KAYLA'S POV
"What if you choose someone else as your Luna?" I asked.
The excitement on my face vanished, replaced by a sudden wave of panic. Diego looked at me, his brow furrowed.
"What?" he said. "Are you kidding?"
I shook my head. "No. I don't know why, but I'm scared. What if you change your mind?"
He lowered his head to catch my eye, then put his hands on my shoulders. "Kayla, listen to me. There is no one else. It’s just you."
I stayed quiet. Diego and I had been together for a long time. He was my mate, but I couldn't shake the bad feeling in my gut.
Tonight, he had to name the Luna he would rule with over the Shadow Valley pack. His father's health was failing, so Diego was step away from becoming Alpha King. He needed a Luna by his side, and that was supposed to be me. An alliance between an Alpha princess and an Alpha prince made sense. Yet, I couldn't relax.
He cupped my face and smiled. "You're getting worked up over nothing."
"You're the only one for me," he added, his voice steady. "Nothing can change that. Joining our packs is what's best for both of us."
Hearing him say it eased the tension in my chest. A small smile slipped out. I had waited for this night for years.
My parents died under strange circumstances when I was younger, leaving me at the mercy of my stepmother, Kate, and her daughter, Adire. They took over the leadership that belonged to me and pushed me into the dark. Tonight was supposed to be my comeback. With my new status as Luna, I could finally take back control and save my pack from them.
"I love you, Diego," I said.
"I love you too, Kayla."
He pulled me in for a deep kiss. But even as his lips pressed against mine, a quiet voice in the back of my mind kept asking: *What if things go wrong tonight? What happens to me then?*
---
A few hours later, I stood near the back of the packed hall in the Shadow Valley territory. I wanted to wait for the right moment—to walk down the center aisle through the crowd when he called me up. I wore a fitted black dress with heels and simple jewelry, ready to step into my new role.
"Shadow Valley," Diego’s voice echoed across the room. "Please welcome the one I have chosen."
He gestured toward the aisle.
I took a breath and started walking toward the stage, keeping my eyes on him. But out of the corner of my eye, I noticed someone else moving down the adjacent aisle, walking faster than me. I glanced over.
It was Adire.
My feet stalled. What was my stepsister doing here? Why was she heading for the stage? She had no business up there. The thought of her trying to take my place made my blood run cold. I forced myself to move again, quickening my pace to reach Diego first.
I stepped up onto the platform and looked right at him, ignoring Adire behind me.
"Diego," I murmured, smiling.
He smiled back and opened his arms. Relief washed over me. I reached out to hug him, but he walked right past me, his shoulder brushing mine.
My body went cold.
I turned around slowly. Diego was holding Adire tight against his chest. The crowd began to cheer.
"Diego?" My voice was barely a whisper.
He didn't look at me. He cupped Adire's face and kissed her in front of everyone. I stood there, frozen, as the room cheered for them.
When he finally pulled away, he turned to face me. The warmth in his eyes was completely gone, replaced by pure coldness.
"What is this?" I asked, my voice shaking.
He set his jaw. "I, Diego, Alpha Prince of the Shadow Valley pack, reject you, Kayla, outcast of the Wonder Power pack, as my mate."
The words hit me like a physical blow.
Before I could even process it, Diego turned to the guards and growled, "Get this bitch out of my sight."