"It's the mate bond," Kane said, his voice tight. "Raymond and Giana are together right now."The confirmation only intensified my humiliation. I sank into a chair, trembling as the mark continued to burn. For a moment, Kane just watched me, his expression unreadable.Then, instead of reaching for m
The mountain of RSVPs on my desk had grown to alarming proportions. I'd been sorting through them since dawn, categorizing responses by pack affiliation, dietary restrictions, and status. Each card required a handwritten note in return—a formality that had seemed quaint when I first learned of it, b
"The floral budget seems excessive," Raymond was saying.Kane clutched his chest in mock outrage, mouthing "Flowers? In spring? How revolutionary!"I turned away, struggling to maintain my composure. "The arrangements are being created by the Williams Pack as part of our alliance negotiation. Their
"The ceiling installation needs to be raised another foot," I explained to the decorating committee. "The taller guests will be at risk of hitting the lower elements otherwise."Five committee members nodded, making notes as I walked them through the adjustments to the Gala design. We stood in the c
"A guest who's apparently the only one willing to point out the obvious," Kane retorted. "This isn't about giving Giana protection. This is about legitimizing your relationship while Aurora does all the actual work."The tension between them crackled, both men drawing themselves to their full height
The insistent pounding on my door started just after midnight. I knew who it was before I even reached the entryway—only Kane would dare disturb the Luna at this hour with such impatience.I opened the door to find him exactly as I'd expected: jaw clenched, eyes blazing with barely contained anger.
I pressed my hands against my eyes, horrified to find them wet with tears I hadn't realized I was shedding. "So don't stand there and lecture me about self-respect when you have no idea what it costs me just to get through each day."The silence that followed my outburst seemed to stretch forever. W
The following morning, Kane was nowhere to be found at our scheduled security briefing. His second-in-command delivered the update instead, informing me that Kane had reassigned himself to border patrol duty—effectively removing himself from all Gala preparations.Two days passed in similar fashion.
"So was your absence," I countered.Our movements were mechanical, lacking any hint of the connection that should exist between mates. I noticed several allied Alphas watching us, their expressions speculative."This isn't working," Raymond muttered."A stunning observation," I replied, unable to ke
The final hours of the Gala passed in a blur of diplomatic conversations and carefully maintained smiles. I moved through the crowd with practiced grace, ignoring the whispers that followed in my wake. If anyone noticed the brittleness of my composure, they were kind enough not to mention it."Luna
Raymond's grip on my wrist tightened as he pulled me into a secluded alcove near the back of the hall. Flickering candlelight cast harsh shadows across his face, accentuating the fury in his eyes."What the hell do you think you're doing?" he demanded, finally releasing me.I rubbed my wrist, certai
The traditional mating dance drew to a close, the final notes of primal rhythm fading as the orchestra transitioned to slower, more elegant melodies. Around me, couples began to pair up for the formal dance—the one where, according to centuries of tradition, the Alpha and Luna would lead the pack in
I rubbed my arm where his fingers had dug in. "I was networking with allied Alphas, as is my duty.""Networking?" Raymond scoffed. "You were flirting, encouraging their advances.""I was doing no such thing," I said, indignation rising. "They were being inappropriate, and I was attempting to extrica
The Great Hall had been transformed beyond recognition. Cascading lights resembling stars hung from the vaulted ceiling, while strategically placed living trees created the illusion of an enchanted forest. The soft amber glow from hundreds of floating lanterns cast everyone in their most flattering
Surprise flickered across Kane's face before he controlled it. "You were spying on us?""I was passing by," I said, the half-truth coming easily. "But her questions seemed oddly specific."Kane's expression grew thoughtful. "Yes, they did. Almost as if she had prior knowledge of Council politics.""
I worked through the night, completely redesigning the Gala entrance and arrival sequence to accommodate Kane's last-minute security demands. By dawn, my eyes burned from exhaustion, but the revised plans were complete.A small, defiant part of me took satisfaction in the work's perfection. If Giana
The following morning, Kane was nowhere to be found at our scheduled security briefing. His second-in-command delivered the update instead, informing me that Kane had reassigned himself to border patrol duty—effectively removing himself from all Gala preparations.Two days passed in similar fashion.