"In the Devil's chapel, love wears shackles."
---
Smoke curled over the mountains.
Not from war.
From celebration.
Trumpets wailed in twisted harmony. Wolves in dark armor patrolled the ridgelines, watching with dead eyes. And at the center of it all, wrapped in black silks and chain-blood roses—
—stood Aradia.
She didn't cry.
She didn't scream.
She only watched.
Eyes cold.
But beneath that cold, Selene would one day learn…
> …burned the same fire that now lived in her.
---
The news hit Selene like a punch to the lungs.
Aradia.
Her childhood friend. Her once-shadow. A girl with eyes like dusk and a laugh like falling rain.
She'd been taken years ago—assumed dead.
But she wasn't dead.
She was chosen.
The Devil Alpha's next "bride."
> A ritual sacrifice masked as holy matrimony.
A binding of blood and soul.
A way to steal the Hollow Moon's power—and corrupt it.
Selene's fury was volcanic.
She stormed into the war tent, slammed her fist on the table.
"He's mocking us. Taunting me. He wants me to come."
The Alpha nodded grimly. "So what's your move?"
Selene growled:
> "We crash the wedding."
---
She didn't bring an army.
She brought chaos.
Her team:
– The mute wolf, now called Ghostfang, silent but deadly.
– The alchemist (Vira), loaded with silver bombs and sarcasm.
– Two rogue twin brothers who owed Selene their lives—and enjoyed setting things on fire.
– And Selene herself, wearing nothing but black leather, a ghostfire crown, and bloodlust.
They called themselves The Black Howl.
The plan was simple:
1. Infiltrate during the binding rites.
2. Kill the high priests.
3. Break the circle.
4. Get Aradia out alive.
5. Leave a body count.
---
The wedding began under the Red Moon.
Guests were beasts. Elders. Cultists. Demon-bound spirits.
The Devil Alpha stood tall in bone-plated armor, smiling with sharpened teeth. His bride—Aradia—was shackled in chains of silver thorns.
As he lifted the ceremonial blade to carve the first vow into her chest—
The sky exploded.
---
Fire rained from the heavens.
Ghostfang struck first, leaping from above, slitting two throats before his paws touched the ground.
Vira hurled silver-smoke bombs, turning the courtyard into a blinding fog.
The twins set the altar on fire.
Selene stormed through the chaos like a myth made flesh.
She caught the Devil Alpha mid-sentence—
And punched him hard enough to shatter his fangs.
He staggered, laughing through blood.
"You came."
Selene's eyes blazed. "Didn't come to dance."
Their claws met mid-air. Sparks flew. Thunder cracked.
---
While the others battled, Selene reached Aradia, slashing through chains with claws glowing blue-white.
"You came for me," Aradia whispered.
Selene smiled. "Always."
They stood back-to-back as enemies swarmed.
Selene's howl lit up the battlefield.
Aradia joined in.
And for the first time in years—
> The Hollow Moon howled as one.
---
The Devil Alpha retreated, wounded and furious, vanishing into black flame.
But his voice echoed through the smoke:
"You saved your little friend. How cute."
"Next time, I won't take your past—I'll take your future."
---
Back at camp, Aradia stared into the fire.
"You know he'll come for me again," she said quietly.
Selene nodded. "Then he'll find I don't lose my pack twice."
They locked hands.
And as moonlight touched their faces…
Selene knew she wasn't alone anymore.