Chapter 1

My world shattered the moment Maeve collapsed.

One moment, my daughter was chasing silver butterflies across the moonlit clearing behind our packhouse, her bright laughter echoing through the trees as she dodged between the ancient oaks. The next, her little body crumpled onto the grass as though every ounce of strength had been ripped from her.

"Maeve!"

My cry rang through the territory as I ran toward her, but Evander reached her first.

One heartbeat ago, he had been speaking with the pack elders beside the Moonstone Altar. The next, he was kneeling in the grass, gathering our daughter into his arms.

"Maeve, piccola," he whispered hoarsely, sounding nothing like the fearless Alpha the neighboring packs feared. "Open your eyes."

Her tiny fingers curled weakly around his tunic.

"Papa..."

"I'm here, little wolf."

His voice remained steady, but the bond between us betrayed him. Panic crashed against my mind through our mate link, fierce enough to steal my breath.

He turned to me.

"Summon the High Healer. Now."

I stumbled out of my shock and sent an urgent mindlink toward the Healing Sanctuary. Please... Maeve has collapsed. We need the High Healer immediately.

The reply came almost at once.

Bring her to the Sacred Healing Sanctuary. There is no time to lose.

Only moments ago she had been laughing.

How could this be happening?

"She was fine," I whispered, struggling to keep my voice from breaking. "She was just playing."

Evander didn't answer. He simply shifted Maeve higher against his chest before sprinting toward the sanctuary, his Beta and warriors racing after us.

The journey felt endless.

By the time we reached the sanctuary, the High Healer and her attendants were already waiting beneath the glowing Moonstone. Evander laid Maeve upon the sacred altar while the healer rested both hands over our daughter's heart.

Her expression darkened.

"What is wrong with my daughter?" Evander demanded.

The High Healer lowered her hands with a weary sigh.

"The curse has awakened. Her wolf spirit is fading."

"Then save her."

"I can," the healer answered quietly. "But only through the Blood-Binding Rite. There is only one wolf whose Alpha blood can restore her life."

Her eyes lifted to Evander.

"You."

Hope flooded my chest.

Then the sanctuary doors burst open.

A woman hurried inside.

Celestine.

Evander's first love.

The one everyone believed would one day become Luna before she disappeared without a word.

She wasn't alone.

A pale little boy clung to her hand, his face drained of all color, his wolf aura flickering as though it might vanish at any moment.

The High Healer's face went still.

"Luna Celestine... why are you here?"

Celestine's voice trembled.

"My son needs your help."

The healer examined the child, then slowly closed her eyes.

"He carries the same curse."

Silence settled over the sanctuary.

When the healer opened her eyes again, they rested on Evander.

"There is something else you must know, Alpha."

Evander frowned.

"What is it?"

The healer drew a slow breath.

"The boy carries your blood."

The world beneath my feet seemed to disappear.

Evander stared at the child, every muscle in his body locking into place.

"What did you say?"

"Alaric," Celestine whispered through her tears, "is your son."

No one spoke.

Even the Moonstone seemed to lose its glow.

The High Healer finally broke the silence.

"The Blood-Binding Rite will consume nearly all of the donor's life essence. Alpha Evander possesses enough to complete only one ritual."

She looked from Maeve...

...to Alaric.

"You have two children."

Her next words destroyed everything I believed.

"But only one can be saved."

I looked at Evander, my mate, my Alpha, the father of my daughter.

"Please," I whispered, barely able to breathe. "Choose Maeve."

His eyes lingered on our daughter before drifting to the little boy standing beside Celestine.

For the first time since I had known him...

...my Alpha hesitated.