Moonlit Revelations at the Shadow Club

At the Moon’s Shadow Club…

The rest of the guests had either arrived or were stepping out of their cars.

“Oh my Goddess, look at you!”

“Wow, never would have expected that from the hockey jock…”

“The place is amazing, it’s huge…”

As class members scurried around trying to find their seats at the tables, to see who was at their tables.

“Has anyone heard from or seen Nora since the school presentation?”

“Nope.”

“Nah, I don’t even think she had social media.”

“Oh my Goddess, you won’t be leaving it, the author Crystal_Lotus is meant to be at the book signing across the hall.”

“No way.”

What they didn’t know what Nora was Crystal_Lotus, she was going to spend time at her signing first, then once it was over, she would be the last person into the main event, and not give away that she knew about the mating with Otto and who Lady Stirling was until her birthday in four days, when all the packs would gather at the Moonlit Falls Packs coming out party her coming out party setup by her brother and the new Alpha she knew that she couldn’t say no even if she wanted too.

Nora checked her watch, heart racing as she realised her signing session would begin in less than thirty minutes. She smoothed the front of her emerald dress, a modest choice that wouldn’t draw too much attention yet was elegant enough for both events tonight. The subtle silver embroidery along the hem was her one concession to her pack heritage, moon lotuses delicately woven into the fabric.

“Miss, we’ve arrived,” Fred announced, pulling up to the rear entrance of the Moon’s Shadow Club.

“Thank you, Fred.” Nora gathered her purse and the small box containing her author’s stamp—a silver lotus design she used at all her signings. “Could you bring my suitcase to the hotel later? I’d rather not drag it around.”

“Of course, miss. Your father called while you were reading. He wanted to ensure you’d be at the pack gathering on your birthday.”

Nora sighed. “As if Noah would let me forget. I’ll be there.”

The back entrance was mercifully quiet. A staff member recognised her immediately and ushered her toward the small conference room where her signing would take place. Through the wall, she could hear the growing commotion of the reunion in the main ballroom.

“Ms Crystal, we’ve set up everything as requested,” the young beta said, using her pen name. “Your books are displayed, and we expect about fifty attendees.”

“Perfect, thank you.” Nora set her things down at the signing table, arranging her pens just so. Writing as Crystal_Lotus had given her the freedom her pack life never could. Her readers had no idea the woman behind the bestselling paranormal romance novels was actually the quiet, bookish daughter of Alpha Apollo.

She glanced toward the door that separated her from the reunion. Otto was somewhere on the other side. The boy who’d made her high school years miserable with his teasing and last-minute project abandonments. The wolf who was now, unknowingly, her arranged mate.

Her stomach twisted. What cruel joke of fate was this? That her father and brother would choose him of all people?

“Would you like some water before we begin?” the staff member asked.

“Yes, please.” Nora’s throat had gone dry at the thought of eventually facing Otto. She’d have to be careful tonight; she couldn’t let him recognise her before the official announcement. Not that he would. The shy, plain girl from high school had changed considerably in five years.

As she sipped her water, she heard a burst of familiar laughter from the other room. Otto’s friends. The sound sent a chill down her spine, memories flooding back of their mockery whenever she’d tried to speak to Otto about their shared projects.

The first readers began filing in for her signing, their excited whispers pulling her back to the present. This was her world now, books and writing and fans who appreciated her mind. Not pack politics, arranged matings, or high school bullies turned potential mates.

“I can get through tonight,” she whispered to herself.

In the other room, Otto could help himself as he looked at the wall of photos, scanning the faces of his former classmates. Their reunion name tags were a blur of familiar yet changed names, but he found his gaze constantly drawn to the door, watching for one particular arrival. A knot had formed in his stomach that wouldn’t go away.

“Dude, she’s not coming,” Luke clapped him on the shoulder, nearly causing Otto to spill his drink. “Told you no one’s heard from her in years.”

Otto shrugged off his friend’s hand. “I wasn’t looking for anyone in particular.”

“Sure you weren’t,” Luke smirked. “Hey, did you hear there’s a famous author doing a signing across the hall? Crystal something? The girls are losing their minds over it.”

Otto nodded absently, his attention caught by a small commotion near the entrance to the adjacent conference room. A cluster of women from their graduating class huddled together, clutching books and speaking in excited whispers.

“What’s going on over there?” he asked.

Luke rolled his eyes. “That author I just mentioned. Apparently she writes these steamy paranormal romances that half our class is obsessed with.” He lowered his voice. “Rumour has it she’s a wolf, but no one knows which pack.”

Otto’s curiosity piqued. He’d never been much of a reader, but something pulled him toward the gathering crowd. Maybe it was just an excuse to escape the awkward reunion conversations, or perhaps a distraction from thoughts of Nora and his impending arranged mating.

“I’m going to check it out,” he said, setting down his barely touched drink.

“Seriously? You’re ditching me for a book signing?” Luke called after him, but Otto was already weaving through the crowd.

As he approached the conference room, the scent hit him, vanilla and moonflowers, with something familiar underneath that he couldn’t quite place. The fragrance tugged at his memory, but before he could chase the thought, he was swept into the line of people waiting to meet the author.

Through the gaps between fans, Otto caught glimpses of a woman with honey-brown hair seated at a table, her head bent as she signed a book. Something about the curve of her neck, the way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, it stirred something deep within him.

“She’s amazing, isn’t she?” The woman in front of him turned, clutching a hardcover to her chest. Otto recognised her as Emma Chen, former president of the debate team. “Her books saved me during my breakup last year.”

“I haven’t read them,” Otto admitted.

Emma’s eyes widened. “Otto Forest? What are you doing in this line?”

He shrugged, uncomfortable under her scrutiny. “Just curious.”

The line inched forward, and Otto found himself getting closer to the signing table. He could see more of the author now, with elegant hands and slender fingers, a green dress that complemented her fair skin. She smiled at each fan, but it didn’t quite meet her eyes.