Chapter 1: The Harvest Moon's Promise (1)

The morning of the Harvest Moon celebration, I wake with electricity singing beneath my skin—though I don't yet know it's the beginning of the best and worst day of my life.

Dawn light filters through the thin curtains of my quarters in the omega wing, painting everything in soft gold. I lie still for a moment, savoring the unusual energy thrumming through my veins. Something feels different today. Important.

The Harvest Moon.

I throw off my blankets and dress quickly in my work clothes—simple brown leggings and a tunic that won't show stains. Today is the most sacred celebration in our pack's calendar, the night when the Moon Goddess reveals fated mates to those who are ready. But before tonight's ceremony, there's work to do. Perfect omegas don't shirk their duties, even on holy days.

The pack compound is still mostly asleep as I make my way to the communal kitchen. My bare feet know every stone in the path, every worn step leading down to the central buildings. This has been my routine for twenty years—wake before the Alphas and Betas, prepare their breakfast, serve their needs, make myself useful. Make myself worthy.

The kitchen smells of bread and herbs when I enter. I light the fires and begin pulling ingredients for the morning meal, my movements practiced and efficient. Porridge for the warriors who'll need fuel for today's preparations. Sweet rolls for the elders who'll oversee tonight's ceremony. Fresh meat for—

"Still playing servant, I see."

I don't flinch at Diana's voice, though my wolf stirs uncomfortably inside my chest. My twin sister leans against the doorframe, beautiful and cold in her hunting leathers, her dark hair perfect despite the early hour.

"Someone has to prepare breakfast," I say evenly, not looking up from the dough I'm kneading. "The celebration won't organize itself."

"No, someone like you has to prepare breakfast." Diana crosses to the cold storage and pulls out a blood apple, biting into it with deliberate casualness. "The rest of us have better things to do than play house."

The old hurt tries to surface, but I push it down like I always do. Diana has always been the strong twin, the one who could hunt and fight and command respect. I am the gentle one, the dutiful one, the perfect omega who makes everyone's life easier.

It has to mean something. It has to matter.

"Did you need something?" I ask, shaping the dough into neat portions.

Diana's laugh is sharp. "Just checking if you'd finally grown a spine. Apparently not." She tosses the half-eaten apple onto my clean counter and walks away without helping, her boots echoing on the stone floor.

I clean up her mess and return to my work.

By the time the pack begins to stir, I've prepared enough food to feed sixty wolves. Alpha Kael—my father—passes through the communal hall as I'm setting out the platters. His eyes slide over me without really seeing, the way they always do.

"Diana brought down a elk yesterday," he announces to the gathered Betas. "Took it down solo. That's Alpha material right there."

Pride fills his voice, warm and genuine. The same voice that's never quite managed that tone for me.

"Good morning, Father," I say quietly.

He nods in my direction, distracted. "Selene. Is everything prepared for tonight?"

"Yes, Alpha." I'm always Alpha to him during pack business. Never just Father.

"Good. The Harvest Moon ceremony is critical this year. We need strong bonds, strong matches." He finally looks at me directly, and something uncomfortable crosses his face. "You're twenty now. Old for an omega to be unmated."

"Yes, Alpha."

"Well." He clears his throat. "The Moon Goddess provides in her time."

It's the closest he'll come to encouragement. I take it and hold it close, a small warm thing in my chest.

Finn finds me an hour later, when I'm hauling water for the ceremonial baths. He's the only other omega in our pack close to my age, slight and quick with warm brown eyes that always see too much.

"You're doing too much again," he says, taking one of the heavy buckets from my hands without asking. "It's a celebration, Selene. You're allowed to prepare for yourself."

"I will. After everything else is ready."

"You mean after everyone else is taken care of." He bumps my shoulder gently. "What if tonight's your night? What if you find your fated mate?"

The electricity under my skin pulses stronger at his words, and I have to stop walking for a moment. "Don't say that. I don't want to hope."

"Hope anyway." Finn's smile is soft. "You deserve it more than anyone."

I don't know if I believe him, but I let the words settle in my chest alongside my father's awkward blessing.

The day passes in a blur of preparation. The pack compound transforms under dozens of hands—garlands of night-blooming flowers strung between buildings, the ceremonial bonfire built in the central gathering grounds, long tables laden with food and drink. As the sun begins to set, I finally retreat to my quarters to prepare myself.

I bathe in cold water scented with moonflower oil, scrubbing away the day's work until my skin is clean and soft. The white dress I pull on is simple but beautiful, traditional for unmated omegas during the Harvest Moon. It makes me look delicate, ethereal. Everything an omega should be.