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.
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
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.""
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
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 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
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 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
"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.