The night air buzzed with celebration. Lanterns hung from the trees, casting a soft amber glow over the pack grounds. Laughter echoed around me as members of the Gray Pack danced barefoot in the grass, their joy contagious. Smoke curled from the grills, mixing with the scent of roasted meat and sweet herbs. The sound of drums beat in time with the thrum in my chest.
And yet, all I could focus on was him. Reule stood near the bonfire, dressed in black, but not his usual; he looked regal. A black button-up shirt that clung to his frame, sleeves rolled just enough to expose the veins in his forearms. His hair was slicked back, and stormy eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on me.
“Stop staring,” Adriana teased as she handed me a cup of warm cider.
“I wasn’t staring,” I said, too fast.
“You kind of were.”
I nudged her with my elbow.
“You’re imagining things.”
“No, I’m not,” she said with a smirk.
“And neither is he. He’s been watching you all night like he’s memorizing you.”
I sipp
