The kingdom of Greven is ruled by the last pure-blooded Lycan king, who has rarely been seen, but has managed to lead his country with authority, with rigidity, all the rules are followed in the packs without hesitation, no one dares to go against his will, because they know that doing so is a sure death.

In the kingdom is the Blue Cascade pack, where Astrid lives, the most popular girl in the pack, she has everything, friends, loving parents and a perfect boyfriend, future alpha of the Blue Cascade pack.

Her life has been so calm and undisturbed, she has only focused on her studies and on becoming the future Luna of the pack.

When she came of age, she thought she would be her boyfriend's destined mate, but she wasn't, although this didn't discourage her, since for many years, few people had been blessed by the Moon Goddess, so the engagement became formal once neither she nor her boyfriend, Leandro, were paired by the blessing of the Moon Goddess.

Everything was perfect, so perfect, that she never imagined her life would change completely.

***********

It was night, Astrid and Leandro were in the car, kissing intensely, both were too hot, Leandro's caresses desperately sought every curve of her body, her skirt had risen enough to reveal the already damp black lace fabric.

- Fuck\, Astrid - Leandro growled\, his hands moving expertly in that area\, playing with her wet center.

Astrid couldn't say a single word, only moans came from her lips, she took one of her hands to his crotch, feeling his growing erection.

- Let's go to the back - Leandro suggested.

And those words were the breaking point of the moment.

- Seriously? Back? - Astrid said annoyedly\, pulling her hand away from that area.

- Well\, a hotel - He commented\, hoping she would agree.

- No - She pulled Leandro's hand away from her intimacy. - You know we'll do it after the ceremony - She added.

That had been the agreement they had reached, when Leandro asked her to become his Luna, an agreement he regretted, as he so desperately wanted to have sex with her, to be the first man in her life. But Astrid has flatly refused to have sex before the agreed date, and that was beginning to frustrate him.

- Come on\, Astrid - He said in a low whisper\, caressing her thigh\, slowly moving up towards her intimacy - Don't you desire me? - Leandro asked\, making circular motions on her skin.

- Yes\, very much\, but we have an agreement - She said biting her lower lip\, resisting Leandro's provocations. - It won't be long\, very little time left for me to be completely yours - She approached him and kissed his lips tenderly.

- Fine - Leandro said resigned and frustrated\, pulling his hand away from her.

Astrid noticed the annoyance on his face, she felt bad for leaving him like that, but she really wanted her first time to be special and not in the back of the car or in a hotel, plus that agreement she made with Leandro some time ago seemed romantic and special, more than an agreement for her it was a promise of love.

- I'll see you tomorrow - She gave him a quick kiss before getting out of the car and entering the house.

Leandro stayed there until she entered the house, seconds later he was already making a call, that erection was a nuisance and he would need help to calm down.

- I'll pick you up - He said once the other person answered his call.

He didn't take long on the call, he smiled at having a positive answer, started the car and set off to his next destination.

***************

Astrid entered the house to find her parents in the living room watching a movie, she straightened her clothes and approached them to greet them before going up to her bedroom.

- How was the party? - Her father\, Frank\, asked.

- Perfect - She said with a big smile.

- Your dress for the ceremony arrived\, I left it in your bedroom - Her mother\, Aurora\, said.

Astrid was excited to hear that, she ran up the stairs, the dress was something she had been waiting for months, she even took great care not to gain weight, as she didn't want there to be any mistakes.

As she entered her bedroom, she saw it, her mother had left it ready for her to try on, it was on the bed, it was an ivory tone, sweetheart neckline, had an opening in the middle of the crotch, and a long fall behind.

She sighed, it was the perfect dress and she would wear it the day she became the Luna of the pack, but above all Leandro's woman, as she had dreamed for many years.

For Astrid, her life was so perfect, she didn't need anything else.

The morning came sooner than expected, Astrid got ready as usual to go to college, she was in her last year so it was important not to skip any of her classes.

When she arrived at the university she saw Leandro with Catalina, her best friend, they were too close, but for Astrid it was normal, they had known each other since they were children, she approached them very excited, she had to give them the news about the arrival of her dress and that it looked spectacular on her.

- Hello! - She said excitedly\, hugging Leandro from behind.

Leandro tensed at her arrival, Astrid turned her gaze to Catalina, she didn't seem happy to see her either.

- What's wrong? - Astrid asked\, confused by their serious looks.

- Nothing - Leandro replied immediately - You look beautiful - He said giving her a kiss on the forehead and passed his hand around her shoulder.

- Thanks\, what's wrong with Cata? - She asked\, seeing that she still didn't say a single word.

- It's nothing\, hormonal problems...- She said with a forced smile - I have to go to class - She added before turning around and leaving without letting them say goodbye.

Astrid was surprised by Catalina's answer, but preferred not to say anything more, to continue her wonderful morning with her beloved boyfriend.

- My parents\, want us to have dinner with them today\, does that sound good? - Astrid suggested.

Leandro looked at her and nodded.

- What's wrong? - She asked\, she had known Leandro for many years\, not only as boyfriends\, but also as friends.

- It's nothing\, let's go to class - He said and started walking with her.

**************

In the royal palace of Greven, the king was lying in his elegant office chair, his clothes were disheveled, as if he hadn't slept in days, a thick goatee beard, his eyes were closed, his breathing was agitated.

- Majesty\, the ceremony of new alpha and Luna of the Blue Cascade pack\, will be next week - His beta said while checking the agenda from his device.

- Fine - He said in a low whisper.

- Are you planning to go? Or will you stay on the sidelines as usual? - His Beta asked again.

The king never attended events of that kind, not because he didn't like them, but because, given his years without a destined mate, he preferred to stay away from civilization because his lycan was too possessive and hated being surrounded by people, he didn't want to feel any scent that wasn't that of his mate, a mate that the king himself thought would never exist again.

- I'll go - He said resigned\, he could no longer stay hidden\, nor away from his kingdom. He had to start living without a mate and his lycan had to do it too.

- Perfect\, I'll organize everything - His beta said and without further ado left the office.

The king remained in his chair, thinking about the heavy last nights he had had, his lycan was powerful, so much so that it was beginning to hurt him, the hope of finding his mate was beginning to be a simple dream, the Moon Goddess had abandoned them a long time ago and it was their fault, many times they denied her blessing, rejecting and hurting their destined mates. They did not deserve her forgiveness.

But he, was one of the few wolves who wanted to have that blessing, to find his destined partner and turn her into his queen, the mother of his pups and before the only one he could kneel and behave as docile and tender as a puppy.

- Where are you? - He whispered heavily.

***************

The day of the ceremony finally arrived, Astrid was so excited that she couldn't sleep all the previous night, she got up very early to arrange the last details.

The ceremony would be during the night when the full Moon was at its maximum splendor, in the sacred lake of the pack, there all the ceremonies had been held for many years, and it was a sacred ritual for everyone.

Her parents were as excited as she was, their little and only daughter would become Luna of the pack and that filled them with pride, even though they were simple wolves without any high rank.

- Astrid\, you should rest for a while - Aurora said entering the bedroom - What's wrong? - She asked seeing that Astrid didn't stop looking at her phone and seemed annoyed.

- Leandro is not answering my messages - She complained and looked at her mother.

- Come on honey\, he must be busy - She said - And you have to rest - She took the phone away from her\, she knew perfectly well that her daughter had not slept all night and needed to do it at least for a few hours.

Astrid reluctantly obeyed her mother, lay down to get a few hours of sleep, thinking about how wonderful her life would be after that night.

**********

And so the night arrived, that night when Astrid's life would change forever, without even imagining it.

After sleeping for a few hours, she felt more energized. She grabbed her phone, hoping Leandro had replied to one of her messages, but he hadn't. She decided to ignore it, as it was only a matter of hours before she would see him and become his Luna, and above all, his wife.

The makeup artists arrived and began to do their work. Astrid had requested something not too heavy that would preserve her natural beauty, so it wasn't necessary to use much makeup. Her long, brown hair cascaded down her back with a golden tiara as an ornament, and her sea-blue eyes sparkled with happiness.

When she was alone in the room, she prepared to get dressed. She removed her bathrobe, revealing white lace lingerie; she had prepared everything for this night, when she would give herself to her beloved Leandro for the first time. She put on her dress, and tears threatened to fall.

Her mother entered at that moment, marveling at how beautiful her daughter looked.

"Darling, you're so beautiful," she approached her and hugged her.

"Thank you, Mommy," she smiled, preventing a single tear from falling. "Dad?" she asked, not seeing him.

"Downstairs, waiting," Aurora replied.

Astrid and Aurora descended the stairs. Upon seeing them, Frank felt nostalgic seeing his little daughter, who was about to take an important step in her life. He approached them and offered his hands to help them down the last steps.

"So beautiful, my daughter," Frank said tenderly. "I have a gift for you," he said, releasing Aurora's hand, who looked at him with confusion, and took out a navy blue velvet box from his jacket.

"What is it?" Astrid asked excitedly, taking the box. Upon opening it, she found a crescent moon-shaped medal with a red stone star in the middle.

Astrid didn't notice Aurora's disapproval of her husband due to the excitement of the gift.

"It's very special, and it's yours, it always has been," her father said, his voice breaking.

Astrid nodded at those words, looked at her father, and that tender look moved her. Although she already had her accessories that she had specially chosen for that day, her father's gift was beautiful and with a very special value, so she didn't hesitate to take it out of the box and ask him for help putting it on.

"Darling, are you sure?" Aurora asked, not entirely in agreement that she would wear that necklace.

"Yes, it's a special gift from Dad," Astrid said without thinking.

Frank helped his daughter wear the necklace. She had no idea how important it was and, above all, who it belonged to, but that was a secret that could never be revealed.

************

Everyone had gathered at the lake. It was nighttime, and the full moon was at its peak, illuminating the entire place with its marvelous light.

King Lycan was still hidden, trying to control his lycanthrope, who refused to be surrounded by so many people, ensuring that he wouldn't be able to perceive his mate's scent that way.

"Your Majesty, if you wish, I can simply take charge," his beta spoke, but he refused; he no longer wanted to hide.

"Just let me know when the ceremony starts to make the presentation of the Alpha and Luna," he said.

He only had to come out and name them as Alpha and Luna, he didn't have to do more. Normally, his beta or gamma took care of doing it on his behalf. This would be the first time he would do it in person.

**************

Astrid was already at the lake. The ceremony would begin soon. Tents had been set up to house the future Alpha and Luna while the ceremony began. She was nervous about everything and also because she hadn't seen Leandro.

She smiled as a wonderful plan occurred to her: go see him. After all, she was only a few steps away from him. So, she stealthily headed toward her future partner's tent, but upon arriving, she heard familiar voices, Leandro and Catalina.

"You can't make her your Luna," Catalina complained.

"Enough, Catalina, don't make things worse," Leandro growled.

"Worse? Damn it! She can't become Luna, I should be," she said, almost shouting.

Astrid listened to everything from the other side, without making the slightest noise.

"Why? Because you're expecting a pup that's supposedly mine?" Leandro asked ironically.

That was a bucket of cold water for Astrid. Catalina pregnant with Leandro? That was impossible, Leandro couldn't have betrayed her like that.

"Who else's? You're the only one I've been with," Catalina hissed, trying not to break her voice.

"I don't believe you... that pup must be someone else's," Leandro blurted out mockingly.

The tent flap opened. Leandro turned to find Astrid. His face paled, Catalina sighed and opened her mouth in surprise.

"Did you sleep with her?" Astrid asked, glaring at Leandro.

"Let me explain," Leandro tried to stay calm and slowly approached her.

"Answer! Bastard!" Astrid shouted furiously, her eyes filled with tears.

"Yes! And I'm expecting his pup!" Catalina shouted, tired of hiding everything.

"You're disgusting, damned dogs!" Astrid growled.

"Astrid, don't believe her, that pup isn't mine," Leandro stepped in front and put his hands on her shoulders.

"No? Okay, but you slept with her," she pushed him away. "What happened to the shitty promise you made me?" she asked, her tears no longer able to be contained, falling non-stop down her cheeks.

"It doesn't matter, after the ceremony, it will be just you and me... we will mark each other and..." Leandro said, trying to control the situation.

"Go to hell!" Astrid shouted, slapping him hard and storming out of the tent.

Leandro muttered a few curses and turned his gaze towards Catalina. He was furious; all his plans were ruined because of her. Without saying anything, he went after Astrid, he had to convince her to continue with the ceremony.

****************

Astrid ran into the forest, so lost in the pain of betrayal that she didn't realize she was outside the pack's boundaries, where she could be attacked by deserters.

The pain in her heart was overwhelming. She never imagined that Leandro would betray her like that. Her whole life was falling apart, her desire to live was over.

She tripped over a branch and fell to the ground in a mud puddle, completely ruining her dress. Her crying combined with the sounds of nature, darkness enveloped her, and the full moon was her only companion, or so she thought.

****************

The king began to feel too uncomfortable. Hours had passed, and the ceremony hadn't started. His beta had already gone to investigate, so he was just waiting for his report.

"Your Majesty, I think the future Luna is lost," his beta said, doubtful of what he had just heard.

"Oh?" He looked at him with irony. "What the hell happened?" he asked.

The beta sighed heavily, knowing that by telling him the truth, his king would make a decision that would be a special punishment for the future alpha.

"The future Alpha cheated on his future Luna, and to top it off, his lover is pregnant," he said.

The king frowned at that response. Even if they weren't destined pairs blessed by the Moon Goddess, the union of an alpha with his luna was important to him. Deceit was something he didn't easily forgive.

"Let's go," the king said with authority. He didn't plan to stay there any longer. He would think about the punishment he would give that young alpha who had made fun of that girl who could have become his Luna.

****************

Astrid had finally calmed down. She looked around, not knowing where she was, so she continued walking until she reached a lake she hadn't seen before. She looked at her clothes; her dress was totally ruined, her white skin was covered in mud.

"A bath is good, Astrid," she whispered to herself.

She took off her dress and dropped it on the rocky ground, then went into the lake, hoping that the cold water would make her forget everything that had happened, but her heart still hurt.

"Oh, Moon Goddess, help me," she said with her voice breaking, her heart was broken.

**************

The king had escaped from his beta; he needed fresh air. His lycanthrope was so furious that he wanted to take control at that moment. He arrived at the lake, heard sobs, so he became alert, searching for who it was until he found a girl swimming.

He stood there.

"Why? Why do you abandon us?" she asked, looking at the Moon. "Aren't we your beloved children?! Look what your tantrum has done! I almost paired with a bastard dog!" she shouted.

The king smiled at her words; it was clear that she was in an argument with the Moon Goddess herself.

He continued to observe her for a long time, until his lycanthrope began to get restless. That girl was calling his attention. The king tried to step away, he shouldn't be near her, the desire to possess her grew inside him.

He got up, trying to walk away, but took a misstep and fell into the lake.

Astrid was frightened when she heard the splash of water. She turned to see a man drowning, hesitated for a few seconds, but in the end, she went to help him.

The King felt his body burning despite being completely wet. Feeling the skin of that girl ignited his desire even more. His vision was blurred, he was losing his sanity, letting himself be carried away by the savage instinct, he grabbed Astrid's arm and threw her to the shore of the lake, climbed on top of her, his wet, black hair fell forward, his eyes were red as blood.

"Let me go!" Astrid shouted, trying to push him away, but the king, blinded by lust, didn't allow it.

He leaned in to kiss her lips wildly. Astrid continued to struggle, trying to get that huge man off her, her body tensed as she felt his hand already caressing her center, she bit her lower lip, this shouldn't be happening to her, she simply wanted to save him from drowning, but now, that man was touching her and, unfortunately for her, her body was responding.

"I'm sorry, I promise I'll try to be gentle," the king growled, while unbuttoning his pants, he couldn't contain himself any longer, he needed to be inside her.

To fuck that unknown girl.

*************************

Astrid swallowed hard at his words; that man was really about to take advantage of her. That was abuse—she didn't want to lose her virginity like this, with a stranger and in such a place.

- I don't want to! – She shouted\, slapping him\, but it still didn’t make the king stop.

The king grabbed both her hands and lifted them above her head; his blurred vision barely allowed him to see her face. He knew what he was doing wasn’t right, but he couldn’t control himself. He positioned himself between her legs, brushing against her most intimate areas.

Astrid let out an involuntary moan at the touch; her body burned uncontrollably.

The king could hold back no longer and thrust into her with a single stroke. Though he wanted to be gentle, his wild desire prevented it; being inside her, feeling her tightness began driving him crazy. He moved roughly, and Astrid's moans turned to ones of pain. She wasn’t enjoying her first time at all.

- Stupid… you said you would be gentle – she growled.

- I'm trying – the king grunted\, striving to control his movements.

Astrid began to forget the pain; her body adjusted to the size of this stranger, and she started to enjoy it. The roughness of his movements began to give her a burning pleasure, a desire for more. Her moans transformed, no longer filled with pain; passion had opened within her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and began to move in tandem with him.

The king savored each thrust, entering and exiting her had become the greatest pleasure he'd ever felt.

That night, the Moon witnessed that moment; Astrid had lost her virginity to this stranger, who was her king, Lycan.

The king couldn’t see her face fully, but he had a slight suspicion of who she was. So once he satisfied his hunger for her, he would take responsibility; she, though not his destined mate, would become his Luna. He had already decided this, and it seemed his lycan side didn’t mind, for she was giving him the greatest pleasure and fully satisfying his sexual appetite.

But neither of them imagined that destiny had other plans for them, and after that night, they wouldn’t see each other for a long time.

************************

Four years later

Astrid woke up with a pounding headache; she had slept very few hours, but that wasn’t important. She had much to do that day, including working since she needed money to pay for rent and food, not for herself, but for someone special.

- Mommy! – shouted a small boy of about four years old\, with black hair and blue eyes just like hers.

- Good morning\, my pup – Astrid said\, wrapping her arms around the little one\, the fruit of that intense night by the lake. - What do you want for breakfast? – she asked\, giving him a couple of kisses on his rosy cheeks.

- Pancakes – he said with laughter – Mommy\, I love you so much – the little boy said again\, hugging her.

- And I love you – she replied\, returning the embrace.

After that night, Astrid had fled from that man without even seeing his face; she didn’t care. When she returned home, her parents could sense a man’s scent on her. It only got worse when they saw that Leandro was there; he rejected and condemned her, immediately banishing her from the pack.

Her parents, unable to help her, gave her their savings so she could travel to a distant aunt’s home. But Astrid didn’t do that. She decided that the best course was to distance herself from everyone, so she settled in a small city with humans. Time passed, and she realized she was pregnant.

The news took her by surprise; the savings her parents had given her wouldn’t last forever. For a moment, she considered aborting, but she regretted it while in the operating room. That little one wasn’t to blame for how he was conceived, and now she didn’t regret anything. The arrival of her pup brightened her gray days and became her reason for being.

- Mommy\, can I go with you to work today? – the little one asked\, pulling her from her thoughts.

- No\, my love\, you have to go to school – she replied as she stood up with him in her arms.

- Mommy\, I don’t want to go\, I don’t like that school – The little one whispered.

- Why? – Astrid asked as she walked with the child to the kitchen.

- I don’t like the kids there\, they say I’m weird… - He whispered\, his gaze lowered.

Astrid sighed; she knew that human life would be difficult for her little one someday, but he was still a cub, and his wolf powers hadn’t awakened yet.

- Alain\, you’re not weird\, and don’t pay attention to what others say – She said\, stroking his black hair\, which she knew he had inherited from his father\, that bastard who dared to abuse her four years ago.

- Well – The boy replied resignedly\, keeping a small secret from his mother; he didn’t want to worry her\, knowing she had enough on her mind.

Astrid took the little boy to school and then went to work; her job was as a secretary at a construction company, where she quickly understood her functions and became very efficient in her tasks. Thanks to the benefits, Alain could attend a private school because he had a scholarship from the company.

- Ms. Cameron\, come to my office – Said her boss\, a man in his thirties\, who had courted Astrid at first but calmed down when he learned she had a child.

Astrid stood up and headed to his office, wearing a pencil skirt that accentuated her figure.

- What can I do for you\, Sir – she said with a smile\, preparing to take notes on her tablet.

- This is a termination – He said out of the blue.

Astrid looked at him in disbelief; he couldn’t say that to her, not now when she needed the job so much.

- Why? – She asked nervously.

- Staff cut – He responded matter-of-factly – Please go to human resources for your severance payment. I’m sorry\, but we’re really going through a crisis\, and we can only keep staff with availability – He commented as he saw her look of astonishment.

- I have availability…

- You don’t – He interrupted her – You have a child\, and because of that\, you can’t work extra hours\, so\, well\, I’m sorry\, Astrid\, but you’ll find something better – He smiled and then focused on his laptop.

Astrid left devastated after receiving her severance check; it could cover some debts and a few months' rent in advance, but she couldn’t afford Alain’s private school, so she would have to transfer him to a public one.

She arrived at the school to complete the withdrawal process; there was no point in keeping him there any longer, and she also decided to take him home.

She waited calmly for her son to arrive when she saw him walking towards her, with his teacher behind him. What was strange was that her little one was murmuring something, as if he were talking to himself.

- Alain? – She called.

The little boy lifted his gaze and smiled, running into her arms, and she welcomed him with much love.

- I missed you\, Mommy – The little one said excitedly in his mother’s embrace.

- And I missed you – She lifted him and glanced at the teacher\, bidding her farewell and leaving with Alain in her arms\, who couldn’t stop planting kisses on her.

- Did you get off work early\, Mommy? – Alain asked\, knowing that his mother usually picked him up in the afternoon when there were no other children around.

- Well\, let’s just say I have a vacation – She lied\, not wanting her little one to be tormented by problems – By the way\, Alain\, why were you talking to yourself? – She asked curiously.

Alain looked at her with surprise and sadness, his small body beginning to tremble in her arms.

- Mommy… I wasn’t talking to myself – He whispered\, his gaze lowered.

- What do you mean? – Astrid asked\, a hint of fear in her voice.

- There’s someone in my head\, and he says he’s my friend – The little Alain whispered again.

Astrid stopped dead in her tracks; that couldn’t be possible. It had been so many years since any wolf had contacted their inner wolf, so her son couldn’t be the exception.

- What does he say exactly? – She asked\, trying to conceal her nerves.

- He is my friend and he will take care of me…- The little boy looked up with hope in his eyes at seeing that his mother believed him. – Mommy\, I’m not crazy\, I swear\, I can hear him and he says that you should believe me – said the boy before his mother could say anything more.

- Yes\, of course\, I believe you…oh by the Goddess – Astrid said\, overwhelmed.

Now, after four years, she was starting to worry about the identity of her son’s father, as he must be someone with such strong genes that her little one had awakened his wolf at such an early age and, above all, was able to communicate with him.

She had to return to the Greven kingdom and find answers, to locate the father of her little cub before his wolf began to lose control and hurt him.