Chapter 1

I turned to step down from the altar, but Kellan reached out and caught my wrist.

A second later, Kellan's confused, irritated voice came through the mind-link. "Evelyn, the ceremony isn't over. Where are you going?"

"Is there any part of this ceremony left for me?"

I looked at the empty tray in the priest's hands.

That was where the moonstone necklace meant for me had been.

For seven years, I had defended the Ashford border alongside the Blackcliff reinforcements.

The whole pack agreed that no Luna in history deserved that necklace more than I did.

But now it rested against another she-wolf's neck.

Kellan followed my gaze and softened his voice. "Evelyn, don't get the wrong idea. Serena just saved my life."

I scoffed. "The woman who saved your life by holding you while you slept?"

"Is sex all you ever think about?"

Kellan rubbed his forehead, his voice full of impatience. "Today's my inauguration. Can you not make a scene?"

Suddenly, it all seemed ridiculous.

He didn't even realize what he'd done wrong.

When I didn't say anything, Kellan looked down at me, his tone gentler. "Why do you care so much about a necklace? The whole pack knows you're my Luna."

His affectionate blue eyes were inches from mine, and the familiar scent of cedar lingered around me.

Deep in my chest, the mate bond hummed softly.

I was about to speak when Serena stepped between us.

"Kellan, I'll cherish this honor you've given me."

She slowly ran her fingertips over the necklace. "Does it look good on me?"

She was asking Kellan, but she was looking right at me.

"Take it off. You have no right to wear it."

My voice was completely flat.

Serena's smile froze, and tears quickly filled her eyes.

She bit her lip and reached up as if to undo the clasp.

"Don't." Kellan caught her wrist. "Keep it on. You can go."

Then he turned to me. "Evelyn, I'll make it up to you. I'll take you somewhere later."

He paused. "I've got a surprise for you."

The ceremony was still going on, and I didn't want to make things too ugly.

I watched Serena walk away and lowered my eyes. "Fine."

Before we left, I sent a message to my most trusted people and told them to dig into Serena.

Kellan held my hand the whole way to Moonshadow Valley in the north.

White moon lanterns floated one after another over the frozen lake at the bottom of the valley.

It looked like the Milky Way had spilled across the ice.

"You said you wanted to see the moon lanterns in Moonshadow Valley."

Kellan leaned down, his warm breath brushing my ear.

"I'll make every one of your wishes come true."

I looked at the lanterns, but my mind was on the report I was waiting for.

It came soon enough.

Kellan had been taking care of Serena all these years.

Three months ago, he'd brought her here and helped her open a clinic.

He even went to her clinic three times a week, like clockwork.

I could sense he was hesitating to answer, so I asked, "What does the Alpha do at her clinic?"

There was a pause before the next message came through: "Calming therapy. The two of them hold each other in the Moon Spring while Serena settles the Alpha's wolf."

My fingers went cold, and my breath caught.

That was when I caught the scent of white roses in the air.

I froze for a second.

I'd smelled it earlier. It was Serena's scent.

I slowly turned to Kellan. He was still wearing that tender expression.

"This is the surprise you planned for me?"

Kellan reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Of course. A gift just for you."

I stepped back, and his hand froze in midair.

"Serena's been here too, hasn't she?"

Something flickered across Kellan's face before he quickly hid it.

"She has. She came with me to set up the lanterns."

So I wasn't the first she-wolf to see this view with Kellan.

I waved my guard over.

"I like these lanterns. Pack them up. From now on, light them only when I'm here. Understood?"

The guard nodded and backed away.

Beside me, a flicker of embarrassment crossed Kellan's face before his expression slowly darkened.