Chapter 1
Freya's POV
Crystal glasses clinked as the elite of Moon Bay's Grey Moon Pack gathered in the Howling Hall. Tonight was momentous—the Riley and Grey families were officially announcing the impending engagement of Freya Riley to Alpha Thorne Grey. The grand ballroom glittered with chandeliers, the pack's highest-ranking Betas dressed in their finest attire.
I stood near my father, trying to keep my hands from trembling as I accepted congratulations from wolves who had sneered at me behind my back for years. Across the room, Thorne stood tall and imposing in a perfectly tailored black suit, speaking with council members, his presence commanding even from a distance.
My wolf purred with satisfaction. "Finally. After five years, he's ours."
Five years. That's how long I had followed Thorne Grey with my heart on my sleeve, the subject of whispers and sidelong glances from Moon Bay's upper echelons. "The Riley girl doesn't know when to give up," they'd said, just loudly enough for me to hear. "An Alpha like Thorne Grey has more practical considerations than her persistence."
My family, the Rileys, were not just any werewolves. We were one of the founding families of Moon Bay, a powerful Alpha lineage with territories and business interests that rivaled even the Greys. My father headed Riley Enterprises, controlling much of the region's real estate and financial sectors. My mother, a Beta female in her own right, managed our family's extensive political connections across multiple packs. My older brother, Ethan, was being groomed to eventually take over the family empire, his business acumen already legendary among the younger wolves.
We lived in the most exclusive mansion in Moon Light Woods, our ancestral home for generations. As the treasured daughter of the Riley clan, I'd been given everything—the finest education, personal training from elite warriors, and introductions to the most prestigious circles. My parents doted on me, and Ethan had always been my fiercest protector.
Yet none of that family power seemed to matter when I set my sights on Thorne Grey at just sixteen years old.
"It's not about capability, darling," my father had explained after another pack gathering where Thorne had barely acknowledged me. "The Greys have their traditions. Alphas like Thorne make strategic alliances, not love matches."
But I was stubborn. I'd known Thorne since childhood, had witnessed moments when the mask of Alpha perfection slipped to reveal something more—something I believed I could reach if I just persisted long enough.
The biggest obstacle wasn't just pack politics. It was Kaelin Brooks.
Kaelin had been Thorne's expected match since they were cubs. The Brooks family had been loyal supporters of the Greys for generations, and everyone assumed the two would eventually formalize their connection. Kaelin certainly acted as though it was inevitable, taking every opportunity to remind me of reality.
"He tolerates your attention because your family's backing is useful," she'd told me at a full moon celebration three years ago, her perfectly manicured hand resting possessively on Thorne's empty chair. "But political expediency isn't love, Freya."
What made fighting against Kaelin so difficult was her condition—the rare moon phase syndrome that caused her emotional stability to fluctuate with the lunar cycle. Near the full moon, she became erratic, sometimes even dangerous. Only Thorne seemed able to calm her during these episodes. His care for her during these times made him seem noble, dedicated.
But I persisted, finding ways to demonstrate my value beyond my family name. I organized community projects, excelled in my role managing pack historical records, and made myself visible at every pack function. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, Thorne began to notice.
A conversation that lasted longer than courtesy required. A request for my opinion on pack matters. Small victories that fed my hope.
Then came the night that changed everything—the winter solstice celebration right here in this very hall. Thorne found me alone on the balcony, away from the festivities.
"You're missing the celebrations," he said, his voice closer than I'd expected. I turned to find him watching me with an intensity that made my wolf stir.
"Sometimes it's nice to step back and observe," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
He moved beside me, looking out over the moonlit forest that surrounded Moon Bay. "Your family's support has been valuable to the pack," he said carefully. "The council expects me to announce my mate choice soon."
My heart hammered in my chest. "And?"
"The alliance between our families would strengthen both our positions against the Silverstone Pack's encroachment," he continued, his tone measured and practical. "It's something worth considering."
That night marked the beginning of what I believed was my triumph. After five years of persistence, my dedication had finally paid off. Of course, I knew the political advantages of our union played a role—I wasn't naive. But in my heart, I believed it was my years of unwavering devotion that had finally broken through his practical exterior.
My parents were thrilled, seeing the union as the perfect consolidation of power. My brother Ethan had clapped Thorne on the shoulder and warned him, half-jokingly, to treat his little sister well. The entire Riley clan rallied behind the match, seeing it as the culmination of generations of careful alliance-building.
And now, here we stood, about to formalize our union.
Thorne's eyes met mine across the room, and he gave me a small nod, his expression unreadable. In just a few minutes, he would formally announce our engagement to the pack, and the mating ceremony would be scheduled for the next full moon.
"Excuse me, Freya."
I turned to find Kaelin Brooks standing beside me, looking stunning in a silver gown that highlighted her pale beauty. Her smile seemed genuine, though her eyes remained cold.
"Kaelin," I said, cautious but polite. Despite our history, I wanted peace. After all, I had won.
"I wanted to congratulate you," she said, her voice soft and melodious. "Thorne has made his choice, and I respect that. In fact, I'd like to give you something—a traditional gift from the Brooks family to the future Alpha's mate."
I blinked in surprise. This was unexpected. Kaelin had been notably absent from pack functions since Thorne and I had become public with our relationship. Rumors suggested her moon phase syndrome had worsened, requiring her to rest frequently.
"That's... very kind of you," I said, uncertain.
"I've left it in the garden pavilion behind the Howling Hall," she continued. "It's a family heirloom, quite valuable. I'd prefer to give it to you privately, away from all these prying eyes." She gestured at the crowded room. "Could you meet me there in twenty minutes? I know it's your special night, but it would mean a lot to me to do this properly."
Something in her tone made me hesitate, but I pushed the feeling aside. This was her way of accepting defeat gracefully, of showing the pack she held no ill will. It would be petty to refuse.