The Last White Wolf, The Luna's Prophecy

The Pain Begins…

The silk dress felt like a shroud against Astrid's skin. She stared at her reflection, searching for the girl who still believed in fairy tales.

"Astrid, will you please stay still?" Willow's frustrated voice broke through her thoughts. Her cousin and closest friend paused, the brush hovering mid-air. "I'm trying to make you beautiful, but it's impossible when you keep moving."

Astrid's eyes narrowed in the mirror. "Am I not beautiful, Willow?" The vulnerability in her voice made her cringe.

Willow's hands stilled. She met Astrid's gaze in the reflection, her smile warm and reassuring. "No, Astrid, that's not what I meant. I just want to make you extra beautiful for your mate ceremony. I want Thane to be tongue-tied when he sees you."

Heat flooded Astrid's cheeks. "I like the way you say that, Willow."

But as Willow continued working on her hair and makeup, excitement curdled into something colder. Doubts slithered through her mind, and a shiver traced her spine despite the warm room.

"Willow," she whispered, barely audible over the brush strokes, "do you think I'm making the right decision? Maybe Thane and I are moving too fast."

Willow's reflection went still. She set the brush down and turned Astrid to face her, expression serious. "Astrid, it's normal to have cold feet on your mating ceremony day. I was nervous, excited, and frightened all at once when I mated with Kelvin. But look at us now—we're inseparable."

Astrid searched her cousin's face, desperate for reassurance. "You think Thane will treat me well?"

Willow's features softened. "Thane is a good man, Astrid. I'm sure he'll treat you with kindness and respect. And even if he doesn't, you have me. I'll always be here for you."

Tears welled in Astrid's eyes. She pulled Willow into a tight embrace. "Thank you, Willow. I love you."

"I love you too, Astrid." Willow hugged her back, then gently pushed her away. "Now, let's get you ready for your ceremony. You don't want to be late."

***

Night fell over the Lupari pack's gathering place, the moon casting a silver glow across the assembled crowd. The air thickened with tension as the pack waited for their alpha, Thane, to mate with the outcast, Astrid.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd like wind through grass. Stern eyes fixed on Astrid with a mixture of disdain and curiosity. But Astrid's eyes shone with excitement as she gazed at Thane, her heart overflowing with love and admiration.

"So, shall we begin?" Martha, the oldest she-wolf in the pack, asked, her voice low and husky.

Astrid's inner wolf, Aurora, stirred with excitement, eager to claim Thane as her mate. But as the ceremony began, a sense of unease crept over her, like a shadow lurking just out of sight.

"This can't happen. This isn't going to work, Astrid!" Thane's voice cracked through the gathering place like thunder.

The crowd fell silent. Astrid blinked, confusion freezing her in place.

"Thane, what are you doing?" Her voice trembled.

Thane didn't seem to hear her pleas. His words cut through the air like a blade. "Please... don't..."

"I reject you, Astrid." His voice was cold, detached. "You're not worthy of being my mate. You are weak, flawed, and unworthy of the Lupari pack."

The rejection hit like a physical blow. Astrid couldn't breathe, couldn't think. She stood frozen as Thane's words washed over her, as the pack surrounded them with eyes gleaming with curiosity and contempt. She felt like a specimen on display, a freak to be gawked at and ridiculed.

Everything blurred. Then everything went dark.

"Astrid, no! Oh, no!" Willow's scream pierced the chaos.

Footsteps pounded toward her, but guards grabbed Willow before she could reach Astrid's lifeless form.

"Let me go!" Willow struggled against their grip. "I have to help her!"

But it was too late. The guards dragged Astrid away, leaving Willow to watch in horror.

"No... no... no," Willow whispered, tears streaming down her face as she realized she was powerless to stop it.

Thane's rejection wasn't just a personal blow—it was a public declaration of her unworthiness. Astrid knew she would never be able to show her face in the Lupari pack again. She would be forever ostracized. Alone.

But this was only the beginning of Astrid's journey—a journey that would take her to the depths of despair and the heights of triumph.

For now, she was alone. Lost. Forsaken.

***

Astrid woke weak and disoriented in a dark room. She tried to stand, but a wave of pain forced her back onto the cold, damp floor.

Footsteps echoed outside the room. Her heart raced. Who could it be?

The door opened, and he appeared. The devil who happened to be her mate.

"Thane," she whispered.

Thane's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Oh, I see my princess is awake." His voice dripped with sarcasm.

Astrid's anger boiled over. "What did I do to you, Thane?" she spat. "Isn't it painful enough that you rejected me in front of everyone? You humiliated me, Thane. What did I ever do to you?"

Thane's expression showed no emotion. "You're so naive, Astrid. You think this is some fantasy romance? This is reality. I never had any intention of mating with someone like you."

Astrid's eyes flashed with anger, turning a deep shade of purple. "Why did you accept me, then? Tell me, Thane!"

Thane's smile was cold and calculating. "Oh, Aurora, you wouldn't want to hurt your mate, would you? Bring back Astrid, because I didn't summon you."

Astrid's eyes returned to their normal blue. She glared at him.

"Now that's better." Thane's voice dripped with sarcasm. "So, where were we? Ah yes, I was telling you how stupid and blinded you've been to think I was going to fall for you."

Astrid's anger simmered just below the surface. "Why did you lock me up?"

Thane's smile grew wider. "Good question, Astrid. You see, others may have considered you an outcast or barbaric because of the color of your wolf and the power you possess, but I see you as something unique. White wolves have been extinct for years, and I'm quite sure you're the only one. With your unique abilities, I will become the most powerful werewolf."

Astrid's eyes widened in shock. "You... you used me."

"Yes, I did." Thane's voice showed no emotion.

"But why did you have to humiliate me like that?"

A woman chuckled from behind as she walked straight to where Thane stood. "Oh, Astrid, you're so slow. He did that because of me." She stepped into the light. "Thane will never be yours, sweetheart. You're just a means to an end."

"You!" Astrid's voice was barely audible. Her eyes widened in shock, her gaze fixed on the woman as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Astrid's body seethed with anger, her muscles vibrating with tension. She was ready to attack, her eyes blazing with fury. This conspiracy was too much to bear. What wrong had she committed to deserve such betrayal?

Her mate, Thane, had cheated on her with her enemy, Mira—the same person who had bullied and belittled her at every turn.

"Why, Thane?" Astrid spat, her voice venomous. "Why did you choose to betray me for her? One of my oppressors—how could you? All I did was love you. Curse the day I called you my mate and agreed to get mated with you."

Thane's face twisted in anger. He slapped Astrid across the face. "Know your place, Astrid," he sneered.

Astrid laughed hysterically, the sound sending shivers down Thane's spine.

"What's so funny?" Mira asked, confusion etched on her face.

Astrid's laughter stopped abruptly. She turned to Mira with a fierce glare. "You think you're so clever, don't you? Seduc