Chapter Eleven

The sedan rolled to a stop on the tarmac, its engine purring low. Julian stepped out, buttoning his jacket calm and collectively, his gaze fixed on the figure emerging from the cabin.

Elara appeared at the top, every inch composed elegance—silk dress catching the light, golden hair pinned to perfection, smile practiced but radiant. She descended quickly, heels clicking against the metal steps, and the moment her feet touched the ground, she rushed forward.

“Julian,” she said breathlessly, arms sweeping around his neck as she rose onto her toes and kissed him full on the lips.

The reaction was instant. His wolf recoiled. Not the usual stillness it had always shown with Elara. Not the neutral quiet it had held with every other woman he’d ever touched. No—this was visceral, sharp, a rejection that reverberated through him like a snarl locked behind his teeth.

Elara only deepened the kiss, oblivious, clinging closer. To the watching world, Julian appeared calm, composed, every line of him Alpha-perfect. But inside, his wolf prowled in restless defiance, straining away from her touch.

Julian closed his hands firmly around hers, guiding her back a step. “You had a good flight,” he said evenly, his tone smooth, uniform, betraying nothing.

“I did,” Her smile brightened, satisfied, as though she hadn’t noticed a thing. She slipped her arm through his with gentle ease, tilting her head against his shoulder like she belonged there.

Julian turned her toward the waiting car, his palm fixed on the small of her back. To anyone watching, it was the image of a perfect Alpha receiving his Luna-to-be. But beneath the polished stillness, his wolf still clawed against its cage.

Jace was already there, sharp as ever, pulling the rear door open with a nod.

“Beta Jace,” Elara greeted lightly, her voice honeyed but cool as her eyes skimmed over him. “Always so dutiful.”

Jace inclined his head. “Welcome back, Lady Elara.”

She slipped into the car with a rustle of silk, tugging Julian with her until he was seated beside her. The door shut behind them with a heavy finality, muting the world outside.

The faint scent of roses clung to her perfume, sharp against the leather interior. She crossed one leg over the other, angling herself toward him with seasoned poise. “You kept me waiting,” she murmured, fingers grazing his sleeve as though testing his attention.

Julian leaned back, his profile sharp, his gaze fixed on the darkened glass ahead. “Business required my time.”

Her lips curved, though the smile never touched her eyes. “Business always requires your time.” She traced a fingertip over his cuff, lingering as if to remind him she was there. “I only hope I’ll start requiring just as much of it. If I’m to be your Luna, Julian, I should be your first priority.”

Julian’s expression didn’t shift. “My priority is the pack.”

Her mouth curved again, this time with a hint of challenge. “And soon, I’ll be an important part of the pack. I’ll need to be seen as such. Properly. Not just in your house, but in your world.”

Julian rested his elbow against the door, his face carved into calm stone. “You’ll have what’s required.”

That seemed enough for her. Her smile lingered, satisfied—as though the matter was already settled.

The rest of the drive passed in silence, broken only by the hum of the tires on the road. Elara sat with one hand on his sleeve, her perfume filling the air, as if trying to stake a claim through sheer presence. Julian didn’t move, didn’t look her way. His expression never cracked.

By the time the sedan pulled into the long drive of the packhouse, the midday sun had dipped enough to slant golden light across the stone steps. A line of omegas was already waiting, heads bowed, ready to greet the Alpha and the woman soon to be named Luna.

Jace was out first, giving clipped instructions as the omegas rushed forward to collect Elara’s luggage. Elara stepped from the car, adjusting her dress with grace. Julian strode ahead, silent, the perfect Alpha leading his future Luna into his house.

Once they reached the wing prepared for her, the heavy doors closed behind them, muffling the sound of footsteps and greetings outside. Only two omegas remained, carrying her cases inside.

“Careful with that,” Elara snapped when one of the younger omegas struggled with a heavy case. “That trunk holds silks from Milan. If they wrinkle, I’ll know who to blame.”

One of the girls nodded quickly, murmuring apologies as she moved to the next case. But the handle slipped from her grip, and it thudded against the floor.

Elara’s expression curdled. “Are you idiotic? That bag has my perfumes. One crack, and it’s worth more than your entire year’s wage.”

The omega scrambled upright, stammering out another apology, her head bowed so low her hair hid her face. “I—I’m sorry, my lady. Would you like your things arranged in the wardrobe?”

Her fingers flicked in dismissal. “Arrange it however you like. This room is only for show. I’ll be sleeping in the Alpha’s bed.”

Her tone dripped arrogance, the words ringing in the chamber like a slap. The omegas exchanged a quick glance before bowing their heads lower, hiding their expressions.

Elara turned toward the mirror, smoothing her hair as if nothing had happened, her reflection smiling back at her with polished satisfaction.

By nightfall, the packhouse had transformed. Long tables stretched the length of the great hall, polished silver and crystal gleaming under the warm glow of chandeliers. Platters of roasted meats, fresh breads, and spiced vegetables lined the tables, filling the air with a feast-worthy aroma.

Julian took his seat at the head table, his parents already in place. His mother wore her usual calm poise, his father exuding authority even in silence. Elara settled gracefully beside him, an extravagant gown pooling around her, her smile warm enough to draw the attention of every nearby table.

“I think the ceremony should be held in the courtyard,” Elara said brightly, her words tumbling out before anyone else could set the tone. “The archway could be draped in white roses, perhaps lilies woven through. And I’ll need the seamstress to begin my fittings immediately. A Luna’s gown must be perfect.”

His mother’s brow lifted, just faintly. “Tradition has always kept the ceremony in the great hall,” she said evenly.

Elara waved her hand with a light laugh. “Tradition is lovely, but times are changing. The courtyard will show the pack—and our allies—that this union is not just duty, but celebration.”

Julian’s jaw flexed, his gaze fixed on the wine in his glass. He let her words wash over him, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, his silence as deliberate as it was cold.

Then her hand slid beneath the table. Resting first on his thigh, soft pressure through the fabric of his trousers. She leaned closer, her laughter chiming as she spoke to his father about guest lists. But her hand moved higher, bolder, until it brushed over the hard line of his cock.

A jolt tore through him, unbidden, unwelcome. His wolf snarled, vehemently objecting, and for the briefest second his body flinched.

Elara’s lips curved, satisfied, as though his reaction was the proof she was searching for. She didn’t stop.

Julian’s hand closed around the stem of his glass, the crystal threatening to crack. He didn’t look at her. Didn’t move. Only the steel in his posture betrayed the storm beneath his skin.

Elara rubbed harder, tracing the shape of him, certain of the reaction she always drew.

But nothing came.

Julian’s body remained stone-still, his jaw locked, eyes fixed ahead as though her touch didn’t exist. His wolf growled inside him—not in lust, but in refusal—and the tension in his shoulders revealed it.

Elara’s brows knit the faintest degree as she tilted her head up at him, smile still painted on for the table. Confusion flickered in her eyes. Julian had never been difficult to stir. He was a man, an Alpha—his body had always answered her. Yet now… nothing.

Her fingers pressed firmer, insistent, as though she could force a reaction.

Julian shifted at last, not with desire but with finality. He caught her wrist beneath the table, pried her hand away, and set it back in her lap. His expression never wavered, never turned her way.

The confusion in her eyes deepened, but she smoothed her smile quickly, laughing at something his mother said, pretending nothing had happened.

Julian lifted his glass to his lips, the motion precise, controlled. But inside, his wolf still prowled, rejecting the soon-to-be Luna’s touch as though it burned.