, Liliah," Maya shouted, her voice cutting through the stagnant morning air. "Or are you going to sit there and pout all day?" I pushed myself off the ground, my arms trembling from the strain. Maya was standing across from me, her golden eyes gleaming with annoyance. She was everything I wasn't: large, powerful, and confident. She had been Robert's second-in-command ever since he had taken over as Alpha six months earlier. I was just another member of the pack in her eyes. I said, barely raising my voice above a whisper, "I'm ready." Maya chuckled. "For what are you prepared? And to embarrass yourself again? She threw a wooden rod at my feet. "Take it. Let's see if you can hold it for more than a minute before you lose your footing. Heat still crawled up my neck as I swallowed down the response that was on the tip of my mouth. I couldn't afford to lose it-not here, not right now. Instead, I bent over and grasped the stick with both hands. As the other wolves gathered around us, their muttering became louder. She is without hope. Why does Robert even let her train? She is wasteful of our time. "She will never have the strength to help." I forced myself to ignore the hurtful statements. I couldn't afford to look weak because I was already on thin ice with the pack. Maya leapt to her feet and swung her staff at me in a flurry of motion. I barely deflected the hit, and it jolted my arms. Her movements were sharp and precise as she propelled me across the garden without hesitation. "Lilah, take care of yourself!" She screamed and accelerated her strikes. "Or do you intend to let all of the rival packs and rogues walk all over you as well?" "I'm making an effort!" I snapped after deflecting another blow. "Make a greater effort!" She feinted left, then kicked quickly, sweeping my legs out from under me. I hit the ground hard and the air poured out of my lungs. As the staff rolled out of my hands, I lay there gazing up at the overcast sky. "That's enough." The voices surrounding us were abruptly silenced by the strong, commanding voice. Robert Stone, Alpha of the Silver Ridge Pack, came onto the training yard. He was unavoidable with his enormous shoulders, sharp blue eyes, and a sense of strength that made even the strongest wolves stoop their heads. I staggered to my feet, my heart pounding in my chest. Robert looked at Maya and said, "She's not ready." She'll never be ready. With his eyes fixed on me, Robert remarked, "She's trying." "For some, that's more than I can say." Maya winced but made no objections. Robert's word was law, and no one, not even her, dared to dispute it. "Today's training is over," Robert stated, his voice resonating around the yard. "Resume your responsibilities." Robert and I were left alone as the group reluctantly dispersed. He put his arms across his chest and watched me, but I couldn't make out what he was looking at. Finally, he said, "You have to stop hesitating." "You will be killed if you hesitate out there." "I understand," I said softly as I lowered my gaze to the ground. "Do you?" He stepped closer, his voice lowering. Because right now, you're more than just a liability to yourself. As a collective, you are a liability to the pack. His remarks hurt, but I forced myself to look him in the eye. I vowed, "I'll perform better," "Make sure you do." He turned on his heel and walked away, leaving me standing in the middle of the yard with my fists clenched at my sides. I wanted to scream, cry, and run away without looking back. However, I couldn't. This was my home, whether they liked it or not. As the sun began to drop, the forest was enveloped in lengthy shadows by the time I made it back to my cabin. Ignoring the pain in my muscles from that day's training, I slipped into my bed. Although it was the only room I could call my own, the dresser and cot it contained were too small for it. I stared at the ceiling, my mind whirling. No matter how hard I tried, it was never enough. I was not the kind of wolf this pack needed, not with the power, speed, or courage. A knock on the door jolted me out of my trance. I sat up, my heart thumping. I hesitated before saying, "Come in." The creaking door opened and Darren, Robert's Beta, came in. His brown hair was dishevelled, and his appearance was very melancholy. "Darren?" I asked, my voice tinged with confusion. "Why are you in this place?" "We need to talk." He closed the door. "There's something you must understand." "What is it?" He stopped, his jaw tightening. "Tomorrow night is the Moon Festival." "I understand," was my response. Everyone knew. The most significant occasion of the year was the Moon Goddess feast and the mate reveal night. With a whispery voice, Darren muttered, "You don't understand." "You have been selected by the Moon Goddess." With every breath, my throat constricted. "What are you discussing?" "You have been selected as Robert 's mate by her." The world spun around me, and I clung to the side of the bed for balance. I said, "That isn't feasible," "It isn't," said Darren. "And I'm not sure what Robert will do if he finds out." My heart pounded in my chest as his words took hold. The Moon Goddess had chosen me to be the mate of the strongest wolf in the pack, the one that barely tolerated me. And tomorrow night, the entire pack would be aware.

I repeated to myself, "You can't show doubt, not even for a second," as I gazed at the map that was laid out on the hefty wood table in my office. I could feel the weight of every choice bearing down on me like iron chains, and Silver Ridge's boundaries were physically and symbolically bleeding. Even today, six months after his passing, I can still hear my father's voice echoing in my mind: *An Alpha must be indestructible. His shadow still hung over me. You lose everything if you make a mistake. I made my knuckles white by clenching my fists. Unbeatable. Didn't they all anticipate that? What did they require? I could not afford to be weak. Not when our defences were being put to the test by rogues who were getting closer to our land every day. Not with half the pack questioning my leadership readiness. And most definitely not tomorrow, when the Moon Festival was scheduled night that was supposed to honour our resilience but instead seemed like a springtime trap. The piercing knock on the door was a nuisance as well as a pleasant diversion. I called, my voice harder than I meant, "Come in." Although Darren came in with a composed demeanour, I could see the storm building in his dark eyes. Rarely was the news positive, but my beta always had it. With a hurried voice, he stated, "We've had another skirmish near the eastern border." One of our patrols was ambushed by a band of renegades. One of our scouts was hurt, but there were no casualties. "Did we force them to retreat?" I turned around the desk and questioned him straight. Darren answered, "Yes," but his tone was hesitant. "What else?" I insisted. His shoulders stiffened as he moaned. They weren't merely experimenting. They were trying to find someone or anything. I scowled. "Someone? Who? Just the fact that Darren paused made me uneasy. "We believe they enquired about Lilah." Her name was like a kick to the stomach. I remained silent for a minute, allowing the word to linger between us. *Lilah Monroe* The weakest link in the group. I had been trying not to think about the wolf for the past six months. "What makes her important to rogues?" Even as I uttered the inquiry, it seemed pointless. Darren's eyes became gloomy. "Because she is more significant than you would like to acknowledge." I stiffened. "Darren, exercise caution." He remarked, "I'm just stating facts." Robert, even though you might not desire her, someone else does. And things are going to get really complicated if the Moon Festival turns out like I believe it will. I tightened my jaw. "You believe she would be selected by the Moon Goddess?" Darren didn't bat an eyelid when I looked at him. "She would, you know." I walked to the window overlooking the main compound of the pack and turned away. Everything was visible to me from here, including the cabins, the training yards, and the forest that stretched into the distance. Lilah was most likely licking her wounds from yet another unsuccessful session with Maya somewhere out there. For years, I had watched her suffer, never quite breaking but always on the verge of doing so. She survived. I could say that. She wasn't worthy, though, because of that. I muttered, "She's not strong enough." Darren folded his arms. What if she was, too? Would it make a difference? Or does the fact that she doesn't match your ideal partner make you too scared to embrace her? I rounded on him after his words touched a chord. The mate of an Alpha must possess more than just strength. She must motivate the group and support me on an equal footAchieve you believe Lilah will ever be able to achieve that? Darren stared at me without flinching. She might surprise you, in my opinion. However, if you continue to treat her like she is beneath you, you will never know. I remained silent, a jumble of contradictory ideas racing through my head. This felt personal, even though Darren had always been direct. He had faith in her. Why? There was another knock on the door before I could answer. Maya intervened, her face tense. "Please come to the council room, Robert. The elders are holding off on talking about the plans for the festival. Thankful for the interruption, I nodded. "I'll be there shortly." Maya gave Darren a quick look before heading out, her disgust evident. I couldn't blame her for repeatedly expressing her views about Lilah. Maya was powerful, devoted, and unrelenting-everything the pack could ask for in a leader. Lilah was the complete opposite of her. Darren stopped at the door as he turned to go. Whatever occurs tomorrow, Robert, keep in mind that the Moon Goddess is error-proof. You do. I was left alone with my thoughts as the door shut behind him. I ran a hand through my hair as I dropped into the chair behind my desk. A night when the ties of fate were exposed, the Moon Festival was meant to be a celebration of fate. However, it served as a reminder to me of the unachievable standards I had to meet. Could it be that Darren was correct? What if my partner was Lilah? Even though I knew she would never measure up to the pack's standards, could I still accept her? Or would I turn her away and face the Moon Goddess's own wrath? I kept thinking about the questions, each one more pressing than the last. The elders were already engaged in a heated debate when I entered the council room. As they discussed the importance of the Festival, their voices filled the room, each competing for supremacy. Elder Conrad stated, "This Festival is what we need to demonstrate our strength." For weeks, the renegades have been putting our borders to the test. They will perceive Silver Ridge's unity as a weakness if we fail to demonstrate it to them. "Just strength won't cut it," Elder Marian retorted. "We must be united. The morale of the pack will rise if the Moon Goddess grants us a strong mating bond. As they continued to bicker, I was distracted and hardly paid attention. My eyes strayed to the altar in the room's corner, where the Festival ceremonies would be performed. There would be no avoiding the truth when the Moon Goddess made her will known tomorrow night. "Robert?" Marian's voice jolted me out of my reverie. I stood up straight and looked her in the eye. "What is it?" Her expression was opaque as she closely examined me. Alpha, you've been aloof. Are you having problems? After a moment of hesitation, I shook my head. "I can handle anything." I hardly heard a word of the meeting, which went on late into the evening. What Darren had said and the persistent fear that I couldn't get rid of occupied my thoughts. The moon was high in the sky, illuminating the compound with its pale light when I eventually exited the council chamber. Seeking comfort in the silence, I strolled to the forest's edge. That's when I noticed its subtle, recognisable aroma in the wind. Lilah. I looked about, looking for her in the darkness, but she was not there. Nevertheless, her presence persisted, igniting something inside of me that I was unable to ignore. Doubt entered my head for the first time. What if I wasn't prepared to hear what fate had to say? Another aroma, one that chilled my blood, drew my attention as the breeze changed. It was subtle but distinct. Rogues. They were also near. Too near.

"Everyone, keep going!" Over the cacophony of the pack moving across the main courtyard, Maya's piercing voice could be heard. "Whether it's your first Moon Festival or your fiftieth, it makes no difference to me. You are aware of what must be done. As wolves brought decorations, supplies, and ceremonial objects towards the area where the Festival would be held, I remained at the edge of the action, attempting to avoid getting in the way. Excitement was in the air, yet all I could feel was a mounting sense of uneasiness. The Moon Festival was meant to be a happy event, a celebration of destiny and togetherness. It felt more like a trap to me, though. As the ceremony drew nearer, it seemed like I was getting closer to an inevitable moment. "Lilah!" One of the younger wolves, Grace, was running towards me with an armful of flowers when I turned around. The knot in my chest was momentarily relieved by her radiant grin. Even when others weren't, Grace had always shown me kindness. She handed me a tiny bundle of flowers and said, "Here." "We're using these to adorn the altar. Are you able to assist? I paused, looking over to the clearing with the altar. A circle of tall pines encircled the plain stone building, which was embellished with carvings of the Moon Goddess. It would be the focal point of everything tonight's location where partners were unveiled in the light of the moon. I accepted the flowers from her and responded, "Sure." Grace smiled. Fantastic! I'll see you there shortly. I must get some more. She rushed away, leaving me once more to think alone. The murmuring of the pack followed me as I walked to the clearing. "Is she likely to arrive tonight?" "Why wouldn't she? Everyone is welcome to the Moon Festival. Even so, wouldn't it be ironic if she met someone? A strong wolf coupled with the pack's weakest wolf? I tightened my grip on the roses and gritted my jaw. Today, I lacked the energy to give a damn about their chatter. Already, my nerves were being strained. With the sounds of the forest filling the air, the clearing was more peaceful than the main courtyard. I moved carefully towards the altar, arranging the flowers while stroking the rough stone surface with my fingers. Although it was quiet here, the tempest that was roaring inside of me was not very quiet. The Moon Goddess decided, and I heard Darren's voice again. She is a flawless person. What if she did, though? What if she matched me with someone like Robert, who didn't want me? My chest constricted at the thought. Robert was powerful, self-assured, and well-respected-everything I was not. Even if he didn't believe it himself, he was the ideal Alpha. If he was selected for me by the Moon Goddess... I had no idea what I would do. "Lilah." I was surprised by the deep voice and looked over to see Robert standing at the edge of the clearing. His sharp blue eyes met mine, and I momentarily lost my ability to breathe. As always, his presence was imposing; he took a step closer. "You're staying away from the pack." I hurriedly answered, "I'm not," but it was clear that I was lying. "I'm assisting with the décor." He glanced at the flowers I had placed and then back at me. "Is that all?" Unsure how to react, I swallowed hard. He had changed today, something more fierce, something sharper. After a time, he stated, "The Festival is important." It's more than simply a party. It serves as a reminder of our values and identity. Strength, cohesion, and purpose. "I understand," I muttered. "Do you?" Although his tone wasn't harsh, it had a weight to it that made my stomach turn. "Because it's not just about the pack tonight." It has to do with fate. Additionally, there is no turning back after the moon rises. I started to reply, but my words would not come. He was correct. I wasn't prepared for how everything would alter tonight. Before I could speak, the silence was broken by a howl that rang out through the trees. It was a warning, a communication from one of the border-based scouts. Robert's eyes narrowed as he tensed. "Rogues." My heart jumped up and down my throat. "This is where? "Now?" He commanded, already heading towards the sound, "Stay here." "But-" "Lilah." His demeanour was harsh as he turned back to face me. "Remain here." Reluctantly, I nodded while observing him vanish into the trees. With the weight of his words still hanging in the air, the clearing felt colder without him. Strength, purpose, and destiny. Although I was unsure if I possessed any of those items, I was certain that the rogues would not give up until they achieved their goals. And for some reason, I sensed that I was what they desired. My thoughts were racing as I turned back to the altar. In contrast to the chaos that was brewing just outside the gates, the flowers appeared too lovely and serene. The slightest trace of an unfamiliar aroma was carried by the shifting wind. It had a metallic, earthy flavour with a hint of something harsh and strange. When I recognised what it was, my heartbeat accelerated. Blood. There was another howl, closer this time. It was a call for assistance, not a warning. My gut told me to flee and hide as I took a step back from the altar. But I felt anchored by something. Even though the moon hadn't risen yet, its presence was evident, like a silent watchdog ready to render a verdict. I realised then that there was no way to avoid what was about to happen. The Festival would continue. Mates would come out. The hand of destiny would be dealt. The pack would have to make it through the night first. I would, too.