Chapter 1

Lyra's POV

I'm staring at five job offers spread across my desk when Marcus walks in with another envelope. Marcus has been my assistant for two years now, steady, reliable, probably the only person who can keep up with my chaotic schedule. Silver Moon pack, Crimson Ridge pack, even the Northern Alliance, they all want me, because I was almost the earliest tactician to gain fame in history.

"Lyra, Silver Moon pack sent another invitation," Marcus says, waving the letter. "The pay is insane this time."

I don't even bother opening it. "Thanks, but I'm gonna be Luna here soon. This is home."

Marcus grins. "Right! Everyone's so pumped about next week. Alpha Kai's one lucky guy."

Lucky. God, that makes my chest warm up. My parents died in that car accident when I was three, they worked for Kai's parents as deltas. I barely remember them except through old photos and stories Aunt Marie used to tell me. She took me in after that, loved me like I was hers, until cancer got her too right before I turned eighteen.

That's when Kai became everything to me. Not just my best friend since forever, but literally the only family I had left. When I turned eighteen and was freaking out about being completely alone, he claimed me at my coming-of-age ceremony. His mark went right into my neck and I felt safe.

"Wait for me," he'd said. "When I'm Alpha at twenty-three, we'll do this right. Real marking ceremony. You'll be my Luna and I'll never let anything hurt you."

I was so crazy about him I would've said yes to anything.

Four years felt like forever back then. Now here we are - he's about to turn twenty-three next week, officially taking over from his dad, and I'll be right there with him as Luna.

"The border reports are ready," Marcus says, cutting into my thoughts.

I nod and dive into the tactical stuff that made me known in like five different packs. As a delta, gives me good instincts for strategy, but I worked my ass off to become more than that. Three big wins last year, got our trade deals up thirty percent, fixed that territory problem with our neighbors without anyone getting hurt. Packs everywhere want to hire me now, but I've never wanted to work anywhere except here, for Kai's pack. Our pack.

By noon I'm finally free to focus on what really matters, our ceremony.

The main hall is chaos. Good chaos though. Sarah, one of our younger omegas, is everywhere with the other pack members, hanging silk banners and arranging flowers. I'm checking every single detail because this has to be perfect.

"Luna," Sarah calls out, holding up flowers. "White roses with lavender?"

I look at the arrangement, picturing it at the altar. "Perfect. Just like me and Kai."

It's true. We grew up together after my parents died, went through all the shit life threw at us, and now we're about to build something amazing together.

I spend the next few hours on seating charts, menu stuff, guest lists. Four neighboring packs are coming, including some who've been trying to steal me for strategy jobs. It's gonna be huge.

By late afternoon my feet are killing me, but everything's coming together. I step out on the balcony to get some air and check out how things look from up here.

The view should make me happy, but instead I feel... empty. Weird. Like something's missing that I can't name.

When did Kai and I talk last? The thought just pops up and I hate it. We used to talk about everything, when we were kids dealing with all the death, when I was figuring out my strategy stuff, when he was learning Alpha shit from his dad. Our mate-bond used to be there all the time, I could feel when he was stressed or happy or whatever. Now it's like he's blocking me out. Sometimes I try to link him through the bond and get nothing.

Maybe it's just the Alpha pressure. His dad's stepping down soon, which means way more responsibility, way more meetings, way more stress. I remember feeling totally overwhelmed when packs started wanting to hire me, maybe he just needs space to deal.

"It's just Alpha stress," I say out loud, repeating what Kai told me last week. "Running a pack is hard. He needs space."

But it bothers me. Why shut me out? Why are his explanations always so short?

"Lyra!" Marcus yells from downstairs. "Alpha Kai and Beta Jeffrey just got back!"

My mood instantly lifts. Perfect. I can show him the flowers, get his opinion on ceremony stuff. Maybe we can actually spend some time together for once.

I practically run through the halls, my excitement building with each step. His scent gets stronger as I get closer to his office. Through our bond, I can feel him.

Maybe we can actually connect today. Maybe whatever's been bothering him, we can work through it together.

When I reach his office, I notice the door is slightly ajar, unusual for Kai, who's usually careful about privacy during pack business. I'm about to knock when Jeffrey's voice stops me cold.

"You really decided to announce Sera during the mating ceremony? This is gonna humiliate Lyra."

What?

Sera? Who the hell is Sera? I've never heard that name before. Not once. And I know everyone in this pack, everyone in the neighboring packs too.

My heart pounds as I try to process Jeffrey's words. Announce her during our ceremony? Why would that humiliate me? The questions circle in my head. Who is this woman? What does she have to do with my marking ceremony? Why would announcing her existence somehow hurt me?