Fourteen

Summer's POV

I still couldn’t believe I belonged here. But with Luxian’s hand resting lightly on my back, it was starting to feel real.

"Alpha Luxian!" A distinguished older man with silver hair approached us, his Luna beside him in emerald silk. "Congratulations on the mating. And you must be Summer—we've heard wonderful things."

*Wonderful things.* When was the last time anyone said that about me?

Luxian's thumb traced small circles against my dress. "Marcus, Elena, thank you for coming. Summer, this is Alpha Marcus from the Riverside Pack and his Luna Elena."

Elena smiled warmly. "That dress is absolutely stunning on you, dear. Mario De Franco?"

"Yes, it is." I managed not to stumble over the words, even though part of me still couldn't believe I was wearing a designer gown worth more than my old car.

"He's brilliant. I've been trying to get on his waiting list for months." Elena laughed. "You have exquisite taste."

Before I could explain that it was all Luxian, he squeezed my waist gently. "Summer has always had incredible style. She just never had anyone worthy of showing it off to before."

The way he said it—like it was simple fact—made something warm unfurl in my chest.

We moved through the crowd, and it was like being in an alternate universe. Pack leaders who'd probably never even registered my existence when I was with Rhys were suddenly eager to introduce themselves. Their Lunas complimented my dress, my jewelry, even my hair.

And Luxian... God, the man was a force of nature. He commanded every room he entered, but what struck me wasn't his power—it was how he wielded it. Protective without being possessive. Confident without being arrogant.

Everything Rhys had never been.

"You're doing great," he murmured during a brief lull as we moved toward our table.

"I feel like I'm pretending to be someone else."

His eyes found mine, serious now. "You're not pretending anything. This is who you've always been, Summer. You just forgot for a while."

***

Dinner was announced, and we found our seats at a table near the front—because of course Luxian rated prime real estate. I was still adjusting to being the one people looked at with respect instead of pity.

The conversation flowed around topics I'd never been included in before: pack politics, territory negotiations, upcoming alliance ceremonies. And Luxian kept drawing me in, asking my opinion, making sure I wasn't just decorative.

"What do you think about the new regulations on border crossings, Summer?" Alpha Marcus asked during the second course.

My fork paused halfway to my mouth. In my old life, I would've deflected, made some excuse about not knowing enough. But something in Luxian's steady presence made me straighten.

"I think they're necessary," I said carefully. "But they need to account for smaller packs who don't have the resources for extensive vetting processes. Maybe a shared database system?"

Marcus nodded thoughtfully. "Interesting point. Elena was saying something similar just last week."

Elena beamed. "Exactly! We can't expect every pack to reinvent the wheel."

As the conversation continued, I felt something I hadn't in years: valued. Like my thoughts mattered.

Then the lights dimmed for the evening's entertainment, and my good mood evaporated.

Because there, at a table across the room, were Rhys and Virginia. And Virginia was staring at me with an expression I knew all too well—calculating malice barely disguised as concern.

She leaned over to whisper something to Rhys, who glanced our way and immediately looked uncomfortable. Whatever she was planning, he clearly didn't like it.

Smart man. Too bad he'd never shown that intelligence when it counted.

"Luxian," I said quietly, not taking my eyes off my stepsister.

"I see her." His voice carried that dangerous edge I was learning to recognize. "Don't worry. Whatever she's plotting, it won't work."

"You don't know Virginia like I do. She's—"

"She's about to learn why crossing my mate was the biggest mistake of her pathetic life."

The way he said my mate sent heat racing through my veins. Like he actually meant it. Like I was something precious worth protecting.

Before I could respond, the lights came back up and the evening's host took the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for joining us tonight for our annual gala of Northern Pack leader..."

I tried to focus on the speech, but Virginia's poison-sweet smile kept catching my peripheral vision. She was up to something. I could practically see the wheels turning in her head.

Whatever it was, I had the sinking feeling it was about to make this perfect evening very complicated.

***

The host was still talking when I felt Luxian's hand cover mine on the table. His fingers interlaced with mine, thumb brushing over my knuckles in a gesture so naturally intimate it made my breath catch.

"Whatever happens next," he murmured without looking at me, voice pitched low enough that only I could hear, "remember that you belong here. With me. And anyone who tries to make you feel otherwise will answer to me."

I squeezed his hand, drawing strength from his certainty even as dread pooled in my stomach. Because I knew Virginia. And if she was planning something public, something designed to humiliate me in front of all these important people...

The host finished his speech to polite applause, and people began mingling again. That's when Virginia made her move.

She approached our table with that fake smile plastered on her face, Rhys trailing behind her looking increasingly uncomfortable. Several other pack leaders had gathered nearby, making it the perfect audience for whatever show she was planning.

"Summer, darling," Virginia cooed, her hand resting on her small bump. "I just had to come over and tell you how... interesting it is to see you here. And uhmmm...I came to give you this..." She set down an invitation card before me.

Luxian's grip on my hand tightened, but I kept my expression neutral. "Virginia."

"I am so proud of you, even after everything that happened, the breakdown. I just think it's so brave of you to put yourself out here again." Her voice carried just far enough for nearby conversations to pause.

"Especially with someone who clearly doesn't know your... history."

The temperature at our table dropped about ten degrees.

But it was Rhys who spoke first. "Virginia, that's enough."

She whirled on him, her mask finally slipping. "Excuse me? I'm just being honest about what she put you through—"

"I said enough." Rhys's voice carried Alpha authority now, something I'd rarely heard him direct at anyone but me. "We're leaving."

"No!" Virginia's voice pitched higher, drawing even more attention. "I'm tired of pretending! She made your life hell for three years!"

The sharp crack of Rhys's palm across her cheek echoed through the suddenly silent ballroom.

Virginia staggered back, hand flying to her reddening cheek, eyes wide with shock. "You... you hit me?"

"I told you to stop." Rhys's face was stone. "I won't let you drag Summer through the mud to make yourself feel better about what we did to her."

The entire ballroom had gone deadly quiet. Even the servers had stopped moving.

Virginia's face crumpled, tears starting to fall. But instead of looking broken, she looked... calculating. "So this is how it is? You'll defend your ex-wife over your pregnant mate?"

My breath caught. Virginia's tears dried up real quick. "Fine. If that's how you want to play it." She looked directly at me, venom in her voice.

"Enjoy your new toy, Summer. Just remember. I got pregnant with his child while you were still married to him. Think about that every time your new Alpha touches you."

Virginia then ran out from the ballroom with everyone eyes on her.