Thirteen

Summer's POV

The black dress Luxian picked hugs my body perfectly. For the first time in years—after drowning in all my stupid insecurities—I actually feel beautiful again. Like I did a decade ago.

The dress is by Mario De Franco, that ridiculously talented designer whose pieces usually I used to just stare at his work in magazines, never dreaming I'd own one. But this afternoon, Luxian waltzed in with five of his latest creations, all on mannequins like they were royalty.

"I want you to look spectacular," he said, nodding at the servants to wheel them into our room.

"Why so many?" I asked.

He just smirked—that mysterious, knowing smirk. "You'll like my reason."

That was it. No explanation. Just that smug little curve of his lips, like he was dangling a secret just out of reach.

"What is it?"

"You'll know later."

Once the maids left, Luxian helped me try them on, one by one. And yeah, they were all gorgeous—Mario's signature delicate details, the gold threading, the tiny crystals catching the light. But what really got me wasn't the dresses.

It was Luxian. The way his fingers lingered at my zipper, how he'd press a kiss to my neck after fastening it and murmur, "You are gorgeous, Summer."

***

I nodded. Luxian stood there in a black tux that made him look unfairly good—like, Goddess levels of handsome. And damn if it didn't make me want to grab him. But I couldn't. Not after how hard I'd pushed him away days ago. This mate bond thing, it turns out it's way more intense than I'd ever imagined.

"Come ...." He said, took my hand, opened the car door, and helped me in like some old-school gentleman.

Meanwhile, Beta Kian and some other officials followed in another car, escorting us to the gala at the city's fanciest hotel—the one owned by Luxian's grandfather and run by his pack now.

The ride was short. Before I knew it, we were rolling up to a red carpet lined with reporters and pack members. My stomach dropped. Rhys never brought me to these kind of things. He was always took his mom instead— and that witch always made sure I was "too busy" with grunt work. Border patrols. Rogue clean-up duty. Me, with my weak-ass wolf and a skeleton crew for backup.

Real convenient how they forgot I existed until they needed someone disposable.

But tonight Luxian had me front and center.

The second we stepped out, camera flashes exploded in my face. My stomach twisted—same as those awful years when journalists whispered behind their hands about me being chronically insane by Rhys's mom's design.

Then Luxian's arm slid around my waist, his grip firm. "Smile, love," he murmured against my ear. "I've got you."

That low, steady voice snapped me back. I straightened my spine, clutching my bag like armor. This time, my heels didn't wobble.

Until some reporter shoved a mic in my face. "Summer Yversen! How does it feel being the rejected ex-Luna?" Her grin was all teeth. "Especially now that your replacement is—"

Luxian's laugh cut her off. "Funny. I only see one replacement here..." He flicked a glance at her press badge. "...and she's about to lose her media pass."

"Oh shit—sorry, Alpha Luxian! She's new!" An older reporter shoved forward, grabbing the woman's arm hard enough to make her wince. "Jesus, Berly, you don't recognize the Shadow Pack Alpha when he's standing in front of you?"

The female reporter's face flushed beet red. "I didn't mean any—"

"Shut up and apologize!" the older guy snapped, looking like he wanted to strangle her.

I almost felt bad for her. Almost. Watching her squirm under Luxian's icy stare was too satisfying—especially remembering how Rhys would've joined in laughing at me if our positions were reversed.

Luxian didn't even raise his voice. Just leaned in and murmured something to the older reporter that made the man nod like his life depended on it. "Yes, Alpha. Won't happen again. Enjoy your evening."

As Luxian guided me toward the venue with a hand at the small of my back, I noticed the other reporters suddenly found their manners.

"Congratulations on the mating!"

"Beautiful couple!"

"You look stunning, Luna!"

Funny how quickly the tune changed when someone actually had your back.

***

We'd just about to stepped inside the large glass doors when that cherry-red sports car pulled up. I felt Luxian's arm tense around me. All camera flashes exploded as Rhys climbed out like some B-list celebrity, that fake-ass smile plastered across his face. It vanished the second he saw me standing there—really saw me—for the first time in years. His eyes flickered.

Then Virginia practically tumbled out after him, constantly caressing her still-small baby bump. Her designer heels caught on the carpet and she stumbled, but I didn't even crack a smile. Not when she recovered and shot me that same poisonous look from our childhood.

"Well if it isn't pathetic little Summer," she cooed, loud enough for the crowd to catch every word. "Still playing dress-up in someone else's life, I see."

Luxian didn't move. Didn't raise his voice. Just said, real quiet like, "You want to try that again, Rhys?"

The way Virginia froze—like someone hit her pause button. Even Rhys put a hand on her arm like, Shut the hell up.

But Virginia being Virginia, she doubled down. "I just think it's cute how—"

"Virginia." Rhy's voice snapped.

"But, Rhys..." Virginia whined. .

"Just walk away!" Luxian said sternly.

And here's the thing—she did. They both did. Like their bodies moved before their brains caught up. Rhys pulled her away from me and Luxian.

Luxian didn't even watch them go. Just turned to me with that smirk that used to piss me off so much. "You good?"

I looked at the retreating backs of my ex and my stepsister. At the cameras suddenly pointed anywhere but at me. At the man beside me who'd just rewritten three years of humiliation with four words.

"Yeah," I said, finally meaning it. "I'm good."