Chapter 11

Rowan's pov

The Moonlight dance Festival. A night meant to honor the Goddess and celebrate the full bloom of spring. A night of music, lanterns, laughter,and masks. Fitting, I think, considering how many people in this pack wear one every day.

Including me.

Thessaly clasps the final hook at the back of my gown, and I barely recognize the woman staring back at me in the mirror.

The dress is a shade of deep charteuse, but under the lantern light it will shimmer with hints of gold and emerald. The fabric clings to me like silk and spills into a gentle flare just past my hips. Bare shoulders, a low back, and slits on both sides that flirt with every step. I haven’t worn anything this daring in my life.

My hair, usually tied in a tight ponytail or braided out of convenience, flows around my shoulders in soft waves. Thessaly had insisted on weaving tiny threads of silver into the strands, catching the light with every movement. A crescent-moon clip holds one side in place, revealing a sharp cheekbone and a single, deliberate curl.

“You look like a goddess,” Thessaly whispers, a smile tugging at her lips. “Alpha Kael is going to have a heart attack.”

I roll my eyes, if the Alpha had a heart attack after seeing me, the Elders would definitely have my head.

“I don’t care what he thinks,” I say honestly, i preferred life better when he didn't even notice me.

She only arches a brow and hands me the mask. It's delicate,white with silver embellishments, feathers arching off one side, and tiny gems scattered like stars across it. The moment I place it over my face, I feel like someone else. Someone braver.

Someone who might survive tonight.

The festival grounds are glowing.

Held in the Heartgrove Clearing, the celebration spans the wide meadow at the base of the moonlit cliffs, where the Goddess Temple looms in quiet reverence. The trees have been dressed in silver ribbons and sunstones, casting gentle, golden auras. Food stalls stretch like a crescent around the edge, each one wafting scents of honeycakes, fire-grilled meats, cinnamon wines, and fruit-drenched pastries.

Fae-lights float above our heads, flickering in colors that change with emotion,warm pinks for joy, cool blues for peace, a deep violet for love. A small band near the center plays soft music with flutes and hollow drums. There’s laughter and movement everywhere,children with painted faces, women in flowing gowns, men in embroidered coats, masks hiding secrets.

It’s beautiful.

But the moment I step into the open, I feel eyes on me.

Thessaly beams beside me, looping her arm through mine as if we’re both unaware of the sudden hush that follows our arrival.

“She’s glowing,” i hear someone whisper.

“Is that her? The girl the Lunas hate?” Another one.

“She looks… different.”

I focus on my breathing. One step, then another, I never did like being the center of attention.

And then,I feel him.

Like I always do, it's hard not to feel the most powerful man in the room, power and strength radiates off of him.

Alpha Kael, the sterile Alpha.

Even before I see him, I feel him. His presence is a tether. A gravity. I look up, and there he is, standing near the ceremonial platform, dressed in dark green and black, his mask simple but elegant. A black wolf engraved across one side. His hair is tied loosely at the nape of his neck, and moonlight catches in the strands.

He sees me.

And for a long moment we lock eyes, I search his eyes for a sign of pity and he's staring into mine like it might tell him the truth.

His jaw tightens. Eyes darken. His expression unreadable, but unmistakably focused on me. Not the crowd. Not the Elders.

Just me.

He takes a step forward, as if drawn. Then stops.

Thessaly nudges me. “Told you.”

I wanted to tell her that attraction to me was probably not the reason he wanted to come, but I let her believe, let this night be a night we pretend.

Thessaly and I weave through the crowd, past clusters of Betas, warriors, and the occasional Elder, each nodding or ignoring us depending on their level of disdain. But tonight, it doesn’t sting as much. Not with the music thrumming through the air and the smell of warm spice cakes dancing on the breeze.

For a moment, I let myself enjoy it. The colors, the sounds, the illusion of belonging.

We stop at a booth decorated in ivory lace and sunflowers, offering candied moonberries dipped in gold sugar.

"Want one?" Thessaly asks, already handing the vendor a coin.

Before I can answer, the temperature seems to drop. The warm air turns heavy, like a storm rolling in.

I turn,and come face-to-face with both Lunas, a rare sight to see, seeing as they both hate each other.

If I wasn't the object of the obvious disdain in both their eyes, I'd be honored to have brought them together.

Vivienne, regal in deep sapphire velvet, her mask shaped like delicate wings of a raven. Beside her, Luna Serena, dressed in crimson silk, her own mask sharp as a blade, with glittering rubies tracing the curve of her eyes. They are a vision of polished perfection, and venom.

Behind them stand their silent entourage, Beta wives, eyes cool and curious. The air between us sours instantly.

“Rowan,” Vivienne says smoothly, voice like ice against skin. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Chelsea tilts her head. “Neither did Kael. He looked like he’d seen a ghost.”

I hold their gaze, refusing to flinch.

Luna Vivienne's eyes drop to my stomach, then slowly rise. “And yet, somehow, your condition hasn’t ruined your figure entirely. Impressive.”

Thessaly steps forward. “Luna Vivienne, Luna Serena,” she says, tone respectful but clipped. “What a surprise to see you so far from the high table.”

Vivienne’s lips twitch. “We like to see the festivities up close. It reminds us what we protect.”

“Some things are harder to protect than others,” Chelsea adds, eyes drilling into me. “Especially when threats come from within.”

My fists clench at my sides.

“Enjoy the festival,” I say calmly. “Thessaly and i were just leaving”

Chrlseas expression falters, just slightly.

Vivienne raises her brow. “Is that how you treat your luna, leaving just when they come to see you?”

"Lunas Vivienne, I'm here too" Chelseas tone is clipped and annoyed.

For a heartbeat, silence. Tense. Heavy.

Then Vivienne laughs. A dry, brittle sound.

“We’ll see you" she says, then turns on her heel.

They disappear into the crowd, their entourage trailing like shadows.

I exhale slowly.

Thessaly lets out a breath of her own. “They’re worse than I imagined.”

I smile weakly. “That was tame for Vivienne.”

“You handled that like a warrior,” she grins. “I’m proud of you.”

For the first time tonight, I feel it—pride. My heart still hammers from the encounter, but I didn’t cower. And they saw that.

We move on, stopping for food and sweets. Thessaly makes me try a sticky caramel pastry that melts in my mouth. Then we watch a group of dancers perform with fire rings, twirling beneath the moonlight as children toss flower petals into the air.

I even laugh when Thessaly grabs my hand and pulls me into a silly spin on the dancing green, our gowns flowing behind us. We’re both breathless and giggling when we collapse on a bench near the drink pavilion.

“This,” Thessaly says between gulps of honey-cider, “is the most fun I’ve had in weeks.”

“Me too,” I admit, sipping mine slower.

The warmth in my chest has nothing to do with the cider.

Until it doesn’t.

As I lift my cup for another sip, something… shifts.

The scent.

There’s something off. A faint, metallic tinge beneath the honey.

I stop. Freeze. My wolf surges forward, warning flaring in my gut.

“Thessaly.” My voice is hoarse. “Don’t drink.”

She pauses, mid-sip, eyes going wide. “What’s wrong?”

I lower the cup and sniff again. My senses sharpen,every noise, every flicker of light becomes louder, brighter, sharper.

I set the cup down carefully on the bench.

“I think my drink was tampered with.”

Thessaly is already on her feet, scanning the area. “I’ll get the healer. Stay here.”

“No.” My voice is firm. I hated the idea of needing him, of having to call for him. “Get the Alpha.”

She hesitates, then nods and takes off.

I sit there, heart pounding, eyes on the cup, throat dry with fear and fury.

Who did this?

And more importantly.

How did they get close enough to try?