Chapter Three

Anna’s POV

Later that evening, I slipped into the navy-blue dress Grams Becky had picked out for me.

The soft fabric hugged my body perfectly before stopping just above my knees. The sleeveless design left my arms bare, while the open back added a touch of elegance that made me feel both confident and strangely exposed.

I turned slowly in front of the mirror.

Not bad.

A knock sounded on my bedroom door before it opened a second later.

“There she is.”

Grams Becky walked in carrying a pair of silver earrings, her warm brown eyes lighting up the moment she saw me.

“I knew this dress would suit you.”

I smiled, shaking my head.

Ever since Kael had brought me to Ironfang after the attack on my pack, Grams Becky had been the one responsible for looking after me. She wasn’t related to me by blood, but somewhere between making sure I never skipped meals, treating every bruise I came home with, and scolding me whenever I overworked myself, she’d quietly become the closest thing I had to family.

She fastened the earrings before taking a step back to admire her work.

“There,” she said proudly. “Now everyone will finally notice what a beautiful young woman you’ve become.”

I groaned.

“Please don’t start.”

“Oh, I absolutely will.” She smiled mischievously. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll even catch someone’s eye tonight.”

I rolled mine.

“I think the wolves here have made it very clear how they feel about the pack’s wolfless girl.”

Grams Becky’s smile softened.

“The right people see far more than whether you have a wolf, Anna.”

I didn’t answer.

I wanted to believe her. I just wasn’t sure I could.

A few minutes later, we walked together toward the ceremony grounds.

The entire pack had transformed the open field into something almost magical. Golden lanterns hung from wooden beams, filling the night with a warm glow that danced across smiling faces. Long tables overflowed with roasted meat, fresh bread, fruit, and steaming dishes that filled the air with mouthwatering aromas. Music drifted through the clearing as children chased one another between laughing adults, their carefree voices blending perfectly with the celebration.

For the first time since arriving at Ironfang, I saw the pack without swords at their hips or grim expressions on their faces.

Tonight, they weren’t warriors.

They were simply people enjoying a rare moment of peace.

“It’s beautiful,” I admitted.

Grams Becky smiled.

Before I could say anything else, an excited squeal reached my ears.

“Anna!”

Emma came running toward me, practically glowing.

Her hand was tightly intertwined with that of a tall blond warrior whose eyes never seemed to leave her.

“You made it!” Emma beamed.

“I told you I would.”

Emma turned toward the man beside her.

“This is Caleb, my mate.”

He offered me a friendly smile.

“It’s nice to finally meet the woman Emma never stops talking about.”

Heat rushed to Emma’s cheeks.

“I do not talk about her that much.”

Caleb chuckled.

“You’ve mentioned her at least five times today.”

Emma lightly smacked his arm, making him laugh even harder before wrapping an arm around her waist.

The affection between them was effortless.

Natural.

As though the rest of the world disappeared whenever they looked at each other.

The music grew louder, and Caleb extended his hand.

“May I have this dance?”

Emma’s face lit up.

“You don’t even have to ask.”

He led her toward the center of the dance floor, where other couples had already begun swaying beneath the lanterns.

I found myself watching them.

Emma laughed as Caleb spun her beneath his arm before pulling her close again. The happiness on her face was impossible to miss.

“They’re adorable together.”

Grams Becky smiled knowingly beside me.

“They are.”

I nodded, but something inside my chest ached.

I was happy for her.

I truly was.

Still… I couldn’t stop wondering what it felt like to have someone look at you the way Caleb looked at Emma.

Someone whose eyes searched for you in every crowd.

Someone who chose you.

My thoughts came to an abrupt halt as the atmosphere around me shifted.

That familiar scent reached me before I even turned.

Kael.

My heart betrayed me by skipping a beat.

He walked across the ceremony grounds dressed in a dark charcoal shirt with the sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms. The fitted fabric emphasized the powerful build I’d seen countless times on the training field, yet somehow he looked even more striking beneath the lantern light.

Conversations quieted as he passed.

Not because anyone had been ordered to stop talking.

Respect followed him naturally.

Without realizing it, my eyes stayed on him.

Then his gaze lifted.

It landed on me.

For a long moment, neither of us looked away.

His eyes slowly traveled over my dress before returning to my face. There wasn’t anything inappropriate about the look, yet warmth crept into my cheeks all the same.

It felt as though he was seeing me for the first time.

I quickly looked away, silently cursing myself for caring what he thought.

“Anna?”

A young warrior stopped in front of me with a nervous smile.

“I was wondering…” He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “Would you like to dance?”

The question caught me completely off guard.

Before I could answer, something made me glance toward Kael.

He was still standing where I’d left him.

Jason, the Beta, was saying something beside him, but Kael wasn’t listening.

His gray eyes rested on the young warrior standing in front of me.

His expression remained calm, yet I noticed the way his jaw tightened ever so slightly before his gaze shifted back to Jason.

The movement was so brief It was almost like it didn’t happen .

“I’m sorry,” I said gently, looking back at the warrior. “I appreciate you asking, but I’ll have to pass.”

Disappointment flashed across his face, though he nodded politely.

“Maybe another time.”

He walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

“You turned him down.”

The deep voice behind me made me jump. I turned to find Kael standing only a few feet away.

“I didn’t hear you walk over.” I folded my arms. “Is there a reason you’re sneaking up on people tonight?”

One corner of his mouth threatened to lift before disappearing just as quickly.

“I wasn’t sneaking.” He softly said

And For a moment, neither of us spoke.

The music continued around us while couples laughed and danced beneath the lanterns.

His eyes met mine again.

“The dress suits you.”

I blinked.

Of all the things I’d expected him to say…That hadn’t been one of them.

“Was… was that a compliment?”

“I simply stated a fact.” He turned to face the dance

A smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it.

“You really don’t know how to compliment someone, do you?”

“I’m still learning.”

I laughed softly.

For the first time since meeting Kael, the silence between us didn’t feel uncomfortable.

It felt… Easy.

Then the night exploded.

A deafening blast tore through the air, shaking the ground beneath our feet as flames erupted near the eastern gate.

The music stopped.

Screams replaced laughter.

Children cried as terrified pack members scattered in every direction.

Without thinking, Kael stepped in front of me, shielding me from the cloud of smoke rolling toward us.

His entire body changed in an instant.

The warmth in his eyes disappeared, replaced by something cold enough to freeze the air between us.

“Stay behind me.”

Before I could ask what was happening, another explosion ripped through the night.