THE MOONLIGHT BALL

CHAPTER 4

Freya’s pov

Caelan's eyes had gone from warm to arctic in the span of a heartbeat. He stood there dripping water onto the hardwood floor, his expression carved from ice, and I felt the temperature in the room drop.

"Just an accident," he repeated slowly, like he was testing the words. "I see."

He moved to the dresser and pulled out clothes with sharp, controlled movements. I watched him, my throat tight, wanting to take the words back but not knowing how.

"Did you treat Rowan the same way?" The question came out casual, almost conversational, but there was something dangerous underneath it.

My stomach dropped. "How do you know about Rowan?"

His jaw tightened. "Answer the question, Freya."

Panic fluttered in my chest. The coldness radiating from him was worse than any anger. I just wanted to smooth this over, to make that awful look disappear from his face.

"No," I said quickly, the words tumbling out. "It wasn't the same. It was different with him. Completely different."

I kept my answer vague, not wanting to explain the whole painful story. Not wanting to admit that with Rowan, I'd never felt a fraction of what I'd experienced last night with Caelan.

Caelan stared at me for a long moment, his gaze heavy and searching. Then he turned away without another word, his attitude shifting back to that cold detachment I'd seen when he'd first rescued me from the other man at the club.

The warmth between us was gone, replaced by an icy wall I didn't know how to break through.

A knock at the door saved me from the suffocating silence. Caelan pulled on a shirt and strode out of the bedroom. I heard low voices in the other room, a man's voice deferential and formal.

I quickly used the opportunity to get dressed, my hands shaking as I pulled on my clothes from last night.

When I emerged, a beta I didn't recognize was handing Caelan a thick document. The beta's eyes widened when he saw me, then he quickly looked away, his face carefully neutral.

"That will be all," Caelan told him dismissively.

The beta left without another word. Caelan stood by the window, flipping through the document with focused attention, and I caught a glimpse of the cover.

"Council Board Recruitment Plan," I read aloud.

Caelan's eyes flicked to me, then back to the document. "Yes."

My mother had mentioned the council board. It was more than just joining the Royal Council. It meant becoming a core member, someone with real power and influence in shaping pack politics across the territory.

"You're applying?" I asked, moving closer.

"Reviewing," he corrected.

I didn't understand the distinction, but I was too focused on the opportunity in front of me. "Can I see that?"

He raised an eyebrow but handed over the brochure without any comment. I scanned it quickly, my mind racing. This could be it. A way to prove myself without needing my mother's political marriages. A way to make the pack strong through my own merit.

"I want to try," I said. "I want to apply for this."

Caelan studied me for a long moment. "Do you understand what you're asking for? The council board doesn't just want power or connections. They want commitment. Dedication."

"I have both," I said firmly.

Something flickered across his face, too quick for me to read. "Then you should speak with your pack leadership about it.” He nodded, ending the conversation.

The air between us felt wrong, still, nothing like the easy connection we'd had last night. But I'd broken that myself by calling it an accident, and I didn't know how to fix it.

"I should go," I said quietly, turning to leave, secretly hoping he would call me back.

But he didn’t, and I had to remind myself it was for the best.

~

"I want to join the council board recruitment program," I said the moment I walked through the door of my mother’s office.

She immediately stopped what she was doing.

Her eyebrow rose. "The board? That's quite ambitious."

"You said I needed to strengthen the pack. I can do that without marrying some old man I don't know. I can earn a position on the council board through merit."

My mother leaned back in her chair, studying me. "The council values more than individual merit, Freya. They look at pack alliances, mate bonds, stability. You have no wolf. You'll need a strong partner to balance that weakness in their eyes."

"Then I'll find one," I said. "But I'll choose him myself. I'm not marrying someone just for a title or political gain. Not again."

Her lips twitched, almost a smile. "You're quite like me, you know. Stubborn. Opinionated. Too independent for your own good."

I blinked, surprised by the admission.

"Fine," she said. "Choose your own partner. But choose wisely, Freya. Don't stumble in the same place twice. If this fails, you'll bear the consequences yourself. I won't clean up another mess."

The warning was clear, but so was the permission. I nodded.

The problem became apparent quickly. I didn't know how to meet eligible alphas. Three years with Rowan had consumed my entire social life. My old friends had drifted away or forgotten about me. I'd built no new connections because every moment had revolved around Rowan and his pack.

I was completely isolated.

"Aurora," I said when she answered my call. "I need help."

She met me at a café an hour later, listening as I explained my situation.

"The Moonlight Ball," she said immediately.

"What?"

"It's in three days. The council hosts it in the neutral zone. Only high-ranking wolves get invitations, and there are always tons of single alphas there looking for potential mates." Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "It's perfect for you."

"Can I even get an invitation?"

Aurora laughed. "Freya, you're a Valenwood heir. Of course you can get an invitation."

She was right. Later that night, my mother arranged it with a single phone call.

The night of the ball, I dressed carefully. Nothing too extravagant, nothing that screamed for attention. Simple elegance that let my natural features speak for themselves.

But when I walked into the ballroom, heads turned anyway.

I'd forgotten what it felt like to be seen as myself, not as Rowan's shadow. The attention was overwhelming. Alphas approached one after another, introducing themselves, asking for dances, making polite conversation that barely masked their interest.

I dealt with them equally, smiling and deflecting, trying to assess who might actually be worth considering. It was exhausting. More tiring than managing an entire pack's worth of disputes.

Aurora flitted through the crowd like she was born for this, chatting with everyone, making connections, her laughter carrying across the room. I watched her with amusement. She'd set this whole thing up for me, and yet she seemed to be having more fun than I was.

I needed a break.

I made my way to the bar, ordering a drink and leaning against the counter with relief.

Finally, a moment to breathe.

"Well, well. What are you doing here?"

The voice sent an icy thrill down my back.

I turned slowly and found exactly who I expected. Rowan stood behind me with Selene draped on his arm. She wore an elaborate gown dripping with jewels, her hair styled in an intricate updo. She looked nothing like the simple girl I'd first met. She looked like she'd won something.

"Why can't I be here?" I asked evenly, tilting my head to the side.

Rowan's expression twisted into something ugly. "Are you following me? Is that it? Can't let go, so you're stalking me now?"

I almost laughed. "I have better things to do than follow you around, Rowan."

"This ball is for high-ranking wolves only," he said, his voice rising slightly. "It requires an invitation. There's no way a lowly omega like you could get in here legitimately."

I saw Selene's smile turned razor-sharp. "Oh, she's probably working here. Isn't that right, Freya? Are you serving drinks tonight?"

I looked at her jewelry, at the way she clung to Rowan like a trophy. I shook my head. "Being a server would be honest work. At least I'd be earning my own money instead of depending on a man to buy me shiny things."

Rowan's face flushed with anger. He stepped forward, his hand raised like he might actually grab me. "I offered you one million and you refused. Now you're here serving drinks like common help? You should be on your knees begging to serve me. Or maybe I should have you thrown out for trespassing."

Several people had stopped to watch us now, their conversations dying as they sensed drama.

I didn't want this. I didn’t want to engage with them, or even make a scene. I just wanted them to leave me alone.

Without saying a word, I reached into my bag and pulled out the invitation. The official council seal gleamed gold on the heavy cardstock.

I held it up for Rowan to see, and his mouth fell open.