ALPHA'S EXILED QUEEN

The evening air was magical.

High in the Bloodmoon Pack's hallowed grove, the full moon pulsed heavy and bright, casting silver light down through the soft blackness. Dozens of wolves and members of the pack stood silent in awe, a half-moon curve around a massive stone altar carved with the ancient runes. This was no night like any other-it was the Moonlight Ceremony, a holy ritual that would determine the next Luna, the future Queen by the Alpha's side.

Selene stood at the center, bathed in lunar light.

Her white formal gown fitted her form like water on stone, decorated with the sigil of the Bloodmoon-a radiant crescent written in silver thread. Her black locks fell loose waves down her back, and her gold eyes blazed with pride and terror. She had dreamed of this for as long as she could remember.

Tonight, she would be mated with Kael-the Alpha whom she had loved her whole life.

She caught a glimpse of him. Kael stood but a few feet away, towering and fierce, clad in ceremonial armor and black leather and fur. His dark hair curled up slightly at the forehead, and his ice-blue eyes-tough to everyone else, but always warm to her-clung to hers for an instant, private moment. His jaw was white-knuckled, his lips curving with a half-smile he saved for her.

He was every inch the leader, and yet to her, he was still the boy who would swipe her berries on a full moon hunt.

The Elders created a crescent line of stern dignity and reserved anticipation on their faces. Elder Varyn, wisest of them all, moved forward with the ritual chalice. Within it, the Blood Moon Elixir blazed like liquid fire-a magical elixir that would seal the Luna to the Alpha's soul forever.

Selene's heart pounded.

It was all too perfect.

Until it wasn't.

"Stop the ceremony!" a voice boomed through the darkness like a bolt of lightning.

Gasps ran through the crowd. Everyone's gaze turned to the edge of the forest, where a figure emerged from the darkness-a warrior, his chest labored, his face scrunched in urgency.

Selene's gut fell.

It was Dagon, one of Kael's inner guard-and her friend.

"What does this mean?" Kael snapped, striding forward, his voice heavy with anger and confusion.

Dagon stumbled to one knee, gasping. "Excuse me, Alpha. but I must say something. A crime was committed."

Selene's brows were furrowed. Whispers spread around them like fire.

"What crime?" Elder Varyn growled, holding up his staff.

Dagon and Selene shared a glance-then instantly looked away.

"There was a break last night. Our outer perimeter was breached. We lost three of our scouts. The traitor. left his calling card behind."

He pulled something out of his cloak and held it aloft.

Selene's blood turned cold.

It was her necklace. The moonstone one Kael had given her on their last anniversary. The one she'd had on every day... until two days ago when she'd noticed it was missing.

"What is this?" Kael growled, his tone deadly.

"I found it where the body was," Dagon answered gravely. "And a trail. which points directly to Selene's room."

Her knees nearly gave out.

"No," she panted. "I didn't.".

Kael moved closer to her, eyes now inscrutable. "Selene, do not deny these charges?"

"Oh, of course I deny them!" she exclaimed, pounding heart. "You know I'd never betray the pack. You know me."

But Kael said nothing.

He gazed at the Elders. The pendant. Dagon.

Selene watched the change happen behind his eyes-the clenching of jaw, the flash of doubt, the withdrawal of trust.

"Alpha," Varyn spoke firmly, "This will not be ignored. True or not, the omens point toward that. Until otherwise demonstrated, she needs to be kept as threat."

"I am not threat!" Selene's voice trembled. "You took me in! You know my heart!"

"You bear the pendant of traitor," another Elder spoke. "The mark of shame."

"Silence!" Kael growled-but not at them. At her.

Her breath caught.

"You promised me," she panted, eyes open. "You promised you'd be my Luna. That you'd always believe in me."

"I did," he snarled. "But now. I have a pack to protect."

His words broke something within her.

The crowd grew louder-softly at first, then more strident: "Exile her! Exile her!"

Selene's world fell apart.

Kael stood in front of her. "Until the truth is revealed. you are hereby exiled from Bloodmoon land."

Tears brimmed in her eyes as two guards moved forward to block her way. Her legs wouldn't move, her heart yelling that this was a dream.

She glanced at Kael once more.

"Really think I'd hurt you?" she spat.

He winced-but didn't respond.

That was her answer.

As they pulled her off the altar, off her pack, off her mate, off her fate, Selene didn't scream. She didn't beg. She let her tears remain unspoken, her back straining with every step.

If anything, the pack had succeeded.

She learned how to live.

She wouldn't die in exile.

She would wake up.

Twelve Hours Later - Borderlands

The wind howled between the cliffs as Selene fought her way through the heavy fog, her dress tattered, her toes aching from wading through thorns and mire barefoot. The guards brought her to the edge of the land and abandoned her there, weaponless, starving, and irreverent.

She leaned against a tree, trembling, her arms around herself.

A growl sounded out of the shadows.

Her wolf bristled angrily within her, hurt by the rejection and confusion. The experience with Kael-so far from mated-had shattered her spirit.

From among the trees emerged yellow eyes.

Rogues.

Three of them, by scent.

They descended upon her like vultures, snarling.

"She's Bloodmoon," one taunted. "Let's rip her apart."

Selene stood resolute. "Do it, then," she snarled. "Kill me. At least that would be less painful than betrayal."

The rogue in front leapt-but halfway through the air, a flash of silver flung him to the ground.

Another figure emerged into the moonbeam, dark and towering.

A man.

A hybrid.

"You won't touch her," he growled, voice like thunder wrapped in silk.

The rogues fled into the darkness.

Selene stood there, dazed.

The stranger turned to her. He was scarred across his cheekbones, but his eyes were gentle. "You don't belong out here," he told her.

She almost smiled. "I guess I don't fit in anywhere."

He took her hand. "Come. You might be lost right now... but you're not broken."

Selene hesitated-then accepted his hand.

She did not know at that moment who he was or where he was taking her. But she knew this:

She had nothing left to lose.

And that made her dangerous.