Chapter 3

“Ariana, the Luna cloak for this year’s Winter Moon Festival is too dark. Eva thinks white would look better on you.”

Dylan walked in carrying a newly made white cloak and dropped it onto the table.

The Winter Moon Festival was less than a month away.

It would be the third one I’d presided over since becoming Luna of Silver Moon Pack.

I set aside what I was working on and rested my fingertips against the edge of the table.

“Where’s the cloak I chose?”

“It’s still in the ceremonial room. Eva thought the dark blue was too somber, so she had a new one made.”

“Every Luna before me has worn a dark blue cloak embroidered with silver for the ceremony.”

Dylan paused, and his expression immediately soured.

“Eva doesn’t know all the rules. She just thought white would suit you better. Why do you have to come at her so hard?”

“She doesn’t know. What’s your excuse?”

“It’s a cloak, Ariana. Do you really have to turn this into some sacred pack tradition?”

He tugged impatiently at his collar.

“My mother said everyone’s busy getting ready for the Festival, and you can’t handle everything alone. Eva pays attention to details. From now on, she can help you with this stuff.”

“Help me?”

“Yes,” Dylan said as though it were obvious. “She went through the ceremonial room yesterday. She thought the moonflowers you picked were too dark, so she already had them replaced with white ones.”

“What else?”

Dylan continued, “She also had them put away the fur mantle you were planning to wear over the cloak.”

That mantle was one of the things my mother had left me.

“That mantle belonged to my mother.”

Dylan frowned.

“Old things fall apart eventually. And you shouldn’t be wearing something worn-out to the Festival anyway. Eva was trying to help. Don’t be so ungrateful.”

“Fine.”

I stood and crossed to the table, running my fingers lightly over the new white cloak.

“If she likes white so much, give it to her.”

Dylan looked surprised. “You want to give the cloak to Eva?”

“You’re the one who said she likes it. Let her wear it.”

“Ariana, are you trying to be sarcastic?”

“I’m not.” I called for Nora. “Take this cloak to Eva’s room.”

“And go to the ceremonial room. Bring me my mother’s mantle.”

The tension in Dylan’s face eased.

“That’s more like it. Eva’s been running around for the Festival for days, and her ankle still isn’t fully healed. Giving her something might stop her from feeling like she’s only getting in your way.”

Eva and Dylan had grown up together. Dylan had always insisted he thought of her as a little sister.

For a long time, I believed him.

It took watching him choose her over me again and again to realize how wrong I’d been.

“Dylan.”

He stopped. “What?”

“Do you remember what you promised me the first time we stood before the Moon Goddess and took our vows?”

I paused for a moment, then said, “Never mind.”

Dylan came over and reached for my hand. I stepped back before he could take it.

His hand hung awkwardly in the air before he withdrew it.

“Ariana, are you still angry about what happened in the forest?”

“No. There’s just been a lot going on. I’m tired.”

His expression relaxed almost immediately.

“Then get some rest. I’ll come see you later.”

Dylan had barely reached the end of the hall when Chloe came up to him.

“Alpha, my lady wants to go into town to see the new moonstones. She wanted to know if you’d go with her.”

“Now?”

Chloe quickly explained that there was only one blue moonstone left.

Dylan hesitated for a beat, then followed her.

“Let’s go. If we’re late, she’ll only be disappointed.”

Their footsteps faded down the hall.

I stood there for a moment, then turned back to the room.

Dylan, this was the sixth time you chose Eva.

Only one chance remained.