Chapter 1

Freya's expression darkened instantly.

She walked toward Emily without hesitation.

I grabbed her arm.

She jerked her head around. Her eyes were even redder than mine.

"Why?

"Since when does the moonstone belong to whoever sees it first?

"It has always belonged to the one who picks it up."

She shook off my hand and tried to charge forward again.

"Give Elena's moonstone back."

I quickly caught her wrist once more.

"Freya, today is the Moon Goddess Festival. You still have to preside over the blessing ceremony."

I gave her a slight shake of my head.

Her chest rose and fell as she glared at Emily in the distance.

Emily clutched the moonstone tightly against her chest as if someone might snatch it away at any moment. She was practically hiding behind Adrian.

Freya clenched her jaw.

"She did it on purpose. She's had her eye on Adrian all along."

I said nothing.

Adrian had already stepped calmly back into the crowd.

It was as if everything that had just happened was nothing more than a trivial incident.

The High Priest offered a few words of blessing, and soon the werewolves returned to their lively celebrations.

Freya shot Adrian a furious glare before returning to her place as the pack healer to continue leading the ceremony.

That entire afternoon, I stood with Silvercrest Pack's delegation while carrying out the rituals on my brother's behalf.

People kept glancing my way.

Some looked regretful while others looked sympathetic.

Some even whispered quietly among themselves.

Adrian stood on the opposite side. He was chatting and laughing with several Alphas.

Emily remained by his side the entire time.

The distance between them had long since exceeded what was appropriate for an assistant.

She hadn't originally been given a place at the Moon Goddess Festival.

Adrian had insisted on giving her his guest spot.

He'd said she was still young and should get out and see more of the world, and that one day she would become one of the pack's core leaders.

But the Moon Goddess Festival had never been a business event.

Every pack treasured its allotted places.

An Alpha's guest invitation was almost always reserved for their mate.

When the ceremony ended, Holy Spring gradually fell silent once more.

Only after the last of the werewolves had left did Adrian walk over to me.

"Let's go home."

He naturally took the cloak from my hands and habitually draped his other arm over my shoulder. I shifted slightly to avoid his touch.

"You go start the car first. I'll wait here."

He lowered his gaze to me for a moment but said nothing. He only nodded gently.

"Okay."

The SUV slowly pulled away from Holy Spring.

Moonlight gradually faded behind us.

My reflection stared back at me from the window.

The makeup I'd carefully prepared for the Moon Goddess Festival was still flawless, yet it couldn't conceal the exhaustion in my eyes.

Silence lingered between us.

At last, Adrian spoke.

"She really did notice it first today. She's always been in poor health. It's rare for her to come across a moonstone blessed by the Moon Goddess.

"Just think of it as helping her. Don't let it bother you."

I didn't answer.

I simply kept watching the trees slipping past outside the window.

Later, while waiting at a red light, he turned to look at me.

"Still upset?"

He leaned closer and gently brushed my hair aside. His hand settled against the back of my neck. He was soothing me the way one might comfort a sulking pup.

"Didn't we agree on this? We'll wait for the next one."

His voice was as gentle as ever. It was so gentle it was almost impossible to argue with.

"Next year's Moon Goddess Festival. I'll personally put the ring on your finger then."

My nose stung.

My wolf howled inside me. 'Liar.'

It was always like this.

He would make another promise about 'next time' in the gentlest voice imaginable.

He would then convince himself everything had been settled.

"Adrian."

I looked at his reflection in the window and spoke softly.

"Yeah?"

"Do you remember when we were pups, we promised we'd find a moonstone at Holy Spring for the ring we'd use in our marking ceremony?

"If we couldn't find one, we'd wait until the following year."

The car fell silent.

His hand resting at the back of my neck paused ever so slightly.

He then let out a soft chuckle.

"You still remember something we said as kids?"

He ruffled my hair again and spoke as if soothing a pup throwing a tantrum.

"Things aren't always ideal. We can have the best craftsmen make the ring. We don't need a moonstone to hold the marking ceremony.

"We'll take our time preparing. I'll give you the finest Luna ring and the grandest ceremony."

He still hadn't answered my question.

Why had he handed my moonstone to someone else in front of everyone?

The car slowly moved into the estate.

It stopped.

Adrian unfastened his seat belt.

Perhaps he believed everything he'd just said was enough to comfort me.

He leaned toward me and intended to kiss me.

I raised my hand and gently pressed it against his shoulder.

He froze.

Looking into his eyes, I said, "I'm tired, Adrian."