Within her own pack, many supported her, especially the younger ones and the females, who saw her as an inspiration. But outside, in other packs, murmurs began to arise. Some called her ungrateful, others insolent. For many, the bond with one's mate was too sacred to be denied.
Kael, in turn, did not let his wounded pride heal with time. He further inflamed the comments. He told distorted versions of the truth, suggesting that Maya had humiliated him in public, that she rejected him out of arrogance, thinking she deserved someone "better."
Maya did not worry about it—at least, she didn't show it. She immersed herself in training with her brother. She spent hours in the clearing, honing her senses, learning to control her inner wolf, Artemis, who proved to be powerful, swift, and protective.
In her free time, she continued to do what she had always loved: she spent hours with the children, picked flowers for the elders, helped with the preparations for the festivities. But inside, she felt isolated. She carried an invisible weight: that of having gone against an ancient and powerful tradition.
"I know I did the right thing," she said one day, sitting with Josh by the riverbank. "But sometimes I wonder if I will ever be fully accepted again…"
"You will be," her brother assured. "Maybe not by everyone. But you will be truly loved, one day. By someone who will see who you are, not who they expected you to be."
In the field, Maya maintained her focus on training. Her body moved with precision, her blows were firm, and her inner wolf, Lira, vibrated with energy, satisfied. But she did not go unnoticed by the envious eyes of Nayra, a wolf from her own pack, who had long felt threatened by Maya's presence.
Nayra approached when the training ended, her voice dripping with venom.
"You think that because you rejected a mate, you are above us all, don't you?"
Maya wiped the sweat from her forehead and stared at her calmly.
"I don't think anything, Nayra. I just live as I believe."
"That's it. You believe so much that you preferred to be alone than to accept what Selene gave you. You know what they say about that, don't you? That wolves like you end up old and bitter, with no one."
Josh stepped forward, ready to defend his sister, but Maya raised her hand, stopping him.
"Better to be alone than next to someone without a soul."
The phrase had an impact. Nayra laughed, but inside she burned with hatred. She walked away, leaving in the air the silent promise that this conflict was not over yet.
That night, the full moon rose with a strange presence. Something felt different in the air. At dawn, the answer arrived.
A howl sounded at the entrance to the territory. A messenger. Covered in dark cloaks and accompanied by royal guards. He brought an announcement sealed with the emblem of the Supreme Pack.
The council gathered in the main clearing. All members were present. The messenger, with an imposing posture, opened the scroll and read aloud:
"By order of the Supreme Alpha, Darian—sovereign of the Northern, Eastern Packs, and the Valley Territories—it is communicated to all packs:
After two years since the passing of Queen Mirca, a new mate will be chosen, worthy of occupying the throne alongside the King.
All wolves between eighteen and twenty-five years of age, who possess pure lineage or merits recognized by the elders, may present themselves for selection.
A cycle of sacred challenges will be initiated, where strength, wisdom, and spirit will be tested. In the end, three finalists will be chosen. Among them, the Moonstone—a sacred relic of the goddess Selene—will reveal the one who carries within her the true essence of leadership, courage, and honor.
The chosen one will not only be Queen—she will be a guide, a warrior, and a guardian alongside the Supreme Alpha."
And then... the square exploded in reactions.
"Did you hear that?" whispered a blonde wolf with dark eyes, quickly pinning up her hair as if she were already preparing for the challenges.
"The Moonstone…? This is serious…" murmured an elder, his eyes wide. "He hasn't chosen since Queen Elira."
Others began to whisper among themselves, with eager and ambitious looks. Mothers squeezed their daughters' arms, encouraging them with poorly disguised pride. Some young women laughed nervously, others held their chins up, already imagining themselves dressed in royal colors.
"Do you think the Supreme Alpha will attend the challenges in person?"
"He's never appeared before… But they say this choice will be different."
Josh whispered near his sister:
"I bet half the wolves will lose sleep over this."
Maya, however, felt a shiver run down her spine. Something within her reacted to those words, as if Artemis had awakened.
Three days passed. The routine seemed unchanged, but everyone was attentive. No one knew when or where the Alpha would appear.
What no one imagined was that he was already among them.
Disguised as one of the warriors sent to the pack, representing the weight of the Coria, the Supreme Alpha Darian observed in silence. He was tall, with black hair and eyes of such a light gray that they seemed to be made of ice. His presence was contained, cold, almost invisible. He dressed simply, used the name "Darrien," and spoke little.
There was something in his eyes that always seemed to calculate, measure, weigh every action and word. He was accustomed to control, command, and obedience. And for that very reason, what he felt when he saw Maya for the first time disconcerted him.
She was alone, lying on the grass near the lake, reading a book and laughing to herself at some passage. The sun touched her golden skin, and the wind tousled her brown hair.
"You seem happy alone," he said, appearing beside her without warning.
She looked up, surprised, but not frightened.
"And you seem to like to observe," she retorted, raising an eyebrow.
Darian smiled. Rare. True.
"I'm trying to understand some things."
"For example?"
"What makes a wolf reject the mate chosen by the goddess."
She closed the book.
"Ah. So you're just another one curious about that."
"Maybe. But unlike the others, I don't think it was foolish. I just want to understand."
Maya looked at the warrior for a longer moment, evaluating him. He was handsome, that was undeniable. But there was something beyond. A weight on his shoulders, a silent pain hidden behind those cold eyes.
"The bond is powerful, but it's not absolute. Sometimes, the goddess unites paths to test, not to force. I didn't pass the test… Because I didn't accept what hurt me."
Darian felt as if something inside him broke and fit together at the same time. That wolf… She was different from everything he had known. Not by strength, nor by appearance. But by the soul.
"What if someone told you that you were made to reign?"
She let out a light laugh.
"I would say that person should sleep less and walk more barefoot on the earth. It's good to get back to reality."
He laughed. For the first time in years, he laughed lightly. And he knew, there, that he had a problem.
He was starting to feel something dangerous.
Not for just any wolf. But for the one who rejected her mate. Who challenged traditions. Who spoke with children and helped the elderly. Who danced with the wind and trained as a warrior. Who had a free, indomitable spirit.
And that wolf, Maya, had no idea who the strange warrior was who began to surround her presence more often, with subtle questions, restrained compliments, and long looks.
But Nayra noticed. And she didn't like it at all.
She would not let Maya shine again. Not when the throne was at stake.
And Maya? She still had no idea how much her life was about to change.
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