Chapter 1
Alpha Reborn: A Luna's Revenge
Nora's POV
I opened my eyes slowly, my chest tight with panic as my heart pounded fiercely. My hands trembled as I stared down at them, the ghost of blood—his blood—still etched into my memory.
Alpha Ezra, my mate, was gone.
Tonight was supposed to be perfect, a night to celebrate the bond we had built as Alpha and Luna. I had planned to tell him how deeply I loved him, how proud I was to stand by his side. Instead, I was locked away, accused of killing the man I had promised my life to.
The suffocating silence of the cell pressed down on me, broken only by the sharp grinding of iron against stone. I flinched at the sound. The door creaked open, revealing two guards. Their faces were cold, emotionless. Without a word, they stepped forward and grabbed me, yanking me to my feet like I was nothing.
The chains around my wrists dug into my skin as they dragged me forward. My legs felt weak beneath me, trembling from exhaustion. I hadn't eaten in two days, and the damp chill of the cell had seeped into my bones. My body felt as hollow as my heart.
We stepped outside, and I froze.
The entire pack was gathered in the courtyard, their eyes burning with fury. Whispers swept through the crowd, low and venomous.
"She's a witch," someone spat.
"She deserves death," another hissed.
The hatred in their voices cut deeper than any blade. These were my people, the ones I had sworn to protect as their Luna. Now, they looked at me like I was a monster.
I forced my feet to move, each step heavier than the last. The guards dragged me into the council hall and shoved me to my knees before the Elders. Their cold, judgmental stares bore into me, making my skin crawl. To them, I wasn't just a murderer. I was a threat to the entire pack.
I kept my head bowed, but the sound of approaching footsteps made me glance up. My stomach twisted as I saw him—Keal.
Ezra's brother.
Keal's smirk sent a wave of rage through me. He had always resented Ezra. Ever since Ezra and I became mates, I could feel Keal's jealousy simmering beneath the surface. Now, that jealousy had turned into something far darker.
It was Keal who had found me, covered in Ezra's blood. Keal who had dragged me before the pack and declared me guilty. His words had poisoned their minds, turning them against me.
Keal stepped forward, his voice thick with mock sorrow as he addressed the crowd. "Today, we gather not only to mourn but to seek justice." He paused, letting his words sink in. "The Bloodfang Pack has lost its Alpha, the one who kept us strong and united. And the one responsible for this tragedy stands before us now."
He turned to me, his smirk fading into a mask of cold fury. "Nora. The woman we trusted as our Luna. The woman who betrayed us all."
The crowd erupted in angry murmurs, their hatred swelling around me like a storm.
Keal raised a hand, silencing them. "But we are not savages. The council will give her a chance to confess her crimes."
He crouched in front of me, his eyes glinting with malice. "Tell them, Nora," he said softly. "Tell them how you killed my brother."
I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms as I forced myself to speak. "I didn't kill Ezra," I said, my voice steady despite the chaos around me. "I loved him. I would never hurt him."
The crowd erupted again, their accusations tearing through the air.
"Liar!" someone shouted.
"She killed him to take power for herself!"
Their words stung, but I refused to falter. I kept my gaze fixed on Keal, my anger rising.
"You know the truth," I said, my voice sharp. "You know I didn't do this."
Keal's smirk returned. He straightened, turning back to the crowd with an exaggerated sigh. "She denies it, of course. But the evidence speaks for itself." He gestured toward me, his voice rising. "We found her with his blood on her hands! What more proof do we need?"
The Elders exchanged glances, their faces unreadable. Finally, one of them stepped forward. "The new Alpha will decide her punishment," he announced.
The words struck me like a blow.
A new Alpha? Ezra's death was still fresh, and they were already replacing him?
The guards pulled me to my feet, but I wrenched myself free, stumbling forward. My voice cracked with disbelief as I shouted, "A new Alpha? After everything I've done for this pack, this is how you repay me?"
The crowd fell silent, my anger hanging in the air like a storm cloud.
"You want to believe I'm guilty? Fine," I hissed, my voice low and dangerous. "But I promise you this—whoever is responsible for Ezra's death will pay. I will find them, and I will kill them."
The hall erupted into chaos, the pack's shouts blending into a deafening roar.
And then, cutting through the noise, came the sound of slow, mocking applause.
I turned to see Keal, clapping with a smug grin.
"Looking for the killer?" he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "You're looking at her."
Rage boiled inside me as I glared at him, but he stepped closer, his smile never wavering.
"Don't worry, Nora," he said, his tone soft but venomous. "I won't kill you. After all, you were my brother's mate. But that doesn't mean you'll escape punishment."
I narrowed my eyes, my voice steady despite the fire burning in my chest. "Only the Alpha can decide my punishment."
Keal's grin widened. "Exactly. And maybe you haven't realized it yet, but I'm not just Ezra's brother anymore."
The truth hit me like a physical blow. My breath caught in my throat as I whispered, "No."
"Oh, yes," Keal said, his voice triumphant. "I am the new Alpha of the Bloodfang Pack. And as your Alpha, I've decided your punishment."
He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "You'll live, Nora. But you'll live as my slave."
His words shattered something inside me. My knees buckled, and the weight of his gaze pressed down on me like a crushing wave.
Keal was the Alpha now. And I was at his mercy.