Chapter 4

The doors swung open.

A familiar high-pitched voice squeaked from behind. I turned to see the one face I'd never want to bring myself to see.

Charlotte.

She walked slowly towards us, carefully. With a huge bandaid on the corner of her head, one that hadn't been there back in the hospital.

On her neck was the same pink diamond necklace Axel had gotten for me.

I scoffed, turned to meet his gaze but he was indifferent.

A pretentious smile greeted her face as she took my hands in hers. I cringed.

"Aurelia!" She smiled. Her fingers grazing my skin, I pulled away. "I hope I hadn't caused you any hurt, I promise it's all a misunderstanding and as you can see…" She gestured towards the bandaid. "I had a bad accident yesterday and that was why Axel rushed over."

The audacity.

I forced a smile. "I should thank you."

Her eyes flickered, confused.

"If you hadn't been in that accident," I continued, keeping my voice light, "I might never have known how much Axel cares for you."

Charlotte's smile faltered. Axel stepped in quickly.

"It wasn't her fault." His hand landed on my shoulder, squeezing. "I was delayed by matters on my end. Charlotte had nothing to do with it."

Anger bubbled within me but I fought to keep my composure. I couldn't explode.

Not here with the entire family watching. Not now.

"The mating ceremony didn't hold yesterday?" Eric spoke, brows furrowed with a rising aura. His anger seeped through his voice, slowly yet intimidating.

"Grandpa…"

"What happened?" Eric's voice boomed.

"A lot happened but the ritual will be held by the end of the month." My muscles tensed as I shot him a glare but Axel squeezed my shoulders tighter. "She'll become my Luna by the end of the month."

With that, Eric's anger softened in an instant. His frown turning into a smile.

"What the hell…" Before I could complete my statement, Axel stepped in front of me, leaning to meet my ears.

"Grandpa has agreed, let's not cause any more scene." He cooed. "Please, love."

A shiver ran through my spine as he pulled away while I remained still, watching him in disbelief.

How could he act this way towards me when he was the one who had initially abandoned our ceremony to be with his foster sister?

I wanted to scream. To expose everything right there.

But Eric's hand was already on my arm, guiding me toward the main banquet hall with a proud smile on his face.

"Come, come. Let's celebrate."

We entered the grand hall. A long table stretched across the room, filled with the wealthiest members of the pack.

Eric led me to my seat but Dane was already seated.

Right beside me.

Heat rushed to my cheeks as I lowered myself into the chair. His scent wrapped around me.

Why did he have to sit so close?

The main events of the ceremony began with jesters and entertainers circling the tables to amuse everyone present at the banquet, and for a tiny second, my thoughts no longer weighed heavily on my mind.

Until…

"Ah!" Suddenly, Charlotte shrieked, the sound of glass shattering stealing everyone's attention.

Shards flew across the table as I flinched, barely registering the motion before a firm arm wrapped around my shoulders, large hands covering my face.

My heart fluttered, my breath quickened as that familiar cologne enveloped me, stronger this time with my face so close to his chest.

"Charlotte!" Axel yelled, his head whipping toward her as he grabbed her arm. "Are you okay? Did you cut yourself?"

She hadn't. The glass had fallen nowhere near her.

Yet there he was. Cradling her hands. In front of everyone.

My chest tightened.

But I didn't expect Dane to pull me toward him. In a rush, my hand landed on his abs, and the firmness instantly reminded me of what I saw at eighteen.

Unlike back then, now we were so close. The warmth of his skin under my palm almost burned me.

"You alright?" Dane whispered, his voice low and heavy as his gaze lingered on me.

I nodded, adjusting my position. "Y… yeah, I am." I coughed lightly. "Thanks."

"You're injured," then I heard Axel. His tone uneasy with his eyes fixed on Charlotte.

"I'm okay…"

"You're not!" He cut her off, examining her arm for micro cuts she inflicted on herself.

"She said she is. Let's finish our dinner," Axel's father, Donald, interjected, shifting uncomfortably.

"You can continue without me. I need to tend to her wounds." Axel didn't wait for a response. Just walked out with Charlotte on his arm.

My stomach dropped.

Dozens of eyes followed them, not with suspicion, but admiration. They thought it sweet how protective he was of his foster sister.

Only the King's family watched with unease.

The banquet continued, but the mood had shifted. Conversations were forced. Laughter hollow. And without a word, Dane reached for his own wine glass and placed it in my hand.

I looked up at him, confused.

His lips curved slightly into a ghost of a smile.

"Out with the old," he toasted. "In with the new."

****

The banquet wound to a close with Axel still nowhere to be found.

I excused myself from Eric and Dane, slipping outside before anyone could stop me.

The cold night air brushed against my skin as I pulled my phone out to hail a cab.

Yet nothing.

And in an instant, the sky burst open with rain pouring heavily.

Could this day get any worse?

I pressed myself against the pillar, arms wrapped around my body, waiting for any passing cab as the cold seeped into my bones. But it was useless. Within seconds, my dress clung to my skin like a second layer.

But just then…

The sound of an engine hummed through the rain. Headlights cut through the darkness as a sleek black car pulled up beside me.

The backseat window rolled down.

Dane.

"Get in." His voice was a cold command. Yet I hesitated. Standing in the rain like an idiot, debating whether to accept help from my fiancé's uncle.

The same man I'd embarrassingly avoided when I was eighteen and for some reason still couldn't bring myself to look him in the eye for more than a second.

"You'll get sick, Aurelia."

He wasn't leaving. Not until I accepted his offer.

I gave up and climbed in.

Water dripped from my hair onto the leather seats. I opened my mouth to apologize but before I could, he draped his coat over my shoulders.

His strong scent wrapped around me.

"Thank you." My voice was barely a whisper.

We drove in silence. The only sound was the rain hammering against the windshield and the steady hum of the engine.

"Did you have a fight with him?"

I swallowed. Tried to keep my composure.

"Something like that." I answered. After all, how could I possibly tell him the truth about his nephew fucking his foster niece?

My throat burned. Eyes stinging as I blinked rapidly, fighting the tears that threatened to spill.

I thought I had it under control but I didn't.

One tear slipped down my cheek. Then another.

From the corner of my eye, I saw his hand reach toward me. Warm. Gentle.

But I flinched. Pulled away before he could touch me.

Blinking rapidly as I turned my gaze towards the window, hoping the sound of the rain would bury my pathetic sobs.

Minutes passed and when we arrived at Axel's house, the rain had softened to a drizzle.

My fingers fumbled against the door handle as I stepped out of the car, whispering a quick "thank you" without meeting his gaze.

I just couldn't.

And with that, I walked into the house but I could still feel him. His gaze burning through my skin.