Chapter 4

A TASTE OF POWER

The soft glow of the setting sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting long shadows across my bedroom. I sat on the edge of the plush bed, my fingers absently tracing the intricate patterns on the silk duvet. The room smelled faintly of lavender, a scent I'd come to associate with this strange new home. It was meant to be calming, I supposed, but nothing could truly soothe the storm of emotions raging inside me.

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. For a moment, I allowed myself to pretend that this was all a dream—that I'd wake up back in my old room, in my old life, where I was just Thalia. Not a Luna. Not the mate of the most feared Alpha in all the packs.

A soft knock shattered my illusion.

"Thalia?" Billie's warm voice called from the other side of the door. "Are you decent?"

I sighed, straightening my posture. "Come in, Billie."

The door opened, and Billie stepped inside. I blinked in surprise. Gone was the casual, friendly girl I'd spent the day with. In her place stood a vision of pack nobility. Her golden hair was pulled back into a tight bun, adorned with glittering beads that caught the fading light. She wore a sleek black dress that hugged her curves, making her look both elegant and intimidating.

"Wow," I breathed, suddenly feeling very underdressed in my simple cotton shirt and leggings. "You look amazing."

Billie's lips curved into a smile, but there was a tension in her eyes that hadn't been there before. "Thank you," she said, the beads in her hair tinkling softly as she inclined her head. "But I'm not the one who needs to dress up tonight."

My stomach dropped. "What do you mean?"

Billie took a deep breath, her posture straightening almost imperceptibly. "Zephyr has requested your presence at dinner," she said, her tone more formal than I'd ever heard it. "It's time for you to take your place as Luna beside him."

The words hit me like a physical blow. My hand instinctively went to my arm, rubbing it nervously as I fixed my gaze on the polished wooden floor. "I... I don't know if I'm ready for that," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Billie's expression softened slightly. She crossed the room in a few graceful strides, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "I know it's overwhelming," she said softly. "But you can do this, Thalia. You're stronger than you think."

I wanted to believe her. I wanted to feel the confidence she seemed to have in me. But all I felt was a cold dread settling in the pit of my stomach.

"Come on," Billie said, giving my shoulder a squeeze before stepping back. "We need to get you ready. The pack leaders will be expecting their Luna to look the part."

The next half hour passed in a blur of fabric and hairpins. Billie helped me into a deep blue gown that flowed like water around my body. She styled my hair into an elegant updo, securing it with silver pins that glinted like stars. As I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror, I barely recognized myself.

"There," Billie said, stepping back to admire her handiwork. "Now you look like a Luna."

I swallowed hard, my fingers fidgeting with the soft fabric of the dress. "I don't feel like one," I admitted.

Billie's eyes met mine in the mirror. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of sympathy in their depths. But it was gone so quickly, I might have imagined it.

"You will," she said firmly. "Now, let's go. We don't want to keep them waiting."

As we stepped into the hallway, the reality of what was about to happen crashed over me. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears. The polished wooden floor seemed to stretch endlessly before us, each step bringing me closer to a role I wasn't sure I could fill.

We were halfway down the corridor when a tall figure rounded the corner ahead of us. I tensed, half-expecting it to be Zephyr. But as the man drew closer, I realized it wasn't my mate, but another pack member I hadn't met before.

He was handsome, with kind green eyes that seemed to glow in the dim light of the hallway. His posture was formal, but there was a warmth to his expression that made me feel slightly less on edge.

"Good evening, Luna," he said, his voice gentle but firm as he inclined his head respectfully. "I'm Kobee. It's an honor to meet you."

I felt my cheeks flush at the title. "Oh, um, please just call me Thalia," I said, my voice coming out as barely more than a whisper.

Billie let out a soft laugh beside me. "Come on, Kobee," she teased, her tone lighter than it had been all evening. "You're making our Luna blush. I thought we agreed you'd work on being less formal."

Kobee's cheeks turned a shade of pink that nearly matched my own. "My apologies," he said, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Old habits die hard, I suppose."

I managed a shy smile in return. "It's nice to meet you, Kobee," I said, feeling a bit more at ease.

As we continued down the hallway, I could feel Kobee's curious gaze on me. It wasn't unkind, but it reminded me of how new and strange I must seem to everyone here. The outsider. The weak link. The Luna who couldn't even shift.

The dining room loomed before us far too quickly. As we approached, the low murmur of conversation reached my ears, along with the clink of silverware against fine china. My steps faltered, and I felt Billie's hand on my lower back, gently urging me forward.

"You've got this," she whispered, her breath warm against my ear. "Just breathe."

I nodded, trying to swallow past the lump in my throat. With one final deep breath, I stepped into the room.

The conversation died almost instantly. A dozen pairs of eyes turned to me, their gazes ranging from curious to skeptical to outright hostile. The room suddenly felt much warmer, the air thick with tension and unspoken judgments.

But all of that faded into the background when I saw him.

Zephyr stood at the far end of the long table, his golden eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat. He was dressed in a crisp black suit that emphasized the breadth of his shoulders and the lean strength of his body. As our eyes met, I saw him take a deep breath, his nostrils flaring slightly. It was as if my scent affected him on some primal level, even from across the room.

For a moment, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of us. The weight of his gaze was almost physical, making me feel both desired and terribly vulnerable. I wasn't sure which sensation frightened me more.

"Ah, our Luna has finally graced us with her presence," a cold voice broke the silence, shattering the moment.

I tore my gaze away from Zephyr to find the source of the words. A man with sharp features and even sharper eyes was looking at me with undisguised contempt.

"Tell me, Luna," he continued, his lips curling into a sneer, "do you always keep your betters waiting? Or is this a special honor reserved for your new pack?"

I felt the blood drain from my face. My mouth opened, but no words came out. What could I possibly say to that?

"Xavior," Zephyr's voice cut through the room like a whip crack. "You will show your Luna the respect she deserves, or you will leave this table. Is that understood?"

Xavior's jaw clenched, but he lowered his gaze. "Of course, Alpha. My apologies."

Zephyr's eyes found mine again, and he gestured to the empty seat at his right hand. "Thalia. Join us."

It wasn't a request. My legs felt like lead as I made my way to the chair, acutely aware of every eye in the room following my progress. As I sat, I caught a glimpse of Billie taking a seat further down the table. She gave me an encouraging nod, but it did little to calm the panic rising in my chest.

"Now that we're all here," Zephyr said, his deep voice resonating through the room, "let's begin."

The meal progressed in a haze of tension and stilted conversation. I picked at my food, my appetite long gone, as I tried to follow the discussions around me. They spoke of pack politics, of territory disputes and alliances, using terms and names I didn't understand. I felt hopelessly out of my depth, a feeling that only intensified every time someone directed a question or comment my way.

"So, Luna," a woman with striking silver hair said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Tell us, how are you finding your new home? I imagine it must be quite different from the... quaint surroundings of the Nightshades Pack."

I swallowed hard, setting down my fork. "It's... very beautiful," I managed, hating how small my voice sounded. "Everyone has been very welcoming."

A derisive snort came from further down the table. "Welcoming? Please." It was Xavior again, his eyes glinting with malice. "Let's not pretend this is anything other than what it is. Our Alpha, mated to a Delta reject who can't even shift. It's an insult to our pack."

The room fell deadly silent. I felt as if all the air had been sucked out of my lungs. Beside me, Zephyr went very, very still.

Then, without warning, his hand slammed down on the table with such force that everyone jumped. The glasses rattled, and I heard someone gasp.

"You dare," Zephyr growled, his voice low and dangerous, "to insult my mate? To question my choice?"

Xavior paled, but another voice spoke up before he could respond.

"With all due respect, Alpha," a man with intricate tattoos covering his arms said, leaning forward, "Xavior's concerns are not unfounded. The Luna is from the Nightshades Pack. She has not yet shifted. How can she lead us? How can she protect our pack?"

I felt tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. Every word was like a knife, twisting deeper into my heart. They were right. How could I possibly be what this pack needed?

Zephyr's growl deepened, the sound vibrating through the air and sending a shiver down my spine. "Mi'chi," he said, his voice dangerously calm, "perhaps you'd like to remind us all of what you told me when I became Alpha. About the true nature of power and leadership."

Mi'chi's face drained of color. "I... Alpha, I didn't mean—"

"Stand up, Thalia," Zephyr commanded, cutting off Mi'chi's stammering.

I blinked, confusion momentarily overriding my fear. "What?"

"I said, stand up." His voice brooked no argument.

On shaky legs, I pushed back my chair and stood. Zephyr rose as well, his presence seeming to fill the entire room.

"Look at your Luna," he said, his eyes scanning the faces around the table. "Really look at her. She may not have shifted yet, but the Moon Goddess chose her for me. For us. And I will not tolerate any disrespect towards her. Is that clear?"

A murmur of assent rippled through the room, but Mi'chi wasn't done.

"But Alpha," he pressed, "surely you must see the weakness this brings to our pack. The other Alphas will—"

He never got to finish his sentence. In a blur of motion too fast for me to follow, Zephyr was suddenly at Mi'chi's side, his hand wrapped around the man's throat.

"The other Alphas," Zephyr snarled, "will bow before us or be crushed. And so will anyone in this pack who dares to question my mate's place at my side. Do I make myself clear?"

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Mi'chi nodded frantically, his face turning an alarming shade of purple. Zephyr held him for a moment longer before releasing him with a disgusted sound.

Then, before I could even process what had happened, Zephyr's hand was on my arm, pulling me out of the dining room. I stumbled, struggling to keep up with his long strides as he dragged me down the hallway.

"Zephyr, wait!" I heard Billie call from behind us, but Zephyr ignored her.

We reached a small study, and Zephyr all but threw me inside before slamming the door shut. In an instant, he had me pinned against the wall, his body caging me in. His breath was hot against my ear, and I could feel the tension radiating off him in waves.

"Listen to me very carefully, little mate," he growled, his voice low and threatening. "I will not have my authority questioned because of you. You will learn to be the Luna this pack needs, or there will be consequences. Do you understand?"

I trembled, unable to speak. This close, his scent overwhelmed me—a heady mix of pine and something wild that made my head spin.

"I said," he repeated, pressing closer, "do you understand?"

"Y-yes," I managed to whisper, my voice shaking.

"Zephyr!" Billie's voice came through the door, followed by insistent knocking. "Zephyr, stop this right now!"

For a long moment, Zephyr didn't move. His eyes bore into mine, golden and fierce and filled with an emotion I couldn't name. Then, abruptly, he released me and stepped back.

"We're not done here," he said, his voice cold. "Remember what I said."

With that, he turned and stalked out of the room, brushing past a worried-looking Billie in the doorway.

As soon as he was gone, my legs gave out. I slid down the wall, my entire body shaking. Billie was at my side in an instant, her hands gentle as she checked me for injuries.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. "Did he hurt you?"

I shook my head, unable to form words. The events of the evening replayed in my mind, each moment more terrifying than the last. What had I gotten myself into?

As Billie helped me to my feet, murmuring words of comfort, one thought crystallized in my mind with startling clarity: I was in way over my head. And if I wanted to survive in this world of power and violence, I was going to have to learn fast.

Because Zephyr was right about one thing—we weren't done. This was only the beginning.