“Not yet,” she breathed softly… and the Alpha King’s amber eyes turned dangerously possessive, as if one simple answer had awakened something wild inside him.
The ballroom glittered like a sky full of trapped stars, but beneath the crystal chandeliers and polished marble floors, fear lingered thick in the air.
Every unmated wolf in the Northern Territories knew what tonight truly was.
Not a celebration. A hunt. Celia Thorne stood near the far wall with a glass of untouched wine in her hand, trying desperately to blend into the shadows while daughters of powerful packs circled the room in silk and diamonds.
Laughter echoed around her—soft, practiced, artificial. Everywhere she looked, wolves smiled with ambition hidden behind perfect teeth.
She hated every second of it. “You look beautiful.” Her father’s voice echoed in her memory from earlier that evening.
Gregory Thorne had stood outside their tiny Pinewood home while fastening the silver clasp around her cloak with trembling hands.
“You have to try tonight, Celia.” Try. As if she had not spent her entire life trying.
Trying to matter. Trying to become the kind of woman wolves noticed.
Trying to be enough for a pack that was slowly dying.
Pinewood sat near the eastern borders where winters lasted too long and resources disappeared too quickly.
Powerful packs ignored them. The crown barely remembered they existed.
Their crops had failed twice in three years, and half their warriors had left for stronger territories.
This gathering was not about romance for Gregory. It was survival.
If Celia attracted a powerful mate, Pinewood might finally receive protection.
If she failed… Her chest tightened. “Relax before you faint,” Sarah whispered beside her, appearing suddenly with a mischievous grin.
“You look like you’re attending your own execution.” “Maybe I am.”
Sarah laughed softly, but the sound faded quickly as murmurs rippled through the ballroom.
The atmosphere changed instantly. Wolves straightened. Conversations died. And then he entered.
Dominic Ashford. The Alpha King. He moved through the grand doors surrounded by advisors and guards, but somehow they all disappeared beside him.
He carried power like a second skin—dark, overwhelming, impossible to ignore.
His black suit fit his broad frame too perfectly, and his dark hair looked slightly disheveled, as though he had run frustrated hands through it moments before entering.
But it was his eyes that stole the breath from Celia’s lungs.
Amber. Bright and dangerous. Predator’s eyes. Every woman in the ballroom watched him.
Dominic barely acknowledged any of them. “He’s actually searching for a mate tonight,” Sarah whispered excitedly.
“Can you imagine becoming queen?” Celia nearly laughed. Queens belonged to wolves born for greatness.
Not girls from forgotten packs who spent more time reading ancient histories than learning how to flirt.
She looked away before Dominic could accidentally notice her staring.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans. “Celia Thorne.” Her name cut through the room sharply.
She froze. Counselor Brennan stood several feet away, expression unreadable.
“The Alpha King requests your presence.” Shock swept through nearby guests instantly.
Celia blinked. “There must be some mistake.” “There isn’t.” Every eye in the ballroom followed her as she crossed the floor toward the royal receiving line.
Whispers exploded around her like sparks catching fire. “That’s Gregory Thorne’s daughter—”
“From Pinewood?” “Why would the king want her?” “She’s nobody—”
The words stung because they were true. She was nobody.
And yet Dominic Ashford watched her approach with terrifying focus.
The receiving line contained six stunning women before her, each elegant enough to belong beside a king.
Celia felt painfully out of place standing among them. Dominic dismissed the final woman after barely two minutes.
Then his attention settled entirely on Celia. Up close, he was worse.
More dangerous. The sheer force of his presence wrapped around her throat until breathing became difficult.
“Name,” he said quietly. “Celia Thorne.” “Pinewood Pack.” Not a question.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” “You’re twenty-three.” “The same age your mother was when she became queen.”
Silence crashed across the ballroom. Several wolves inhaled sharply. Celia immediately regretted speaking.
But Dominic only stared at her longer, something dark and curious flickering behind his amber eyes.
“You study royal history?” “I study everything.” The corner of his mouth twitched faintly.
Interesting. That single word should not have sent warmth spiraling through her chest.
Then he asked the question that changed everything. “Do you have a mate?”
The words were casual. His tone was not. Celia hesitated.
“Not yet.” The reaction was immediate. Dominic went perfectly still.
The air around them shifted violently, thickening with raw alpha energy powerful enough to make nearby wolves instinctively lower their gazes.
“Not yet,” he repeated slowly. Jealousy flashed across his face so suddenly that Celia forgot how to breathe.
“You expect someone else?” “No.” “But there is someone you want.”
“That’s not what I meant—” He stepped closer. Close enough for her to smell cedar, smoke, and winter storms.
“You’re nervous.” “You’re terrifying.” A dangerous smile touched his mouth.
“Good.” Her pulse stumbled violently. “I’m not hiding anyone,” she whispered.
“Trust me, Your Majesty, males are not exactly fighting for my attention.”
Something changed in his expression then. Not pity. Anger. Real anger.
As though the idea itself offended him. “Who made you believe that?”
The question caught her off guard. “I just know how wolves see me.”
“And how is that?” “Forgettable.” Dominic’s jaw tightened sharply. Before she could understand why, he turned toward the entire ballroom.
“She’ll sit beside me tonight.” Gasps erupted instantly. The seat beside the Alpha King belonged only to family.
Or future queens. Celia stared at him in horror. “Your Majesty—”
“That wasn’t a request.” And just like that, her life changed.
Dinner became a battlefield disguised as luxury. Celia sat rigidly beside Dominic while nobles and alphas studied her with predatory curiosity.
Crystal glasses reflected candlelight across the endless dining table, but beneath the elegance lay tension sharp enough to cut skin.
Dominic barely spoke to anyone except her. That alone terrified the court.
“You haven’t eaten,” he murmured quietly. “I’m trying not to die from humiliation.”
His lips twitched. “You’re doing surprisingly well.” She glanced toward the council members further down the table.
Brennan watched them carefully, displeasure carved deep into his face.
“This is causing problems already.” “I know.” “You don’t seem concerned.”
Dominic finally looked at her fully. “Should I be?” The intensity in his gaze unraveled her completely.
Before she could answer, another woman approached the royal table.
Beautiful. Tall. Cold. Her dark red gown shimmered like spilled wine.
“Your Majesty,” she purred smoothly. “You failed to greet me tonight.”
The room quieted instantly. Sarah leaned toward Celia from across the table and mouthed silently:
Lyanna Frost. Celia recognized the name immediately. Daughter of the Frost Pack Alpha.
The woman expected to become queen someday. Dominic’s expression hardened.
“Lady Frost.” Lyanna’s eyes slid toward Celia dismissively. “So this is the mystery girl everyone’s whispering about.”
Celia forced herself to remain calm. “I didn’t realize I was mysterious.”
“You’re from Pinewood, aren’t you?” Lyanna smiled sweetly. “How… unexpected.”
The insult landed perfectly. Dominic set down his wineglass with dangerous precision.
“Careful, Lyanna.” “I mean no offense.” Her eyes glittered cruelly.
“I’m merely surprised. Pinewood barely survives winter each year. It’s difficult imagining one of their wolves adapting to royal life.”
Celia opened her mouth to respond. Dominic spoke first. “If Celia adapts half as well as you manipulate rooms, she’ll thrive beautifully.”
Silence exploded. Lyanna’s smile vanished instantly. The humiliation on her face was impossible to miss.
Then something stranger happened. A servant stumbled near the center of the ballroom.
Wine spilled across the marble. The servant hit the floor hard—
—and suddenly screamed. Every wolf in the room froze. Blood poured from the servant’s nose.
Black veins spread beneath his skin. Then his body convulsed violently before going completely still.
Panic erupted. Dominic was on his feet instantly, pulling Celia behind him.
“Everyone stay back.” The dead servant’s eyes snapped open. Completely black.
Several wolves gasped in terror. Then the corpse smiled. “Found you,” it whispered directly at Dominic.
And burst into flames. Chaos detonated through the ballroom. Screams echoed everywhere as nobles fled toward exits.
Guards rushed forward while fire spread across the marble floor unnaturally fast.
But Dominic wasn’t watching the flames. He was staring at the black ash left behind.
With fear. Real fear. Celia had not believed anything could frighten the Alpha King until that moment.
“What was that?” She whispered. Dominic didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he grabbed her wrist tightly.
“We’re leaving.” “What?” “Now.” He dragged her through hidden corridors while alarms rang throughout the palace.
The deeper they moved into the castle, the colder Dominic became.
Finally, they reached a private chamber hidden behind an enormous library wall.
Only then did he release her. “What happened?” Celia demanded.
Dominic turned away. For the first time since meeting him, he looked shaken.
“That servant wasn’t killed tonight.” “What?” “He died three days ago.”
Ice flooded her veins. “That’s impossible.” “Yes.” The single word landed heavily.
Celia stared at him. “You knew something like this could happen.”
Silence. Then Dominic spoke quietly. “There are creatures beyond the eastern borders.”
“The Wildlands?” “You’ve read about them.” “Everyone thinks they’re myths.”
“They’re not.” His amber eyes darkened. “And they’ve been searching for something hidden inside this kingdom for years.”
A terrible realization formed slowly. “They said ‘found you.’” Dominic finally looked at her.
“No,” he said softly. “They were talking to you.” The room went silent.
Celia’s heart stopped. “That makes no sense.” “It doesn’t.” “But from the moment you entered that ballroom tonight…” His voice lowered dangerously.
“Everything changed.” Before she could respond, someone pounded against the hidden door.
“Your Majesty!” Jackson. Dominic opened it immediately. The royal guard looked pale.
“There’s been another attack.” “Where?” Jackson hesitated. “Pinewood.” The world tilted beneath Celia’s feet.
“No.” “Several homes destroyed,” Jackson continued grimly. “Your father survived, but…”
“But what?” “They were searching for something.” Dominic cursed under his breath.
Celia grabbed his arm desperately. “We have to go there.”
“It’s dangerous.” “That’s my home!” His expression twisted with conflict.
Then finally— “Prepare horses,” he ordered Jackson. They rode before dawn.
The journey to Pinewood became a nightmare of snow and silence.
Dominic barely spoke, but Celia constantly caught him watching her with unreadable intensity.
As though trying to solve a puzzle that terrified him.
When they finally reached Pinewood, smoke still lingered in the frozen air.
Several homes had burned completely. Villagers moved through the ruins in shock.
And Gregory Thorne stood near the wreckage with blood on his clothes.
“Papa!” Celia threw herself into his arms. Gregory held her tightly, relief flooding his exhausted face.
“You’re safe.” “What happened?” His expression darkened immediately. “They weren’t wolves.”
Dominic stiffened beside her. Gregory noticed him then and bowed quickly.
“Your Majesty.” “Tell me everything.” Gregory hesitated. Then his gaze shifted strangely toward Celia.
“They came asking for her.” Cold spread through her chest.
“What?” “They kept repeating the same thing.” Gregory swallowed hard.
“‘Where is the girl with silver blood?’” Silence. Dominic went completely still.
Celia frowned. “Silver blood?” Gregory looked horrified. As though he had already said too much.
“Papa…” But Dominic interrupted quietly. “Leave us.” Everyone obeyed instantly except Gregory.
The older wolf stared at Dominic with visible fear. “You promised her mother this would never happen.”
Celia’s breath caught. Dominic looked furious. “Not now.” “What is happening?”
Celia demanded sharply. “What aren’t you telling me?” Neither answered.
That silence frightened her more than anything. Finally Gregory whispered:
“Your mother wasn’t who you think she was.” The ground disappeared beneath Celia.
“My mother died giving birth to me.” “No.” Gregory’s eyes filled with pain.
“That was the lie we told to protect you.” Everything inside her shattered.
“She’s alive?” “No one knows.” Celia stepped backward numbly. Dominic moved toward her carefully.
“Celia—” “You knew?” His silence answered. Betrayal crashed through her violently.
“You knew this entire time?” “She disappeared twenty-three years ago after stealing something from the crown.”
Gregory slammed a fist against the table. “She didn’t steal it.
She protected it.” Dominic’s eyes flashed dangerously. “She disappeared with the Moonheart.”
Celia stared between them in confusion. “The Moonheart?” Gregory closed his eyes.
“A relic older than the kingdom itself.” “And apparently,” Dominic said quietly, “your mother hid it before vanishing.”
Realization hit Celia slowly. “The creatures…” “They think you know where it is.”
“But I don’t!” “We know.” Dominic’s expression darkened. “But they won’t stop hunting you anyway.”
Outside, thunder cracked across the mountains. Then came screams. Everyone spun toward the door.
Jackson burst inside covered in blood. “They’re here.” The walls shook violently.
Windows exploded inward. And standing beyond the snowstorm outside— —was a figure cloaked entirely in black.
Not wolf. Not human. Its glowing silver eyes locked directly onto Celia.
Then it smiled. “Daughter of Selene,” it whispered. “We’ve waited a very long time for you.”
Dominic stepped in front of her instantly, claws extending. But the creature only laughed softly.
“You still don’t know what she truly is, do you, Alpha King?”
Celia’s pulse thundered. “What does that mean?” The creature tilted its head.
Then slowly pointed toward Dominic. “Ask him,” it said. “Ask him why your heartbeat matches the Moonheart’s pulse.”
And suddenly— Deep beneath the frozen earth— Something ancient awakened.
