CHAPTER 1 ( Lyra's Love )

The magnificent hall of the Wulfgar Empire shimmered in the light of the Blood Moon, throwing an ominous crimson color over the glittering chandeliers and polished marble flooring.

Lyra Rousseau stood in front of her chamber's magnificent mirror, her image a sad reminder of how freely she had loved Jasper Valentin.

Her gown, a masterpiece of silver and dark blue, clung to her thin figure, emphasizing her amber eyes, which now glistened with doubt.

"Do you think he'll notice?" Lyra questioned quietly, her voice shaking as she fingered the tiny crescent moon necklace around her neck.

Cora, Lyra's greatest friend and confidant, took a step closer and adjusted a loose strand of her sable hair. "He constantly notices you, Lyra. "You are his mate."

Lyra faked a grin, but her heart tightened at the word "mate." Jasper hadn't touched her in weeks, much alone gazed at her with the tenderness she had previously felt.

The hints of Ariana's return remained in her thoughts like a festering sore, yet she held onto hope.

Tonight, at the Blood Moon Gala, everything would change. They had to.

"Do you think he's… different?" Lyra inquired, her tone barely above a whisper.

Cora paused. "I believe Jasper is under a lot of strain. But you are his Luna. He can't ignore it indefinitely."

Lyra found the word Luna to be bitter. She was the true Luna, selected by the moon itself, yet she felt like a shadow in Jasper's existence. Still, she nodded, swallowing her fears and gathering her confidence.

"I'll make him remember," Lyra said, her voice strong and determined.

The big hall was an opulent show full of the Wulfgar Empire's most powerful wolves.

Their faces were covered in masks, but their odors and authoritative demeanor revealed their true identities.

Lyra descended the marble staircase, scouring the throng for a single face—one guy.

Jasper stood in the middle of the room, dominant in his fitted black suit.

His green eyes survey the audience, and his stance exudes easy dominance.

But Lyra's heart plummeted when she saw the lady standing alongside him.

Ariana Morozova, dressed in a crimson gown that hugged her contours, her sapphire eyes sparkling with pride.

"Lyra, breathe," Cora said softly, grasping her arm.

Lyra breathed hard, pushing herself to descend the last stairs gracefully.

As she neared Jasper, his eyes momentarily moved to her before returning to Ariana. It was as if she were invisible.

"Jasper," Lyra said, her voice firm despite the tumult inside her.

He turned and smiled politely but distantly. "Lyra. "You look lovely."

Lovely. The phrase hurt her more deeply than any insult could.

Before she could speak, Ariana moved closer, touching Jasper's arm.

"Jasper just informed me about the approaching discussions with the Silverclaw Pack. "What a burden for one man to bear."

Lyra squeezed her fists, her nails digging into her hands. Jasper has always been competent. He does not need reminders of his might."

Ariana's grin broadened, and her eyes shone with delight. "Of course." "How foolish of me to forget."

"Lyra," Jasper interjected, his tone abrupt. "I need to discuss something with you. Alone."

Her pulse raced at the possibility, but the expression on his face made her hesitate.

She followed him out to the balcony, the cold night air contrasting sharply with the smothering tension between them.

"What is it?" Lyra inquired, her voice shaking as she confronted him.

Jasper leaned against the railing, his eyes locked on the moon. "We need to talk about us."

The tightness in her chest became tighter. "What about us?"

He sighed and ran a hand over his black hair. "Ariana's reappearance has complicated everything. Lyra was my first love. "I can't ignore it."

Lyra's breath caught. "Can't ignore? Jasper, I'm your mate. "The moon selected us.

"I didn't choose this!" He snapped, his tone harsh. "I didn't choose you."

The words hit her like a physical blow. She lurched back, her eyes blurred from unshed tears. "You don't mean that."

He turned to look at her, his green eyes steely. "I do. I apologize, Lyra, but Ariana and I—"

"No," she said, her voice cracking. "You do not get to make this decision. The bonds—"

"The bond means nothing if there's no love," he continued, his tone decisive.

Her tears overflowed, and her heart shattered. "You are mistaken.

The link is everything. But you are too blind to perceive it."

Before he could react, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the silence.

Ariana stood in the doorway with a smug grin. "Is everything alright?"

Lyra glared at her, her words full of hatred. "Perfect timing, as always."

"I thought I might find you two out here," Ariana said, her voice sickeningly sweet. "Jasper, the Silverclaw delegates are asking for you."

Jasper looked at Lyra, shame flashing in his eyes for a short instant. "I'll be right there."

Lyra clutched his arm as he passed by her. "You are making a mistake, Jasper. And you'll come to regret it."

He backed backward, his look inscrutable. "Goodbye, Lyra."

Lyra stood alone on the balcony, her sobbing drowned out by the darkness.

The sound of distant laughing and music exacerbated her feelings of solitude.

She gripped the necklace around her neck, feeling suffocated by her rejection.

"Your secret is safe, for now."

The voice, low and strange, emerged from the shadows.

Lyra turned around, her heart thumping. A person wrapped in darkness came forward, their face hidden.

"What do you mean?" She demanded, her voice trembling.

The apparition gave her a folded letter before vanishing into the darkness.

Lyra's fingers shook as she unfolded the paper, her gaze skimming the strange message:

"The moon shows everything. "Protect the truth or the empire will burn."

The paper slid through her fingers as she peered into the darkness, her thoughts racing with questions.

Who knew her secret? So, what would they do with it?

Lyra's tears dried up as the Blood Moon rose, giving way to a renewed determination.

If Jasper chose to dismiss her, so be it. But she wouldn't go quietly.

The shadows kept their secrets, and Lyra would reveal everything.

Lyra's quivering hands grabbed the balcony's edge, whispering to herself, "If the empire burns, Jasper will go with it."

To be continued…