The Luna's Shadow

CHAPTER 5

“Mine.”

The voice cut through the ballroom like a blade, low, dangerous, and full of authority. Heads turned. The room went silent—every Alpha, every visiting pack, every pair of eyes fixated on the tension building near the center.

Mason’s grip around me finally slackened, and I sucked in a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. The woman next to the stranger—a tall, elegant woman—tried to grab his arm, her expression frozen in horror. He shook her off without a glance, eyes locked on Mason and me as he stepped forward, deliberate and deadly.

I nudged Bella sideways, keeping her out of the line of fire. “Just in case,” I muttered under my breath.

“You’re mistaken,” Mason said, trying to sound calm, though the tension in his voice betrayed him. “Her father has promised her to me. Once she turns eighteen, we’ll be marked and mated. That’s final.”

Another growl ripped from the stranger’s throat, low and feral. My ribs screamed at me as Mason’s hands still lingered too close.

“You are not touching my mate,” the man growled through clenched teeth.

Bella’s voice was barely audible, almost a whisper: “He’s your mate?”

“I—who are you?” I asked, voice shaking slightly, though I tried to sound steadier than I felt.

“Tyler Lowe,” the man announced, his voice carrying the weight of authority. “Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack.”

My jaw nearly hit the floor. The Blue Moon Pack wasn’t small—they were massive, well-known for their strength, for their unshakable pack loyalty. I’d heard stories, rumors, warnings, but never met their Alpha. And now he was standing in our ballroom, growling at Mason as if he wanted to tear him apart.

“She is not your mate. She has been promised to me,” Mason spat, his voice tight with anger.

“Wrong,” Tyler said, his stare slicing through Mason. Before Mason could respond, a tall man stepped between them, hand resting firmly on Tyler’s shoulder.

“I’m Cade, Alpha Lowe’s Beta,” the man said, voice calm but carrying undeniable authority. “You know the laws. No one interferes with a wolf and their mate—especially when it involves an Alpha.”

“I know the laws,” Mason said through clenched teeth, “and I don’t give a damn. Her father promised her, and she will be mine.”

Cade’s grip tightened on Tyler’s shoulder to restrain him, and I felt my chest tighten.

Within seconds, Mason’s allies appeared—Levi and Lachie—and soon after, the head warrior Tobias strode in, his expression storming, fury in every step. He’d been on patrol outside and had heard the chaos.

Ethan quickly filled him in, and Tobias’ eyes widened. “How can you justify this? You’re standing between two mates destined by the goddess. You’re risking everything.”

“I don’t care what the goddess wants,” my father’s slurred voice boomed, cutting through the tension. “I promised my daughter to Mason. She will be his. End of discussion.”

Tyler’s eyes flicked toward my father, shock and rage in equal measure. Tobias moved closer to me, protective, his presence solid and grounding. He had been a friend of Ethan’s for as long as I could remember—one of the very few people I trusted completely.

Alpha Matthias raised his hands, trying to calm the room. “Enough. We don’t need this party to become a disaster. Let’s take this to the conference room. Guests, enjoy yourselves. We’ll resolve this privately.”

Tyler’s eyes never left me. “Stay with her,” he ordered Cade, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The Alphas, their Betas, Mason, and my father strode off toward the conference room, leaving me frozen in place, the weight of the moment pressing down on my chest.

Ethan’s voice broke through my panic. “Why didn’t you tell me your father promised you to that… that asshole Mason?”

“I only found out this morning,” I said quietly, still trying to process the chaos. “I don’t think I’ve fully… registered it yet.”

“Well, like hell that’s happening,” Ethan snapped. “Go start packing.”

“Packing?” I blinked, incredulous.

“Cade,” Ethan said, leaning close, “if she can get out quietly, can you be ready to transport her? Mind-link your Alpha, get her out safely?”

“You want me to help kidnap her?” Cade asked, eyebrows raised, though his voice was calm.

“Not kidnapping. Tessa can’t stay here—not with Mason, not with her father,” Ethan said firmly.

I turned, eyes narrowing, and hissed at Levi and Lachie standing nearby. “Would you two shut up?”

Ethan’s eyes softened as he crouched slightly, lowering his voice. “Tessa. I’m not stupid. I know your father. Especially when he’s drunk. You need to leave—now. This is your chance.”

Bella squeezed my hand, silent but insistent. “He’s right. You have to go.”

“What about you? I can’t just leave you behind. If I run, they’ll make sure I never see you again,” I whispered, panic threading through my voice.

“I’m home now. I’m not going anywhere. You’ll be safe,” Ethan assured me, steady and unflinching.

Levi stepped closer, leaning casually, smirk tugging at his lips. “You better not be planning anything stupid, Tessa.”

I turned, matching his smirk with one of my own. “When have I ever done anything stupid?”

Wyatt spat his drink across the table, laughing despite the tension—because everyone knew I had a long history of reckless choices.

I glanced at the woman giving me the hardest death stare I’d ever seen. My chest tightened. “Who’s she?”

“That’s Rachel,” Cade murmured. “Ignore her. Right now, it’s about you. You’re the Alpha’s mate. You matter.”

Levi scoffed, voice low. “She’s promised to Mason. That’s fact.”

Cade’s jaw tightened. “I’m pretending you’re not even here. You’re pissing me off.” He pivoted, turning his back slightly toward Levi.

Tobias leaned close, whispering. “I’ve got these two. You don’t need to worry about them.”

I shook my head, panic bubbling over. “This is insane. They’ll be after me the moment I try to leave. My father… he’ll never let me go.”

Tyler’s voice came into my mind, calm and commanding. “We’re reporting this. The council won’t allow interference with a wolf and their mate. That’s absolute law.”

The words hit me like ice water. The werewolf council. I swallowed hard, panic gnawing at me. My breaths came shallow. My ribs throbbed with every inhale, and suddenly I was shaking, the room tilting slightly around me.

“Breathe,” Tobias said, pressing his hands gently against my shoulders. “You’re having a panic attack. Remember what I told you. Lift your arms, open your lungs.”

I tried—but the pain cut through, jagged and sharp. My arms fell back down with a hiss, and Cade looked at us both, expression dark but controlled.

“You’ll be okay,” Tobias whispered. “We’ll get you out of here. Just focus on me. One breath at a time.”

I nodded, trembling, but willing myself to obey. Because no matter what, I couldn’t stay here. I couldn’t let Mason or my father control my fate.

Not when my mate—my true mate—was here, waiting, fighting for me, and willing to risk everything.

And that’s when I realized… tonight, nothing would ever be the same again.