A Night of Stumbles

Talia's POV

“Talia, are you ready?” my mother asks through the door, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Yes, I’m coming,” I respond, hesitating for a second before opening the door.

From outside, I can already hear the hum of the pack—voices blending, laughter rising and falling. The gathering has already started. The air is cooler now, the sun setting slowly, casting shadows across the pack’s territory.

Jackson waits by the door, tapping his foot impatiently. “Took you long enough,” he says, pressing his lips to a thin line.

I ignore him and steady my breathing before stepping outside.

The atmosphere feels heavy, though I can’t tell if it’s the gathering or just me. The pack is already gathered in the large clearing at the center of the Alpha's vast abode. Lanterns hang from tree branches, lighting up the area with a warm glow. Music plays softly in the background, and the scent of different delicacies drifts through the air.

Everyone seems relaxed.

Everyone except me.

“Stay close, Talia,” my father says as he leads the way toward the clearing. His voice is calm, but there is firmness in it. Tonight is important, and he wants no mistakes.

My mother walks beside me, her hand resting lightly on my back to remind me that I’m not alone.

I nod, my throat too tight to speak.

I try not to think about the eyes that will turn toward me or the whispers that might follow. Instead, I focus on small things—the crunch of gravel under my feet, the cool breeze brushing against my skin, and the distant sound of laughter.

As we reach the edge of the clearing, the patrol guards step aside to let us through. They stand straighter as we pass, acknowledging my father with respect. Rank matters here. Everyone knows their place, and everyone acts accordingly. My father doesn't hold any title, but he's an elder.

I keep my head down as we walk in.

The gathering is fully alive now. People move in groups—some talking, some laughing, and some watching and sipping their drinks in silence. The higher-ranking members—the Alpha's beta and members of the Pack council—stay closer to the center, where the important conversations happen. The rest spread out along the edges, forming smaller circles.

The visiting dignitaries from neighboring packs are easy to spot. Their clothing is more refined, their posture more controlled. They carry themselves with confidence.

At the center of it all stands Alpha Bran.

He speaks with the other guest Alphas and some members of the Moonlight Pack council, his presence steady and commanding. People give him space without being told. Even from a distance, his authority is clear.

I try to move carefully, hoping to pass through unnoticed. But just as I take another step, my foot hits something.

I stumble forward.

I try to catch myself, but it’s too late. My foot catches a wire connected to the sound system, and the music cuts off abruptly.

Everything goes quiet.

Every head turns toward me.

I freeze.

The silence presses in, and I can feel heat rising to my face as all eyes settle on me. My heart pounds so loudly it feels like everyone can hear it.

I don’t know what to do.

My parents are somewhere behind me, but they are too far to step in immediately.

“Talia.” A voice deep enough to instill fear and respect in those who heard it calls my name.

Alpha Bran.

I look up, and he is already watching me. I feel fear and unease staring into his deep amber eyes. He comes forward, and the crowd parts for him without hesitation.

“What are you doing?” he asks, his tone controlled but clearly displeased.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—” I start, but my words come out uneven.

Before I can finish, I turn too quickly and bump into someone. The impact is solid. My foot comes down hard on his. The man lets out a sharp shout, stepping back immediately.

A dignitary.

Of course.

An alpha from another pack. He's a good friend of Alpha Bran. The murmurs begin almost instantly, spreading through the crowd.

“Talia!” Alpha Bran’s voice cuts through the noise. He reaches me in a few steps and grabs my arm, pulling me slightly away. “Enough. You’re making a scene.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t—” I try again, but he is already pulling me toward the side, not giving me time to explain.

My parents rush over.

“Alpha, please,” my mother says, her voice shaking slightly. “It was an accident.”

“An accident?” Alpha Bran repeats, looking between us. His expression is firm, his patience clearly thin. “This is not the first time, Talia. You need to be more careful, especially at a gathering like this. I warned you, didn't I?”

“She will be, Alpha. We’ll make sure of it,” my father says, moving forward and bowing respectfully. He understands the importance of keeping this situation from getting worse.

Alpha Bran stares at me for some seconds. For a second, I think he will send me away. Instead, he exhales quietly and releases my arm. “Fine. But Talia, if there is any more trouble, you will be sent home. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Alpha,” I say quickly. “I understand.”

He gives me one last look before turning back toward the center, where the other leaders are waiting. The tension slowly begins to ease as conversations pick up again.

“Talia, are you okay?” my mother asks, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“I’m fine,” I say, though my heart is still racing and my hands feel a little unsteady.

“You should stay,” my father says calmly, looking directly at me. “This is important. And… this kind of gathering is not just for show. It is where bonds are formed. Where mates are found.”

His meaning is clear.

Maybe tonight will be the night.

The thought almost makes me laugh, but I don’t have the energy for it.

“Yeah,” I say softly. “Maybe."

The music starts again, and the gathering continues as if nothing happened.

But I know better.

The whispers don’t stop. I can feel them around me, just low enough that I can’t hear the words, but clear enough to know they are about me.

I move carefully through the crowd, staying close to the edges. I avoid the center, avoid groups, and avoid eye contact as much as I can.

Still, it’s impossible to go unnoticed.

Occasionally, someone glances at me. Some look curious, some amused, and others just indifferent.

I don’t know which is worse.

I try to focus on something else, but my mind keeps going back to what just happened. The stumble. The silence. The way everyone looked at me.

I replay it over and over.

No matter how I think about it, it ends the same way.

Embarrassing.

Clumsy.

Expected.

I don’t know how much time passes before I hear footsteps behind me.

I turn, expecting a comment or another laugh. But it’s Jackson. He’s looking at me, and for once, there is no teasing in his expression.

“Hey,” he says.

“Hey,” I reply, attempting a small smile.

“You okay?” he asks, his voice lower.

“Yeah,” I say. “Just… tired.”

He nods. “You didn’t have to stay, you know. No one would have blamed you if you left after… that.”

“I know,” I say, looking away. “But I would rather not leave."

“Why?” he asks.

I hesitate.

“Because I’m tired of running,” I say finally. “I’m tired of letting them decide how I feel.”

He studies me for a second, then nods. “I get that.”

We stand there for a while, not saying much. The music continues, people move around us, and slowly, I start to feel a little calmer.

Then something changes.

At first, it’s subtle.

A shift in the air.

Voices near the center begin to rise—not loud, but tense.

Then it grows.

People start turning toward the middle of the clearing.

“What’s going on?” I ask, looking up at Jackson.

“I don’t know,” he says, trying to see over the crowd. “But something’s happening.”

Without thinking, we both start moving toward it.

The crowd parts reluctantly as people try to see what is happening. A mate pull between two wolves. That's the source of attention. I hiss inwardly and decide to turn back, but something holds me back. I move closer; it feels as if my legs are moving on their own.

I can see Alpha Bran again, standing with one of the visiting dignitaries, their conversation serious.

Something feels different.

I don’t know what it is yet, but I feel it.

Then—

I lift my eyes to meet his. Everything else fades. The noise, the movement, the tension in the air. It all drops. The connection hits me instantly, strong and undeniable.

One word escapes my mouth slightly, meant for only me to hear.

Mate.