5

Chapter 5

On the day of the alliance ceremony, the moonlight in the Northern Territory was unusually bright.

The Nightshade pack had reserved an ancient moon temple.

Outside the temple was an entire row of black SUVs, the roadside lined with cold-faced guards. Inside the temple, the dome soared high, totems embedded with moonstones glowed with sacred light.

Long benches on both sides were filled with wolf pack leaders from all regions—Northern Territory wolves, Western Territory packs, Eastern wolf gangs, Southern mixed-blood group representatives... Each emanated a powerful aura, the wolf nature in their eyes as sharp as the forces they represented.

I sat in a back row, avoiding attention.

Luna walked arm-in-arm with her father, stepping in white high heels. The white gown wrapped her figure, beneath the veil a proper, proud face.

As she passed the row beside me, her gaze shifted slightly: "Oh, Raven, you came too. Glad you could witness this moment. Don't be sad—your place was never meant to be in the front."

Soon, Kieran emerged from a side door.

Today he wore a deep black formal suit, silver insignia flashing in the moonlight. That face was still the cold, stern one I knew, but more restrained than ever, leaving only the composure and solemnity befitting a temple setting.

The presiding elder recited the ceremony words, speaking of mates, loyalty, vows. No one below truly cared about the sanctity of "mates." What they cared about was—after this ceremony, what new order would exist between the Northern and Southern Territories.

The elder was about to reach the exchange of vows.

Just then, a dull explosion suddenly sounded outside the temple. The entire building shook slightly, moonstones emitting fine rattling sounds.

The next second, the doors burst open. Several fully armed rogue wolves charged in.

"Get down!" "Cover the Alpha!"

Shouts rose and fell, the sound of silver bullets nearly drowning out the hymns.

I instinctively stood, keeping low, my hands reflexively reaching for weapons—only to find empty pockets.

Before coming to the temple, I'd left all my weapons at the safe den.

I looked up to see the nearest attacker aimed at the altar. He threw a silver grenade, flying toward Luna.

Kieran's reaction was still quick. He pulled Luna into his arms, shielding her entirely.

Then he kicked the grenade away. And coincidentally, the grenade's direction faced me. I only had time to see clearly that white figure held tightly in his embrace.

Boom—

Searing pain struck again. I fell in a pool of blood, my breathing growing shallower.

Once again, he chose his princess and abandoned me.

Gunfire stopped. Several people stood in the center of the hall.

"...She's a liability." Luna's father, the old wolf king of the Silvermoon pack, cold and arrogant. "Kieran, our alliance needs to eliminate all internal threats. This she-wolf knows too many secrets. She cannot remain."

Kieran fell silent.

His voice rang out again: "Deal with her. Otherwise, this vow ends here."

"Are you threatening me?" Kieran's voice turned completely cold.