The time was few minutes earlier they met.
——————————————
The Silver Pack's garden was usually a place of quiet routine.
Not silence—
But a softer kind of life.
Leaves rustled gently as the wind moved through them, carrying the faint scent of wet soil from the earlier rain. Workers moved in rhythm, trimming, watering, reshaping nature into something controlled—something beautiful, yet owned.
It was peaceful.
Until—
It wasn't.
Because the moment he stepped in—
Everything stopped.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
But subtly.
One by one, movements slowed.
Hands paused mid-air.
Voices lowered.
Eyes shifted.
The Alpha of the Silver Pack had entered the garden.
And his presence—
Was never something people ignored.
Normally, his aura would press down on everyone like an invisible weight. Dominant. Sharp. Watching. Judging.
But today…
Something was wrong.
His steps were steady—
But empty.
His eyes were open—
But unfocused.
As if he was walking…
But not truly there.
And behind him—
Walked her.
————————————
At the far corner of the garden—
Lily worked.
Unaware.
Unbothered.
Unseen.
Her fingers gently adjusted a branch, carefully shaping it as if it mattered. As if this small task held meaning. Leaves brushed against her skin as she leaned closer, her expression calm… but distant.
Her mind wasn't in the garden.
It had been wandering ever since that moment earlier.
That vampire..whom she called brother.
That unfamiliar feeling.
That care —
But
She shook her head lightly, trying to push the thoughts away.
"Focus, Lily…" she whispered to herself.
And that's why—
She didn't notice.
Didn't notice the sudden stillness around her.
Didn't notice the eyes watching.
Didn't notice—
The Alpha standing behind her.
———————
If it had been any other day—
He would have already reacted.
A mistake like ignoring him?
Unforgivable.
His anger would have been instant.
His voice sharp.
His punishment immediate.
But today—
Nothing.
No anger.
No reaction.
No dominance.
Because the Alpha…
Was no longer in control of himself.
He stood there, unmoving, like a body without will.
Like a puppet.
And the one holding the strings—
Stepped forward.
A soft voice broke the silence.
"Lily…"
It was the Alpha's voice.
But it lacked life.
Lily froze.
Her hands stilled instantly as recognition hit her. Her heart skipped nervously before she quickly turned around, lowering her head respectfully.
"A-Alpha…!" she stammered, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm sorry… I didn't notice you…"
Her words rushed out, her body instinctively preparing for anger.
For punishment.
For something.
But—
Nothing came.
No response.
No movement.
And that's when she felt it.
Something… off.
Slowly, hesitantly—
She lifted her gaze.
And what she saw…
Made her confusion deepen.
The Alpha wasn't looking at her.
He wasn't even really seeing her.
His eyes were dull.
Empty.
As if his thoughts were somewhere far away… or worse—
Taken.
Before she could understand—
A presence shifted behind him.
And then—
She saw her.
The woman stepped forward like a shadow revealing itself.
Graceful.
Effortless.
Dangerously beautiful.
Her presence didn't demand attention—
It pulled it.
Her eyes landed on Lily, and a soft smile curved her lips, warm and gentle… yet carrying something unreadable beneath.
"Hi…" she spoke softly, tilting her head slightly. "Are you… Lily?"
Her voice felt strange.
Comforting—
But also… heavy.
Lily blinked, slightly caught off guard, then nodded quickly.
"Y-Yes…"
The woman's smile widened just a little.
"I thought so."
She stepped closer, her gaze slowly scanning Lily—not in judgment, but in something deeper. Something that felt like she was seeing more than what was visible.
"Well," she continued, her tone light, almost casual, "I'm an astrologer. I can see… things others can't. Past… future… fate."
Lily's eyes widened slightly.
An astrologer?
Her heart fluttered unexpectedly.
"I was invited here as a guest," the woman added, gesturing lightly toward the Alpha behind her. "But when I saw you…"
She paused.
Her gaze softened.
"I couldn't ignore you."
That sentence—
It hit Lily deeper than it should have.
Someone noticed her?
Someone chose to notice her?
"I saw how you work," the woman continued gently. "Quietly… without complaint. No one praises you… do they?"
Lily's throat tightened.
She didn't answer.
Didn't need to.
Because the silence already said everything.
The woman's eyes softened further.
"That's why I wanted to meet you."
A small pause.
Then—
"Are you okay?"
Such a simple question.
Yet—
So heavy.
Lily felt something warm rise in her chest. Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of her dress as she nodded.
"I… I'm okay," she whispered.
And for the first time—
It felt like someone actually cared whether that was true or not.
The woman smiled again.
Then slowly—
She reached into her sleeve.
"I wanted to give you something."
Lily blinked in surprise.
"A gift," the woman said softly, revealing a delicate bracelet.
It shimmered faintly, not with ordinary beauty—but with something deeper. Something ancient. The design was intricate, almost like it carried symbols carved by time itself.
Lily's eyes widened.
"It's beautiful…" she whispered unconsciously.
The woman stepped closer.
"It's not just beautiful," she murmured. "It's… special."
She gently took Lily's hand.
The touch was warm.
Too warm.
"This bracelet…" she continued, her voice lowering slightly, "will bring you luck."
A pause.
Then softly—
"Or maybe… guide you to your mate."
Lily froze.
Her breath caught.
Mate.
That word alone was enough to shake something deep inside her.
Her eyes flickered with emotion—not because of the bracelet…
But because someone believed she had a future.
A bond.
A destiny.
"I… I can't take this," "I… I can't take this," she said quickly, pulling her hand back slightly. "It's yours… and I'm just—"
"Just what?"
The woman interrupted gently.
Lily hesitated.
"…Just me."
The woman's expression shifted.
Not pity.
Not sadness.
Something stronger.
"You are not 'just' anything," she said firmly, yet softly.
Then, more gently—
"I'm giving this to you from my heart. Don't refuse me."
There was something in her tone—
Something that made it impossible to say no.
Lily hesitated for a moment longer…
Then slowly nodded.
"…Okay."
A small, shy pout formed on her lips as she extended her hand again.
The woman smiled.
Carefully—
She placed the bracelet around Lily's wrist.
And locked it.
The moment it clicked into place—
Something unseen shifted.
Something silent…
But powerful.
Then—
The woman leaned forward.
And pressed a soft kiss to Lily's forehead.
A gesture so gentle—
So affectionate—
That Lily's heart tightened again.
She hadn't felt something like that in so long.
"You're going to meet your mate soon in upcoming days" the woman whispered. "So… be ready."
Lily hugged her back instinctively, holding onto that warmth for just a second longer than necessary.
"…Thank you," she whispered.
The woman pulled away.
And turned.
As she walked back toward the Alpha—
A faint smirk appeared on her lips.
Cold.
Knowing.
Hidden from Lily's view.
———————————
"Take me to your room," she said softly, her voice laced with something darker now.
The Alpha didn't hesitate.
Without a word—
He lifted her into his arms as if she weighed nothing.
And walked.
As the Alpha carried her away, her fingers rested lightly against his shoulder, her expression calm… almost serene.
But the moment they crossed the garden's edge—
That calmness cracked.
Slowly…
A smirk curled on her lips.
Not warm.
Not kind.
Cold.
Creepy.
Sharp.
Victorious.
Her eyes flickered back once—toward the direction where Lily still stood, unaware, small against the vast garden, her wrist now bound with something she didn't understand.
And under her breath—
So soft that even the wind couldn't carry it—
She whispered to herself,
"Now you'll see the cruelty, Lily…"
A quiet pause.
Her smirk deepened, something darker settling into her gaze.
"Let me see… how your mother goddess saves you."
Another step.
Closer to the inevitable chaos she had just set in motion.
"And how your mate… finds you."
A faint, almost amused exhale left her lips.
As if this—
This suffering—
Was nothing more than a game she had already begun to enjoy.
And behind her—
Fate didn't look kind anymore.
It looked… planned.
———————————————
Inside the pack house—
In a room filled with quiet authority—
Sat the Luna.
His mate.
His rightful partner.
She looked up—
And froze.
Her breath caught as she saw him enter.
Holding another woman.
Not gently.
Not hesitantly.
But possessively.
Like she belonged there.
"W-What is this…?" her voice trembled, disbelief flooding her eyes.
Her heart pounded painfully as she stood up, her gaze moving between them.
"This isn't funny… what are you doing?"
But the Alpha—
Didn't respond.
Didn't explain.
Didn't hesitate.
His voice came out cold.
Sharp.
Unfamiliar.
"Get out."
The words fell like a blade.
The Luna's world shattered in that moment.
"…What?" her voice broke.
"I said—get out."
No emotion.
No hesitation.
Just command.
Tears filled her eyes instantly.
Not just from pain—
But from the realization that something was terribly wrong.
Still—
She stepped back.
Slowly.
Like every step was tearing something inside her apart.
Her chest tightened painfully as she reached the door.
She turned once—
Hoping.
Begging silently for him to stop her.
To explain.
To look at her.
But he didn't.
And that was enough to break her completely.
She stepped out.
And the door closed behind her.
Moments passed.
Silence filled the hallway.
Heavy.
Crushing.
And then—
Sounds.
Muffled.
Distant.
Enough to understand.
Not enough to forget.
The Luna stood there.
Frozen.
Her hands trembling as tears streamed down her face.
Her world—
Her bond—
Her love—
Everything she believed in—
Collapsed in silence.
...
And somewhere far away—
In the garden—
Lily continued working.
Unaware.
Unknowing.
Touching the bracelet on her wrist absentmindedly.
Not realizing—
That the "gift" she received…
Was not a blessing.
But the beginning—
Of something far more dangerous.
Something more painful....