The air inside the pack house was thick with excitement and tension. Rory could feel it pressing against her chest as she stood at the top of the staircase, still trying to process Maverick's arrival. The knowing smile on his face played in her mind. Was it fate that had brought him back? Or something else entirely?
She took a step forward, intending to go down and greet him, but a voice stopped her.
"Miss Rory."
She turned to see her personal maid, Esther, hurrying toward her, bowing slightly before speaking again. "You need to get ready. The Council has ordered that all preparations must be completed before sundown."
Rory paused, glancing back at the entrance where Maverick was surrounded by warriors and elders, shaking hands and exchanging greetings. A part of her wanted to push past everyone and see him, hug him, welcome him. Question him, why had he taken so long? Did he remember his promise? Did he still want her? Was he an Alpha?
But duty came first.
She gave one last look before following Esther through the halls.
The dressing chamber was decorated in the golden glow of the setting sun, casting long shadows across the polished floors. The room smelled of lavender and rose oil, scents meant to calm her, but her nerves were far from settled.
Esther and the other maids worked in silence, carefully dressing her in an elegant white gown, the traditional attire for an alpha's coming-of-age ceremony. The fabric clung to her shoulders before flowing gracefully to the floor, a symbol of purity and strength. Silver embroidery traced the edges of the sleeves, marking her lineage as the rightful heir of the Darkmoon Pack.
Rory sat before a big mirror as Esther adjusted the final touches. She stared at her reflection, but the girl looking back at her felt unfamiliar. Different.
Tonight, everything changes.
Her fingers traced the silver bracelet on her wrist, a gift from her late mother before she passed. It was meant to bring protection, but tonight, Rory wasn't sure even the strongest magic could shield her from what lay ahead.
Her dream echoed in her mind.
"The trials ahead will break you."
What trials?
Her heartbeat quickened. Was this warning meant for tonight?
A knock at the door made her jump slightly.
"The Elders are ready for you," a deep voice announced.
Esther squeezed her hands gently. "It's time, my lady."
With one last breath, Rory rose to her feet.
The grand hall of the Darkmoon Pack was filled with wolves from all across the region. The torchlights cast a golden hue over the ancient stone walls, and the air buzzed with anticipation.
Pack elders, warriors, Alphas, Omegas, Betas and allies stood in organized rows, their gazes fixated on the raised platform at the center of the room, where Rory would soon stand.
At the far end of the hall, under the moonlit archway, stood Maverick. His presence was impossible to ignore. He was watching her with an intensity that made her stomach twist. Rory was in an all white.
A warm sensation spread through her chest, though she quickly forced herself to remain composed. There was some kind of emotional connection.
The elders, dressed in ceremonial robes, stood in a half-circle around her. One of the elder, stepped forward with a proud expression. "Tonight, we welcome the dawn of a new leader, the heir to the Darkmoon Pack. Under the witness of the Moon Goddess, she will undergo her first shift, marking her transition into full Alpha status."
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Rory's hands trembled slightly at her sides. She wasn't sure if it was from excitement or fear. She felt off in a way.
From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Lachlan standing near the back. His usual flirtatious smirk was nowhere to be seen. He wore a sensation of confidence and determination, encouraging her from where she was. His jaw was clenched, his gaze darting between her and Maverick.
Something wasn't right.
Lachlan turned to one of his trusted pack members, whispering something urgently. Then, with a determined expression, he slipped into the shadows.
Where had he gone to?
But before she could dwell on it, the elder lifted his hands, silencing the room.
"It is time."
The hall doors swung open, revealing the open field behind the estate. The full moon loomed high in the sky, its glow was almost blinding.
Rory felt the energy shift around her. A deep, ancient power hummed through the air, wrapping around her like an unseen force.
She stepped forward, her heart pounding against her ribs.
This was it. Her first shift. It was her time.
Her body trembled as the energy built inside her. Every part of her was opening with a force she could barely contain.
The moment the moonlight touched her skin, she gasped.
Her bones began to ache. Her vision blurred. Heat spread through her limbs as her body prepared to morph.
A low growl rumbled in her chest. Just then, she felt a sharp pain.
A searing and an unbearable pain.
Her knees knocked together. Her vision darkened. A sharp ringing filled her ears, like an echo.
The crowd's cheers turned into horrified gasps, people murmuring.
Maverick stepped forward, his face shifting from anticipation to alarm. "Rory?"
Lachlan, having returned from the shadows, froze as he saw her collapse.
"Something's wrong!" the elder shouted.
Rory clutched her chest with both hands, her fingers digging into the fabric of her gown as if trying to steady the unbearable pain grpwing through her. Her breath came in broken gasps, each one more strained than the last. The voices around her blurred into a distant hum, growing fainter with every passing second, as if the world itself was slipping away from her grasp.
The world spun around her.
Her head felt too heavy.
And then, nothing. A black out.
The last thing she saw before darkness claimed her was the full moon, glowing so bright above.
And then, silence.