Chapter 4

“Aiden!”

Mitz’s voice snapped me back to reality so suddenly that I flinched. I blinked at her, my chest tightening. “W-What?”

“I’ve been calling you for ages. You were totally spaced out,” she said, eyes narrowing in concern. “Are you sure you’re okay? We don’t have to go if you’re not ready. I can drive you anywhere else instead.”

“I’m…” I exhaled hard, forcing a small, steady smile. “I’m fine. I’ll deal with everything after tonight. I just need to get through this.”

She did not press further, but I noticed how her jaw tightened, how her eyes darkened with worry.

I stood and headed to the restroom to fix myself up, moving mechanically as though on autopilot. I ran a comb through my hair, straightened my collar, and splashed some cold water on my face. Even the light streaming through the window, the same golden glow I used to love, looked dull and washed out.

My mother’s confession stayed in my head, looping again and again like a broken record. It clawed at me every time I thought about it, making it hard to even breathe. The secret she had kept for so many years was not just painful. It was dangerous. One wrong move, one slip, and everything we had could fall apart.

She told me that she had once been promised to Rowan, the Alpha of the Moonveil Pack. Everyone in Darkpine Woods knew his name. His pack was the most powerful, and his word was law. She was meant to become his Luna, his mate and partner in leading the pack. But she had rejected him.

At first, I did not believe her. How could wolves live among humans without being noticed? It sounded like a story someone would make up to scare kids. But then she showed me. For just a moment, a faint glow moved over her skin, and I saw her wolf. It was weak, fading, but it was still there inside her. That was when I realized she was telling the truth.

Her rejection of Rowan was something he could never forgive. He was furious, and his anger turned the entire pack against her. She was treated worse than an outcast. They forced her to work until her body was close to giving up. They hurt her, humiliated her, and made sure she felt alone. She said it got so bad that she knew they would kill her if she stayed. That was when she decided to run away.

My father had been one of the hunters sent to bring her back. She said that when he found her, she was bleeding and close to death. But instead of finishing his task, he helped her. He kept her hidden from Rowan and his pack. For a while, they lived quietly, always moving from place to place so no one would find them.

But Rowan never stopped looking.

When I was born, it became harder for my parents to hide. A baby made everything riskier. My father knew they could not keep running forever. When Rowan’s pack finally found them, my father fought back with everything he had. He gave up his life to make sure my mother and I could escape.

As my mother told me all of this, I felt something burn inside me. It was anger so strong that it almost hurt. I could not stop thinking that if I had never been born, maybe they could have gotten away together. Maybe my father would still be alive and with us now.

That thought broke me more than anything else.

“Aiden,” Mitz said softly, pulling me out of the spiral as she opened the car door. “Once we go inside, there is no turning back. Are you sure you want this?”

I looked past her at the grand façade of the university. Students in sharp tuxedos and sweeping gowns lined up under strings of colored lights, the towering stone arches glowing softly in the night.

“I am going in,” I said firmly. “Like I told you, I will deal with my demons after this.”

Mitz nodded with a small sigh. “I will stick by your side the whole time. Promise.”

We stepped out together, handing our passes to the organizers. I could feel the whispers ripple around us, curious stares tracking our movements, but I ignored them.

Somewhere across the hall, Silas was leaning against the bar, a glass of wine dangling carelessly from his hand. Even at that distance, I could feel his gaze land on me like a weight. My stomach knotted, and I quickly looked away. I just wanted to survive this night and leave.

The evening opened with the traditional Founder’s Night dance, followed by a stunning performance by the music and dance organization. The principal then delivered his annual speech, one I was sure was a recycled copy from last year, drawing the same polite applause.

Dinner followed, though I barely touched my plate. From my seat, I noticed the wealthier students clustered at an exclusive table in the center, their meals plated with extra care. It was not anything new, so I averted my gaze and reminded myself to stay out of trouble.

Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and a hush fell over the hall. A bright spotlight swept the crowd as the host’s voice boomed.

“It is time to announce the recipients of this year’s Crown of Honor!”

The crowd erupted in cheers. I just sat there, feeling disconnected.

“Our first nominee for the King’s Crown, Wesley Gray!”

I clapped mechanically. Wesley, the star athlete, also had a reputation for making people’s lives miserable.

“Our second nominee, Tyler Cruz!”

Another popular jock. Another bully. My jaw tightened.

“And finally… Silas Rennick!”

I was not surprised at all.

The host shifted to the Queen’s nominees.

“Our first candidate, Nerissa Vaughn!”

The table of queen bees squealed as Nerissa stood, tossing her hair back like the crown was already hers.

“Our second candidate, Thalia Quinn!”

Predictable.

“And our third candidate, Vivienne Ardan!”

The crowd cheered again, though I barely noticed. I was distracted by the murmurs of the girls behind me.

“Can you imagine dancing with Silas if he wins? God, I would die.”

“Nerissa is not going to let that chance slip. She is practically already hanging off his arm.”

I shifted uncomfortably. It was obvious how badly some of them wanted to be Silas’s partner for the Crown of Honor dance. I told myself it was none of my business, but a strange, tight twist coiled low in my chest anyway.

“Our King this year is… Silas Rennick!”

The venue erupted into deafening cheers and whistles. My heart slammed painfully against my ribs.

Silas strode up to the stage with slow, deliberate confidence, every eye following his every step. He accepted the crown and sash like he was born to wear them, his piercing gaze sweeping the hall until it landed squarely on me. That faint, knowing smirk curved his lips, the same one he had worn when he offered me a ride, and heat prickled up the back of my neck.

“Mitz,” I whispered, leaning close to her, “let us leave. Now. I do not like this.”

“It is almost over, Aiden,” she murmured back.

“And the Queen’s Crown goes to… Nerissa Vaughn!”

Nerissa’s delighted scream pierced the room. She strutted up the stage like she owned it, basking in the attention. Her friends clapped and whistled, completely smug.

As Silas and Nerissa were crowned, the host announced that they would lead the final Founder’s Night dance together. Nerissa practically threw herself into Silas’s arms, looping her hands around his neck. Silas’s expression remained unreadable as the music began.

“Come on,” Mitz whispered, tugging me toward the dance floor. “We are not just going to stand here like statues.”

I sighed and followed, though the unease crawling in my gut only grew worse. Mitz grabbed my hand and rested her other hand on my shoulder, forcing me into a slow sway. My grip was too tight, but she did not complain.

Then the lights went out.

“Mitz?” I whispered, my voice tight as I reached out blindly. But the next moment, her hand slipped from mine.

A large, warm hand grabbed my wrist and yanked me forward. I stumbled into a solid chest, my breath hitching hard. Whoever it was had a presence so strong, so overpowering, I froze in place.

Then soft lips brushed against mine.

My entire body locked up, my heart slamming hard against my ribs. His mouth moved slowly, deliberately, long enough for me to feel the warmth of his breath against my skin. I wanted to move, to push away, but I could not. My knees felt unsteady, my lungs burned, and for a heartbeat, the world vanished.

The lights flickered back on.

I staggered backward, my eyes darting up, and my blood ran cold.

Silas was standing right in front of me!