The Luna’s Choice

By Bella Lore

Victoria has lived as a Luna all her life, the highest of all wolves. But, when her pack is wiped out, she is arranged to an Omega.

At first, she is in denial and argues back. She refuses to let her entire life change. After all, she was set to marry the current Alpha.

But now, she finds herself at the bottom of the pack. Now, she is arranged to marry Impala, a common guard.

Victoria must accept her new station and new life as she enters an unfamiliar pack with unfriendly strangers.

Can she find love with the Omega? Is there a sensitive, protective side under Impala’s gruff exterior?

Or will Victoria always long for her life as a Luna?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bella Lore
• Release date: Feb 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781094393476

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T H E   L U N A’ S   C H O I C E

B e l l a   L o r e

Bella Lore

Debut author Bella Lore is the paranormal romance author of the MY TRUE MATE series, comprising four books; THE ALPHA’S MATE series, comprising four books; and THE LUNA’S CHOICE.

Bella loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit bellaloreauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

Copyright © 2022 by Bella Lore. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacket image Copyright coka, used under license from Shutterstock.com.

BOOKS BY BELLA LORE

MY TRUE MATE

MY TRUE MATE (Book #1)

MY TRUE MATE (Book #2)

MY TRUE MATE (Book #3)

MY TRUE MATE (Book #4)

THE ALPHA’S MATE

THE ALPHA’S MATE (Book #1)

THE ALPHA’S MATE (Book #2)

THE ALPHA’S MATE (Book #3)

THE ALPHA’S MATE (Book #4)

THE LUNA’S CHOICE

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

CHAPTER FORTY

CHAPTER ONE

I stagger toward the plume of smoke rising above the trees.

I have been in this forest for days, ever since my pack was wiped out.

I was destined to be a luna.

Now I'm just lucky to be alive.

Someone's approaching! a voice calls.

I look up. Guards.

They stalk down the hill toward me.

Who are you? they ask.

My name is Victoria, I say.

Where did you come from?

The mountains.

They look skeptical.

Wolves don't travel alone, the guard says.

And it's a long way to travel for such a small woman, the seconds adds.

My pack was killed, I say.

Killed? All of them?

A lump rises in my throat.

I do not want to think of the carnage I left behind.

My mother.

Yes, I say.

How do we know you are not a spy? he says.

A spy?

We have just been attacked by other wolves.

Then you know how I feel, I tell them.

They eye me warily.

They are trying to decide what to do.

I hope they choose to let me live.

They turn to face each other and murmur.

One of them nods.

They circle around me, one on each side.

My muscles tense.

I have not survived this long to be killed by a pack of guards.

This way, they say.

I follow their gaze toward the village.

My muscles relax.

Thank you, I say.

I follow them into the village.

I am starving.

Thirsty.

Tired.

Injured.

But I am alive.

They lead me into a hall.

There are other pack members inside.

I'm thirsty, I say.

Suddenly, a young girl is at my side, offering water in a wooden bowl.

I lap up the water in the bowl.

Who is this loan wolf? a voice says.

We found her, the first guard replies.

She claims her pack was killed, the second adds.

Bring her to me.

I am pushed forward.

I stumble to my knees.

I look up.

The alpha of the pack sits on a throne.

He is an old wolf, covered in battle scars.

What is your name? he asks.

Victoria.

Your pack is dead?

Yes.

All of them?

All of them.

I feel hollow inside.

He looks sympathetic.

I am sorry for your loss, he says.

My eyes sting.

Why did you come here? he asks.

I have nowhere else to go.

He nods.

I have given shelter to loan wolves before, he says. They have always proved their worth.

My heart races.

Is he going to offer me shelter?

He peers into my eyes.

Tell me about your pack.

A tear rolls down my cheek.

I was the luna in my pack, I say. I am no longer worthy of the name.

What happened?

I failed my pack, sir, I say. I was not strong enough.

How many wolves attacked you?

A hundred, I say. It was the largest pack we had ever seen. They came into our territory.

What did your alpha do?

He tried to keep peace with them. But they were ruthless.

I shudder at the memories.

They attacked our pups first. Then the grown wolves. Then, the alpha was killed.

A look of despair covers his face.

I am sorry, he says.

I don't know how I survived. It's a miracle I am still alive.

I look at the ground, ashamed.

The old wolf's gaze softens.

The hall grows quiet.

Other pack members look at the ground.

They are remembering their own battles

They are remembering their own dead.

You will have food, the alpha says.

I look up, filled with hope. Here?

Yes. You are welcome here in my pack. But you will need to earn your keep.

My heart lifts.

I will do whatever I can, I tell him.

You will need to work hard. If you do, you can take a hunt name. A wolf only earns her true name after she has proven herself.

I understand.

There is one other condition.

Oh?

You will be arranged with a mate.

My heart sinks.

My mate has only just died.

I watched him die with my own eyes.

I am not ready for another.

I refuse, I say.

You cannot, the alpha tells me. It is condition of entry.

I stand firm.

I will not be paired with a mate.

I will defend my right to remain unmated, I say.

I look around the hall.

All around me, the pack are watching me.

You are only one wolf, he says. It goes against nature.

I will not be forced into a bond.

The old alpha is as stubborn as me, it seems.

When you live in a pack, you are tied to the others. Each wolf is linked to the others. When one breaks the rules, they all suffer. You will be paired.

I don't want to.

You have no choice.

I scowl at him.

The hall has fallen silent.

They are all watching me.

I will not have my mate, I tell him.

You must.

I stare at him.

He is a cruel old wolf.

He will not take no for an answer.

If you don't, you won't be welcomed in my pack.

My eyes narrow.

His words sink in.

I have no choice.

Leave a lone wolf and die in the forest.

Stay and be paired with a wolf I do not know.

It is as if I have been smacked with a massive paw.

The old wolf glares at me.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

What choice do I have?

Fine! I snap. I will be arranged with a mate.

The alpha smiles.

Good, he says. Tomorrow you will become an omega.

My heart is heavy.

I was a luna in my last pack.

A queen.

Here, I will be the lowest of the low.

I will be paired with a mate.

Someone I do not know.

I'm so tired.

I just want to sleep.

I want to sleep for a hundred years.

The old alpha looks at the guards.

Take her to a den, he says. Bring her food. Let her sleep.

I say nothing more, too weary to speak.

I just follow the guards.

Walking away.

Thinking about what I have just done.

CHAPTER TWO

The den I am led to is basic.

Small and dark.

Fit for an omega.

I sink into the bed.

Fatigue overcomes me.

How is this my life?

I have lost everything.

I have lost my pack.

I have lost my mate.

I am too tired to cry.

I close my eyes and fall asleep.

A gentle paw shakes me awake.

Time to get up. Time to hunt.

I open my eyes.

It is dawn.

For a moment, I think I am back in my old pack.

Then I realize where I am.

The guard from yesterday peers at me.

My stomach drops.

What time is it?

Day break.

You hunt so early?

You have to hunt, the guard says. You have to prove your worth as a hunter.

I drag myself out of bed.

Then I follow the guard outside.

He makes his way towards the hunting grounds.

What is your name? I ask.

He shakes his head. I don't have one yet.

Your real name, I say. Not your hunt name.

My real name does not matter.

He is infuriating.

I'm Victoria, I tell him.

Not for long, he replies.

I notice how his blonde fur shines in the morning sun.

It is beautiful.

I have never seen a wolf of such stature.

I heard you speak in the hall yesterday, he says. You have been through great hardship.

Yes.

He smiles at me.

Did you know you've been assigned a mate?

I don't want a mate.

Why not? He will be your partner for life.

I glare at him.

I am not ready to be paired.

I am still in mourning.

I am still grieving for my dead mate.

I don't want a mate, I say again.

He shrugs. It does not matter what you want. It is the way it is.

I say nothing.

It's a long walk, he says. If you need help, just ask.

I don't need help.

I growl at the ground.

I am determined to prove myself.

Perhaps if I show my strength, they will see I am a luna.

The thought gives me strength.

I just need to prove myself as a hunter.

Then I can claim my rightful position.

The walk to the hunting grounds is long.

I have never heard so much silence.

There is no sound of birds.

There is no sound of animals.

Even the trees are decaying.

This is a horrible place.

They are like a graveyard.

They are corpses of trees.

What happened to these trees? I ask.

The guard glances at me.

He shrugs.

Not much grows here, he says.

My old land was full of luscious plants.

Maybe that's why the pack targeted you.

It is a horrible thing to say.

I fall silent.

I will not speak to this guard anymore.

Not after he has said such a thing.

He does not understand my pain.

And so we walk in silence.

We walk for what feels like an eternity.

I am still so tired from my ordeal in the forest.

Eventually, the trees begin to thin.

The forest opens up.

We arrive at the hunting grounds.

The yard is empty.

There is no prey to hunt.

We both know this.

But I know it cannot be helped.

I must hunt.

I must show them I am strong.

I have to be useful.

I can't be a burden.

The guard sits down on the ground.

I sit next to him.

Together we wait.

And wait.

And finally I see something.

I stand up and stare at it.