Chapter 2

The next morning, as I fastened the last silver clasp on my cloak, I turned to Kade. "Come with me to Silvermoon."

Kade was strapping on his bracers. His hands paused, almost imperceptibly.

"What made you want to go back all of a sudden?" He looked up, a flicker of unease crossing his features.

The Silvermoon Pack wasn't Moonshadow Forest. No one there treated me as Luna.

I kept my tone light. "Father sent an invitation last night. There's a gathering today."

Kade stepped closer, fingers tilting my chin up, his voice still wrapped in that considerate warmth. "If you don't want to go, you don't have to. The Silvermoon elders have always been critical. I can handle them for you."

He was always like this.

So considerate that I had lived inside his lies for years.

"I don't want you facing them alone. Besides, it's been almost half a year since I've been back."

Kade was silent for two seconds, then nodded.

"Alright."

The fog hadn't fully lifted when we left Moonshadow Forest.

The warriors who saw us off bowed in unison.

"Alpha."

"Luna."

The trees grew sparse. Snow-white rock formations emerged from the earth.

Kade held the reins, occasionally asking if I was cold, if my cloak was secure—his tone tender, as though we were truly a harmonious fated pair.

I leaned back in my seat, listening to the wheels crunch over gravel, and suddenly remembered years ago, when I was first brought to Silvermoon's council hall. The same road.

Back then, I had believed coming home would be a happy thing.

I learned later that Silvermoon's warmth had never belonged to me.

The moment I stepped through the main gates, I heard laughter from inside.

My father, Ronan, stood beneath the colonnade, speaking with several elders. My mother, Leila, sat by the hearth, draped in a silver-gray shawl.

Ariella—the daughter my parents had adopted—knelt at Mother's feet, face tilted up in a coquettish pose, saying something that made Mother's eyes go soft.

The scene was so warm it almost hurt to look at.

Until I appeared.

The laughter stopped abruptly.

Father's gaze shifted to me. His voice was flat. "Serena."

Mother rose and walked over to embrace me. "The journey must have been tiring. You should have sent word ahead."

"Father's invitation was very clear." I returned the embrace, my tone even. "I wouldn't dare be late."

That wasn't sarcasm.

It was simply fact.

In Silvermoon, I had been raised from childhood to be the perfect heir. I couldn't give anyone a reason to find fault.

Father had once said to me: "Silvermoon's heir cannot afford to be childish."

I was ten years old. My knee had split open during training, blood running down my shin.

I wanted to cry, but I forced it down and said only: "Yes, Alpha."

My relationship with my parents was more like a chain of command.

I learned to always appear calm and flawless in front of them.

But Ariella didn't have to.

She wasn't Silvermoon blood—just an adopted child. She was allowed to be coy, to be fragile, to make mistakes and then hide in Mother's arms saying "I'm scared," and receive soft comfort and warm embraces.

Countless times, I had stood at the edge of the training grounds, watching Mother hold her and soothe her, while my hands were covered in blisters, my back aching—and I swallowed the words I hurt too.

I used to think it was fair—because I was stronger, I should bear more.

It took me years to understand.

That wasn't fairness.

It was favoritism.

Ariella came forward, her eyes bright, and looped her arm through mine.

"Serena! You really came. I thought you'd be too busy to remember us."

I didn't pull away. I only said quietly, "Father summoned me. Of course I came."

Ariella's smile faltered for a moment, then returned to its docile shape.

"You don't look well today. Are you too tired? Kade said you need rest—I've been so worried about you."

A warrior chuckled in agreement. "Miss Ariella is so attentive."

Another even said, "If the Luna wished to entrust the ceremony offering to Miss Ariella, it would certainly be in safe hands."

I looked at the man. He immediately realized he'd overstepped and dropped his head.

"No offense intended, Luna."

But Ariella spoke up softly beside me. "Don't blame him. It's my fault. I only wanted to help, so you wouldn't have to work so hard."

I suppressed the nausea churning in my stomach. "Ariella, I will personally oversee the offering."

A flash of resentment crossed her eyes, quickly replaced by that fragile look. "I just... worry you're exhausting yourself."

"I won't be giving up my position." My voice was soft.

The air went still for a moment.

Ariella's face crumpled. "You've misunderstood me..."

Before I could respond, Mother walked over.

Her hand landed on Ariella's shoulder—an instinctive, practiced motion—drawing her close before she even looked at me. Her tone remained gentle.

"Serena, don't be like this."

"Ariella only wanted to help. Don't speak so harshly..." She paused, then added, "You are Silvermoon blood. You should show more grace."

I watched her shield Ariella and nearly laughed at the absurdity.

So grace was something only demanded of me.

While Ariella needed only to stand there, show a hint of hurt, and receive all their bias and comfort.

I curved my lips slowly, my voice perfectly calm.

"Of course. I'll be more mindful."