Torn Between Alphas

and more importantly, the night of her first shift. She paced back

her fingers through her long dark hair. "Every

r Silver Ridge territory. The moon seemed different tonight-tinged with r

her door ma

came through the door. Alpha Caius Vale, leader o

ceremonial dress that all wolves wore for their first sh

ther waiting, his gray eyes-the sa

ant to be," he said, placing his hands on h

of Elias Storm, the young Alpha who would one day replace her father, was the greatest honor.

sked, following her fa

ne is waiting in t

touch the stars. As Serena and her father approached, she saw hundreds of wolves gathered in concentric ri

the firelight. When he saw Serena, his blue eyes lit up, and he smiled-a smile that normally made

e center of the circle. She held her head high, trying to

nnounced, his voice carrying across the hushed crowd. "Future Luna

Serena's hand in his. His touch

," he said, but his voice sou

like waves. Serena closed her eyes, feeling the energy building i

" her fathe

against the ancient rock. The crimson moon now hung di

" Elias called to h

rching for the wolf she knew was there. She had felt her prese

he gasped, doubling over as her bones began to crack and reshape. This wasn't

her voice distorting as h

faltered. Someone g

ng to her?" a v

lver-white paws of her family line, but into massive black claws, her

ered, horror etching h

g as Serena's human form gave way to the wolf within. But as the

the altar. Serena's fur was darker than midnight, seeming to absorb the

ed, and the words spread lik

se has r

a mon

otect th

as, expecting him to defend her, to calm the pack. Instead, s

to say, but it came

shaking. "You're not what we tho

physical agony of her transformation. She turned to

of disgust and betrayal. "How could this happ

whispered nearby. "Born u

ower rushed through her body. The torches around the clearing suddenly flared higher, then went out com

en in the darkness, Serena could see clearly-see the fear an

uted. "Before she brings

now!" anothe

at her to run. This couldn't be happening. This was

ced, his voice now cold and formal, "by the power vested in me as future Alpha

s. Rejected. Cast out. By the man who w

ry," Elias continued. "After that, you wi

But beneath those emotions, something else stirred-s

t, and she saw Elias flinc

crashed through the circle of terrified wolves. Her powerful legs carri

voice, cracked with emotion: "Find

e was cursed, hunted, and completely alone. But something told her this was just the beginning