Chapter 53\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Kaia\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0b1d\u0b1a 63\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Five Days Later\u00a0<\/p>\n
I arrived at the Great Hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara practically forced me to attend the Luna selection announcement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t want to be here but I had no choice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rumours of me seducing the Alpha were raging through the pack already.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not attending after Cara herself invited me in front of everyone would put a face to the rumours.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After all, nobody wants their ladders to be snatched in front of them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood at the corner, watching Elara grin from ear to ear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, I could feel tension in the hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Every Elite wolf in the territory stood gathered, dressed in formal attire.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The gold banners of the Shadowclaw Pack hung from the walls, and at the center podium stood Alpha Kingsley, pale and anxious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cToday,\u201d he announced, forcing his voice to steady, \u201cAlpha Theo will declare the Luna he has chosen\u2026 as is tradition.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Murmurs rippled through the hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood somewhere in the back, trying to breathe normally, even though my chest felt tight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knew what today was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knew Elara was the obvious choice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And I had no reason\u2026no right to feel anything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Still\u2026 I still had hopes. Just a little.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While battling my internal struggles, Cara walked up to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia, I see you took my invite and came\u201d Cara said, her voice sweet. \u201cYou are not nursing any hopes are you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara turned to look at Elara, standing close to Theo in her beautiful dress.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope you know your place after this. You are just a stray. Elara will become the Luna of this pack\u201d Cara smirked gleefully. \u201cThen, she will kick you to the curb. Your days are numbered here\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:32 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 53\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cQueen Cara,\u201d I muttered. \u201cIf you don\u2019t mind, I\u2019d like to enjoy the ceremony undisturbed,\u201d I said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
63\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSure,\u201d Cara chuckled. \u201cEnjoy as much as you can, Kaia. This might be your last entertainment before you go feral\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked at Cara abruptly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I can\u2019t believe she was already planning to kick me out of the pack.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Cara asked, seeing my expression. \u201cYou didn\u2019t think you\u2019ll stay in Shadowclaw once Elara is crowned, did you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cQueen Cara, it\u2019s time for the ceremony. Please, decorum. Shhh\u201d I put a finger over my lips, shutting her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara huffed and left me alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My eyes burned with unshed tears when Theo stepped forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tall. Calm. His expressions were hard to read.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stomach twisted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo scanned the room once, and for the briefest moment, his gaze touched mine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just a second.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just enough to make my heartbeat stumble.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then he looked away and inhaled deeply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Theo\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
I caught sight of Kaia in the corner.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart pounded like drums.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Afraid I\u2019d stop breathing right there and then.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane stood by my left, tense. My father stood behind me, silently praying.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara waited smugly to the right, smiling like she already wore the Luna crown.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And then\u2026.When the circle Alpha King called me to make the announcement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A hush swept across the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt every eye on me but I didn\u2019t care.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt Kaia\u2019s quiet presence in the back, fragile and steady all at once.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:32 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 53\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00c0(63)\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha Theo, who has been chosen as your Luna?\u201d The Circle Alpha king asked me.\u201dplease announce her name in front of everyone\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone looked at me intensely. But I hesitated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t bring myself to say Elara\u2019s name.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My throat was painful from the lump pressing against it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone is waiting, Alpha Theo. Please make the announcement\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
And then I said it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The hall exploded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gasps. Everyone looked at me with shock and disbelief.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Someone dropped a glass. Another choked on their drink.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHoly shit,\u201d Zane muttered under his breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia froze like she\u2019d turned to stone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But nothing. Absolutely nothing compared to the horrified look on Elara\u2019s face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!\u201d Elara shoved forward, her voice shilling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The crowd fell silent as she stormed toward me, her eyes blazing with fury.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou chose her? That-\u201d she jabbed a finger toward Kaia \u201c\u2026.Powerless little nobody? Are you insane?!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The hall buzzed with tension.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara\u2019s face turned red with rage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father will NEVER allow this! Do you hear me? NEVER! The Circle will rip you apart for breaking your promise!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My lips curled, amused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFunny. Because last I checked\u2026 the agreement wasn\u2019t a promise of me to you, Elara.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She froze. And looked at me as if I had gone insane.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even the pack members gasped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Probably wondering what was running through my head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I lifted my chin. \u201cThe agreement was that Alpha Kingsley\u2019s son would marry you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:33 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 53\u00a0<\/p>\n
63\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
I let the words sink in under everyone\u2019s watchful eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha Kingsley has two sons.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara blinked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My gaze flicked toward where Lucien stood, bored and leaning against a column.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOne son is mateless,\u201d I continued calmly. \u201cAnd the other already has a mate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A ripple of realisation shot through the hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Several elders turned to Lucien.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucien raised a brow lazily.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t drag me into your stupid mess,\u201d he muttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara\u2019s mother, Susan, stepped forward sharply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTheo,\u201d she snapped, \u201cmy daughter was promised to-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I cut her off. Turning to Cara.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCara,\u201d I said with a polite, icy smile, \u201cyou adore Elara, don\u2019t you? You spoil her. Praise her. Worship the ground she walks on.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara stiffened, looking at me suspiciously.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My smile widened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen how perfect would it be for you to have her as a daughter-in-law? Lucien is right there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara\u2019s mouth fell open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The hall started buzzing again, even harder now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara whipped around and glared at her mother, who was whispering something to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMOM, DON\u2019T YOU DARE-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stepped closer to me, trembling with rage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t try to be smart with me, Theo. You were promised to me. You were supposed to be mine. My Luna coronation was set for today. Everything is ready.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I let out a harsh, bitter-sweet laugh.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Elara. You forgot one small detail.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I leaned in just enough for my voice to carry across the hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:33 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 53\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI found my mate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shock. Every wolf stiffened at once.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara went pale, I enjoyed seeing all the colour drained from her face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My voice softened, but the words hurt. At least not as much as it did when Elara said it to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cA mate who accepts me-with my weak heart.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara\u2019s face twisted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0b39\u0b01 \u0b2c\u0b3f 63\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t stop. \u201cA mate who doesn\u2019t mock my illness, or call me unfit, or leave me for a stronger Alpha.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her jaw dropped. The crowd whispered viciously.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I straightened, steady and commanding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia is my choice. My Luna. My mate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I glanced across the hall at her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia, trembling and overwhelmed. Her eyes wide with disbelief and something else\u2026 something fragile\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I will stand by her. Only she can become my luna.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara screamed. \u201cTheo, you are bewitched. You don\u2019t know what you\u2019re saying!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucien stood there silently. Maybe he didn\u2019t know how to react.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane grinned like he\u2019d been waiting for chaos to happen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My father, Council King Kingsley exhaled like he might cry\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
And Kaia\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked like her world had just tilted off its path.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment the word mate left my mouth, the hall went wild-voices overlapping.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone looked shocked, while some were outraged.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Elara didn\u2019t move.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For three full seconds, she stood completely still, her eyes wide, chest rising and falling too fast.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then everything snapped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNO!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:33 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 53\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her scream tore through the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She shoved aside two elders, stormed toward Kaia with murder in her eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
63\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou little nobody!\u201d she hissed. \u201cYou think you can steal the life I worked for? You think you can stand beside him and call yourself Luna? I will ruin you, do you hear me? I will\u2014\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped in front of Kaia so fast the crowd gasped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFinish that sentence,\u201d I warned quietly, \u201cand see how fast I remove you from this pack myself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara\u2019s lip curled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t scare me,\u201d she spat. \u201cYour weak little heart\u2014\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A thunderous voice cut her off. \u201cThat is enough.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The entire hall froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Circle delegation had stepped forward-three elders draped in silver insignias, representing the Alpha Circle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elder Sylvester, the oldest of them, fixed Elara with a cold stare.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha Theo is correct,\u201d he said. His voice carried with the authority of six kingdoms. \u201cThe ancient agreement between your father and Alpha Kingsley was dependent solely on whether a marriage occurred before the Alpha heir found his mate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He glanced around the hall, checking if anyone had an objection.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThats not true. It did not.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Whispers erupted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elder Sylvester continued, unwavering;\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara left this pack. She broke the arrangement by choice. She abandoned her position and severed the preliminary bond.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara\u2019s face went paper pale.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut\u2026but my father\u2014\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father,\u201d Sylvester interrupted, his voice sharp like a whip, \u201cdoes not outrank the Moon\u2019s decree. And Alpha Theo cannot reject his mate without risking severe physical decline.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He looked at me then, calm, but firm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cA wolf who rejects a destined mate becomes significantly weaker. You know this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The hall murmured in agreement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:33 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 58\u00a0<\/p>\n
$5 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore,\u201d Sylvester said, \u201cthere is no scenario in which Alpha Theo makes you Luna. The law of the Circle, and the magic of the Moon, forbid it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara shook her head violently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo! No, I don\u2019t care-1 don\u2019t care what the Moon wants, I don\u2019t care if he gets weaker, he owes me-\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cENOUGH,\u201d Elder Sylvester thundered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour entitlement does not rewrite fate,\u201d he said coldly,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou left him and discarded everything you two hard. You broke the bond before it ever existed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia stiffened behind me as the crowd whispered louder, now with disgust toward Elara.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara,\u201d Sylvester concluded, \u201cyou have no claim here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something inside her snapped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She lunged, not at me this time, but at Kaia again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI SAID I DON\u2019T CARE!\u201d she shrieked. \u201cI will not lose everything to some pathetic, wolf-less stray.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I caught her wrist mid-air before she could touch Kaia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The crowd gasped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My voice dropped to a deadly calm. \u201cYou will never threaten her again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes widened, not in fear, but in disbelief.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re choosing her over me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at her. \u201cI\u2019m choosing my mate. And you\u2019re not her\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A tear slipped down her cheek. Angry, humiliated and vicious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara\u2019s voice cracked as she screamed. \u201cTHIS IS NOT OVER!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She yanked her hand from mine, glaring at me with murderous intent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And the Circle turned to me once more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha Theo,\u201d Sylvester said, \u201cyour choice stands. Protect your mate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And for the first time in a long time\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt like I could breathe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:33 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shadows Follow Lonely Minds \u2014 Christopher Harris 53 Chapter 53\u00a0 \u2013Kaia\u2013\u00a0 :\u00a0 \u0b1d\u0b1a 63\u00a0 55 vouchers\u00a0 Five Days Later\u00a0 I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27298","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-nightshade-heir-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27298","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27298"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27298\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27298"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27298"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27298"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}