THE CHOOSING CEREMONY

ZARIA'S POV

"Oh my God, you look so perfect. You are just the right choice for Alpha Garrick, Zaria."

Those were the sweet, supportive words my elder sister, Cynthia, whispered as she lovingly braided my hair and laced me into my white maiden silks. I trusted her completely, believing today would be the happiest day of my life.

"You really think so, Cynthia?" I asked, watching her hands move in the mirror. "My heart is beating completely out of my chest. I'm terrified."

"Oh, stop your worrying, little sister," Cynthia said with a soft chuckle, tucking the final strand of my silver-blonde hair into place. "Garrick is completely devoted to you. You two are fated mates. It was always undeniable that he would choose you to be his Luna. You guys have come too far for him not to."

"I just want to be everything he needs," I muttered, gripping the edges of the vanity. "I want to make you proud."

"You already have." Cynthia patted my shoulder and glanced at her watch. "Look at the time. The guests are filling the courtyard, and the elders are waiting. I need to go down there and make sure the seating arrangements are flawless. Don't ruin your makeup with tears, okay?"

"I won't," I promised, giving her a quick hug. "Thank you, Cynthia. For everything."

"Always, sweetie," she said smoothly, waving a hand as she slipped out of the dressing room.

The moment the door clicked shut, the side door to the adjoining suite burst open and my best friend, Maya, rushed in. She stopped dead in her tracks and gasped.

"Zaria, you look like a literal goddess!" Maya yelled, rushing forward to circle me. "Garrick is going to drop his jaw straight to the floor when he sees you. Cynthia actually did a fantastic job for once."

"Don't let her hear you say that," I laughed, though the fluttering in my stomach only intensified. "But thank you, Maya. Seriously."

"I can't help it! You are beautiful!" Maya tossed her hands in the air. "Do you have any idea how high the stakes are today? Everyone is waiting outside. You and Garrick being fated mates is the biggest thing to happen to this pack in decades. You are about to step into your future!"

"That's exactly why my stomach is turning inside out," I admitted, placing a hand over my abdomen. A sharp wave of anxiety hit me. "I feel like I'm going to throw up from the nerves."

"Deep breaths, darling," Maya said softly, rubbing my arm. "It's just jitters. Every bride goes through this right before the ceremony."

A profound wave of gratitude washed over me, so thick and heavy it made my throat tighten. I looked at Maya—the one person who had shielded me and stayed loyal through everything.

"Hey. Look at me," I said, my eyes tearing up as I reached out and took her hand. "Thank you. For always being my protector. For keeping me grounded when everything else felt chaotic. I wouldn't be standing here, ready to take on this life, without you watching my back every single step of the way. My heart is just... it's so full right now. I am so incredibly happy."

"Oh, now you're going to make me ruin my mascara!" Maya groaned, wiping the corner of her eye. "Stop it, Zaria! Save the emotional speeches for later!"

"I know," I said, taking a deep, shaky breath to steady my racing pulse. "Which is exactly why I'm going to do something about these nerves. I'm going to slip down to the private kitchen area down the hall and fetch some calming tea before the ceremony starts."

"Zaria, you can't go wandering around," Maya protested. "The ceremony starts in twenty minutes."

"The private kitchen is just at the end of this VIP corridor. No guests are allowed up here anyway," I insisted, pulling away with a determined smile. "It will take me exactly two minutes. Keep the door locked, I'll be right back."

"Don't take too long!" Maya called out as I slipped through the door.

The moment the heavy door shut behind me, the loud, bustling sounds of the building faded into a dull murmur. The corridor was completely carpeted, absorbing the sound of my white slippers as I walked. The hallway was brightly lit, but as I moved further toward the private kitchen wing, the lights grew dimmer, designed to give privacy to the inner circle.

My mind was spinning with anticipation. In just a few minutes, Garrick would claim me in front of everyone. We were fated mates. It was an undeniable truth we had both known for years. I smiled to myself, adjusting my heavy skirts as I turned the corner into the quiet corridor leading directly to the private kitchen area.

Then, a sound caught my ear.

It was a low, breathless whisper behind the heavy velvet curtains of the recessed alcove.

I stopped walking. My slippers made no sound against the carpet. The noise was coming from just a few feet ahead.

"Shh... stop it, someone will hear us," a woman's voice whispered.

My heart stopped. The breath caught instantly in my throat. I knew that voice. I knew that melodic, smooth cadence anywhere.

*Cynthia?*

Why was Cynthia in a dark alcove? She was supposed to be downstairs supervising the arrival of the guests.

"Let them hear," a deep, rumbled male voice replied. "They're all outside waiting for the grand show anyway. We have time."

That voice sent a violent shockwave straight down my spine. It was a voice I had listened to every day for the past two years. The voice that had whispered promises of eternity into my ear.

*Garrick.*

My brain short-circuited. *No. No, no, no.* I desperately tried to tell myself that my mind was playing tricks on me. The stress of the day was making me hallucinate. The jitters were turning into a full-blown waking nightmare. Garrick was my fated mate. He loved me. Cynthia was my sister. They wouldn't. They couldn't.

I froze, completely paralyzed, staring at the heavy velvet curtains just five feet away. Through the slight gap where the drapes met, the dim light cast two distinct, unmistakable silhouettes pressed against each other.

I couldn't breathe. The air in the hallway felt like liquid lead pouring into my lungs. I took a single, agonizing step closer, my hands trembling so violently I had to grab the molding of the wall to keep from collapsing. I tried to desperately tell myself my mind was playing tricks on me—until I heard Cynthia mention my name, and they both laughed.