Chapter 1: The Girl Beyond the Border

The Scottish Highlands slept beneath a silver moon.

Cold winds swept across endless hills covered in purple heather while ancient forests whispered secrets older than memory itself. Above the dark landscape stood Blackthorn Castle, a fortress carved into the side of a mountain. Its towers pierced the clouds like black spears.

Inside the castle, servants hurried through torchlit corridors while warriors wearing the crest of a silver wolf prepared for the annual Moon Gathering.

Lyra Whitmore stood near a tall window overlooking the valley.

At twenty-three, she had spent most of her life moving from one town to another with her grandfather. She was human, ordinary by every standard, yet fate had somehow brought her to the most powerful werewolf kingdom in northern Scotland.

Her grandfather had recently passed away, leaving behind a mysterious letter.

The letter contained only a few lines.

Find Blackthorn Castle.

Seek Lord Cedric.

The truth about your family awaits.

That was three weeks ago.

Unfortunately, Lord Cedric had died before she arrived.

Now she remained at the castle as a guest while searching for answers.

Or at least that was the excuse she gave everyone.

The truth was much more dangerous.

She had fallen in love.

Her gaze drifted toward the training grounds below.

Even from this distance she could recognize him.

Ronan Blackthorn.

King of the Blackthorn Pack.

The strongest Alpha in Scotland.

Six feet four inches of muscle, power, and authority.

Warriors respected him.

Enemies feared him.

Women adored him.

Lyra tried not to be one of them.

She failed every day.

Ronan raised a massive sword during training.

Moonlight reflected from the steel.

With a single strike he shattered a wooden practice post.

The watching warriors erupted in cheers.

A small smile appeared on his face.

Lyra's heart skipped.

"You're staring again."

She jumped.

A young woman carrying books entered the room.

Evelyn Hart.

The castle librarian.

One of the few people Lyra considered a friend.

"I wasn't staring," Lyra lied.

Evelyn laughed.

"Of course not. And I'm secretly a dragon."

Lyra rolled her eyes.

"It's hopeless, isn't it?"

"What is?"

"Being in love with someone who barely knows you exist."

Evelyn walked beside her and glanced through the window.

"The Alpha King?"

Lyra groaned.

"Am I that obvious?"

"Only to everyone with eyes."

"Wonderful."

"For what it's worth," Evelyn said gently, "you're not the first woman to admire him."

"And I won't be the last."

"Probably not."

The words hurt more than Lyra expected.

Because they were true.

Ronan belonged to another world.

A world of power, ancient bloodlines, and royal obligations.

She was simply a human girl searching for family secrets.

Nothing more.

A loud horn echoed across the valley.

The Moon Gathering had begun.

Guests from neighboring packs filled the castle.

Music drifted through grand halls.

Crystal chandeliers illuminated hundreds of dancers.

Silver banners bearing wolf symbols hung from every wall.

Lyra stood near a balcony overlooking the celebration.

She wore a dark blue gown Evelyn had convinced her to borrow.

For the first time since arriving, she almost felt like she belonged.

"You look beautiful tonight."

Her breath caught.

Ronan stood behind her.

Close enough for her to smell pine and smoke on his clothes.

"Your Majesty," she said nervously.

"Ronan."

"I don't think I'm allowed to call you that."

"I think you are."

His smile was small but genuine.

The sight nearly destroyed her ability to think.

"Enjoying the celebration?" he asked.

"Very much."

"Good."

For a moment neither spoke.

The silence felt strangely comfortable.

Then a group of nobles approached Ronan.

The moment vanished.

"Duty calls," he said.

"Of course."

"Enjoy your evening, Lyra."

He knew her name.

The realization left her frozen long after he disappeared into the crowd.

Hours later the celebration continued.

Music echoed through the castle.

Guests laughed and danced.

Unable to sleep, Lyra wandered through a quiet hallway searching for fresh air.

As she approached an open door, familiar voices stopped her.

Ronan.

And his Beta, Marcus Vale.

She never intended to listen.

But then she heard her name.

"The human girl?" Marcus asked.

"Lyra seems fond of you."

A brief silence followed.

Lyra's heart raced.

"She's kind," Ronan replied.

"Kind? That's all?"

Marcus laughed.

"Half the castle thinks she's in love with you."

"That's ridiculous."

"Is it?"

"Even if it isn't, it changes nothing."

Lyra felt unease creep into her chest.

"Why?" Marcus pressed.

Ronan sighed.

"Because she's human."

"And?"

"I'm the Alpha King."

Every word struck like a blade.

"I need a Luna capable of leading an entire kingdom."

"So you would never consider her?"

A pause.

Then came the sentence that shattered her world.

"No. I would never choose someone like Lyra."

Silence.

Lyra couldn't breathe.

"Not as my Luna. Not as my future."

The hallway seemed to tilt beneath her feet.

She backed away before hearing anything else.

One step.

Then another.

Tears blurred her vision.

The castle lights became distant stars.

Every smile.

Every conversation.

Every hopeful dream.

All of it suddenly felt foolish.

Of course he would never choose her.

Why had she believed otherwise?

She reached her room and locked the door.

For hours she sat beside the window staring at the moon.

The same moon that watched over wolves and kings.

A moon that clearly had no plans for her.

As dawn approached, a decision formed.

She would leave.

No confrontation.

No accusations.

No dramatic goodbye.

She would simply disappear from Ronan Blackthorn's life.

Forever.

Outside, the first rays of sunlight touched the mountains.

Inside, Lyra folded the mysterious letter from her grandfather and placed it into her bag.

Then she whispered the words that would change everything.

"Goodbye, Ronan."

She had no idea that before another week passed, the Alpha King would discover a truth capable of destroying his entire world.

Or that fate had already begun setting its trap.