Bonus Chapter 2
Tarria
Six months had passed since the night the triplets 4th birthday and a year since my hand healed, and I had come to think of that moment as the turning point—the silent promise that the universe had not forgotten me. Life in the tribe had found a new rhythm since then. The palace brimmed with laughter and light, with tiny feet thundering down the hallways and the constant hum of energy that surrounded Queen Lexy’s growing family.
Now, preparations filled the air again. The second set of triplets—the youngest heirs—were turning one along a full moon, and the celebration was already shaping into something magnificent.
Banners of moon-silver fabric hung between the trees, swaying in the warm evening breeze. The air was thick with the aroma of roasted meats and spiced fruits, while children ran through the grass trailing ribbons that shimmered under the rising full moon.
I stood at the edge of the courtyard, watching as warriors carried tables into place and alchemist ladies scattered glowing petals that would illuminate the night once darkness fell. The moon was heavy and bright above, silver light dripping over everything it touched. There was magic in the air—calm, strong, and ancient.
I smiled as I spotted Lexy across the field, laughing softly as CJ tried to wrangle one of the older triplets, who had decided that a royal cake made an excellent fortress. The sight warmed my chest every time. A year, and the Queen still glowed with that same fierce serenity. The pack thrived under her leadership, and the alliance between the tribes and packs had never been stronger.
I had thrown myself into my duties, training warriors, leading border patrols, and working with the Dr. Bennett and elders to integrate my growing power into protection wards. I had become balance itself—light and dark, warrior and guardian. But even in my wholeness, there was a quiet ache I rarely admitted to myself.
I had never truly believed I would find a mate.
For so long, I had thought my purpose was serve—my Queen, my tribe, and my people. My father once told me that love could be a weakness. But Lexy’s family, her bond with CJ, and even the playful affection of the children had taught me something different. Love was not a weakness. It was power refined.
“Are you going to stand there brooding or actually join the party?” Helio’s familiar voice teased as he approached, balancing two goblets of moonwine.
I chuckled. “I’m not brooding. Just… observing.”
“Observing is what you do before you decide who to challenge in a spar,” he said, handing me one of the goblets. “Relax. It’s a celebration, not a strategy meeting.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Old habits die hard.”
Helio grinned knowingly before nodding toward the outer gate, where a new group of visitors was arriving. “Speaking of habits, Lexy invited representatives from every pack in the states. She thought it’d be good for the alliance to grow closer. Look, that’s the Silver Dyer pack”
I followed his gaze. A procession of wolves in silver and dark blue cloaks entered the courtyard, each carrying offerings—carved moonstone, woven cloth, baskets of rare fruits. The lead among them was tall, broad-shouldered, his aura calm yet powerful. His silver-streaked hair caught the moonlight like fire in snow.
Something inside me shifted.
He glanced around the courtyard with the steady alertness of a warrior, his pale amber eyes scanning until they locked onto mines. For a moment, everything around me—the music, the laughter, the movement—faded.
The pull hit like a silent storm. My wolf Rhiannon stirred inside, breath catching in recognition so deep it rooted me to the earth.
The man froze as well, his nostrils flaring slightly. A faint growl—low, possessive—escaped before he caught himself and bowed respectfully to the Queen.
My heart thundered in my chest. No. Not here. Not now.
But the bond had already awakened.
Lexy, of course, noticed immediately. Her smile turned knowing as her gaze flicked between us. The Queen said nothing, only gave me a small nod that said, Fate moves when it should.
Later, when the festivities reached their height and music pulsed beneath the stars, I stepped away from the crowd, needing space to breathe. I wandered to the edge of the clearing where the forest began, the silver moonlight washing over me like a blessing.
I didn’t have to turn to know he followed. His presence was like gravity—impossible to ignore.
“You shouldn’t walk away from your own Queen’s party,” his voice came, low and smooth, carrying the deep timbre of someone used to command.
I turned slowly; my pulse was still racing. “And you shouldn’t follow warriors into the dark unless you’re ready for what you’ll find.”
A faint smile curved his lips. “Noted. I’m Ragnar of the Silver Dyer pack. Beta to Alpha Moren.”
“Tarria,” I said simply. “Of the Celestial Kingdom Tribe.”
“I know who you are,” Ragnar replied. “Your reputation travels far. The warrior who fought through shadow and rose from loss. The one they call the Balance Keeper.”
I blinked. “That’s… an exaggeration.”
“Maybe,” he said, stepping closer, his eyes never leaving mines. “But I can see the truth of it.”
The bond between us pulsed again, stronger this time. It wasn’t just attraction—it was recognition on a soul-deep level, the intertwining of two energies that had waited lifetimes to meet. My wolf stirred restlessly, wanting to reach out, to touch.
“You feel it too,” he said softly.
I exhaled shakily, lowering my gaze for the first time. “I wasn’t expecting—”
“Neither was I.” His tone held both wonder and restraint. “But the moon doesn’t ask for permission.”
The words drew a small laugh from me. “You sound like someone who listens to prophecy.”
“I listen when fate speaks.” He paused, then added, “And tonight, it spoke loud enough to make my heart stop.”
I met his gaze again, and this time, I didn’t look away. He was solid, grounded—a warrior, yes, but not hardened by ego. His presence soothed and ignited me all at once.
“Come,” he said, extending a hand—not to claim, but to invite. “The full moon is at its peak. Dance with me before the night run.”
I hesitated only for a heartbeat before taking his hand. Electricity shot up my arm at the contact, the bond humming with approval. Together, we walked back into the courtyard.
The celebration had reached its crescendo—drums pulsed like heartbeats, wolves shifted and howled in joy, and Lexy’s laughter carried through the night as CJ held their one-year-olds close. The triplets clapped their tiny hands as sparks of light drifted from the firepit, rising like stars into the sky.
Ragnar and I joined the dance circle, moving in time with the rhythm. It wasn’t the graceful, practiced dance of courtly rituals—it was raw, instinctive, wild. The crowd around us blurred as our energies intertwined, our wolves circling each other beneath the surface.
When the song reached its peak, Ragnar caught my wrist, spinning me close to him. For a breathless instant, our eyes met under the light of the full moon. It wasn’t just a look—it was a silent vow. Recognition. Completion.
The drums slowed. The music faded. The bond sealed.
The moonlight bathed us in silver, its light catching the mark forming faintly on my wrist—a mirrored glow that matched the one on his.
Lexy watched from across the courtyard, smiling softly as she whispered something to CJ. He nodded, his expression warm.
For me, the world had shifted again. But this time, it wasn’t pain or loss that defined me. It was connection—pure and undeniable.
As the moon reached its highest point, I knew one truth with absolute certainty: I had found the other half of my strength.
And under that moonlit sky, surrounded by laughter, family, and fate, we transformed into a new beginning.
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