1

The reply came in a second.

[Okay.]

I stared at that single word, and most of the suffocating pressure I'd carried in my chest for so long suddenly lifted.

Chris was still soothing Lucy.

"Where did the beads roll off to? I'll help you look."

Lucy's eyes were red, her voice thick with hurt.

"It's all my fault. Today of all days, I shouldn't have worn this bracelet."

"If you and Sheila miss the ceremony again because of me..."

Even as she spoke, her tears spilled over.

Chris rushed to comfort her.

"Don't cry. It's not your fault. The cord was just worn out."

"There's still time. No rush. Take it slow."

Vivian lost it.

"Chris, no rush? Seriously?"

"The mating ceremony requires both of you to receive the Moon Goddess's blessing within the appointed time. Miss it and it's gone. The Moon Goddess doesn't grant extensions!"

Friends from both packs chimed in, urging him.

"Chris, go on up first. Right now nothing matters more than receiving the Moon Goddess's blessing."

Even the priest stepped out of the hall.

After all, eight applications for a mating ceremony were unheard of in pack history.

And the Grayfang pack had a tradition passed down through the ages: every werewolf could book the Moon Goddess's blessing only eight times in a lifetime.

Past eight times, the Moon Goddess would take it as proof the pair were never meant to be mates.

The priest looked at the two of them crouched there hunting for beads and frowned.

"Hurry, Sheila. This is your eighth application. Miss this one, and the Moon Goddess will grant no further blessing."

I glanced at Chris.

He was still standing below the steps, patiently helping Lucy pick up the moonstone beads scattered across the ground.

I bowed to the priest, my voice calm.

"I will make it."

I.

Not we.

Lucy looked up at me, all innocence.

"Sheila, I'm sorry for making you two wait."

"But don't worry. I'm quick with my hands. Once I find all the beads, I'll have it restrung in five minutes."

Five minutes.

I was so angry I actually laughed.

"Chris, are you sure you want to be down here hunting for beads with Lucy right now?"

Chris turned his head away, not daring to look at me.

"Sheila, I know what I'm doing. We won't be late."

He knew what he was doing?

He said that every time.

Every single time we held the ceremony, Lucy would have some sudden emergency.

Chris would always say he knew what he was doing, that we wouldn't be late.

And every time, the ceremony got pushed back again.

For these eight ceremonies, I had prepared eight gowns and sent out invitations eight times.

I had petitioned the priest so often that I became the laughingstock of the entire pack.

I looked up at the moon drifting steadily westward overhead.

Only ten minutes left for the Moon Goddess's blessing.

Vivian was so furious she started forward to haul Chris up herself. I caught her wrist.

She turned back to me, her face tight with urgency.

"Sheila, there are only ten minutes left."

"All eight bookings were made in your name. If you miss this one, you will never be able to receive the Moon Goddess's blessing again!"

I nodded, then looked at Chris.

"Chris, I'm asking you one last time."

"Are you coming inside to hold the ceremony with me, or are you staying here to string beads with Lucy?"

Chris finally lifted his head, but his eyes held disappointment.

"Sheila, the mating ceremony is just a formality. Ceremony or not, you're still my Luna as far as I'm concerned."

"Besides, I told you, we won't miss it. Do you really have to make such a big deal over a few minutes? Can't you be more understanding?"

Lucy nodded along.

"Chris asked the Moon Goddess to bless this bracelet just for me. It's supposed to keep me safe."

"And it snapped, today of all days. What if bad luck comes later?"

She looked perfectly sincere, as if she truly cared about my future with Chris.

Then she added under her breath.

"Besides, if you all hadn't kept rushing me, I would have found all the beads by now."

Chris sighed too, a note of reproach in his voice.

"Sheila, you're going to be my Luna. You should learn to be gracious."

Gracious?

So in his eyes, urging him to hold our mating ceremony made me petty?

A chill crept through my chest. I closed my eyes for a moment, then stressed each word.

"Chris. Today, I am going through with the ceremony."