## CHAPTER 13: THE ARRIVAL OF THE CHOSEN LUNA
**Silver's POV**
The sleek black sedan glided through the morning mist, the tires humming against the pavement. I leaned my head against the cool leather headrest, my heart fluttering like a trapped bird. Finally. I was on my way to my new home. I was going to be the Luna of the Shadow Fang Pack—the most formidable territory in the region.
They needed me. Their Alpha hadn't found his fated mate, and I had won the Luna Competition with a perfect score in etiquette, strategy, and lineage. I was the most desired chosen mate in the country, but for me, this wasn't just about politics. It was about a debt of the heart.
I closed my eyes, a memory from twelve years ago resurfacing with the clarity of a dream. I was eight years old, lost and terrified in the brush near the border, when a young boy with intense, protective eyes had found me. He had stood between me and a rogue, his small frame radiating a strength that had anchored me. Caleb. He probably didn't remember the shivering girl he'd saved, but I had spent every day since then becoming a woman worthy of standing beside him. The Moon Goddess was truly on my side.
Suddenly, the car jolted to a stop. I frowned, looking out the front windshield to see a heavy iron gate and two guards blocking our path. My driver was gesturing animatedly, but the guards remained unmoved.
I sighed, pressing the button to whine down my window. The crisp morning air rushed in, smelling of pine and damp earth. I put on my best "Luna smile"—the one that was both warm and commanding.
"Hi, good morning, loves," I said, my voice like honey. "How was your night?"
The guards blinked, taken aback by the sudden radiance in the backseat. They looked at each other before one stepped closer, dipping his head slightly. "Good morning, ma'am. It was quiet, thank you."
"Thanks to the Goddess," I replied, my smile never wavering. "So, I'm a little confused as to why we're being delayed out here. Surely you've been briefed on my arrival?"
The guard looked apologetic. "We weren't told we would be getting visitors today, much less by dawn. I'm sorry, ma, but we can't let any unauthorized vehicles through."
I felt the corners of my mouth twitch. Unauthorized? I felt a flash of heat behind my eyes, but I kept my posture elegant. "I am Silver Rosalie Hade. I am your Alpha's future mate."
The smile was still there, though I'm sure it looked a bit more like a grimace through my gritted teeth.
"Let me inquire," the guard said. His eyes glazed over as he accessed the mind-link. I waited, tapping my manicured nails against the door handle. Three minutes passed—three minutes of me sitting at the gates like a common solicitor. Finally, his eyes cleared and he stepped back. "Sorry for the delay, Luna. You may pass."
"No problem at all," I chirped, winding the window back up as the car started moving.
I looked out at the scenery as we passed through the residential sectors. My wolf vision pierced through the lingering shadows of the dawn. Everything was immaculate. The houses were sturdy and well-kept, the lawns manicured, and vibrant flowerbeds lined the streets. The air here didn't just smell like nature; as we approached the pack house, it began to smell like blooming roses and expensive spice. It was a pack of wealth and order. It was perfect for me.
My excitement peaked as the car pulled up the long driveway to the main pack house—a sprawling stone castle that housed the elite. I expected an entourage. I expected Caleb.
Instead, the porch was empty.
I sat in the back of the car for a moment, my blood beginning to simmer. I was the daughter of Alpha Silas. I was the winner of the competition. Where was my welcome?
The front door of the castle creaked open, and a girl stepped out, rubbing her eyes and yawning. She was dressed in a silk nightgown and a loose robe, her hair a bit messy.
I stepped out of the car, smoothing my dress. "Good morning?"
The girl stopped, blinking at me. "Oh! You're actually here. I'm Sophie, Caleb's sister." She stepped down the stairs, looking a bit sheepish. "Sorry for the lack of... everyone. We didn't think you'd actually arrive by dawn. Everyone is still asleep."
I gritted my teeth, but I kept my voice soft and airy. "It's quite alright, dear. I suppose I was just eager to see my new home. But... what about Caleb? And the rest of the inner circle?"
Sophie chuckled, a sleepy, light sound. "Caleb is a night owl; he's probably dead to the world right now. Come, I'll show you to your room."
I followed her through the grand foyer, my eyes taking in the vaulted ceilings and silver tapestries. But as we walked up the stairs, she led me away from the Alpha's wing.
"Wait," I said, stopping in the hallway. "Why is my room all the way across from the Alpha's suite?"
"Tradition," Sophie said with a shrug. "The Alpha and his chosen Luna don't share a wing until after the wedding ceremony is finalized. It's an old pack rule. Caleb is a stickler for the rules lately."
I nodded slowly, though frustration was gnawing at my gut. "I see. Very proper."
Sophie signaled to a group of waiting maids. "These will be your personal attendants. I'm going back to bed for an hour. Breakfast is at eight."
By the time I made my way down to the dining hall, I had showered and dressed in a lilac gown that made my eyes pop. I walked into the room to find a lavish spread—poached eggs, fresh fruit, smoked meats, and pastries.
Three men were already seated. They stood as I entered, and my breath caught for a split second. Good Goddess, this pack had incredible genes. They were all tall, muscular, and—as my inner wolf noted—completely edible.
"I am Lucien, the Beta," the one with the steady, piercing gaze said.
"Marcus, Delta," the one with the brooding look added.
"Daniel, Gamma," the last one said with a polite nod.
I greeted them with a practiced curtsy, taking my seat. "It is a pleasure to meet the men who keep this pack so secure. But... where is Caleb?"
The three of them shared a look—a quick, jagged exchange that made my skin prickle. Lucien cleared his throat. "The Alpha is... occupied with border matters this morning. Very busy."
Sophie slipped into the room then, taking a seat. "He's buried in work, Silver. You know how he is."
We engaged in small talk, but I could feel the tension in the air. It was a vibration, a frequency of secrets that made the hair on my neck stand up. They were hiding something. Their answers were too short, their eyes shifting too often toward the door.
After breakfast, the men made quick excuses to leave, and Sophie vanished back to the training grounds. I retreated to my room, my maids following close behind.
I stopped in the center of the suite, the door clicking shut. I turned to the two young maids, who were looking at the floor. "Alright," I said, my voice dropping the honeyed sweetness. "What is really going on in this house?"
The maids hesitated, their eyes wide.
I reached up, unhooking my diamond-and-pearl earrings. I took one in each hand and stepped forward, pressing a jewel into each of their palms. I smiled—a real, sharp smile. "I'm going to be your Luna soon. It would be wise to be on my side."
The girl on the left cracked first. "It's the prisoner, ma'am. Down in the high-security wing."
My heart skipped. "A prisoner? Why would a prisoner make everyone so... twitchy?"
"They say she's the Alpha's mate," the other whispered, her voice trembling. "A fated one."
The world seemed to tilt. My grip on my jewelry box tightened until the wood groaned. *A fated mate?* That was impossible. Caleb was mine. I was the chosen one.
"The Alpha's mate?" I asked, my voice dangerously low. "In a cell?"
"Yes, ma'am. They say she's a Thornblood."
My eyes narrowed. A Thornblood? The cursed pack that everyone hated? This was becoming more than an inconvenience; it was an insult. "Where is this cell?"
They gave me the directions, and I dismissed them with a flick of my wrist.
I didn't run; I walked. I maintained my composure as I descended into the cold, damp depths of the castle. The air changed, becoming heavy with the scent of old stone and something else... something primal.
I reached the cell, the guard at the door bowing and stepping aside the moment he saw my Hade pack crest. I walked to the bars and stopped. This ..this was no cell. This looked like a vacation home. I looked at the person by the other side of the wall looking at a food tray on the floor. I expected a hag. I expected a feral, dirty creature.
Instead, I saw a girl. She was pale, her dark hair matted, but even in the dim light, she was undeniably beautiful. She had a raw, earthy magnetism that made my own refined beauty feel like a cheap imitation. She looked up, her eyes burning with a fire that I had never seen in anyone.
The rage in my chest turned into something cold and lethal. This girl wasn't just a prisoner. She was a threat. She was the one obstacle standing between me and the life I had spent twelve years building.
I looked at her, my lip curling into a delicate, hateful smile.
"So..." I said, my voice a smooth, cultured purr. "You're the famous female they won't shut up about? The Thornblood 'problem' my husband-to-be is so obsessed with."
I took a step closer, my smile not reaching my eyes.
"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Silver hade."