RyanI didn’t move right away. Just stood there like an idiot, staring at Karl parked in front of Mikaela’s door like he was meant to even be in the the damn hallway. My fists were already tight, but my jaw, my jaw was worse. It locked so hard I thought my teeth might crack.He lifted his hand up again, like he was about to knock, then he dropped it. What the hell was eve that? Practicing? Rehearsing? My wolf snapped inside me, furious. He wasn’t supposed to be here. I’d told him before, loud and clear, that Mikaela was off-limits. And yet, here he was.Son of a bitch never listened Every muscle in my body screamed at me to march up there, grab him by the collar, and demand what the fuck he thought he was doing. But I stayed still. Because if I stormed in like a jealous bastard, I’d look weak and Malcolm was somewhere in my house right now, waiting for me to slip. I couldn’t afford to lose it at all.Still, I couldn’t pull my eyes off that door or him.And that’s when it hit me,
RyanThere I was, standing in front of a mirror again, tugging at my tie like it was choking me. Suits always looked good on me, at least that’s what people said, but hell, they never felt right. They were either too stiff or too polished but still, I didn’t have a choice. I was Alpha, and if I walked out looking like a mess, half the pack would take it as disorderliness. Wolves watched every detail. I couldn’t slip, not even once.“Straighten up,” I said to myself as I pulled the jacket tight across my chest. I was not some rookie showing up late to training. I was the AlphaWas I overdoing it, maybe. But tonight wasn’t just any celebration. I don't think tonight was about any celebration about the hunt. Silvermoon was going to be here, he was going to be here. That man didn’t need to say a word to make people uneasy. His presence did all the talking.A small knock pulled me out of my thoughts. I let out a breath, shook my shoulders loose and crossed the room.Opening the door, I sa
MikaelaI stood in front of the mirror, using my hands to smooth my dress for the hundreth time. The dress wasn't over the top or anything like that, it was rather simple and it had a soft color, but… nice. Too nice, if I’m being honest. I hadn’t picked it myself. One of the pack maidens had brought it earlier, folded neatly like it was meant just for me. That alone made my thoughts spin for a while. For week i had been here, the pack had done nothing but ignore me, whisper about me, look at me like I didn’t belong. And now… this?I let out a shaky laugh. Maybe Ryan wasn’t just saying words yesterday when he promised he’d start shifting the pack’s view of me. Maybe this was proof, a dress. It was a good gesture. Small, but it mattered.I turned from the mirror, and there they were, my three little hurricanes. Lisa twirled in her own dress, nearly stumbling, her hair bouncing as she asked, “Mama, do I look pretty enough for the party?”“Pretty enough?” I teased, hands going to my hip
LydiaI couldn’t believe it actually worked. Hah. Ryan swallowed that Silvermoon story very easily than I had hoped. He was sitting there all broody in his chair, acting like he was in control when really, I did. I already steered him exactly where I wanted. The best part? He thought it came from Max. Poor idiot. Max would never realize he had been handed false information from his “sources.”I walked through the corridor, my chin high, smug as hell. This wasn’t just good, it was perfect. Mikaela thought she could slip in quietly, keep her little brats tucked close and have the pack warm up to her? No. Not anymore. With Silvermoon showing up, her shame wouldn’t just be Scarlet’s problem. Outsiders would be there. Outsiders who loved the drama.Celeste was right. Humiliation wasn’t about one blow or the proof, it was about planting seeds and letting them spread. Whispers were poisonous and once the thought was there “are those kids even Ryan’s?” it wouldn’t matter how many times Mik
Ryan“Silvermoon Pack? Why the hell would they need to attend our celebration?" I asked Max who had just told me about The Silvermoon pack Alpha wanting an invitation to the party.“Alpha, I received word this morning. During the hunt, our young wolves crossed paths with hunting party from Silvermoon. Instead of fighting over prey, they hunted together. They shared kills and also shared ground. The Silvermoon elders see it as a sign of unity and they believe it should be honored.”“Unity? From a chance encounter in the woods? That’s a stretch, don’t you think?”His face stayed calm, but I could tell he had thought this through before coming here. “Not for them. They don’t take such signs lightly and they think this means something bigger as such, they expect to be part of the celebration.”I let out a slow breath through my nose. My hand curled into a fist against the table. What the fuck was this? A private celebration for my people turning into… what? Some kind of political showcas
LydiaI couldn’t believe it. That fake smile I had to wear all through in front of those kids. It was straining.The second the dining hall doors closed behind me, the mask fell. That polite little smile I’d plastered on in front of Ryan and those brats, it burned off my face the moment I was out of sight.My jaw ached from clenching it so long.I could still see it, like the image was burned into my skull, Ryan sitting there with them, laughing and cutting Lisa’s food, listening to Declan’s stupid boasting like it was the greatest thing in the world. He looked… happy. Actually happy.I scoffed under my breath. Happy with them? With her children?It should’ve been mine. My children, my heirs. Not Mikaela’s little mistakes taking up space where my legacy should’ve been.I dug my nails into my palms so hard it almost stung. Every laugh from those kids felt like a fucking dagger. Every glance Ryan gave them was like he had forgotten me completely. Like I wasn't Luna. Like I wasn’t his wi