Promises of Perfection

"It's perfect," she whispered, overwhelmed by the significance of the moment. This wasn't just jewellery, it was a promise, a future, everything she had quietly longed for while believing herself unworthy.

Lucious cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs tracing the delicate curve of her cheekbones. "You're perfect," he corrected, leaning in to press his forehead against hers. "My Bella, my mate."

With that, his lips found hers in a hungry kiss.

The kiss deepened, both of them pouring years of longing into this one moment. Aria stirred beneath Annabella's skin, responding to the proximity of Lucious's wolf. The sensation was new and intoxicating, a warmth that spread through her veins like liquid fire, making her fingertips tingle and her heart race.

When they finally pulled apart, Annabella's eyes glowed faintly amber in the darkness, her wolf pushing closer to the surface than ever before.

"She's eager to meet you," Annabella said breathlessly, placing a hand over her rapidly beating heart.

Lucious's own eyes flashed in response, the deep gold of his wolf visible for a moment before he regained control. "Orion feels the same. He's been impatient for months now."

They settled onto the blankets, Lucious pulling her against his chest as they gazed out at the territory spread before them. The stars overhead seemed to shine brighter tonight, as though the universe itself approved of their union.

In the shadows of the forest below, unseen by the couple, a lone figure moved silently through the trees. Eugene had slipped away from his meeting with Alpha Marcus, driven by desperation to salvage his plans. He knew where Lucious would take his daughter; the young Alpha's favourite spot was no secret within the pack hierarchy. The Beta moved carefully, his own wolf lending him stealth as he approached the base of the cliff.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. A message from Jonty of the Moon Slashers: Is she ready for transport tomorrow night?

Eugene's jaw clenched as he typed his reply: Proceed as planned. I'll handle any complications.

Back at the packhouse, Tate paced his room like a caged animal. His father's scheme was unravelling before his eyes, and with it, his own future. If Annabella became Lucious's mate, his position would be secure regardless of Eugene's fate. The irony wasn't lost on him; the sister he had helped torment for years would soon outrank him in the pack hierarchy.

"Damn it," he muttered, kicking his dresser hard enough to splinter the wood.

Knight heard the crash from his own room and knew exactly what had caused it. Raymond had left him with much to consider, his brother's words echoing in his mind: *Perhaps that's because you never let her.*

He moved to his window, staring out at the moon that was nearly full. Tomorrow night, everything would change. Annabella would shift for the first time, and by pack law, she would be eligible for mating. Once Lucious gave her the claiming bite, their bond would be unbreakable.

Knight's wolf whined, urging him to action, though what action could possibly make a difference now, he didn't know.

At Lover's Point, Lucious traced lazy patterns on Annabella's arm as they talked about the future. Her scent was getting stronger, and so was his need to keep her close tonight.

“It’s getting late, and I’m not ready to let you go. Come with me, ” Lucious said, his eyes darkening at the changes in her scent.

"Tonight," she agreed, surprising herself with her boldness. The moonstone ring caught the light as she laced her fingers through his. Her entire body hummed with anticipation, with something primal awakening that couldn't be ignored.

Lucious's eyes widened slightly, then darkened with desire. He hadn't expected her to agree so readily, but the wolf in him howled with triumph. He pulled her close again, inhaling the changing notes in her scent, sweeter now, with an edge that spoke of her approaching shift.

“My brothers should be asleep by now, and we need you to be close to the pack for your coming-of-age breakfast.”

“Are you suggesting what I think you are, my Alpha?”

Lucious grinned, a predatory flash of teeth in the moonlight. "I'm suggesting we don't waste what little time we have left before your shift. My quarters are private; no one would dare enter without permission."

The invitation hung between them, charged with meaning. Annabella felt a rush of heat flood her cheeks, but the nervousness was quickly overshadowed by desire. Aria pushed against her consciousness, encouraging her to follow her instincts.

"Take me home," she whispered, the words carrying more weight than their simplicity suggested.

They drove back to the packhouse in electric silence, Lucious's hand resting possessively on her thigh. The moonstone ring glinted on her finger, a tangible reminder of the promises they'd exchanged. Beneath the surface of her skin, Annabella's wolf continued to stir, growing stronger with each passing hour.

Eugene watched their car descend from Lover's Point, his eyes narrowed with calculation. He'd overheard enough to understand the depth of Lucious's commitment, and the realisation filled him with cold dread. The Moon Slashers wouldn't accept excuses or delays; they'd paid handsomely for his daughter, and they expected delivery.

He retreated deeper into the shadows as the headlights swept past, already formulating a new plan. If Lucious claimed Annabella tomorrow night after her shift, the contract would be void, no pack would accept a mated female as payment. He would have to act before then, during the vulnerable hours of her first transformation when tradition dictated she be left alone to commune with her wolf.

"Enjoy tonight," he muttered as the car disappeared down the winding road. "It will be your last with him."

At the packhouse, most of the pack had retired for the night. The grand building stood silent and imposing against the starlit sky, its windows mostly darkened. Knight stood at his bedroom window, watching as Lucious's car pulled into the private garage reserved for the Alpha family. Something in his chest constricted painfully as he saw Annabella step out, her hand firmly clasped in Lucious's.

The moonstone ring caught the security lights, visible even from this distance. Knight's wolf howled mournfully inside him, recognising what that particular piece of jewellery signified. The promise ring was an ancient tradition, one that preceded even the claiming bite. With it, Lucious had declared his intentions not just to Annabella but to the Moon Goddess herself.

"It's done, then," Knight whispered to the empty room.

In his own quarters, Raymond sat reviewing territory maps when he felt his brother's anguish through their bond. The Alpha Heir paused, his pen hovering over the paper as he absorbed Knight's emotions. The depth of his brother's feelings surprised him, this wasn't mere infatuation but something deeper, something that resonated with his wolf.

Raymond set aside the maps and leaned back in his chair, considering the fallout.

What he heard next made him question everything. Lucious was in his room with a she-wolf. Could it be Annabella? ‘No.’ He thought as she was too quiet, and the woman in his room was anything but quiet.