Chapter 1

After the war between wolves and vampires, my sister Isabella Lupin's mate came home. Mine was carried back in a coffin.

Everyone felt sorry for me.

But I knew the truth. The man who came back wasn't Isabella's mate, Alexander Drake. It was mine, Lucas Drake.

Alexander and Lucas were twin brothers, with wolves so alike in strength and scent that no one in the pack even sniffed the deception.

Lucas had explained in private, "Serena, I did this for the Pack. Alexander had the power to defeat Father and was the future Alpha. If the Pack finds out he died in battle, it would tear us apart from the inside. The challenge for power would be a bloodbath.

"And Isabella... she's too fragile. Losing her fated mate would destroy her. I'm just filling in. Keeping the peace. Once things settle down, I'll come back to you. I swear it."

I believed him. My mate. My husband. I trusted his word over the growling unease in my own wolf.

I believed him until the day he accused me of treason, of conspiring with the vampires, and had me executed in the town square.

As the silver burned through my veins, I watched him pull my sister into his arms, his lips pressed to her forehead, and I understood. There was no peace to keep. There was only his ambition.

Then I woke with a gasp, the phantom pain of silver still burning in my veins. There came the howl. Long, mournful, carrying the news of my mate's death.

Lucas held Isabella in silence. The pack's pity was on me, the widow left behind.

But no, I would never spend the rest of my life for a "dead" wolf. I found my fated mate, a better wolf than him.

Let Lucas wear his dead brother's skin and play Alpha. He thought he had won everything? Naïve. Dumping me was losing his only shot at becoming the Pack's Alpha.

*****

"Serena, Lucas... he's gone." The Alpha's voice was a ragged growl, his eyes fixed on the wooden coffin laid before the throne.

I heard him, the pain of the silver still a phantom ache in my bones.

The Alpha had two sons. The heir, Alexander, and the spare, my mate, Lucas, who was supposed to be in that coffin.

With this sad news, this time, came a surge of savage, unadulterated joy. I was back. This was my second chance.

"Serena." Isabella's voice was soft, practiced. She looked down at me with pity that didn't reach her eyes, her painted face a mask of sisterly concern. "I know you're hurting. Let it out."

I didn't look at her. I looked at the man beside her, the man whose fingers were intertwined with hers. My mate. My executioner.

He met my gaze for a fraction of a second, his eyes widening in a perfect imitation of surprise. Ha. Lucas was always such a good actor.

Last time, even with my wolf screaming that something was wrong, it took me months to prove what I already knew in my gut. The man standing beside Isabella wasn't her fated mate. He was mine.

Now I saw right through him. Every lie. Every calculated move.

A wail split the air. The Luna threw herself onto the coffin. "No! My boy!"

She whirled on me, her face contorted with rage. "You cursed little wretch! You killed him! Your wolf wasn't strong enough to be his mate, and you dragged him down."

The Luna had always hated me. She thought I was a bad match for her son, my Umbral Pack lineage not pure enough, my spirit too wild.

I had told Lucas about this.

Lucas had sworn to me, his voice hot against my neck, "If she ever tries to hurt you, I'll fight for you. I'll always choose you."

The Luna shifted without warning. Her bones cracked and reshaped, fur bristling along her spine as she lunged for me.

The Alpha's roar split the air. It was a command that no wolf could disobey. She froze mid snarl, her body locking up as his authority crushed her instincts flat.

The hall erupted.

Through the chaos, I watched Lucas pull Isabella closer to his side, shielding her from the scene.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gleaming moonstone, holding it up to her like a prize. "Bella," he murmured, his voice a low, soothing rumble. "I got this for you. To remind you of the light, even in the dark."

My wolf whined deep in my chest. A moonstone. I had begged Lucas for one. A piece of the moon's light, to balance the fire in my own blood. He'd promised to find me the most beautiful one.

He'd found it, alright. He never intended it for me. He gave it to Isabella, a wolf who didn't need one.

Even though he once swore he'd always protect me, now he watched and did nothing.

Isabella caught me staring and a flicker of annoyance crossed her face. She stepped in front of Lucas, blocking him from my view. "Serena," she said, her voice sharp. "The Alpha is speaking to you. Stop staring at Alexander."

The Alpha let out a slow, ragged breath. "Serena. You know the Code. When a fated mate falls in battle, the survivor is bound by a century of solitude before they can take another.

"I won't enforce that on you. Not now. Not ever, if you don't want it. So tell me, what does your wolf need?"

I shook my head. "I'm taking another mate."