In the Lunar Shadow pack, the children ran through that vast and magical forest full of vegetation, where the tall and majestic trees gave them a comforting sense of security. The houses, modern and spacious, stood in the middle of the lush forest, adding a charming touch to the place, almost magical to the eye.

Lyra, a little girl with brown eyes and straight, light brown hair, ran with her notebook towards the pack's school. Emotion was reflected on her face as she crossed the entrance and the teacher, a wise and respected old woman, greeted her with a warm smile.

"Little one, stop running. You could fall," the old woman said to her in a kind tone.

Lyra is only surprised and nods her head. She loved to learn, and school was her refuge, the place where she could distract herself from her cold and lonely home. Her father, the alpha of the pack, strove to give her everything she needed, but his responsibilities kept him always busy. There were days, even weeks, when Lyra barely saw him. And her mother… her mother had died giving birth to her, a fact that some considered a dark omen. Many in the pack kept their distance from the girl, as if carrying the death of her mother at birth made her a little cursed.

When Lyra sat down in her place, the old woman addressed all the children.

"Well, my little wolves, today we will talk about the packs of our kingdom. As you know, there are five great packs, and each of them is special. Among the three main ones is the Dark Phoenix pack. They are known for their perseverance and courage, always reborn stronger on the battlefield. Their alpha, Richard Black, is a wise and determined leader. Soon, he will give his place to his son, Dorian, as is tradition among the alphas."

Lyra, with curiosity sparkling in her eyes, raised her hand.

"Tell me, Lyra," said the old woman with a patient smile.

"What happens if an alpha doesn't have a male son to inherit the leadership?" Lyra asked, with genuine curiosity.

The old woman sighed, appreciating the intelligence behind the little girl's questions.

"In exceptional cases, the Moon Goddess chooses one of the wolves to give them the power of an alpha, but this is very uncommon. The last time the Moon Goddess named an alpha was two thousand years ago."

Lyra raised her hand again, eager to resolve all her doubts.

"So, in our pack, will the Moon Goddess also choose the next alpha if my dad doesn't have another son?" she asked.

"That remains to be seen, little one," replied the old woman with an indulgent smile. "Your father is young and could have a male son someday."

"My dad is already old," Lyra insisted. "I am already twelve years old, and he still hasn't had another son."

Lyra's words made some children whisper. The absence of another son of the alpha was a delicate issue in the pack. Some trusted that the Moon Goddess would provide them with a strong leader when necessary, while others harbored fears and doubts. But before the conversation took a dark turn, another girl, named Jane, intervened.

"If your father doesn't have more children, it will be your fault, Lyra. You killed your mother when you were born."

Lyra turned, offended and furious.

"That's not true!" she shouted, defending herself.

Jane let out a mocking laugh.

"Of course it is. My mom always says that your birth was a dark omen, that you will bring misfortune to our pack."

The old woman intervened before the situation got out of control.

"Silence!" she said, raising her voice. "Let's continue with the lesson."

The girls exchanged glaring looks before sitting down. The old woman continued, trying to restore peace to the class.

"The second great pack is ours, Lunar Shadow. We stand out for our connection with the Moon Goddess, who protects us and grants us stealth in the darkness of the night. Every year, our neighbors come to our lunar pond to offer offerings to receive the gifts of the Goddess. When you, little pups, reach the age of sixteen, you will meet your wolves and be able to offer an offering to obtain the gift of the Goddess."

Lyra, restless with curiosity, raised her hand again.

"And what about the other young people who come to the ritual? Do they receive any power?" she asked.

The old woman annoyed, but at the same time pleased by Lyra's interest.

"It all depends on the pack they belong to. Each has its own special gifts and abilities. I will finish explaining the packs and then I will talk about the ritual."

The little one assenting, and the old woman continued.

"The third pack is Iron Fangs, known for their indomitable strength and their mastery in the art of healing. They are experts in medicinal plants and in healing wounds, a unique gift that adds to their great strength."

The old woman paused to see if everyone was paying attention before continuing.

"Fourth, we have the Silver Claw pack. They are wise and noble, recognized throughout the kingdom for their kindness. If you are ever far from home and need help, you can go to them, they will always lend you a hand."

Before the old woman could continue, Jane, who seemed to enjoy bothering Lyra, spoke again.

"Lyra should have been born in the Eternal Thunder pack. My mom says they are dark, with bad intentions and violent. Just like her."

The laughter of other children erupted, and Lyra, tired of the insults, pounced on Jane, pulling her hair. Both girls started a fight, pulling each other's hair and throwing scratches until the old woman managed to separate them and punished them to run a hundred laps around the field.

The two started running in circles. Jane seemed to endure the punishment without problem, but Lyra, who had never been particularly strong, began to tire soon. When she reached lap thirty-eight, she tripped and fell to the ground, unconscious.

Worried, the old woman took her to the healer. The woman frowned as she observed Lyra's weak state. No wolf, not even a child, would faint so easily just from a few laps. The healer examined Lyra in silence, while her mind filled with doubts and questions.

There was something about the little one, something dark or perhaps just unusual. But, whatever it was, it was clear that it would not be an easy life for Lyra.

Lyra walked through the territory of the Eternal Thunder pack, where she had been living for three years under a false name and status. She was not just any omega, as everyone believed, but the daughter of one of the most powerful alphas in the kingdom and, since she was fifteen, respected by many for having received her wolf before the usual age, which had made her somewhat capricious and arrogant. The early arrival of her wolf, Kaela, had been seen as a powerful omen, and her pack had gained respect even among its enemies. But despite that prestige, Lyra felt that her destiny was tied to another place… or rather, to another wolf.

Since she was six years old, her life had changed when Lucian, the young alpha of the Eternal Thunder pack, rescued her from an attack by hunters. That night, although she was barely a child, she felt an inexplicable connection with her savior. However, after saving her, Lucian simply vanished, returning to his pack without further ado. Since then, Lyra had not been able to forget that connection, and upon investigating, she learned that he was the alpha of the famous Eternal Thunder pack, one of the most feared for its origins and dark practices. She knew she had to be by his side, he was her mate; however, he had not seen her again nor seemed to know of her existence.

Convinced that destiny would unite them, she argued with her father until she reached an agreement: Lyra could look for Lucian and show him who she was, but she would do so under another identity. If he accepted and respected her without knowing her lineage, her father would approve the union. But if Lucian rejected her, she had to return to Lunar Shadow and forget about him forever.

Three years ago

“You will present yourself in that pack as someone without rank or surname,” her father ordered her, his tone implacable as he tried to hide his concern. “If Lucian loves and respects you for who you really are, you will have my blessing. But if not, you will return home, by my side.”

Lyra nodded, sure that Lucian would feel the same bond as she did.

“I accept.”

Present

Now, in the Eternal Thunder pack, Lyra lived under the name of Sofia de Lavon and, to hide her alpha lineage, she used herbs that concealed her alpha nature. To everyone, she was a simple omega, which meant working as a servant and enduring cruel treatment. Over time, Lyra began to discover the brutality that was experienced in that pack. Unlike Lunar Shadow, here omegas were treated as little more than slaves. She had suffered unjust punishments, contempt, and outrages, all in the name of a test of love that seemed less real every day.

Despite everything, she had found a friend, Nessa Storm, another omega who looked at Lyra with curiosity. Nessa was the only one who noticed details in Lyra that did not match her supposed humble origin: her education, her refined way of speaking, and her delicate gestures. However, Nessa respected her silence.

One day, while they were both cleaning the alpha's mansion, Nessa commented excitedly:

“You know, Lyra… Alpha Lucian will arrive in a few days. They say that the king of the werewolves is now allowing them to return home.”

“So he’s coming back?” Lyra murmured, trying to keep her voice from revealing her emotions, although her heart was beating hard.

Nessa gave her a cautious look.

“Be careful. Alpha Lucian is not like the others. No one here is soft, but he is the least of all.”

Lyra smiled, downplaying it.

“I think you're exaggerating, like you do with Alpha King Caelan.”

Nessa became agitated, casting a nervous glance around her.

“Quiet! Are you looking for your death? No omega should mention the alpha king's name with such familiarity. If anyone hears you, you'll get into big trouble.”

Lyra sighed, remembering that she had never had to restrict herself in that way. Being the daughter of an alpha, she had privileges and freedoms that here, among the omegas, seemed unthinkable. However, she sometimes forgot those customs, and the impulsiveness of her lineage led her to make mistakes. Nessa, trying to ease the tension, changed the subject.

“Come on, we have to clean Selene's room before she returns from the hunt.”

Lyra rolled her eyes at the thought of Selene, a woman who seemed to proclaim herself the "moon" of the pack, as if she were the chosen one to be by Lucian's side. Rumors about her relationship with the alpha had reached Lyra's ears, filling her with growing uncertainty. Had Lucian found another "moon" in his absence? Was there someone else in his life, someone who would occupy the place that, by right of soul, should be hers?

She knew she would soon find out. Lucian's arrival would change everything, for better or for worse.

All the servants of the mansion were gathered in the great hall, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the alpha. Lucian was coming in his car, crossing the imposing gates of the Eternal Thunder pack. He was talking to his beta, Theron, who was sitting next to him in silence, until Lucian broke the silence with a topic that had been on his mind lately.

“I’ve heard that Magnus Blackwood’s daughter still hasn’t found her mate,” Lucian mentioned, a smile appearing on his face.

Theron nodded, observing the landscape through the car window.

“They also say that no one has seen her for a while. She hasn’t even attended meetings with her father,” Theron added in a reflective tone.

Lucian didn't take his eyes off the road.

“Still, we can’t ignore the fact that she’s the only wolf of alpha lineage who awakened her wolf sooner than expected. That’s something that attracts attention.”

Theron let out a slight smile, sharing his alpha’s thoughts.

“Not to mention her father’s power. Whoever marries that young woman will gain a lot: a moon with unusual strength, a father who is the second most powerful alpha in the kingdom, and also the Lunar Shadow pack, the strongest of all,” Theron concluded.

Lucian clearly with arrogance and a spark of coldness illuminating his eyes.

“Who knows, maybe that little girl will end up in my bed one day.”

Theron smiled in turn, reminding him of the current situation.

“Selene is waiting for you, don’t forget.”

“Selene is just my second option, in case I don’t find that little girl before she discovers her mate,” Lucian replied nonchalantly.

Suddenly, the scent of his mate enveloped him, invading his mind and senses as he approached the mansion. Theron, noticing his alpha's tension, supervises him with interest.

“What’s happening?” he asked.

Lucian's eyes flashed with the characteristic blue of alphas of his level.

“My mate is near,” he said, and a dark emotion ignited in his gaze.

Theron smiled, encouraged.

“Magnificent. Now go and meet your mate; this will strengthen the pack.”

Without waiting any longer, Lucian got out of the car, impatient to meet his "moon." Inside the mansion, Raik, his wolf, felt the closeness of his mate and took control. Everyone in the room bowed their heads, terrified by the intensely blue eyes of their alpha. Lucian scanned the place until he found the brown eyes of an omega. His wolf Raik's expression became puzzled.

"A simple omega? Is this what the Moon Goddess has given us?" Raik growled in Lucian's mind.

Lucian frowned. In front of him, Lyra —or rather, Sofia, as she called herself— smiled at him with that same intense connection she had felt since she was a child, sure that he would recognize her too. However, Lucian approached her with an icy fury.

“Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my pack?” he snapped in a harsh voice.

Lyra, assuming that he only needed a confirmation of her identity, replied calmly:

“I’m Sofia, sir… and I suppose I’m also your mate.”

Without saying anything else, Lucian grabbed her arm roughly, and in front of everyone present, dragged her towards the exit of the mansion. Lyra could barely understand what was happening until she felt the blow of his rejection.

“I, Lucian Blackthorn, reject you, Sofia, as my mate.”

The pain was unbearable. Lyra felt her body tremble as her wolf, Kaela, howled in suffering in her mind.

"It hurts, Lyra, it hurts a lot." The pain and humiliation were almost unbearable, but with the little strength she had left, she looked at Lucian with eyes full of hatred and, in a trembling voice, returned the words he so deserved.

“I, Sofia, reject you, Lucian, as my mate.”

Lucian's face turned to disbelief and fury. How dare a simple omega reject him, an alpha? Although he also felt the pain of rejection, he suppressed it. With a cold look, he leaned towards her, whispering in a threatening tone:

“You’re going to pay for your impudence.”

Lyra could barely stand. The guards dragged her through the town, her body forced to move forward as she felt every stone and every cold, mocking gaze of the onlookers crowding around her. The humiliation was a burning fire in her chest, even more painful than the rough hands of the guards, who didn't hesitate to push her and hold her tightly when she stumbled.

Lucian walked a few steps ahead, not looking at her, with an imposing and cruel posture that seemed to enjoy the scene. His sharp voice broke the silence at some point along the way.

"This is the fate of the disobedient," he said loudly, without turning to her. "Those who do not know their place deserve nothing less than exemplary punishment."

Lyra trembled at his words. She knew he was ruthless, but until now she had not really understood the extent of his cruelty. "A simple omega," he had called her, as if her feelings and devotion to him meant nothing. The strength in her legs crumbled, but the guards pulled her up, forcing her to rise with a painful tug on her arms.

Upon arriving at the cell, Lucian gestured to the guards, instructing them to throw her onto the cold, dirty stone floor. Lyra fell to her knees, her breath caught in her throat as the cell door slammed shut behind her. Her eyes began to burn with impotence and rage, but before she could react, Lucian stood in front of the cell, watching her with a cruel smile.

"You know, Sofia?" he said with venom in his voice. "I should be offended by your words, but in reality, I find them amusing. Did you think you could reject me? Me?" He laughed, a laugh full of contempt.

Lyra tried to rise, but her legs faltered. Her lips trembled and rage burst from her heart like an overflowing river.

"You're nothing but a coward," she whispered, barely loud enough.

Lucian's smile vanished in an instant, transforming into an expression of ice and steel. With a gesture to his guards, he pointed to a whip resting on the cell wall. It was soaked in aconite, a poisonous plant for werewolves. Lyra held her breath; she knew the effects of aconite well, and she knew that each blow would be unbearable suffering.

"If you want to open that mouth to say stupid comments, Sofia, you better open it to scream too," Lucian murmured, with a perverse smile on his lips. "Because I assure you, you will."

Lyra tried to pull back, but the guards held her tightly, pressing her against the cell wall. They gave her no space to move or resist. She could barely breathe, fear coiling in her stomach as one of the guards raised the whip. Then, the first blow echoed in the small cell.

The pain was searing, as if liquid fire ran through her back. Lyra stifled a scream, her teeth clenched so tightly that she felt her jaw ache. But the second blow was not long in coming, and then the third. Soon, the skin on her back was torn, and blood stained her shirt, soaking the floor. The agony of each lash left her panting, and with each blow, she felt a part of her soul break and get lost in the darkness of that cell.

Lucian watched the scene without blinking, his dark eyes reflecting the malice of an alpha without mercy.

"An omega must know her place," he sentenced with disdain. "Perhaps this is a good reminder for you, Sofia."

When the torture was over, the guards withdrew, leaving Lyra writhing on the floor, unable to move without feeling excruciating pain. The cell was plunged into a thick silence, as Lyra closed her eyes and tried to calm her breathing. Each breath was a torment, each movement an agony.

The next morning, they gave her neither water nor food. Lyra barely remained conscious, the effects of the aconite still tearing through her system. She was weak and hungry, her strength disappearing little by little. The hours passed without anyone approaching the cell, and when she finally heard a noise, it was Lucian's voice giving instructions to the guards.

"Make sure to whip her daily. I don't want her to suffer less than she deserves," he ordered with cold indifference.

It was then that Lyra knew she couldn't resist much longer. She needed to escape or she would perish in that cell. Just as night fell, a shadow slipped towards her. It was Nessa, her friend from the pack, who had managed to slip past the guards to help her.

"Sofia..." Nessa whispered as she saw the wounds on her back and the severity of her condition. Tears flooded her eyes. "This is inhuman. I can't leave you here."

Nessa helped her up carefully, and each movement made Lyra stifle a cry of pain. Stealthily, they both managed to get out of the cell and cross the thick forest unnoticed, although every step she took was a torment for Lyra. There was barely any strength left in her body to stand, and the aconite fever was beginning to take hold of her.

"We must reach the Silver Claw pack," Nessa whispered as she helped her move forward. "They will help us."

Lyra was weakening, knowing that this was her only hope. As she moved away from the mansion, Lucian discovered the escape and, in a fit of rage, ordered the execution of the guards who had let his "omega" escape. However, Lyra no longer looked back. All that mattered to her was to get away from him and survive to prove that the strength that Lucian had despised still burned in her heart.