Chapter 5
Isolde's POV
Sybilla's quiet sobbing filled the otherwise silent vehicle. As we pulled away, I could hear my stepmother's anguished wails echoing across the property. The sound should have given me some satisfaction—finally, she was experiencing pain she'd so eagerly inflicted on others. Instead, I felt nothing but emptiness.
I didn't spare Sybilla a glance as she cried. Let her finally taste the bitter reality of a world that wasn't designed to cater to her every whim.
She's going to hate the Moon Alliance Program, Lyra mused. No one to pamper her there.
The irony wasn't lost on me. After all her scheming to save herself by throwing me under the bus, we'd both ended up in the same position anyway. Her snake-like heart had failed her this time.
"I hope they put us in separate rooms," I thought, staring out at the passing landscape. The last thing I needed was to share living space with the girl who'd fucked my boyfriend and tried to claim him as her mate.
Hours passed in tense silence. I occupied my mind with thoughts of my mother, wondering if I would ever find her now.
You will survive this, Lyra assured me. We are stronger than they know.
The first glimpse of Silver Moon Headquarters stole the breath from my lungs. It was a modern architectural masterpiece that made my father's mansion look like a roadside motel.
Sprawling across several acres, the main building rose like a gleaming silver monolith against the afternoon sky. Twelve stories of polished glass and steel curved in a crescent shape, surrounded by perfectly manicured lawns dotted with vibrant flowers.
"Holy shit," I whispered, taking it all in.
Our SUV pulled to a stop where several other vehicles had already deposited their passengers—girls from different packs, all looking as shell-shocked as I felt.
A stern-faced woman in her fifties approached, her gray hair pulled back in a severe bun, her posture militarily straight.
"Welcome to Silver Moon Headquarters," she announced, her voice crisp and authoritative. "I am Greta Moris, chief administrator of the Moon Alliance Program. I'll be responsible for preparing you for your roles here."
She surveyed us with critical eyes, her gaze lingering on each face as if assessing our worth.
"You have been selected because you represent the finest your packs have to offer. This is an honor," she continued, emphasizing the last word in a way that made it sound like a threat. "Your purpose here is simple: to serve the warriors of Silver Moon Pack as companions, entertainers, and potential Luna candidates."
A murmur rippled through the group. Greta silenced it with a sharp look.
"Obedience is paramount. Those who excel in their duties may find themselves chosen as mates to our warriors." Her thin lips curved into what might have been intended as a smile. "And for the most exceptional among you, there is the chance to become the Luna to our Alpha himself."
Should I feel proud or humiliated? I wondered, watching several girls preen at the prospect.
The Alliance residence was a six-story modern building with dark marble on the lower levels and pale exterior walls above. Every window featured ornate metal railings—decorative, but also clearly designed to keep occupants in rather than intruders out.
As we walked through the corridors, I noticed girls wearing revealing outfits that left little to the imagination. Several of them batted their eyelashes at passing warriors, releasing pheromones so thick I could practically see them hanging in the air.
I kept my distance, arms crossed protectively over my chest.
"Hi, I'm Thalia," a voice said beside me.
I turned to find a girl with short chestnut hair and bright green eyes smiling at me. Unlike the others, her expression seemed genuinely friendly.
"Isolde," I replied cautiously.
Before I could say more, Sybilla materialized beside us, her earlier tears miraculously dried.
"I'm Sybilla," she interrupted, flashing her practiced sweet smile at Thalia. "Isolde's sister. We're both from Emerald Valley. Maybe you and I could be roommates? I'd love to hear all about this place."
I bit my tongue to keep from correcting her "sister" claim. Even here, she couldn't help trying to steal any potential friend I might make.
A staff member directed me to a room that already showed signs of occupation—books on a shelf, a laptop on a desk.
"This will be your quarters," she explained briskly. "Get settled. Don't wander around. All new arrivals will be gathered for the welcome ceremony shortly."
As the door closed behind her, a scent hit me—unlike anything I'd ever encountered before. My nostrils flared as I inhaled deeply, my body responding in ways I couldn't control.
Lyra suddenly came alive within me, practically vibrating with excitement. Follow that scent, she urged. It's important.
"We're supposed to stay put," I argued, even as my feet moved toward the door.
Please, Isolde. Trust me.
Against my better judgment, I slipped into the hallway, following the intoxicating trail. From somewhere ahead, I heard a deep male voice, the sound sending shivers through my body.
Using my wolf abilities, I enhanced my hearing, catching fragments of conversation. The voice was commanding, authoritative—clearly someone of high rank.
Curiosity drove me forward until I reached a partially open door. Lyra was practically howling now, urging me to look inside.
I peered through the narrow gap, and my whole body locked up, breath snagged in my chest. There he was—a hulking man sprawled across a black leather couch, his powerful frame slouched yet radiating a primal dominance that hit me like a punch. His thick thighs were splayed wide, and between them knelt a blonde woman, her head dipping and rising in a steady rhythm.
His face was all sharp edges, a straight, arrogant nose, and a jaw so firm it could cut glass. His eyes, a deep stormy gray, glinted with a cold, predatory intensity that made my stomach twist. His body was a masterpiece: broad shoulders, rippling muscles.
But that cock—Jesus, I couldn't tear my eyes off it. It was thick as hell, veins bulging like cords under the taut skin, standing rigid and proud. The woman's mouth was stretched to breaking, lips cracked at the edges as she fought to swallow more of him, drool slicking her chin with every wet, slurping thrust.
I pressed my thighs together, but it didn't help—my pussy was already soaked. That giant cock filled my vision, and my mind went wild—picturing it shoving into me, splitting me open, fucking me senseless until I couldn't think straight.
My cheeks flamed, but I couldn't look away. The aura of power emanating from him was overwhelming.
I should leave. I needed to leave. Right now.
Just as I started to back away, the man's eyes snapped open, connecting with mine across the room. Gold. His eyes were pure molten gold, burning with an intensity that paralyzed me.
His face remained expressionless, but those eyes... they held me in place, cold yet somehow burning with some unidentifiable emotion.
And then it happened.
MATE! Lyra screamed inside my head, her voice vibrating with shock and joy.
An electric current shot through my entire body. My heart hammered against my ribs, my breathing became shallow, and every cell in my being seemed to reach toward the man with the golden eyes.
No, I thought desperately. This can't be happening.
Fate couldn't possibly be this cruel.