02

I have spent years convincing myself that discipline is stronger than grief. Every morning begins the same way, long before sunrise, because routine is the only thing that has kept me standing since my mate died.

The Alpha of Moonridge Pack cannot afford distractions, and I buried every personal desire alongside the woman I once loved. For years that belief has never been challenged. Until Elsie Sutherland walked back into my home.

I tell myself the strange feeling that unsettled me at the airport was nothing more than a surprise, yet every time I remember our hands touching, I feel the same unexplainable pull tightening somewhere deep inside me.

It makes no sense. She is Willow’s best friend. She is William’s rejected mate. She is the last woman I should ever notice, yet my thoughts keep drifting back to her no matter how hard I push them away.

Breakfast preparations fill Alpha Manor with noise and laughter. Family members pack every room, servants rush from one task to another, and everyone seems determined to speak with me before the wedding celebration begins.

"Alpha, we need your final approval on the security perimeter for tomorrow," my beta Zach said, leaning over my shoulder. "And the Elders are asking if you'll be giving the opening toast tonight or tomorrow night."

"Tonight, Zach," I replied, keeping my voice steady despite the noise. "Let the Elders know it’ll be a brief welcome. As for security, double the southern patrol. We have too many outsiders coming in to be careless."

"Got it," Zach nodded. "Oh, and your sister is complaining about the seating arrangements again. She wants to know if—"

"Tell her the arrangements are final, Zach," I interrupted mildly, though my attention was already wandering across the dining room.

Elsie was standing beside Willow, laughing over something neither of them seemed capable of finishing because they kept interrupting each other with more laughter.

"No, I swear to you!" Willow giggled, nearly spilling her orange juice. "He actually thought the cream roses were a personal insult to his artistry. I thought he was going to cry!"

"Soph, you always manage to terrify the vendors," Elsie laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Remember the sweet sixteen DJ? I think he still has nightmares about you."

For one brief moment, I caught a glimpse of the young woman who used to run through these halls with my children before life became complicated. It almost felt as though those lost years never happened. The thought unsettled me enough that I immediately looked away. I had no business watching her.

The day continued with endless preparations. Guests arrived by the hour, decorations were inspected, meals were planned, and everyone expected me to solve every problem that appeared.

I welcomed pack members with a smile that had become second nature, but even while speaking to them, I found myself searching every room without meaning to.

Each time I noticed Elsie somewhere nearby, an unfamiliar sense of calm settled over me. Each time she disappeared from sight, I became strangely aware of her absence. I disliked how quickly I recognized the pattern.

Late that afternoon, I left my office intending to find a few moments of peace before the evening gathering began.

Immediately I stepped into the sitting room, someone turned the corner at exactly the same moment. We collided gently before either of us had time to react. My hand closed around her arm to keep her from stumbling, while hers instinctively gripped my shoulder.

The instant our skin touched, the same invisible current rushed through me with even greater force than before. For a heartbeat, neither of us moved.

"Oh! I am so sorry, Alpha," Elsie breathed, her wide eyes meeting mine, filled with the exact same confusion I knew was reflected in my own.

"It's alright," I said, my voice dropping an octave as I released her almost immediately and took a step back. "I should have been paying more attention to where I was walking."

Elsie smoothed down her top, a faint color rising in her cheeks. "No, it's my fault. I was in a rush to find Willow. I'm still trying to get used to how busy the manor gets during a big event."

"It can be overwhelming," I noted, watching the way her pulse fluttered at the base of her throat. "If it gets to be too much, you’re always welcome to use the private study. It’s quiet there."

"Thank you, Alpha Jacques," she said softly, offering a tentative smile. "That’s very kind of you."

"Of course, Elsie. Enjoy the afternoon."

We parted ways, but the encounter refused to leave my mind. I spent the next several hours pretending nothing happened while failing to remember half the conversations I had with guests.

Every decision took longer than it should. I have led this pack through loss, hardship, and impossible choices, yet I could not understand why accidentally bumping into one woman had shaken me more than any challenge I had faced in years.

As evening settled over Alpha Manor, I walked across the courtyard toward the gardens to make sure everything was ready for tomorrow’s rehearsal. The air was cool, carrying the scent of blooming jasmine. That was when I noticed William approaching Elsie near the stone fountain.

"Hey," William said, his voice hesitant as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Do you have a minute? I was hoping we could talk. Privately."

Elsie shifted uncomfortably, glancing back toward the brightly lit manor. "William, I don't think there's really much left for us to say."

"Please, Elsie," he pressed, gesturing toward the quieter garden paths. "Just five minutes. I just want to clear the air. Seven years is a long time to carry this around."

She hesitated only briefly, letting out a soft sigh before nodding. "Alright, William. Let's go. I have a few minutes before Willow needs me for the seating charts."

I told myself there was nothing unusual about it. They shared a complicated, painful history, and perhaps this conversation was long overdue.

Even so, I remained standing exactly where I was, watching them disappear between the rows of flowering hedges until they were no longer visible.

An uncomfortable feeling settled deep inside my chest, one I could not explain and absolutely had no right to feel. I finally forced myself to turn away, but the image followed me all the way back to the manor, leaving me with a single, deeply troubling question.

Why does seeing them together bother me so much?