Chapter 1

Bright sky. The sounds of children playing around the pack house.

I smiled, the gentle breeze fluttering through my hair.

Today was going to be perfect.

“Luna, the chefs have made the sample for today's dinner,” Diana, the head chef, informed me.

I stood from my balcony seat. “Alright. Let us go.”

From the top of the stairs, I could hear the bustling downstairs.

“Good morning, Luna,” the maids and chefs chorused as I entered the kitchen.

“Good morning. These look wonderful,” I said, gesturing to the two long tables filled with dessert. “You made sure the cookies were–”

“Vanilla flavoured. As little sugar as possible,” Diana and two other chefs chorused. “Just like Alpha likes.”

I flushed, trying to figure out the number of times I had said those words that they would know them by heart. “G-Good to know.”

Reaching for the nearest cupcake, I took a bite, moaning as it melted in my mouth.

“This is amazing.”

“Would Alpha like it?” one of the maids asked.

Another one slapped her arm. “Of course he would. No one knows him better than Luna Elara.”

“I hope so,” I muttered.

Maybe I would finally tell him how I feel after all these years.

“I trust your judgment on the rest,” I said, setting down the rest of the cupcake. “I have other things to attend to.”

I was barely out of the kitchen before the decorators were whisking me away to the ballroom.

It was hours later that I was able to get away.

I hid behind the pack house to catch my breath.

“What are you doing?”

My feet rooted to the ground.

Oh no. I looked like a hot mess.

I turned my head, a nervous smile on my lips. “Asher, I did not see you there.”

He was leaning against the wall with an amused smirk on his face. “Why do you look like you just ran a marathon?”

My head slacked against the wall. “If someone helped me with the last-minute checks, I would not look like this.”

“Oh, come on. You know I was busy. I was looking for you so we could go put on our outfits.”

Yeah, he was an alpha.

He did not have the time for small errands.

“Sorry. I should not have said that,” I apologized.

Asher stepped closer to me and grabbed my hand, leading me inside the house.

Instantly, my heart started to pound.

Sure, we were married, but for most of our years together, we had just been friends who slept together.

“Asher, our fifth anniversary is coming up in a few weeks,” I said.

He glanced down at me. “Yeah. Why?”

“I was wondering if you had anywhere in mind to go.”

Asher hummed, brushing the back of my hand with his thumb. “Not really. I'm fine with anywhere you pick.”

My eyes fell. “Oh. Did you get me something already?”

His face lit up with a beautiful grin. “That is a secret, Elara.”

My meeting Asher was a stroke of luck.

His proposing to me was a full-blown miracle.

What Alpha in his right mind would think that an orphan juggling jobs just to stay alive would be a good match for him?

“I do not know if I have said this before but I'm glad my college scholarship was revoked.”

Asher had a weird look on his face. “Why in goddess’ name would you be glad about that?”

“Because if I had that scholarship, I would not have applied for the cleaning job at the company and we would not have met.”

He chuckled. “That is one way to think about things…but I guess that is true.”

Asher was from a long line of strong Alphas and I was a wandering wolf, trying to fit in amongst humans.

We were from two different worlds.

At the doors to the twin dressing rooms, Asher let go of my hand.

“Try to be down before the food gets cold,” he teased.

I sighed dramatically. “I'll try.”

Asher entered his dressing room first.

I swung open my door. “You little eavesdropping rats.”

Tracy sat on the floor, rubbing her forehead. “You two are just so cute together. When do you plan on telling him?”

I started to strip for a quick shower. “At the party…I think. I don't want it to be weird between us after.”

Her nose scrunched up. “Why would it be weird?”

“What if he does not return my feelings?”

“What is the worst that could happen? You are married,” she stressed. “But forget all that now. We do not have time.”

She all but shoved me in the shower.

“Let's make you so beautiful that he cannot resist you tonight.”

*Two hours later*

“This is not the dress I remember trying on,” I said, twirling in front of the mirror.

What I had decided on was a green dress. This was gold.

Tracy adjusted the flowers on the hem of my dress. “It does not matter, does it? You barely care about what you wear.”

“But Asher's tie–”

“It is gold as well, Luna.” She stood and held my shoulders. “Luna, we got you. Go get your man.”

I trailed my fingers down the corset, feeling how firm the fabric hugged my waist.

It was a really beautiful dress. I wondered if Asher would think the same.

There was a knock on the door.

“Luna, it is almost time for the first dance,” a guard said from outside.

I took in a deep breath and walked to the door, heading straight for the double doors at the end of the hall.

Asher must be down there already.

“Now announcing, Luna Elara Blackwood,” the guard outside the door said before opening the doors to the ballroom.

I stepped into the room, scanning the crowd until my eyes found Asher's.

There was a small smile on his face as he watched me come down the stairs.

Right on the last one, I tripped and fell into his arms.

This is it. I should tell him now.

“Asher, I want to tell you–”

The main doors burst open, interrupting what I was about to say.

All eyes turned to the woman who stepped through the doors.

All eyes, including Asher's.