The Hunter’s Rue

Selene

The Royal Gala was far more than a mere celebration; while Queen Luna Agatha and King Alpha Rowan’s invitations spoke of a gathering in honor of the Moon Goddess, the true agenda remained strictly political.

It paved the way to trade routes, constant heated negotiations over territorial expansion; every look exchanged between Alphas in the corner of the ballroom was a potential treaty wrapped in a sophisticated atmosphere, clicking glasses of expensive beverages and soft music and polite conversation, aiming for everyone to leave with a win.

It was carefully planned so that every pack leader would leave having secured something truly beneficial for their own pack members.

While the location of the Wild Forest Pack was a closely guarded secret, simply because it was the home of the White Wolf clan, a group that had survived for generations by keeping their sanctuary hidden deep in the remote northern wilderness.

To other werewolves, the clan was more like a legend than reality, a powerful, mysterious force that everyone respected.

And for that purpose, and to ensure privacy and protection, the gala in honor of Luna Agatha and Alpha Rowan could not be held on their own land. Instead, the celebration took place in the Royal Grand Ballroom, a majestic, neutral estate built by a coalition of the north region’s wealthiest and richest Alphas specifically to host high-level gatherings.

It offered a secure location that was easy to reach yet hard to access without the proper route and security clearance.

Luna Agatha chose to hold the royal gala one week before the full moon. The timing was everything, as pack members would be occupied with the ceremonial "run" and various other sacred rituals on the night of the full moon itself.

By holding the gala early, giving each pack enough time to make sure all essential arrangements were finished well ahead of schedule, without crowding out their regular daily duties and jobs.

Every detail looked like something straight out of a dream. The musicians were placed just right near the dancing area, close enough to hear, but far enough so they would not bother any of the guests.

Drink stations were arranged nicely along with the finest beverages, the entrance was decorated with fresh flowers and roses, styled beautifully inside huge and expensive vases.

The garden wasn't left out either. It featured a striking contrast between the dark night, and the glowing lights hidden in the trees, providing just enough illumination to see while offering enough privacy to remain unseen with your mate.

Agatha was a certified expert and the ultimate guide when it came to high-level organization, known for flawless execution down to the smallest detail.

The grand ballroom tonight was a true testament to her expertise, operating with top-of-the-line servants who anticipated every need and professional guards securing every corner to ensure complete safety.

When it came to the dining experience, she had personally hired the best of the best chefs to prepare an incredible spread of both savory dishes and delicate sweets, complemented by imported champagne and fine wines kept chilled to perfection.

Yet, even with all this massive scale, luxury, and open grandeur, Agatha still managed to keep the entire operation completely private and discreet.

The ballroom was already buzzing with activity by the time we made our entrance. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne, perfume, and the simmering power of Alphas who liked to show off their strength.

My mother, Queen Luna Agatha White, the legendary princess of White Wolf Clan a direct descendant of Selene the Moon Goddess herself led the way, her head held high besides her, my father, King Alpha Rowan Hais, moved with an effortless, predatory grace that commanded the room to fall silent as we passed.

As for me and my sister, this was our very first time being introduced to the public like this.

Previously, we had only met Alphas and Lunas when they visited our pack, or when we joined our parents over the past two years to attend weddings for high-ranking pack members.

Four whole years had passed since the last gala. With the big packs thriving and the smaller ones struggling.

My mother decided it was finally time to host another one. Officially, she claimed it was just a nice, elegant way to bring everyone together so pack leaders could secure their best interests.

How thoughtful of her.

But when Anna and I strutted around in those agonizingly high heels and ridiculously expensive designer dresses carefully picked out by my dear, beloved mother, it had matchmaking written all over it.

Little did she know, all her perfectly orchestrated luxury was entirely wasted on me, because I, Selene Rowan Hais, was only ever going to give my heart, soul, and bond to the one poor, lucky bastard unfortunate enough to be my fated mate.

At eighteen with my younger sister Anna right behind at seventeen, we couldn't have been more different. I lived by "jump first, ask questions never", wild, stubborn, and relentless.

Anna looked sweet and angelic, but if you crossed her, you'd find out her clever comebacks in that head of hers. And she got all the brainpower, able to calculate anything from rocket speed, stars distance to tomorrow's weather and nail it every time.

While in character, I was my dad's twin and Anna was our mom's. But when it came to looks, we both inherited our mother Luna Agatha's features and coloring … thank the sweet Moon Goddess for that!