Casts

The Frostshadow Pack’s most sacred tradition, The Hunt Festival, begins under the icy glow of the Alaskan moon. It is a night when wolves celebrate their strength, speed, and connection to their ancestors through a ritual hunt. Alpha James, the commanding leader of the pack, stands tall before the massive bonfire, his deep voice echoing through the clearing as he reminds everyone of the significance of the night. His son, Leon, the future Alpha, stands proudly beside him—strong, confident, and admired by all, his piercing blue eyes holding the kind of power that demands attention.

Among the gathered pack members is Skye, an eighteen-year-old who, unlike the others, has no wolf. While the rest of the pack shifts effortlessly into their majestic wolf forms, Skye remains human—an outsider even among her own people. As the wolves prepare to hunt, Alpha James approaches her with something unexpected: a hunting rifle. Weapons are never used in the Hunt Festival, but this exception is made for her, a gesture that feels more like pity than honor. The whispers from the crowd cut deep, but Skye accepts the weapon, determined to prove her worth.

When the hunt begins, the pack disappears into the forest, leaving Skye alone in the snow-covered wilderness. The night is quiet except for the crunch of her boots and the sound of her breath crystallizing in the frigid air. She spots a snowshoe hare—a small prey, but at least something to bring back. As she steadies her rifle to shoot, a strange and overwhelming scent fills the air—pine, snow, and something untamed. It consumes her senses, stirring a primal awareness she has never felt before.

To her shock, she realizes what it means: the scent of a mate. But that shouldn’t be possible—she doesn’t have a wolf. Yet the pull is undeniable, drawing her deeper into the forest, away from the safety of her pack. Convinced it might be a sign that her wolf is awakening, she follows the scent with growing anticipation.

Her excitement quickly turns to terror when she stumbles into the territory of a massive grizzly bear. The beast’s breath fogs the air as it drops to all fours, advancing toward her. Panic surges through her. She runs, slipping on the snow, but the bear closes in. When she falls, the rifle lands beside her. Desperation fuels her as she fires three quick shots. The bear roars but doesn’t stop—until a new sound cuts through the night: a savage snarl.

When Skye opens her eyes, she sees a huge brown wolf standing over the slain bear, blood dripping from its fangs. She recognizes that wolf instantly—it’s Leon, the Alpha’s son. Relief floods her as she realizes he saved her life. She thanks him breathlessly, praising his strength and bravery. But as Leon’s glowing blue eyes meet hers, his gaze is cold and unreadable.

Before she can say more, Leon begins to shift. His transformation is mesmerizing—fur retracting, bones reshaping, skin emerging from moonlight. When he stands before her, tall and naked, every inch of him radiates power and dominance. Skye’s cheeks flush as unfamiliar warmth spreads through her body. The scent she’d followed returns, stronger than ever. The air between them thickens with tension—until she notices something horrifying: blood trickling from a wound in Leon’s shoulder.

She realizes, with dawning guilt, that one of her wild shots had struck him.

Trying to explain, she apologizes frantically, but Leon’s expression remains emotionless. He brushes her off coldly, insisting they return to camp. He begins to tie up the bear’s carcass with makeshift ropes, refusing her help. Humiliated, Skye watches in silence, burdened by guilt and confusion.

As they walk back through the snow, Skye gathers the courage to ask what’s burning inside her: “Did you sense me too? Are we… mates?” Leon stops abruptly, and she collides with his bare chest. The impact sends a shock through her body—and then she feels it. The hardness pressing against her thigh, his body responding instinctively to her presence. The heat between them is undeniable, primal.

Leon grips her waist, pulling her close, his breath ragged and hot. His hand slips beneath her waistband, fingers tracing the fire building inside her. Skye shudders, overwhelmed by sensations she doesn’t understand. Just as the moment threatens to consume them both, Leon abruptly shoves her away, his voice low and cruel:

“Mate? You could never be my mate.”

The words slice through her like a blade. Skye stumbles back, her heart splintering as a wave of emotional agony crashes over her. It’s as if something deep within her—something tied to her very soul—has been torn apart.

Without another word, Leon resumes dragging the bear back toward camp. Skye follows in silence, struggling to breathe through the ache in her chest.

Back at the clearing, the bonfire blazes high as hunters return with their kills. The air is thick with excitement and pride. Leon drops the massive bear near the fire, drawing gasps and murmurs of awe from the crowd. His victory is undeniable. Meanwhile, Skye stands at the edge of the gathering, clutching her rifle—her failure heavy in her hands and heart.

Maya, the pack’s most arrogant she-wolf and one of Leon’s admirers, seizes the opportunity to mock her. “Did you even catch anything, Skye?” she sneers. “You shouldn’t even be here. A human pretending to be a wolf—it’s pathetic.”

Before Skye can respond, her brother Ethan steps in, protective and furious. He warns Maya to back off, reminding her that even Leon wouldn’t tolerate her insults. Maya glares but retreats, leaving Skye feeling both grateful and broken.

When Leon finally reappears, now dressed and clean, Skye’s eyes follow him instinctively. The crowd gathers as Alpha James begins inspecting the trophies of the hunt. When he reaches Leon’s kill, his voice booms proudly across the clearing:

“The champion of this year’s Hunt Festival is my son, Leon!”

Cheers erupt, howls echo through the forest, and pride fills the air. But Leon’s focus isn’t on the celebration. His icy blue eyes find Skye across the firelight, and the world seems to still.

Then, in a voice clear and steady, Leon addresses his father and the pack:

“Alpha, I have something to announce.”

The noise dies instantly. All eyes turn to him, curiosity and anticipation crackling in the air.

Skye’s heart hammers in her chest as dread settles over her like the weight of falling snow. Whatever Leon is about to say—it feels like the beginning of something that could change everything.

The night that began as a celebration of strength and unity is now charged with tension, secrets, and heartbreak. For Skye, the Hunt Festival has become not a test of skill, but the beginning of a painful awakening—one that will reveal her true nature, her hidden bond, and the dangerous truth about what it means to love an Alpha.

Would you like me to continue the next part of the story (Leon’s announcement + aftermath) in the same dramatic style next, bhai?