Chapter 2
Aurora
"According to ancestral law, we will now proceed with the marking ceremony." Chief Elder Aldric's voice echoed through the great hall.
Moonlight streamed through stained glass windows onto the sacred Moon Goddess altar, pack members formed a semicircle, and all eyes were focused on Zane and me. I could feel the tension and doubt in the air, but I didn't care.
I took a deep breath and walked toward Zane. He stood there quietly, his black eyes deep as the night sky, but once again I saw that flash of gold—mysterious and powerful.
"Are you ready?" I asked him softly.
"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time." His answer sent a shock through me.
Waiting for a long time? What did he mean by that?
There was no time to think about it. Following traditional ceremony, I slowly approached his neck. Zane tilted his head slightly, exposing the most vulnerable part of his throat—the most sacred marking spot for werewolves.
The moment my canines gently pierced the skin of his neck, an unprecedented electric sensation shot through me!
Dear Goddess! What was this feeling?!
An intense mind-link surged through me like a tidal wave, a thousand times stronger than the bond I'd shared with Kieran in my past life! This sensation reached deep into my soul, as if two people were truly becoming one. I felt Zane's inner tenderness, his determination, and an ancient power I couldn't comprehend.
This was what a true fated mate felt like! In my past life, I had missed such an existence!
Zane's hand gently caressed my cheek, so tender I nearly melted: "My Queen, you finally chose me."
Queen? Not Princess, but Queen?
The watching pack members began to whisper:
"That marking reaction is way too intense..."
"Look at Aurora's expression, she seems shocked?"
"But Zane's just an Omega warrior..."
I slowly pulled back, looking at this mysterious male before me, my confusion deepening. But now wasn't the time to investigate these things—I had more important matters to address.
I took Zane's hand and turned to face the Council of Elders on their raised platform.
"Honored Elders, pack members, I have something important to announce."
The hall instantly fell silent.
I took a deep breath, my voice clear and strong: "I'm going to break a thousand years of tradition! I, Aurora Reed, will be Alpha myself, with Zane as my King Consort!"
BOOM—
The entire hall erupted!
"What? A female Alpha?"
"That's impossible!"
"It goes against ancestral law!"
Chief Elder Aldric slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, his face livid: "Preposterous! Females cannot be Alpha—this violates thousand-year-old traditions! Aurora, have you lost your mind?"
"I haven't lost my mind. I'm perfectly clear-headed." I held my head high. "Why can't a female be Alpha? I'm the sole bloodline heir of the former Alpha—the power rightfully belongs to me!"
"Nonsense!" The Second Elder also stood up. "Females are naturally weak—how could one lead a pack? Your duty is to support your mate, not to..."
"Enough!" I suddenly released my Alpha aura. "Who says females are weak? Do I really need to prove my strength to you?"
Just then, Kieran suddenly stepped forward, his expression dark: "Aurora, what you're doing will destroy the Silver Moon Pack's honor! A female Alpha will make us the laughingstock of other packs!"
"Kieran, you have no right to criticize my decisions!" I looked at him coldly. "You should worry about yourself instead—after all, you've already lost your inheritance rights."
Kieran's face grew even uglier. He looked around and shouted provocatively: "Pack members, are you willing to watch our traditions be trampled? Are you willing to see the Silver Moon Pack's dignity destroyed?"
Some conservative pack members began whispering among themselves, making the atmosphere even tenser.
At that moment, all five elders stood simultaneously, their combined Alpha pressure bearing down on me like mountains.
"Aurora, retract your mad words immediately!" the Chief Elder roared. "Otherwise we will strip you of your inheritance rights for violating ancestral law!"
Facing the combined pressure of five elders, an ordinary Alpha would have already fallen to their knees. But I wasn't an ordinary Alpha.
The pain of my past life, the fury of my rebirth, my determination for the future—all these emotions converged into powerful strength at this moment!
I suddenly released my true aura—
CRASH!
A terrifying Alpha pressure swept through the entire hall like a tsunami! Not only did it completely neutralize the five elders' pressure, it actually suppressed them in return!
Everyone stared in shock, including the Council of Elders!
"This... this is impossible!" The Chief Elder's face went pale. "How can your power be this strong?"
I laughed coldly: "Now, does anyone else dare question my qualifications?"
Just as everyone was stunned by my strength, a voice suddenly rang out:
"I, Dante, pledge my lifelong loyalty to Aurora!"
Everyone turned to see Dante kneeling on one knee, his expression resolute.
Immediately after, Marcus also knelt: "We need a true reformer! True strength knows no gender!"
This unexpected support warmed my heart, but made Kieran and Sera's expressions even uglier.
Zane squeezed my hand tightly and said in a low voice: "I support any decision you make, my Queen."
I felt the warmth and strength from his palm, making my resolve even firmer.
The Council of Elders exchanged glances. They clearly hadn't expected my strength to be so formidable, nor had they anticipated public support for me.
After a long silence, the Chief Elder finally spoke: "Since you insist on challenging tradition... then according to ancient law, you must pass the traditional trial to inherit the Alpha position."
"What trial?" I asked.
"The Moonlight Trial." A cunning gleam flashed in the Chief Elder's eyes. "In seven moons, when the lunar eye becomes full, you must prove your worth through the sacred dance before Luna herself. Only by conquering the Moonlight Trial will the pack acknowledge your claim as Alpha."
The Moonlight Trial? I searched my memory for this term—it was an extremely dangerous ritual.
But I couldn't back down.
"I accept," I said with my head held high.
"Very well." The Chief Elder nodded. "But until the trial, you remain a Princess, not an Alpha."
As the Council of Elders departed and the pack members gradually dispersed, I could feel various gazes upon me—shock, admiration, doubt, fear...
When the hall grew quiet, I noticed Sera's gaze from the crowd. She stood in the shadows, her eyes gleaming with malice, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, clearly plotting something.
And though Kieran had apparently left, I could feel his furious stare. They wouldn't let this go easily.
I turned to Zane and found that golden gleam in his eyes was even more pronounced now, almost spilling over.
"Zane, what exactly are you..."
"Some things I'll tell you when the time is right." He gently caressed my cheek. "But now, you need to prepare for the trial in seven days. The Moonlight Trial isn't an ordinary ritual."
Looking at his mysterious expression, I knew this male still harbored enormous secrets.